Page 52 of Forbidden Sins

Alana must have seen it, and she looked away before taking a seat on the easy chair, kitty-corner to Ellie’s on the couch. Ellie paused the show on the TV.

“You love him.”

“Yes. But it doesn’t matter now.”

“You know, I’m new to having relationships with women. For so long, it was just me and the guys. I’ve since gained a few female friends, but I’ve never felt threatened by them.”

“I threatened you?”

“Just a little,” she smirked, holding her thumb and forefinger an inch apart. “But don’t tell anyone. It could seriously destroy my reputation as a hard-ass ballbuster.”

“Not likely,” Ellie said. “What was it about me that threatened you?”

“I don’t know. Gabe and I were always so close. And don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I’m secretly in love with him or anything, but I think I was kind of jealous that you managed to whirl into his life and become the center of his world. And I think that was why I pushed back so hard. All the guys have found love with incredible women, and I just didn’t think Gabe was going to be one of them.” Alana trailed off as she averted her eyes, and Ellie would have sworn that there was a tear hanging off an exquisitely long eyelash.

“Areyouokay?” she asked, leaning closer.

And in an instant, Alana snapped out of her thoughts, reverting back to thehard-ass ballbuster.“Yeah, I’m fine,” she said with a laugh that Ellie knew was forced, and she knew she was seeing a side of Alana that not everyone did. She wondered if Gabe had. “I’m here to talk to you. What happened?”

“I don’t know, really. I walked up the hallway at the office and saw Gabe and Ian fighting.” She told Alana the series of events that had led to her storming out of her father’s office. She sighed, reliving the hurt and anger she’d felt. “It was so selfish—the whole relationship. I knew that the blowback would be harder on Gabe than on me. He loves his job, wanted to be partner at my dad’s firm. I took the fall, and I ended it. I cut the tie as easily as I could. For him.”

“Why haven’t you called him?”

“I don’t know. Fear, maybe? A hefty dose of shame?”

“Why don’t you swing by Di Terrestres tomorrow night? Before eight?”

“Why?”

“You’re a smart woman, you can figure it out.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

GABEFOUNDHIMSELFbehind the piano. The curtain was still closed, but he could hear the patrons on the other side. The usual hum of activity reminded him of the many people who were about to hear him play in public for the first time. He wished he’d had another drink to fortify himself. He was a courageous guy, but the thought of laying himself bare on his keyboard scared him more than any of his more adventurous endeavors. How did he allow Alana to talk him into this?

“You nervous?”

Gabe turned his head and saw Alana joining him on the stage. “Yeah,” he admitted. “It’s stupid, but I really am.”

“Want some liquid courage?” She joined him on the bench, passing him a glass of whiskey.

He accepted it gratefully and took a drink. “Thanks.”

“No problem. You’re going to be great, you know.”

“I just want it to be over.”

“Should we put out a tip jar? Seeing as how you’re out of a job and all that.”

He laughed. “I think I’ll be okay.”

Gabe put his arm around Alana. “I’m glad we aren’t fighting anymore.”

“Me, too.”

“And things have returned to the way things should be—the two of us doomed to our bachelor-and-spinster-hoods.”

Alana shrugged and moved away from him. “I wouldn’t be so sure of that.”

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