Page 24 of Blue Collar Hotties

“Why did you stop?” I blurt, flushing impossibly redder. “Why won’t you look at me anymore? Did I… did I do something wrong?”

All his humor drains away, and Gabe shakes his head slowly. He’s solemn now, dragging in a deep breath like he needs to shore himself up, but he’s still holding my wrist. Still tracing circles over my pulse point.

And something tugs low in my belly, because that’s hishand.Big and warm and dry. Gabe Dempsey’s flesh and blood hand, with nicks and scars and calluses, gripping my bare skin. Holding me carefully, like something precious.

My nipples harden beneath today’s purple blouse. Standing this close together in this hot, airless room, I can smell the fresh air on his clothes. The brick dust and car exhaust from outside; the crisp October bonfire smell.

And beneath that… sweat. Soap. Male musk.

I swallow.

“You did nothing wrong.” His voice is deep, with the faint accent that you hear in the city docks and the rowdiest bars. Gabe Dempsey was born in this city—born and bred, native in a way that I’ll never be, even though I grew up here too. “Never think that, okay? I loved our game, Lenore. I just can’t play anymore, that’s all.”

His mouth twists, and he frowns as he watches me, willing me to understand.

Idon’tunderstand, not at all, but I’m not about to force my attention on someone who doesn’t want it. That’s jerk behavior.

Gabe makes a low noise when I tug my wrist free—like I kicked him in the gut. I’m back to staring at his collar, though it’s all fixed now.

“If you’d rather go back outside, Mr Dempsey, I could signal one of your men once my uncle is ready for you.”

Another grunt, and Gabe soundspained, like this stiffness and distance between us feels all wrong to him too. As unnatural as a dog playing piano.

“Is that what you want, beautiful?” The question rasps out of his throat, even though unlike most of his workers, Gabe’s not a smoker. I noticed, obviously. I noticed everything about this man; studied him like it was my full time job. “Want me to go wait outside?”

My shrug is robotic. Gabe gusts out a long breath, then rounds the desk in three strides.

I blink up at him, startled, as he tucks my hair behind my ear, cupping my elbow with his other hand. And he’s closer now, close enough for me to feel the warmth of his body, close enough to make all the tiny hairs on my arms stand on end. He’s touching me.

And that pull between my legs is getting worse by the second; I’machingdown there. My body’s crying out for this man, even as my heart harrumphs and turns away.

He didn’t want you, idiot.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you before.” Gabe speaks quick and low, one eye on my uncle’s office door. His dark blonde hair is all messy from the wind. “I loved our game, okay? Loved having you watch me, baby. But girls like you and guys like me… we don’t match. Everyone knows that. And I couldn’t stand being a one time thing for you; couldn’t stand just being a game you play when you’re bored.”

I raise my chin, heart galloping., and even though there’s no hope here—I want to set the record straight. Let it be known thatIwas all in, different backgrounds or no. I may be a Hattworth, but I’ve never been a snob.

“Who says it would be one time? Who says it was a game?”Ass, I add silently, but he definitely hears that too. Gabe’s mouth tugs up at the corner, and he steps all the way in so that our bodies brush together.

“Oh?” He’s less tense now, the stress bleeding from his frame. “So you’re not trying to walk on the wild side?”

Um. No?

I’ve never walked onanyside before, but I don’t point that out. The last thing this man needs to hear right now is that I’m looking for him to swipe my v-card. He’d probably jump out of the window, James Bond style.

Instead, I wrinkle my nose up at him, tugging my elbow free. “You stopped playing, mister. You don’t get to tap back in whenever you like.”

“No?”

“Nope.”

“That’s harsh. What if I messed up?” Gabe ducks his head, running the cold tip of his nose along my jaw, laughing when I suck in a breath. “What if I want a do-over?”

“Th-that’s too bad.” My words are strict, but the way I’m melting against him, clutching two fists of his shirt, gives me away. My whole body’s on fire for him right now, quivering and cooking under my clothes—and I’m so glad he’s talking to me. So glad he’s looking at me again. The last few days have been the loneliest of my life. “You had your chance, but you didn’t want me.”

Gabe scoffs, nuzzling my earlobe. “Likehell—”

A few muffled steps is all our warning, then Uncle Roderick’s door slams open. We’ve already sprung apart, both red faced and breathing hard, but he doesn’t even notice how close we’re standing or how rumpled we are. He’s too busy waving hisvisitor inside, scowling down at his wristwatch like he’s too important to even look Gabe in the eye.

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