Slowlyshe dragged the soft cotton over the stubble of his beard soaking up the beadsof falling water. Silently he drove through the rain as she continued. Notreceiving any sign to stop she hesitantly reached underneath his chin to wipethe other side of his face. The movement brought her even closer considering thatshe was sitting in the middle seat instead the passenger seat. With his neckand face dry Salene sat back in her seat feeling awkward about the suddenintimate moment she created. Realizing she was still unnecessarily sittingclose she leaned over to scoot back into her seat, but the grip on her kneestopped her.
“Don't,”Gabriel's voice sounded hoarse. “There is a police officer coming up behind usjust stay seated.”
Thehand on her knee disappeared. Reaching past and around her, he grabbed themiddle seat belt and snapped it over her waist. The wet fabric covering hisbicep brushed her chest slightly in the movement. The cold fabric brushingagainst her breast immediately made her body shake in a slight chill.
“Areyou cold?” He asked not taking is eyes off the road he leaned forward to switchon the heat.
Holdingout her hand to stop him. “No, that's ok I am fine.”
Slowingdown to a stop at the next stop light Gabriel looked down at her andimmediately back to the road.
"Youare cold." He said gruffly, before turning on the floor heat in the truck.
FrowningSalene had a think about his words for a moment and then with embarrassingrealization she realized his meaning. Carefully glancing down she could see hernipples pressing against her sheer blouse. Mortified she pulled the damp towelcloser hugging her breast. Minutes later Gabriel pulled into the dark garage.Shutting off the engine they were immediately ensconced by darkness, only thedim light of the garage door opener above filtered weakly through the frontwindshield.
Feelingfor the buckle latch that secured her Salene tried to break the silence."Thank you for the dinner."
Withoutwaiting for a reply, she began to scoot down towards the passenger door. Thetug on the towel in her hand stopped her midway. Turning back towards himSalene looked to see Gabriel turned in his seat. With one forearm restingcasually on the steering wheel and the other hand gripping the end of thetowel, he gave her an unreadable gaze. The mood in the vehicle seemed tointensify, but Salene could not label it. If she let go of the towel, she wouldexpose her hardened nipples but would be able to quickly get out of thevehicle, but if she held on she would have to endure this nameless moment.Salene's heart skipped in her chest as she gripped the towel tighter.
"Iam going to be completely honest with you," the dim half-light of thegarage light cut across his face pronouncing the hard angles. The emerald gazelocked onto hers unwavering. "I am going to expect a managerial perk afree coffee from now on."
Silence.
Fora moment there was only silence before a slow smile grew across both of theirfaces.
Pursingher lips to contain her laughter Salene gave him a devious smile of her own foronce. "I think I can manage that… That is, if you stay in my goodgraces."
Chapter 9
Sealingthe large brown envelope Gabriel leaned back in his office chair. The studyturned office was in perfect working order now. With the computer, printer, andwork files set up Gabriel was able to finally use the room for its intendedpurpose for the first time. Looking back down at the envelope in his hand hesneered.
Nothanks to her, he thought. With the paperwork ready and the stamp on theenvelope, Gabriel was one step closer to freedom. The thought of being free anddivorced from Amber should have been an immense relief, but it was not for somereason. All he could focus on was what a fucking idiot he had been to marry thevile woman. Now he can look back and see the obvious signs of Amber'sdisingenuous intentions. There were cookie crumbs of clues that led to herrotten personality that he had ignored. The fake laughter that quicklydissipated after their marriage was the first sign. Con artist mastery wasperformed to build a relationship that revealed itself to be nothing but liesthe moment she did not get what she wanted.
Givingoff a hollow laugh Gabriel stared out the window, but he should have reallytaken notice of was how even Amber's own family treated her. With a long handledspoon is what his grandmother would say. Amber's family knew what she was, hewas the only one too blind not to see it. Well him and Salene apparently.
Placinghis hands behind his head Gabriel leaned back in his chair staring out at thebright sky. Salene had no idea what Amber was really like, but she waslearning.
Thechime of the doorbell interrupted him from his thoughts. Still dressed in hiswork clothes Gabriel went to the door with Bishop trailing happily at hisheels. A delivery man holding a large bouquet of assorted flowers greeted himwhen he answered the door.
"Hi,I have a delivery for Miss Salene Agnew." The man smiled widely whileholding out a digital notepad with his other hand.
"Doyou now?" Suspicious curiosity coiled through Gabriel as he signed for thedelivery.
ThankfullySalene was still out, setting the flowers on the nearby entrance table heplucked the gold embossed card off the plastic clip. The flowers were obviouslyvery expensive, a colorful array of exotic flowers neatly styled to spill overto one side of the glass vase. Opening the card Gabriel's mood darkenedimmediately as he read the note.
DearMiss Agnew, I want to sincerely apologize for my intrusion the other night. Icould completely understand if you never want to see me again. However, I willbe eternally grateful if you would allow me to somehow make it up to you. Againmy sincerest apologies Derek Cipriani
Theasshole even had the fucking balls to include his number at the bottom of thenote. Knowing he could not hide the evidence of the flowers around the houseGabriel carefully placed back the note. Ordering Bishop to stay put, Gabrielhoisted the heavy vase and walked across the street, setting the flowers atTobias's door.
Walkingback into his office Gabriel pulled out the contract he had been working on allweek, anything to take his mind off that prick. Ever since that night Gabrielhad nothing to do with that piece of shit, well to be technical Cipriani madesure he had nothing to do with Gabriel. The man avoided him like the plague.Gabriel did not give a shit if the higher-ups frowned on it or not. The factDerek was even able to walk out of his house that night was a blessing. IfTobias did not step in when he did Gabriel was positive someone would have hadto call the police and the ambulance.
Salene'sterrified scream still replayed itself in his mind when he thought of thatnight. Cipriani's red face as he came down the hall told him everything. Thatfucking broken lock.
Clenchinghis fist around his pen Gabriel leaned on his other hand as he narrowed hiseyes at the rest of the memories of that night. Salene might not be his mostfavorite person in the world, but it was already understood he could not letanything happen to her. Gabriel could admit he had some old-fashioned beliefsand tendencies when it came to the fairer sex, but that also meant he be damnedbefore he let a woman get accosted under his watch—especially Salene. But itwas more than that if he was being honest with himself, the fact that Ciprianiwitnessed Salene fully nude was just un-fucking-conceivable.
Annoyedand not getting a damn thing accomplished he walked to the kitchen. Grabbing abeer out of the fridge he popped the top. Taking a cold swig of the bitterliquid, he walked back towards the office. Salene was annoying, prissy, andsmart mouthed. Salene was a shrew with a venomous tongue. If Salene wanted shecould cut a man to ribbons with her words alone not to mention those damninghoney colored eyes of judgment. Salene was not someone he should think aboutnaked, or getting out of the shower soaking wet, or any other highly agitatingscenario. So if he was not allowed to think of her that way he would be totallyfucked before he would let Cipriani live a peaceful life with that mentalimage.
Glancingat his watch, Gabriel noted it was getting late. Hovering his hand over hisphone he paused. Salene was a grown woman with no real ties to him besidesbeing a freeloader, she did not need to be checked up on. But she has beengoing in at four in the morning for the past week, so normally she was at homeby now. The last couple of days he found her passed out in her room with thedoor open, presumably for Bishop to come and go.
