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“Yes, it’s reserved for special guests.”
He quirked a brow.
“It stands for Pain In The Ass.”
His chuckle and the way his eyes danced sent a shiver up my spine. It took all my strength to bite back an answering smile.
“I think I can afford that. Will you come to me tomorrow or should I pick you up?”
“I’ll come to you, since it’s on the other side of Esperance. It doesn’t make sense for you to come all the way out to get me.”
“Okay. Oh, one more thing: I just got a text from Lucy asking if I can stop in Dover to pick up some second-hand baby goods for a charity drive she’s organizing with Ellen. Do you mind doing that too?”
“No, that’s fine.”
“I might also need to stop at Slow River Ranch on the way back, but I can drop you off at Zara’s first, if you want.”
“Slow River Ranch?”
His eyes widened at the intensity in my voice, and he nodded cautiously.
“As in the Slow River Ranch owned by Noah and Genevieve from the showChasing the Mistletoe?”
“Yeah, that’s the one. They’re running youth camps now and want some guidance on how to set everything up to make the most of the land. Did you watch that show?”
“Every single second of it. I’d love to go and see their ranch.”
“Great. Okay. Well, that’s a lot to fit into one day, so we’ll need an early start. Can you get to my place by eight?”
“Yes.”
“See you then.”
“Bye.”
I watched him go, trying to ignore the little flutter in my belly at the idea of spending a whole day with him on my own.
CHAPTER7
Ally
It was twenty minutes from Esperance to my parent’s farm and I spent every second of the trip in agony. Why the hell had Gabe felt the need to shower? I mean, obviously, personal hygiene is important. But why did he have to look like he literally just stepped out of the shower, with his hair still damp, and his shirt clinging to his muscles like that? All it did was make me wonder how he’d looked all soaped up and wet, which made me a little wet myself. What did he do in there? Did he have to take care of a little morning glory? Was there any chance he thought of me while he did it?
Yep, so now I was reduced to wondering if Gabe Walker pictured fucking me while he jerked off in the shower. Great start to the day.
And then there was the way he smelled – all soapy and fresh, with that amazing cologne that filled my head and gave me lots of impure thoughts. Gripping my hands together tightly, I crossed one leg over the other, trying to soothe the ache in my core. Was he checking me out? I was wearing a sinfully short black skirt, a dark red tight-fitting shirt and ballet flats. It was the kind of thing I usually wore when the weather was good and I wasn’t working, so I hadn’t given it much thought, but now I wondered if it had been a good idea. Maybe I should have worn jeans.
No, fuck that. If I had to be uncomfortable, then so did he. I uncrossed my legs and shifted in the seat, making a big show of pulling the hem of my skirt down. Like clockwork, his eyes dropped to my legs again. “Hey. Eyes on the road, buddy.”
He glanced at me, that little half smile on his lips. That made me feel all tingly, because it meant he knew exactly what I was doing, and he liked it. Then he did exactly what I told him to, i.e., turned his attention to the road, and it didn’t matter how much I shifted and squirmed in the seat, he didn’t look at me again once. Bastard.
“The turnoff is just up here.”
Gabe flicked on the indicator, taking the next left and easing the truck down the gravel road.
“Turn right just up ahead.”
“Got it.” The dirt track to my parents’ farm ended at a picturesque white clapboard farmhouse, the door and window shutters painted dark gray. There was a flat lawn in front, with giant elms and oaks dotting the yard and shading the house. Pulling to a stop, he cut the engine and gazed through the windshield. “Wow. The photos don’t do it justice.”
