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“Keep you safe,” he said. But he was afraid that might be a promise he couldn’t keep. Men focused on revenge had to be aware that there would be collateral damage.
“Promise?”
“Yes.”
He knew he shouldn’t have said that, but he couldn’t help himself. He wanted to protect her.
She opened her mouth but he kissed her before she could ask for more promises from him. He didn’t want to talk. Not about this. Not about anything serious. He wanted tonight to be something out of a dream.
He knew from Conner that she liked white knights. Men in shining armor who rode to the rescue of their woman. Damned if he wasn’t a battered warrior in severely tarnished armor, but he still wanted to be her hero.
Her mouth was soft and she tasted of fresh mint and something else that was just Gabi. He took his time because it was a mellow California evening and he wanted it to last forever.
He wanted this night to be the start of something new between them. A beginning where he didn’t let her down and she began to see him as...well, her hero.
He tangled one hand in her thick hair and let the cool, silky tresses play through his fingers. She tipped her head back and he thrust his tongue deeper into her mouth. She moved in his arms, her body undulating against his.
He put his other hand on her hip and drew her closer, wrapped his fingers around her and squeezed. She moaned and he felt everything inside his body clench. He lifted his head and looked down into her dark brown eyes. He saw the hope and the fear in them and realized that this night was more important than he could have ever imagined.
That tonight he was either going to make up for the past and start a new future with Gabi or he was going to put her forever out of his reach.
He knew what he wanted to happen.
He also had enough experience to know when he wanted something or someone this badly he often made mistakes.
He rubbed his thumb over her lower lip. God, he loved her mouth. It was full and lush and really he could spend all day kissing her. “Ready for a night to remember?”
“I am,” she said.
He linked their fingers together and led her to the seating area in front of the fire pit. Mrs. Tillman had made them some appetizers and he had a pitcher of margaritas for them to share.
He seated her and felt the cool evening breeze. Gabi wore a sleeveless sheath made of white lace that showed off her tanned skin. He reached for the package he had placed underneath the bench before she got there and handed it to her as he sat down.
“What? You didn’t have to get me anything,” she said.
“I know. But I saw this while I was in New York and it reminded me of you,” he said.
She gave him a sweet smile. “This is the first gift you’ve given me.”
He knew that, as well. They hadn’t dated long enough before his arrest for birthdays or holidays. He’d never had the chance to know if she was a slow present unwrapper or one of those who tore the paper off. Little things that seemed inconsequential until he found the right person.
Damn. This was a date. Just a date, he reminded himself.
Gabi was here. She was hot. And he had a lot to make up for from the past. That was it.
She carefully untied the blue ribbon and put it around her neck. His eyes followed the movement, noticing how long her neck was. He reached over to tuck her hair back behind her shoulder, pretending it was so he could see the ribbon better, knowing it was because he needed to touch her.
“Very pretty.”
“Thank you,” she said. “I love ribbons.”
He’d had no idea. But he would remember it for the future.
She carefully unwrapped the box and set the paper aside once she’d folded it. She held the box on her lap, running her fingers over the Bergdorf Goodman lettering before slowly opening it.
Beneath the tissue was the scarf he’d picked out. It was multicolored and had crystals woven into it in a pattern. She pulled it out and held it up in front of her. Then she put it on her lap and traced the gems with her fingers.
“Thank you so much. It’s gorgeous.”
She stood up after setting the box to the side and put the scarf around her shoulders. She turned and glanced back at him over her shoulder.
“How do I look?”
“Beautiful,” he said. His voice sounded hoarse and he knew that was because all the blood in his body had raced to his groin. He was hot and hard. Ready for her.
But when she smiled sweetly at him, he knew he could wait. Just barely.
This night had the promise of being more than sex. Of having all the romance that they had never experienced together.
