Page 56 of Ruthless Enforcer

And the night after that.

And every fucking night after for the rest of our lives.

47

CLARA

Gabriel made dinner, so I clean up. It’s not a big deal. He’s a tidy chef.

Afterward, I figure it’ll be like the past couple nights where I’ll go up to my room and he’ll do whatever he does all night. Only instead, he says, “Want to watch a movie?”

Wiping my hands on a towel, I turn and watch him settle on the couch as he reaches for a remote. He presses a button and a screen drops down from the ceiling.

He wants to watch a movie with me.

It shouldn’t feel significant. People watch movies together all the time. Married people probably do it so often they stop noticing.

Only, I’ve never done this with a guy, or even with a friend. My nanny used to cue up my movies and leave me to watch alone.

But more than that, Gabriel’s choosing me, at least for tonight.

Something warm unfurls beneath my ribs. I have to clear my throat before I can answer. “Sure.”

His eyes flick to me. “Try to contain your enthusiasm, Duchess.”

“I’m deciding whether your taste in movies is grounds for annulment.” I toss the towel at him as I join him on the couch.

He catches it one-handed. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

My heart does a stupid little flip. God, I hope not.

He leans back against the couch, one arm draped along the backrest in a way that makes the space feel smaller. "What do you want to watch?"

“I don't know.” Am I supposed to snuggle in there? I want to. Except I don’t want to scare him off, so I make sure there’s twelve inches of space between us. I don’t know that it’s safe, but it’s something. "You pick."

His gaze drops to my shoulder, bared where the cashmere sweater drapes. "Dangerous offer, Duchess."

Okay, not safe. Thank God. "I'm sure you have excellent taste."

"I do." He lifts the remote and starts scrolling through options. "And I know exactly what you want."

My entire body reacts before my brain catches up. I press my thighs together, hoping he can’t tell how easy I am for him.

Hell—maybe I should let him see.

Before I can decide if throwing myself on him and kissing him is the right after dinner activity, I notice the movie he cues up. “The Proposal?”

"Excellent film."

I face him, my legs curled under me, maybe even more turned on than I was before. I expected an action film or thriller, or maybe a documentary about tactical operations. "Gabriel Reyes, badass, watches Sandra Bullock romantic comedies?"

"Gabriel Reyes contains multitudes, Duchess. Besides, Betty White alone makes it worth watching."

I poke his arm. "You cried at the end, didn't you?"

He grabs my hand and tugs me into his side, putting his arm around my shoulders. "Careful, Duchess."

Every thought in my head goes quiet. His arm is heavy and warm around me, and I settle against his chest as if I’ve done it a thousand times.