Page 34 of Visions of You

His lips were so full, and I vividly recalled the taste of them. I nodded again. “Yes.” I tried not to wince at my inability to form more than one-word sentences around this man.

“I’m sorry if I came on too strong last night. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

I smiled and relaxed, leaning into his hand as he cupped my face. “I was a little… stunned. More at myself than you.” With a deep breath, I squared my shoulders and looked him in the eye. “Gabe, I have a pretty bad history with relationships. Either I choose men who want nothing to do with me, or the guy I thinkisinto me dumps me with no warning. It’s like there’s no in between.”

“I don’t think anyone gets to our age without some baggage. And I hope you realize after last night that I’m very attracted to you.”

I smiled again. “Same here. This is what I need you to understand. I don’t want a serious relationship at this point in my life.”

The corner of his mouth twitched. “Neither do I. Sounds like we’re perfect for each other.”

That made me laugh, and the tight knot in my gut unfurled. “Maybe.”

My smile faded as he moved his hand, trailing a finger down my neck and across my collarbone. Shivers tickled down my chest.

“Only one way to find out,” he said softly. “You want to go out with me?”

“I would. Very much. What do you have in mind?”

He lifted one shoulder. “On Saturday night, Hailey is sleepingover at a new friend’s house. I’m kind of an old-school guy. How about dinner and a movie?”

“A classic! Can’t go wrong with that. Saturday works for me.”

“There’s a Cineplex on Big Pine Key. I’m sure we could find something there to watch.”

My conversation with Charli came back to me, and I inhaled sharply. “I know! There’s an outdoor movie series near Conch Republic. And this week, they’re showing a rom-com I’ve been wanting to see. How about that?”

Gabe took a step back, a deep frown stretching his mouth. “Do I look like a rom-com kind of guy?”

I grinned. “Well, no, you don’t.” I stepped forward and skimmed my hands over his chest, feeling the taut muscles under his shirt. The muscles I’d seen with my own eyes, yet this was the first time I’d touched them. I wanted more. “But you do look like a man who wants to make his woman happy.”

His frown grew marginally less. “Rom-com, huh?”

“It’ll be fun. We can bring a blanket and hang out on the beach.”

“Can I pick dinner?”

“Of course. Fair’s fair. Are you in or out?”

He stared at me for a long beat, evaluating. “In.”

Then I tilted my head back and traced my finger over his stubbly beard. The skin around my mouth tingled at the memory of how it had rubbed last night.Who am I when he’s around?“Besides, I’m a woman who likes to make her man happy. I might be willing to do something to please you.”

Gabe’s frown disappeared, intense interest flaring in his eyes. “Now that’s intriguing. Anything?”

“Well, if your idea involves whips and chains, we might need to negotiate.”

A slow, sexy grin reached across his lips, and I took another step closer, my feet moving without any help from my brain.

“Nothing like that, I assure you.”

“Then take some time and think about it,” I whispered, brushingalong the sharp line where his beard met his neck. “You don’t have to answer now.”

Gabe lowered his head, and our mouths were close enough that his breath caressed my lips. “I don’t need any more time.” His voice was deep and throaty. “I know exactly what I want.”

My finger stilled. “Really? What?”

He took one step closer and grasped my waist with both hands. “I’ve got a special bottle of thirty-year-old Macallan. I’ve never opened it—been saving it. I want to pour that whisky over every inch of your body and lick it off.”

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