Page 14 of Tangled in His Embrace

Chapter 4

Taylor’s babysitter, Emily, sent Gabby a text letting her know Taylor’s grandparents had picked her up. Gabby sent her a quick reply back, thanking her, and then went back to work on her novel. She’d called in sick to work figuring there was no way she’d be able to focus on her job knowing Jax was coming over that night to discuss custody arrangements—whatever that meant. So instead, after dropping her daughter off at preschool, Gabby drove back home and fired up her computer.

She’d been hoping working on her novel would distract her. Usually she was able to get lost in the words and shut out the outside world, but today she had no such luck. Her thoughts kept drifting to Jax. If she closed her eyes, she could almost feel his breath on her face, the feel of his body pressed against hers.

That wasn’t to say she didn’t get any writing done. She had. Without much effort, she’d written an entire chapter in less than two hours. That was a record. At least, for her.

Gabby scanned over the words on her screen and felt her internal temperature begin to rise. She pressed her legs together, desperate for friction as she continued to read. Everything she wanted to do with Jax—to have Jax do to her—was right there in black and white.

Her hand drifted down her belly to the button on her jeans. She pushed the button through the hole, releasing it, as her fingers dipped below her waistline.

The sound of her phone dinging brought her back to reality. As much as she’d have loved to let her mind continue down the path it was on, she couldn’t ignore her phone. It could be about Taylor.

It wasn’t. The text was from her mom letting her know she’d found Gabby’s “Baby’s First Christmas” ornament. Her mom had been more than a little distressed when she’d been putting up her tree and it wasn’t in with the other ornaments.

Gabby typed out a swift reply.

I’m glad you found it. - Gabby

She was going to leave it at that, but then thought better of it.

Where was it? - Gabby

It was in the back of the closet behind some blankets. It must have fallen out of the box. - Caroline

:) - Gabby

The brief chat with her mother via text was enough to cool Gabby’s libido. It was a good thing, too. When she looked at the clock, it was already after five. Jax would be there in less than an hour. She needed to have her head on straight when he got there.

Shutting down her computer, Gabby began tidying up. The house wasn’t exactly a wreck, but it was amazing how much of a mess a three-year-old could create in a very short amount of time.

She was readjusting the pillows on the couch when her doorbell rang.

Without her permission, her pulse kicked up a notch. It always did whenever he was near. She wished she could turn it off, but so far she hadn’t had much luck.

Gabby ran her hands along the front of her jeans before reaching for the doorknob.

He stood on her front porch, bundled up in a hat and gloves. It was only then she realized it was snowing.

She stepped back without a word, allowing him to enter.

“Thanks.” He removed his hat. “It’s actually coming down pretty good out there.”

Gabby swallowed, trying to ignore how his hair was ruffled as if he’d just tumbled out of bed. “I thought we weren’t supposed to get much.”

He walked into the kitchen and placed the bags of food on the counter before removing his coat and gloves. “So did I.” After draping his coat over one of the kitchen chairs, he went back to the food and began removing the containers from the bags. “I got your favorites.”

She commanded her feet to move. “I’ll get us some plates.”

It felt like old times as they loaded their plates with Chinese food and sat at the table, eating. Only it wasn’t like old times. They weren’t a couple anymore. And he was there to talk about their daughter.

He took several bites of his food before he spoke. “Mom called me about an hour ago. They made it to the hotel and were heading out to get some dinner.”

A lump formed in her throat. It had been hard enough getting used to her spending the weekend with Jax, but at least she was only a twenty-minute drive away. Knowing Taylor was in a completely different city without her was a new experience and Gabby wasn’t sure she liked it.

Jax must have realized her discomfort. “She’ll be okay.”

“I know.” Gabby shoveled another bite of food into her mouth. She waited until she’d swallowed before continuing. “It doesn’t bother you at all, does it? Having her on the other side of the state?”

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