Page 49 of A Table for Two
“Nothing happened,” Gabriel answered. “I’m just here for the week. To check on things.”
Brent arched an eyebrow, giving Gabriel the same look Darius had moments ago, and folded his arms. “Check on things? Because? I mean, with all the technology,” he said, waving a hand toward the elaborate computer setup, “I can see why that would be necessary.”
Darius let out a short bark of laughter. “Yeah, that’s the same thing I said. I think Gabe is falling for a small-town girl and is trying to run away.”
Gabriel really wanted to punch his friend. Darius had always been able to read him—and everyone else—and he hated it. His friend was dead-on, but Gabriel wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing that. No, he’d cling to his story, no matter how weak it sounded. “There’s no need to run from something that hasn’t happened.” He spun his chair back toward the computer. “If the two of you are done, I have work to do.” When neither commented, Gabriel glanced their way. Both Brent and Darius sat staring at him with goofy smiles on their faces. “What?”
“If you want to continue to live in denial-land, that’s fine.” Brent shrugged. “Since you’re here, I’m sure you want to see a little nightlife, so we can meet up at our usual place tonight.”
Gabriel agreed readily. “I’m down. It’ll be nice to hear something other than the crickets at sunset.” And the bar and grill always had a packed house and live music. The perfect thing to keep his mind off Serenity.
That evening Gabriel found out he’d been wrong. Nothing had been able to erase his thoughts of her—not even the laughter, a great band, and delicious food. At one point, a sexy woman strolled over to their table, slipped him her phone number, and leaned down to whisper an offer that left nothing to his imagination. A decade ago he might have taken her up on a night of uninhibited passion, but not tonight. He compared the woman to Serenity and found her lacking in every way. Gabriel didn’t mind an assertive woman and one confident about her sexuality, but pressing her body against his and trying to touch him before asking his name turned him off. Completely.
Brent and Darius broke out in laughter as soon as the woman left the table. Brent said, “Man, clearly she was ready to doanything. Back in the day, you wouldn’t have hesitated. Hell, I might not have, either,” he added, his gaze following the woman as she sashayed across the room.
Gabriel saluted Brent with his drink. “Key phrase isback in the day. I’m way past jumping into bed with women I don’t know.” Not that he’d ever made it a practice of having one-night stands. He considered himself to be pretty discriminating when it came to who he allowed in his bed.
“What about with one youdoknow?” Darius asked pointedly.
He swirled the dark liquid in his glass and started to pretend he didn’t know what Darius was talking about but changed his mind. They’d been friends too long and knew all of each other’s secrets. “It probably isn’t a good idea since I only plan to be there another month or so, but yeah, I’ve thought about it.” More than once. Each time he kissed and touched her. Every time she unleashed that sultry smile on him. At this point he knew it would be only a matter of time before their desire exploded. The chemistry between them was too strong for either of them to resist.
“There’s nothing saying you two can’t continue to see each other,” Brent said.
Gabriel shot Brent a dark glare. “I don’t do long distance.” Every one of his friends who tried it had ended up miserable after the relationship crashed and burned. He saw no reason to add his heart to the pile.
Twice more, as Gabriel, Darius, and Brent sat talking and listening to the music, women sauntered over to the table to proposition one or all of them. An hour later they called it a night and parted ways in the parking lot.
Gabriel arrived home a little after ten, early by his past standards. He made his way down the hall to the guest bedroom, where he’d been sleeping, and kicked off his shoes. Dropping down heavily on the bed, he expelled a long breath. He glanced around the spacious room and thought it would be the perfect size for his grandmother. Then again, she was used to living in a single-family home that included a yard where she grew a variety of flowers. Gabriel guessed he’d most likely have to give up the convenience of condo living in favor of a house.Ifhe could convince Nana to move.No time like the present. With the three-hour time difference, he knew she wouldn’t be asleep.
He dug his phone out of his pocket, scrolled to her name, and hit the call button.
“Hey, Gabriel,” Nana said when she answered. “Everything going okay with the job?”
“Hi, Nana, and yes. I’m just checking on you.”
Her soft laughter came through the line. “Oh, I’m all right. Just the normal aches and pains that come from getting old.”
“You’re not that old, Nana. Especially as fast as you were going the last time we went walking,” he said with a chuckle. Gabriel made it a practice of joining her for her daily walk at least once a week.
“I’ve got to keep myself in shape. It keeps Howard off my back and allows me to splurge with my fried foods and desserts every now and again.”
He couldn’t deny he loved when she splurged, especially when it came to her desserts. He had yet to figure out how she always made that yellow cake with chocolate frosting so light and moist.
“By the way, I ran into Serenity today. You two have been spending quite a bit of time together, huh?”
“Like you said, she’s a great person. She’s been nice enough to invite me over for dinner a few times.” Gabriel decided to keep the kissing to himself.
“Hmph. You could do worse.”
“Are you trying to hook me up with Serenity, Nana?”
“I don’t have to. According to Adele, you two are doing just fine on your own.”
So much for them being discreet.“Hold up a minute. Serenity and I are just friends, and I’m sure she won’t appreciate her neighbor spying on her or spreading her business.” He fully understood why Serenity had asked to keep their liaison quiet.
“It’s not really spying when it’s all out in the open. I will say that Serenity would definitely make a wonderful wife.”
Wife?“I’m sure she’ll make some man a great wife, but I really hadn’t planned to stay permanently. Speaking of that, have you given any more thought to moving to Atlanta with me?”
