Page 17 of Tangled in His Embrace

Chapter 5

Gabby wanted to lock herself in the bathroom and not come out until he was gone, but she knew she couldn’t do that. First of all, she doubted he’d leave until he saw her. Second, she wasn’t a coward. So despite wanting to hide, she dried her tears and went to face him.

They stood on opposite sides of the room, staring at each other. He’d asked if she was all right and she’d been honest. She was anything but all right. He tied her up in knots, made her forget good sense, and generally made her crazy.

Jax took a step toward her and then seemed to think better of it. “Are you hungry? I warmed up some of the Chinese food.”

She wasn’t really, but it was that or asking him to leave, which she hadn’t completely ruled out. “Sure.”

He pushed the plate she knew he’d made for himself in her direction and motioned that she should have a seat while he got up to make himself a new plate. This was why it was so difficult to remind herself that she couldn’t trust him. If it was an act, that would be different, but it wasn’t. This was just Jax. He’d always put her first. Always.

Until the day he’d told her he was leaving town.

Pushing those thoughts aside, she picked up the fork he’d left behind and stabbed a piece of chicken. Her stomach didn’t rebel, so she kept eating. After taking a couple more bites, she realized she was hungry after all.

The microwave dinged and Jax brought his new plate full of food to the table. They ate in silence for several minutes before he finally spoke. “I didn’t mean for that to happen.”

“I know.” It would be so easy to blame him, but it wasn’t his fault. Not entirely. Not at all, actually. After all, he had been the one to say it wasn’t a good idea.

More awkward silence followed. It had been bad enough the first time it happened. She could write it off as a fluke, bad judgment. But for it to happen again? She couldn’t dismiss it so easily. Was she doomed for the rest of her life to love a man who’d left her and their child?

Gabby didn’t want to examine that too closely, so she did the only thing she could do. She deflected. “You said you wanted to come over tonight to talk about custody.”

He released a breath loud enough for her to hear. “I want us to all be together on Christmas. I think Taylor needs that.”

“How do you know what Taylor needs?” Gabby regretted her outburst the moment the words left her mouth. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”

“Last weekend she had a nightmare.”

“What?” Gabby asked, irritation mixing with concern for her daughter. “Why didn’t you say something when you brought her home?”

“Because it was about me. Or not being able to find me, that is. Taylor said she’d dreamed that she searched everywhere and couldn’t find me. She came to my room crying, so I let her sleep in my bed Saturday night.”

Gabby didn’t know what to say. She was upset and worried and wanted to hold her little girl and make sure she knew that no matter what, Gabby would always be there for her. “You should have told me.”

“You’re right. I should have. But it was over and I didn’t want to upset you.”

“So you wait to tell me until Taylor’s two hours away and I can’t do anything about it?” She pushed the plate away from her. Her food had lost all its flavor.

“Are you really mad because I didn’t tell you our daughter had a nightmare or because we made love again?” His tone was matter of fact as he stared at her from across the table.

She didn’t want to talk about what had happened tonight. Not now. Not ever. And definitely not with him. “I think you should go.”

“We need to talk about this.”

Pushing away from the table, Gabby stood and took her plate to the counter. She dug out some containers to put her uneaten food into, glad for something to do that put some space between them. “There’s nothing to talk about.”

He didn’t answer right away, but when he did she felt him come up behind her. “I think there is.”

Gabby closed her eyes, bracing herself for his touch and hating the fact that she craved it.

His hands wrapped around her forearms and he pressed his front to her back, the heat of him stirring her desire once again. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She’d had three years to get over him and she thought she had. Until he’d waltzed back into their lives.

“I can’t do this,” she whispered.

“Can’t do what?” His breath tickled the hairs at the back of her neck.

“This. Us.”

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