Page 109 of Absinthe Minded

Papa Joe chuckled. “You seem surprised I read your books.”

“I just never pictured you as my demographic.”

“I’m more than the business, Maggie.” He lowered his voice. “The greatest gift you can give Gabe is to always remind him he’s a father, a husband, and a man—not simply a title and a job.”

I nodded. Between the sentiment and the champagne, I didn’t trust my voice.

Something behind me caught his attention, and he stopped dancing.

“May I cut in?” Gabe brushed his hand over my bare shoulder.

The sound of his voice caused flutters in my belly and my hands to tremble. I turned and smiled through the blur of unshed tears.

“Of course. Thank you for the dance, my dear.” Joe leaned forward and kissed my cheek before turning me over to his son.

Without a word, Gabe slid his hand into mine and spun me in a slow circle. The sight of him threatened to buckle my knees. His red leather mask had thin black brows painted over its slanted eyes. Between the mask and his pointy goatee, he looked like one heck of a sexy devil.

“Stop staring at me like that.” His lips curled into an evil grin that intensified the effect of the mask.

“Like what?”

“Like you’re thinking about my tongue between your thighs.”

Emboldened by his comment, I whispered, “How’d you know?”

“Because I know you.” He chuckled and dipped me backward.

Once upright again, I pressed my cheek to his shoulder. “I wish we could rewind and start over.”

“I don’t. Every moment good and bad brought us to where we are right now.” He drew me tighter and swayed to the music. “But I’ve missed you.”

I pulled back to look into his eyes. “Gabe, I…”

He placed his finger on my lips and smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m sorry I walked out on you after dinner. I needed to think. I’ve pushed too hard for this marriage. You’re right. It’s too fast. I’ll back off.”

My throat tightened. “Are you moving out?”

“Is that what you want?” He stopped dancing.

“No. That’s the last thing I want.”

He pulled me close and kissed the top of my head.

“Gabe, I don’t want—” I missed a step and swayed against him. My vision blurred and this time it had nothing to do with my feelings for him. “Can we sit? I’m feeling ill.”

Gabe tucked me against his side and led me from the dance floor.

The room began to spin, and I slumped against him. “Something’s wrong.”

He bent down and lifted me into his arms. “When did you eat last?”

Did I eat today?I couldn’t remember, in fact I couldn’t hold onto a thought long enough for anything to make sense. My limbs grew heavier by the moment, as if my bones had disintegrated into Jell-O.

Gabe set me on one of Evelyn’s oversized loveseats and untied my mask. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”

I started to stand, but he put his hand on my shoulder.

“Maggie, I mean it. Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”

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