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Gabriel huffed. “Well, Suzanna isn’t married. It must be somebody else the man was looking for.” Shit. He hoped the guy Suzanna was running from hadn’t sent someone looking for her.
“You met her on the internet.” Her tone was indignant. “She could very well be married, but just not telling you.”
Gabriel was about to do something he’d tried to avoid. Which was pick a fight. “Doesn’t matter.”
“Why not?”
“Because I care about her, Cindy. And I don’t care what some strange man in a bar says. She’s not married. At least not yet.” The implication that he was planning to propose marriage hung in the air between them. He probably shouldn’t have said it but figured it might get Cindy to back off.
Cindy’s eyes widened in shock. “What? You barely know this woman. You only just met in person yesterday. You’re thinking about marriage?”
“All I’m saying is that I know her well enough that I trust her. And besides, what makes this any of your affair?”
“Because. Because.” She shook her head with certainty. “Just because. We’re friends and I care about you.”
It was time to let her down as gently as possible. If Suzanna stayed, he didn’t want her character assassinated by Cindy and her fanciful notions at every turn.
“Listen to me, Cindy.” He walked closer but kept an arm’s distance. “I know you’ve entertained the idea of us being a couple. I’ve tried to assuage you of that notion.” Cindy didn’t know he shared women with Nathan. She also didn’t care for Nathan, at all. She’d never understood their close friendship. Gabriel didn’t actually want her to. Her brother, on the other hand, understood very well Nathan and Gabriel’s sexual life, which was the main reason he didn’t approve of his sister’s fairly overt crush.
She huffed. “I’m not interested in you, Gabriel. I just don’t want you to fall for the wrong woman. Especially if she’s lying to you.”
“Is that so? And you have no interest in me whatsoever?”
“I do not. I wouldn’t marry you if you were the last man on the planet.”
“Good to know.” He didn’t believe her but didn’t voice the same words in return. Some things were better left unsaid. However, if he crooked his finger, Gabriel figured Cindy would race to his side, unfortunately. “Here’s the thing. I love Suzanna. I expect my future is with her. So don’t spread unfounded rumors. In fact, don’t say anything about her at all, okay?”
Cindy inhaled deeply and exhaled just as intensely. “Fine.” She made a motion in front of her lips like she was locking them and throwing away the key. If it were only that simple.
Likely even if he broke his cardinal rule and actually married Suzanna, Cindy would still never realize the truth. Given the petulant depth of expression on her face, even a fiftieth anniversary celebration of their enduring love likely wouldn’t convince Cindy that he and Suzanna were in love. She didn’t remark further. She turned on her heel and left, slamming the door upon her retreat in obvious resentment.
Gabriel didn’t care about her anger. He should have told her his feelings long ago. A sexy vision of Suzanna came into his head. So instead of worrying about Cindy, he pondered his affection for the delectable woman he’d left asleep in his bed this morning. Did Suzanna have any affection for him? Did she love him? He should ask her. If he uttered the word love, would she balk, run, or would he find a spike of sultry interest in her beautiful eyes? And what would Nathan say? Remembering the look on his best friend’s face as he and Suzanna fucked early this morning, Gabriel thought that maybe Nathan would express his unending love and devotion as well. Stranger things had happened.
Interestingly enough, even the idea of getting married to Suzanna didn’t strike fear all the way to his soul like it usually did with other women. Maybe he’d simply needed to find the right woman. Maybe he finally had.
His cell phone beeped, signaling a text message.
It was Nathan letting him know that he and Suzanna were headed out of the house for the afternoon, additionally noting their destination. The Old West Town park was closed to the public today. But not to the owners. Apparently, Suzanna wanted to see Nathan’s blacksmith shop.
