Page 65 of Sanctuary

Then in her head, she uttered her safe words: Cynthia Nelson. And she pulled back from the brink of abandoning all logic and restraint. Friendship was what she needed from Lori, and it was what Lori needed from her. This was just the heat of Lori’s vulnerability, and anything she did in this moment would spoil everything.

Gabe cleared her throat and reached for the lemonade, hoping the sour taste would destroy all thoughts of the anticipated sweetness of Lori’s kiss. “I should go,” she whispered then said it again in her regular voice. “Shay’s waiting at the shop to help me unload your trailer.”

Lori blinked as if she were clearing the same fog of desire, then she nodded. “Of course. Yes, it’s getting late. I’m sorry for keeping you.”

Gabe smiled. “You never have to apologize to me,” she said and stood. “Thanks again for dinner; this is the best food I’ve had in ages, maybe ever.”

Lori remained seated and pointed toward the kitchen. “Don’t forget to take the second one home with you. It’s on the middle shelf in the fridge.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. I can always make more.”

Lori shrugged and smiled, but it lacked her usual glow, and Gabe ached to take her in her arms and rock away all the pain.

“I’ll see you Wednesday, okay?” Gabe asked, though forty-eight hours seemed like too far away. “Do you want me to come pick you up?”

“No, don’t be crazy. I’ll pick you up on the way through.”

“That’d be great if you don’t mind. I’ll send you the address.” Gabe could only face the thought of babysitting for Solo and Janie because Lori had agreed to help.

“And I’ll bring the ingredients for pad Thai, so make sure you don’t eat.”

Gabe nodded. “If I’d known friendship came with these kinds of benefits, I would’ve widened my circle a long time ago.”

“Me too. It works both ways; you’re really helping me out getting the truck fixed quickly.”

“Of course. I’ll order the engine when I get back to the garage, and we should have it ready to pick up by Thursday. No need to change Fran’s plans.” Gabe waited for a moment too long before she went to the kitchen for the lasagna. “They’re gonna love this. Thanks again.”

“Absolutely my pleasure,” Lori said.

Gabe hovered in the hallway, trying to decide whether or not to go in for a hug. She decided against it when Lori didn’t move. “Cool. I’ll see you Wednesday at six,” she said and walked out into a hot July evening. She closed the door behind her and hesitated, every fiber of her being desperate to go back inside so she could hold Lori tight.

She looked up at the sky and saw it was a full moon. Weren’t people supposed to do crazy things on a night like this? Cynthia Nelson. That was the last crazy thing she’d done, and that had turned into a shitstorm of epic proportions. And she was still feeling its tremors.

Gabe crunched across the gravel driveway to her tow truck and jumped in the cab. A cold shower and a double whiskey would have to chase the crazy away tonight.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“You should’ve gone with a stony-puke color. Rookie mistake.”

Gabe straightened the shoulders of her T-shirt. “I look better in black.”

Shay arched her eyebrow. “And why would that matter? I don’t think the triplets will care what color shirt they barf on.”

Gabe ignored the question and wrinkled her nose. “They’d better not, or Solo will be buying me a new one. And they’ll be asleep, won’t they?”

“I’m not the encyclopedia of babies; how would I know what their sleeping habits are?”

“Because you’ve got nine hundred younger siblings, and you raised most of them.” Gabe ran back upstairs to her room and opened her T-shirt drawer. She ignored Shay’s advice and selected a dark gray marl instead. She did choose a slightly looser fit than the one she had on; they weren’t going on a date, after all.

Shay stood at the base of the stairs with her arms crossed. “I don’t have nine hundred siblings, asshole.”

Gabe sighed, recognizing she’d overstepped. “Sorry, Shay, that was an asshole thing to say; I’m just nervous.”

“Thanks. I should be used to it by now.” Shay smiled. “You really think desensitization therapy is going to work on a person?”

Gabe took her denim jacket from the coat hook and put it on. “I don’t have any other choice. And I don’t see why it wouldn’t. I’ve never been interested in a woman for much longer than a week.”

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