Page 15 of The Talk Around Town

He took a sip from his mug. “I wanted to apologise for last night.”

Emma’s surprise was obvious. “Why? I was the one who…” she shrugged, “you know. You have nothing to apologise for. I embarrassed you in front of all those people. I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to. I got things arse-about.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t have to do that either. You’re new in town and I made a spectacle out of you. It wasn’t very nice of me. Normally I’m a pretty decent kind of guy.”

Emma shrugged and swallowed another forkful. “I felt so stupid. And this morning’s effort?” Emma shook her head, “I think I left my brain back in Western Australia. I’m not normally so flaky. Answering the door like that—I’m not even going to go there.”

Gabe didn’t want to either. He was trying very hard not to think about how she’d looked in that lingerie with her hair all messed up. She looked like she’d had one hell of a hot night in bed. Those were images he just didn’t need.

Gabe stared at Emma more closely while she ate. That had been one impressive scar he’d got a glimpse of when she’d opened the front door.

It was fairly new by the look of the skin—the pale pink hadn’t yet faded to silver. It ran, sickle shaped, from under her ribs on her right side, down below the band of her underpants. Another jagged slice speared off halfway down toward her navel.

Gabe wondered what on earth could’ve done that to her. Judging from the state she’d been in when he’d arrived, she mustn’t have realised straight away that he’d seen it and he wasn’t about to ask. He wasn’t supposed to have seen her nearly naked and some things you shouldn’t ask a virtual stranger.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s forgotten.” Not likely, but she didn’t need to know that. “Listen, I wanted to clear things up about that kiss last night.”

Emma’s face flushed a brighter pink. Gabe flicked his gaze to his coffee mug while she pretended she wasn’t embarrassed.

“It’s okay. I understand why you did it. Those guys are your friends and I embarrassed you.” Emma kept looking at her plate, and took a small mouthful of eggs.

“Something like that. I just wanted you to know I wasn’t coming on to you. You’re new here, and you don’t need men falling all over you when you’re trying to make a new life for yourself. I wanted to be clear that I’m not interested, okay?”

Emma’s eyes jerked up to his, surprised. “Well, that’s straight to the point. Oh, don’t worry. I think I get the message.”

Gabe closed his eyes in resignation. “I didn’t mean it like that. I mean, I did, but not…” He faltered at the expression on her face. “I should quit while I’m ahead, shouldn’t I?”

A spark of humour fired behind her eyes. “Might be a good idea.” She glanced down at her plate and pushed the last of the scrambled eggs around with her fork. “I’m not offended though, if that’s what you’re worried about. It’s actually a relief. I’m not in any fit state to be dating anyone. Not now, and probably not in the foreseeable future. I’m not interested either.”

Gabe blinked. This wasn’t the reaction he thought he’d receive. Not that he wanted her to be upset, but the heat he felt between them last night, that hadn’t been fake. She had a reason behind her statement, but she wasn’t letting him in on the secret.

He should be relieved she felt that way, because he had no intention of getting involved with a woman ever again. But for some reason it left him feeling a little hollow.

He nodded, trying to sort out his perplexing reactions to her.

“Okay.” Gabe smiled at her. “Since we’ve agreed we’re both not interested in one another, perhaps we can use this as an opportunity to get to know each other? You’re already becoming a fast favourite of my sister’s and you’ve only known each other a day. We’re going to see a lot of each other by the look of things. There’s no reason we can’t be friends.” He held out his hand. “Deal?”

Emma gazed at him, her own full mouth widening as she held out her hand. Awareness hit him hard, deep in his gut, spreading and swirling like wildfire, morphing into something suspiciously close to attraction.He was going to have to stop looking at her if her smile continued doing that to his stomach. It was too darn easy to imagine what else that mouth could do.

Stop it, you idiot.

“Deal. You can never have too many friends,” Emma said, and scooped the last forkful of food into her mouth.

Gabe leaned back in his chair. “Okay. In the spirit of friendship, would you like to join us all for dinner this evening? My parents have a barbeque every Sunday afternoon. All the family turns up, and anyone else who happens to be around at the time comes with us. It’s just a casual thing. You wouldn’t have to bring anything. What do you say?”

Emma’s brow wrinkled in a frown. “That sounds familiar. I think Darby asked me last night, but I can’t be sure. If it’s no problem with your parents, I’d love to. Thanks.”

Gabe swallowed the last of his coffee and pushed back his chair. He held up a hand when Emma made to rise. “No, don’t get up. I’ll see myself out. Shall I pick you up around five, since you don’t know where to go? Once you get a feel for the place, you can come by yourself, if that would make you feel more comfortable. Or you could just come with Darb.”

Emma nodded. “Sounds good. I might head back to bed, myself.” She sent him a crooked smile. “I think I need to catch up on some sleep if I’m going to be expected to be coherent tonight.”

Gabe smiled at her. “No problem. See you at five.” He turned and left the kitchen, disconcerted by the thought of her going back to bed.

I wonder if she still has that underwear on.

Gabe moved faster to get out of the old house, locking the front door behind him. That was the last thing he should be thinking about.

Chapter Seven

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