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“Does it hurt?”

His gaze snaps to mine, surprise written all over his face before it’s replaced with intrigue. “How did you know?”

I squirm a little in my seat because I have no idea how or why I know the things I do. How do I know to give someone hope when they’ve lost their job and have no idea where their next paycheck is coming from? Or when they’ve been broken up with and their heart needs comfort?

You know how you do it.

“No, I don’t.” I whisper to myself. I catch Gabriel’s gaze, and roll my eyes. “Sorry, inner voice being loud again.”

“I get that,” he huffs out. “You never answered how you knew I hurt.”

I stare at him, cataloguing his expressions. “I just see people. I see when they’re happy or sad or hurting.” I growl low. “I don’t know. I’m just different, OK? Just a little weird.”

“No. You’re extraordinary.” My stomach flips and it feels like it dumps one million butterflies into my insides, all of them fluttering around with nowhere to go. “Brenna?”

Just hurry up and kiss the guy! Ohmygod you’re killing me!

I slide off my stool and move around the counter to stand on the same side as Gabriel. My ladybird flats meet his heavy, black biker boots and I wriggle my toes marvelling at how silly they look next to each other. A warm finger hooks under my chin and I don’t fight when Gabriel tilts my head back until my blue eyes meet his bright gold. There are flecks of darker brown swirling in the depths and I can honestly say I’ve never met a more beautiful person, inside or out.

My breath hitches as he lowers his head, his lips hovering just above mine and I know the next move is up to me. Rolling up onto my tiptoes I close the distance, falling deeper and deeper into a kiss I never want to end.

Yes!

Chapter 10

Brenna

“Brenna? You awake?”

My belly flips at Gabriel’s voice coming through the wall. I’m amazed I managed to sleep at all after making out with Gabriel in his kitchen last night. There were a few times where I was wanton and wanted to tear my clothes off and have him take me on the kitchen counter like all those bodice ripper books of Grammy’s that I sneakily read when I wasn’t allowed, but alas. Gabriel is a gentleman. He walked me home, kissed me senseless at my door and now he’s waking me up with his dulcet tones through our shared wall.

“Yeah, Gabriel?”

“Good morning.”

I giggle into my pillow, kicking my feet a little before breathlessly rolling onto my back. “Good morning to you, too.”

“Did you sleep well?”

“As well as a woman who has been thoroughly kissed, can.” I slap my hands over my mouth. I cannot believe I said that out loud.

I can. The man can kiss. It’s bound to addle your brain.

Rich laughter drifts through the wall. “Well, I’ve never been praised on how thoroughly I kiss, but I’ll take it it was good.”

“Psh, stop fishing for compliments,” I tease.

“Oh, but they make me feel like a man who wants to do a little more kissing.”

“He’s teasing you, Bren! He wants to kiss you allllll over!” Grammy’s voice rings out loud and clear and I start giggling when Gabriel and Grammy start bickering with each other.

“You two are nutty, you know that?” I laugh.

“You’re the one yelling at your Grammy’s soul through the wall,” Gabriel teases.

I kick off the covers, kneel on the bed and yell, “You’re the one rooming with her soul!”

“She’s squatting!” he bellows back and I fall back onto the bed in a fit of giggles.