Page 28 of Fierce-Gabe

He glanced over and saw Grant Fierce catch them next to each other. He wasn’t sure if he wanted those eyes on him but knew they were being watched by the Fierces.

They’d see how hard this was.

“You can take it any way you want,” she said. “I’m sure a lot of women love it.”

He’d had a bit of a reputation in college. He knew it. But that wasn’t until after Elise. He wondered if he was so upset by what happened with her that he just didn’t give a fuck for years.

He knew he shouldn’t place the blame on her and wasn’t going to. It was nothing more than a period of time in his life.

“It’s been said before,” he said. “Might have been a night you did too.”

He was pushing his luck with those words but sitting back wasn’t getting him anywhere either.

“Really?” she said. “Here? You’re going to bring that up for the first time in all these years now?”

Yep, he fucked up. “It was meant as a joke.”

“It’s not funny,” she said and walked away.

For the life of him he couldn’t figure out why Elise Kennedy hated him so much.

9

CHALLENGING HER

By eleven, Elise was wishing she hadn’t come.

She’d put it off as long as possible to the point it was late enough that she could give the excuse not to show up.

But her father texted and wanted to know where she was at eight thirty and that told her she wasn’t going to get away with not showing up unless she lied and said she was sick.

She’d replied she was getting ready and on the way.

Which meant she had to do what she said.

She was dressed and just sitting around her house. She’d changed her clothes three times. She was going to wear something better than jeans, but she didn’t want to be someone she wasn’t.

Then she told herself that her clothing shouldn’t determine that.

So she kept on the nice pants and sweater, slipped her heels on, made sure her hair was brushed and put a thin layer of makeup on that she rarely bothered with. No more than what she had on at the Christmas Eve party the week before. Foundation, eyeliner and lip gloss. Good enough.

When she’d shown up a little after nine, she’d found her brother and talked to him for a bit. She’d felt eyes on her a few times and looked around. Once she caught Gabe’s and he just smiled and looked away.

She didn’t know why he was always looking at her unless it was the one that got away.

How much clearer did she have to be with him at times?

It was hot and stuffy in here and she just wanted some air. Maybe she’d leave.

She got her jacket just in case. She didn’t even have a purse with her; she’d left it in the car and had the key to her car in her jacket. Everything was safe here.

She went down to the main level of the building and out a back door to a fenced-in area where employees and tenants could sit for lunch or breaks when the weather was nice.

She found a chair and sat by herself in the corner while she tried to figure out if she should leave. No one would even know she was sure.

“Hiding?”

Seriously?! The reason she was out here was because of him. “Are you following me?”

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