Page 40 of Absinthe Minded

“Stop worrying so damned much. I don’t bite.”

I knew exactly how and where he liked to bite. “Easier said than done. I haven’t talked to you in years and ten minutes ago you had your tongue down my throat.”

“If memory serves, you started it.” He pulled me toward him and massaged my shoulders. “What do you want to talk about?”

I dropped my chin to my chest to give him better access to my pressure points.This is my chance. I have to take it.“I don’t know. Tell me about your new job. What exactly is the family business?”

His hands stilled as if he needed a minute to figure out how to answer. “My father’s company does acquisitions, mostly in the hospitality industry—bars, restaurants, hotels. We find properties in trouble or on the verge of bankruptcy. The owners are generally eager to sell. We buy them, fix them up, and turn them for a profit.” He nudged me. “Lay down.”

“What if they don’t want to sell?” I stretched out on my belly.

He shifted his weight as if reaching for something, then moved to straddle me.

A squishy sound told me he’d found my lotion.

Gabe slid his slick hands under my T-shirt and worked the knots in my lower back. “They always want to sell.”

“Sounds a little strong arm to me. Do you ever keep the properties?”

“Only in New Orleans. My father owns several boutique hotels. Leo and Enzo have restaurants, and I have the bar.”

I made a mental note to jot the information down. “What about your other brothers?”

“Before he died, Joe worked on acquisitions with my father. Marco is a corporate attorney for the business, and Dante is still in grad school.”

“Where does he go to college?” My body relaxed, but my brain kicked into high gear. I’d assumed the younger two Marchionni boys were business owners when I’d written the proposal for Marlena. I’d have to do some tweaking to make it work.

“LSU.” Gabe worked the long muscles on either side of my spine. “I’m buying my bar from my father. It’s almost paid off.” His voice deepened as if he were proud of himself.

The change of subject surprised me. I glanced over my shoulder. “Did he cut you a deal?”

“I’m paying fair market, but he holds the loan. Like the arrangement Joe had on this house. Pretty much everything goes through the folks, whether we want it to or not.” He pushed my shirt to my shoulders. “Take this off.”

Careful not to flash him my boobs or Pooh belly, I pulled the T-shirt over my head. “Why would you want to give that up to take your father’s job?”

“I don’t want to give it up, but how can I say no? His company is his life’s work. I can’t turn him down. It would have gone to Joe, now it falls to me.” He straddled my thighs.

Gabe had always had a competitive streak with his brothers, especially Joe. That, coupled with his constant need to please his parents, had caused most of the problems in our relationship.

NOLA Societyreaders would love a peek into his psyche, but I wouldn’t go there. No, I’d find a different angle for his article. “How sad.”

“It’s not sad—it’s life. You of all people should get that. You gave up your dreams to come here and raise the kids.”

I shook my head. “I always wanted to be an author. I haven’t given it up, but it’s taking longer to write the new novel than I’d hoped.”

“How about the mother part?”

“I never imagined it would happen like this, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

“Didn’t you want kids of your own?” He pressed his fingers into my neck in slow circles.

“I never thought much about it, but I’m okay with what I have. I mean, how many women can have three kids and no stretch marks?”

Gabe moved his hands back to my shoulders. “How do you know you won’t want more one day?”

“I guess I don’t.”

He leaned forward and whispered into my ear, “Relax.”

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