Page 125 of Gabriel & Skye

“That would be rude. Anyway, we should say hello to Gramps. I haven’t seen him in a while.”

She shakes her head, and it amuses me all the more. “You’re enjoying this just a little, aren’t you?”

I shrug. “Maybe a little. I can’t wait to shout it out to the world that you’re mine.”

“We agreed we’d wait until next weekend at Geraldine and Hank’s send off.”

“We did, and I can’t wait to see my former nanny’s face when she finds out what we’ve been up to.”

“You’re a very bad man, Mr. Bassett.” Her lips curve up in a smile as I cup one side of her face, enjoying her bouncy curls that fall around her shoulders.

“I’m only bad around you. That doesn’t say much for you being my good girl, does it?”

“Hello, Skye? Gabriel?” My eyes go wide as Skye’s Gran calls from outside.

I jump away like we really are two teenagers getting caught, and put a hand over my mouth. “This is kinda hot,” I whisper.

She waves a hand at me as she moves off the door. “Hi Gran!” Her voice is unnaturally high. “Coming!”

I shake with laughter. “Nice choice of words.”

She gives me devil eyes, whispering, “I didn’t mean it like that!”

I move to a more respectable boss/employee distance and make sure I’m in a presentable state.

When Skye opens the door, Dot peers in and says, “Does Gabriel have you working on weekends?”

I can just imagine Skye’s face beet red as she tries to explain her way out of this one.

“Uh, no. I was getting coffee, and Gabe offered me a ride home. Since I have Trinity’s sweater, it made sense… I took it by accident from school… the other day.”

“Perfect timing.” She steps in. “Hello, Gabriel!”

“Hello, Dot. Lovely to see you again.”

“Likewise. I just bought a sponge cake with jam and cream as soft as a buttercup in the springtime. I came to see if you’d both like a slice.”

Skye opens her mouth, and I beat her to it. “We’d love to. Thank you for the invite.”

She waves a hand. “It’s nothing. And it’s Gran, honey. Dot is something my husband hollers at me when his hearing aid isn’t all the way in. I’ll see you in the kitchen shortly.”

I chuckle. I’ve got to hand it to her; if she knows about us, she doesn’t say a word.

“See you in a sec,” Skye singsongs. As she’s about to leave, she turns around. “Do you have to be so obvious?”

I snort. “What did you want me to do, ignore your Gran and make it look even more suspicious?”

“I doubt she’s going to buy that we’re both in here with doors closed and curtains drawn because we’re hunting for your daughter’s non-existent sweater.”

I place my hands on her shoulders. “You’re overthinking this. Breathe, Skye.”

Her face softens. “I just want it to be perfect when we tell everyone. That way nobody gets offended they didn’t know first. Like your sister and my brother.”

“Don’t worry about my little sister. She’s probably already figured it out. Travis is cool. He’ll give us his blessing. And it will be perfect, because you’ll be there.” I pull her into my arms and kiss the top of her head.

“Do you have to be so rational?” She laughs.

“One of us has to.” I move my mouth to hers and she pulls back a little.

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