Page 37 of Your Soul to Keep

“Long,” I blurted out without thought.

One hand smoothed up the length of my spine.

Every single one of my vertebrae arched into place at his touch.

His eyes searched mine as he pulled me infinitesimally closer. “I thought you loved Ayana’s.”

I held up a finger, fell into his gaze, and spilled more. “I love the people at Ayana’s. I love the food at Ayana’s. I love how close I feel to my Nan, my Grampy, and the connection to my dad at Ayana’s. I never minded pitching in to help, it was fun, but,” I closed my eyes, ashamed, but unwilling to hide the truth from him at least, “Ihatemanaging it.”

His eyebrows rose. “So?”

I frowned. “What do you mean, ‘so’?”

“Don’t do it.” He shrugged. “Sell the place.”

I blinked then stared at him, my eyes wide. “Why would I do that? It’s something I know how to do, it’s mine, and everybody has to make a living.”

Not really. I had insurance money up the wazoo by that point.

“Why can’t you sell it and make a living doing something else?”

“Because it was Nan’s.” I sighed. “It meant everything to her. I can’t just let it go.”

“Sure, you can.”

I could. I knew I could, but I didn’t want to face the what if.

I scoffed. “Are you crazy?”

“I’ve been called worse.” He grinned, both of his palms splaying across my back and moving down to wrap around my hips.

I refused to allow myself to acknowledge the thrill of his touch and ignored my body’s complete lack of self-preservation as it fairly vibrated with anticipation.

I shook my head. Gabe got under my skin like no one else ever had. While Nan challenged me, she never made me uncomfortable.

Gabe did.

All the time.

It was exhilarating.

“At least tell me what you’d rather be doing,” he pushed.

There was no reason I couldn’t tell him. It made no difference, and he would never judge. “I used to be an educational assistant working with special needs kids. I love working with kids in any capacity.”

“Is that what you did before you came back?”

My shoulders rounded as I curled in on myself and pulled away.

Gabe immediately drew me back in. “Whoa, what’s that all about?”

I shrugged even as my throat tightened. “I went through a bit of a tough time and left my teaching job for a while,” I explained, swallowing roughly. “When I was ready to go back, there were no jobs available.” Cringing under his scrutiny, I continued, “I worked at a restaurant until Nan got sick.”

His eyes searched mine. “What’s wrong with that?”

My own eyes widened at his misunderstanding. “Nothing! Nothing is wrong with that!”

He tilted his chin down. “What are you not telling me?”

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