Page 73 of Gabriel & Skye

“Handy, when my parents live across the field.”

“Well, you have to have one night off, boss. Do you dance?”

Boss? Fucking hell. Why do I love the way that sounds rolling off her tongue?

If only she knew what those words do to me.

I might be hard-hitting, and a grump most of the time, but she has no idea that I’m a tender man between the sheets. I’m all about pleasing. There’s nothing I won’t do to please a woman. Nothing.

“Well, I have two left feet, so that would be a no,” I inform her.

“I can’t imagine you being bad at anything, Gabriel.”

“Call me, Gabe,” I say without even thinking. “I mean, if you want to.”

She smiles as the fresh drinks make their way over. “Cheers to that, Gabe.” She holds her glass up toward me.

“Cheers.” We clink glasses and take a sip, my eyes never leaving hers.

She’s a vision, and I’ve no idea what I’m going to do about the crush I have on my fucking nanny.

18

Skye

Gabriel Bassett surprises me at every turn. Just when I think I might be getting to know him and his personality, he throws a spanner in the works. And I’m back to square one.

I mean, he punched a guy tonight?

What the heck?

Granted, I didn’t want the guy’s advances, but it was so… alpha. And I have to admit, it was kinda hot seeing him like that.

Now I’m on the dance floor with Georgia, Trudy, Celeste and Hartley — she showed up a little time later.

I have to say, for a bar with a name like ‘Moose’s’, it’s actually very lively and oh, so entertaining. The folks of Stoney Creek really know how to let their hair down. The country music blaring from the jukebox warms my soul.

But all I can think about is Gabe and how he didn’t hesitate to knock that guy out when he touched me. Is that a usual thing for him?

It’s a stark contrast from the calm, collected CEO I usually see. And not what I was expecting at all.

Gabriel Bassett has a wild side — and while I don’t condone violence — the guy was asking for it. It makes me wonder what other hidden attributes lie beneath. I’m sure if he ever let his guard down, it would be more than interesting to discover those depths of him. From my observations; he’s a man of substance and he withstood one of the most terrible ordeals I’ve heard in a long time. Being abandoned and left to care for his baby alone is no easy feat. Yet, here he stands, and he’s as fierce as ever with those he cares about.

Now I’m included in that mix. Because I’m the nanny.

If Gabriel wants to be a protective alpha when I’m around, that’s fine by me.

“What’s up with my brother?” Georgia-Blue yells over the music as we dance. “I saw him walk up and punch that guy in the face.”

“I know.” I lean in to talk close to her ear so she can hear me. “Does he usually do that kind of thing?”

“I haven’t seen him like that in a long time.” She twirls around in a circle. “Which goes to prove my theory, Skye. I think my brother has got it bad for you.”

I laugh, shaking off that indulgent notion. “No way, he’s just being like that because I’m the nanny and his employee.”

“Pffff,” she chortles. “I don’t exactly see him going up to anyone else and doing that.”

I glance over at the bar where he sits with the guys. The lights are dark on the dancefloor, but through the sea of people I find him in the same position. Except this time he’s sitting facing us, leaning on the bar. My eyes flick up to meet his and as the lights flash by and light up the bar for a moment, I see he’s looking right at me.

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