Page 70 of A Table for Two
He grinned. “Best sister-in-lawever.”
Serenity leaned back in her chair and found Gabriel watching her. He smiled and winked.
“Well, now,” Chandra said, sotto voce.
She skewered her sister with a look. They were definitely going to have to talk when everyone left.
“Oh, yeah. I love this song.” Dana jumped up with her wineglass and started dancing to “Shame” by Jill Scott.
Terri joined her, and the two belted out the lyrics while the group clapped and encouraged them.
“These lyrics are pretty appropriate for the moment. I hope you and Gabriel don’t miss out on a good thing,” Chandra whispered to Serenity. “Now, thatwouldbe a shame.”
Of all the songs to play, it had to be this one. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Don’t you remember what I told you? Casual. Temporary. The end.”
“Girl, I’ve been watching the two of you, and there’s a lot more going on than you care to admit.” She angled her head. “Or maybe it’s more than either of you realize or planned.”
Yeah.Waymore than she’d planned. And she had no idea how to make it stop.
Gabriel came around the table and pulled her to her feet. “We didn’t get a chance to dance last weekend.”
Serenity heard her sister laugh but ignored it. Never missing a beat, Gabriel danced her over to an empty spot on the deck. She’d never seen him dance, but the fluid movement of his hips had her mesmerized, reminding her how those same hips moved as he made love to her.
As if interpreting her thoughts, he said, low and sexy, “I can’t wait to have you to myself. I think I’d like a private dance…horizontally.”
She gasped and missed a step. He moved closer and wrapped an arm around her to steady her but didn’t let go, his body grinding against hers in a way that made her want to tell everybody to go home. By the time the song ended, her body was so on fire, she needed a minute. Make that five minutes. Serenity snatched her wineglass up, tossed back the remainder, and set it down with a thud. Putting what she hoped looked like a genuine smile on her face, she said, “I’m going to bring out dessert.” She spun on her heel and headed for the sliding glass door leading to the kitchen.
“I’ll help,” Gabriel said.
She didn’t want him to help. What she needed was a minute away from him to get herself together. But she said instead, “Great. Thanks.”
“Are you okay, Serenity?” Gabriel asked as soon as they were in the kitchen alone.
Serenity opened her mouth to give the standard, “I’m fine” line, but changed her mind. “No, I’m not okay. You holding me and touching me has my body all in an uproar, and I want everybody to go home so you can finish what you started. Any other questions?” She almost laughed at his shocked expression. He stood speechless for several seconds. “I thought not.” She washed her hands, then uncovered the pan of brownies, cut them, and placed them on a plate.
He came and stood close to her. “Would it help if I told you I wanted everyone gone the moment I walked in the door?”
They stared at each other for a lengthy moment, then both burst out laughing, releasing some of the tension. She grabbed two more plates and lined one with mini peach cobbler bites and the other with bite-size molded chocolate cups.
“What’s going in these?”
Serenity retrieved a container from the refrigerator and handed it to him. “These chopped strawberries and raspberries. The little cups are all chocolate.”
“You mean the entire thing is edible?”
“Yep.”
Gabriel got a spoon out of the drawer, scooped some of the mixed fruit into one of the cups and popped it into his mouth. His eyes widened as he chewed.
“Good?”
He placed a hand over his heart and groaned pleasurably. “Beyond. If I can have these and the brownies for the rest of my life, I’m never leaving.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, she saw the excitement in his eyes dim, as if he hadn’t meant to blurt it out. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him if that’s all it would take, she’d gladly make them. But rather than make things more awkward, she kept her mouth shut. Instead, Serenity removed a large container from the freezer. “Oh, that’s cold!” She hurried over and nearly dropped it onto the counter. “I always forget to use a towel.”
“I can’t believe you made homemade ice cream, too,” Gabriel said, finishing filling the last of the chocolate cups with the fruit. “The stuff from the shop in town is good.”
“It is, but you know me when it comes to food. I don’t do anything by half.”
