Page 39 of Your Soul to Keep

I nodded shortly, unused to sitting back. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d given control over to someone else.

Had I ever?

Shae-baby, I got you.

Gabe’s words echoed through the past into the present.

Back then, I’d followed him everywhere. He brought fun and adventure to a girl who could barely breathe under the fearful, watchful eye of her father.

I looked at Gabe’s strong profile, his firm lips toying with yet another toothpick.

Where the hell did that come from?

“What’s with the toothpick?”

“Keeps me focused.”

His hands curled comfortably around the steering wheel. My eyes wandered over strong forearms, shoulders rounded with muscle, and down to rest on thick thighs that filled out his jeans in a way they never did when we were young.

He’d aged impossibly well. I swallowed, dragged my hand down the length of my ponytail, and eyed my own outfit. I should have made more of an effort.

My eyes flitted back to the muscles in his thigh, flexing as he gently pumped the brake.

“You’ve filled out.”

“What?” He barked out a laugh. “Are you telling me I’ve got a dad bod?”

My gaze snapped back up to his face. “What? No! It’s just you were so lean when we were young and now, you’re packed with muscle.”

He narrowed his eyes playfully. “I’ll accept your explanation. I’m a firefighter. I need to keep in shape, so I work out a lot.”

“You actually did it.”

His eyes crinkled at the corners. “I did.”

“So, definitely not a dad bod,” I teased.

His brow furrowed as his lips twisted to the side. He opened his mouth but closed it just as quickly, that toothpick spinning wildly.

He was going to choke on that thing.

“What? What were you going to say?”

He smiled. “It’ll keep.”

My attention returned to the road. “Oh my God. Are we going to The Loose Moose?”

He grinned. “A welcome blast from the past?”

Without thinking, I reached across the center console and grasped his thigh, squeezing excitedly. The muscle jerked beneath my palm. I snatched my hand back and looked at him wide-eyed.

He grinned. “Put it back, Shae. And slide it a little higher.”

I laughed and folded my hands in my lap.

Laughter warmed his voice. “Put it back, Shae, or I’m pulling over.”

I tilted my chin down and shook my head at him. “We’re on the highway.”

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