"Ohwell that is perfectly okay, would you mind if I be your escort?" Hesmiled so beautifully Salene could only compare it to the warmth of the sun.
Grinninglike an utter fool all she could do was nod, he didn't need to know she waspractically bankrupt with zero intention to purchase. Directing her over to alarge gleaming silver grill she began to follow when she felt a searing heatcup each shoulder. Looking at the hand and quickly up and over her shoulderSalene wanted to groan as she felt Gabriel's presence behind her standingpossessively close.
"Thereyou are Salene my sweet," the overly emphasized endearment felt like asnap of the leash. "Are you ready to go home?" They both knew thatwasn't a question.
"What?That was so fast." Salene was genuinely shocked, they had only been inthere for a few minutes at least.
Squeezingher shoulders, he forcibly turned her to face him thus forcing her to ignorethe sales guy completely as he dominated all of her attention.
"Yupalready paid for and will be delivered next week." Looking at her, hiseyes sparkled with darkness as he slid his rough hands down her arms to graspher hands. "You know me, once I know what I want—I take it."
Forsome reason, Salene couldn't be sure who he was talking to, her or thesalesman. Either way, the statement shook her without explanation. Not givingher a chance to look away Gabriel calmly took her hand and pulled her to hisside as he escorted her out the store as if he had all the right in the worldto do so.
Salenecouldn't wait for them to pull off from the store's windows they were parked infront of, so she could lay into him about his high-handed behavior.
"Seethat is how you're a proper wingman," Gabriel stated before she could evenopen her mouth giving her a dark smile.
Wasthat what that was about all about? Confused, annoyed, and tired Salene rolledher eyes deciding it wasn't worth the argument. Although as she thought aboutthe dark look he cast the man in the store Salene didn't feel like he was justplaying around.
Chapter 15
Bothpairs of feet were hitting the pavement in perfect unison as both men joggeddown the neighborhood sidewalk. Coming to a stop back in front of Tobias'shouse both Gabriel and Tobias were breathing heavily. Sweat was rolling off bythe gallons as they slowly walked past the house towards the end of the streetto cool down. They both hated cardio, but they both knew they needed to breakup the constant weightlifting.
"You'regetting slow old man," Tobias wiped his face with his shirt, flashing hisabs at their grinning elderly neighbor Mrs. Pughes.
Refrainingfrom shaking his head at the scene he was causing Gabriel used the towel aroundhis neck to wipe his own face. It was unbearably humid out after rainingpractically all week, supposedly there was going to be a large storm in thenext few days. The flicker of yellow light from the streetlamps turning on,overhead signaled the fast approach of oncoming night. Looking towards hishouse Gabriel noted the lights were all still off, that meant Salene was stillat work.
"Iwould argue but," Gabriel sighed, lacing his hands behind his head he grinned."I think you might be right."
"Itis because you have been eating like a king ever since Salene moved in withyou."
Hidinghis growing smile he thought of the chicken pot pie she made last night,Gabriel's stomach rumbled just thinking about it.
"YeahI am pretty sure you are right, but I am not going to tell her damnthing." There was no way Gabriel was going to jeopardize his ticket tohome-cooked meals. "I will just workout harder if I have to."
Tobiaslaughed. "Okay then, good luck with that."
Stoppingin front of Tobias's house again Gabriel was about to say his goodbye whenTobias spoke again.
"Youknow," the man's tone was completely serious now. "If I would haveknown how you would have reacted to my information about Salene and Amber's lunchI would have never told you."
Thedisapproval in his tone was actually an improvement from his all-out anger hehad earlier when Gabriel confided the ugly details of the fight. It was a firstfor their friendship never before had either one of the men been angry at theother. Either it was motivated by honesty or some sort of self-punishmentGabriel was not sure, he just felt the need to confess his dumb actions.
"Trustme, I know," staring at the dark house across the street Gabrielunwillingly recalled Salene's terrified face the night of the fight. Grippingthe end of the towel around his neck tighter he tried to push the image out."That will never happen again." Gabriel was not the type of man toact like that around women.
Thejingle of his phone in his arm strap interrupted the sobering moment betweenthem, frowning at the caller ID Gabriel quickly answered.
"Salene?"It was odd getting a call from her especially at this time of night.
"Gabriel,"the sad, distressed tone immediately set him on alert, not to mention shehardly ever referred to him by his first name.
"Whatis it?" By now the grip on his phone was lethal as he stood stone stillwaiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop.
"Mycar won't start." The tiny nearly whispered confession made him exhalevisibly, thoroughly confusing Tobias who was watching him the whole time.
"Dammit,is that it?"
"Whatdo you mean is that it! This is my car we are talking…" By now the sadtiny voice that answered the phone was being quickly replaced by the familiarhusky tone with an extra snap of anger. Smiling he put his hand on the mic andturned to Tobias.
