Page 66 of Sanctuary

“You’re already passed that milestone. How’s that working out for you?”

Gabe shrugged. “I haven’t slept with her,” she said, knowing it didn’t answer the question.

“Maybe you should just sleep together and get her out of your system. Maybe a one-night stand is exactly what Lori needs to move on from the ex. You’d be doing her a favor as well as curing your own fascination.”

Gabe looked at her phone and rolled her eyes. It was still another fifteen minutes before Lori was due to pick her up. She dropped down to sit on the stairs, figuring she may as well get comfortable for another fifteen minutes of interrogation. “I’m not fascinated.”

“What would you call it?”

“Interest,” Gabe said. “I think she’s an interesting woman. And you told me I should let more people in, so that’s what I’m trying to do.”

“I did, and I stand by that, but maybe you could’ve picked a straight person or a gay guy. Someone interesting you couldn’t or didn’t want to sleep with.”

A horn sounded outside, and Gabe jumped up. She scooted past Shay and opened the door to see Lori waving from inside her Chevy Bolt. “She’s early.” Gabe took a set of house keys from the bowl on the sideboard and glanced back at Shay. “See you later.”

“When we’ll pick up this conversation,” Shay said.

“Can’t wait.” Gabe closed the door and jogged down the path to Lori. She tossed her spare shirt into the back, then folded herself into the passenger seat, her knees practically hitting her chest.

Lori looked like she was suppressing laughter. “Maybe we should take your truck?”

“Why? Because your car is one step up from a kid’s toy?”

Lori shoved Gabe’s shoulder. “It is not.”

Gabe waved her on. “It’s fine. We don’t have far to go.” And Gabe didn’t want to go back into the house to face more questions from Shay. The longer she could delay that conversation, the happier she’d be.

There seemed to be no residual awkwardness from Monday night during the short drive to Solo’s house. They’d exchanged a couple of messages on Tuesday, mostly about the repairs to the Oakley, and a part of Gabe had wanted to address the almost-kiss. But she decided to put it down to the combination of wine and vulnerability rather than an active attraction on Lori’s side. She had to remind herself that she was the one who didn’t want to act on any attraction.

“So we’ll definitely have the truck finished for you by noon on Thursday,” Gabe said. “Do you want us to drop it off?”

“Oh, no, I can’t ask you to do that. Fran will pick it up.” Lori pulled to a stop at the lights alongside Millennium Park. “What’s your take on the Bean?”

“Huh?” Gabe followed the direction of Lori’s pointed finger to a sculpture.

“The Bean,” she said again. “Do you like it?”

The light changed to green, and Gabe studied the mirrored lump as Lori cruised past it. “I like the reflections of the skyline, I guess. Are you looking for a critique? Because I’m no art buff.”

“You don’t have to be an art expert to know whether or not something artistic appeals to you.”

Gabe shrugged. “Then no, I don’t like it. I don’t see the point of it.”

“Does art have to have a point?” Lori asked. “Isn’t the point of all art simply to exist?”

Gabe frowned. “Like I said, I’m not an art person. I didn’t realize you were.” She called up images of Lori’s kitchen and dining room in her mind and couldn’t remember seeing anything particularly arty on the walls or surfaces. But then Gabe wouldn’t know art if it smacked her in the face with a picture frame.

“I’m not,” Lori said brightly. “But I like sculptures.”

“Thank God. I thought you were working up to asking me to go to an art gallery with you because none of your other friends would.”

Lori gave her a sideways glance. “You don’t have to worry about that, ever. I’ve never been interested in paintings. I like the kind of art that you find in parks and on the streets. Art that’s accessible and for everyone, not just pseudo-intellectuals and snobs.”

“That’s not judgmental at all,” Gabe said.

“Sorry. I’m sure that’s not the case overall. I’ve just met a lot of those kinds of people through the lawyer’s family and friends plus all the funding drives we’ve done.”

“Super-rich people?”

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