Page 46 of One Short Summer

“Hurry up. I’ll even put some whipped cream and chocolate chips in your hot chocolate—just the way you like it,” he has the decency to yell after me, and I want to curse him for knowing me so well.

“Whatever,” I yell back as I turn the corner on the upper level, unable to contain the smile from creeping up on my face.

Traitorous body.

* * *

For the second time this week, the shower did nothing to calm me. My nerve endings are still on fire, and I’m incapable of thinking of much else but Gabe’s hands and mouth on me.

Begrudgingly, I make my way back downstairs, telling myself over and over I’m a grown-up. Shouldn’t I have some more control over my body instead of acting like a hormonal teenager? It seems to be one of those disconnected moments between my body and my brain though—one part is logical and the other part is throwing all caution to the wind.

To my utter dismay, Gabe is dressed. I’m not sure if he took a quick shower too or just put his clothes back on, but he’s waiting for me with a big smile on his face when I walk in, holding out an extra-large mug in my direction.

Wrapping my hands around the warm ceramic, I take it from him, my fingers briefly brushing his. “Thanks.”

He chuckles at my grumbling. “I can tell the shower helped a lot.”

Sarcastic smart-ass.

Very sexy and handsome sarcastic smart-ass.

Just looking at him and the small smile directed at me makes my sour mood slowly fade away. I’m not sure if I’m happy about that or not. He’s always had that effect on me, oftentimes able to cheer me up with a smile alone. The last year would have been exceedingly worse without him.

I take a sip, sighing as the sweetness hits my tongue. “It’s delicious, as always. Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome.” He reaches out, and I’m not sure what to expect when his thumb slowly brushes across my upper lip.

It’s the simplest of touches and doesn’t last longer than a couple seconds, but my body seems to think otherwise, an energetic buzz coursing through it.

Following the movement of his thumb with my eyes, I’m mesmerized as he pulls it back from my face to casually slip it into his own mouth. “You had some whipped cream there.”

My eyes roll into the back of my head, and I let out a groan loud enough for the neighbors to hear. “Gabe, you’ve got to stop. Now you’re just plain mean.”

He grins and closes the distance between us. A moment later, he’s next to me, gently bringing me into his side. His lips touch my forehead briefly before he pulls back. “Sorry, I’ll be good now.”

“Yeah. I’ll believe it when I see it. I never thought you’d be such a tease.”

His laughter shakes both of us, and after putting my mug down on the counter, I hit him gently on his arm. I don’t take my hand away though. Instead, I trail my fingertips up his biceps and over to his chest.

He catches my hand in his before I can go any farther. When I look up at him, his eyes are on fire. “Who’s the meanie now?”

Before I can say anything, his phone rings.

He exhales loudly and gets it out of his back pocket, putting it up to his ear after pushing the screen. “Hey, George. Let me head into my office, and I’ll call you back in a minute, okay?”

Nodding at something the man on the other end of the line said, he puts his phone back down and points at me. “You and me tonight, once we’re done with my sister? We can watch a movie.”

I eye him cautiously. Not exactly what I had in mind, yet again, but okay. “Depends. Will you make popcorn?”

No one can say I don’t drive a hard bargain.

His eyebrows shoot up and he gives me a look that screams, “Well, you obviously won’t be making any. Like, ever again.”

Ignoring it, I keep going. “With Oreos?”

“Sure.” His smirk is big, probably because he knows he’s got me exactly where he wants me.

Hook, line, and sinker.

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