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“You’re not,” Allyson said, holding her hand out for Dani’s keys. “I know where you parked it.”
Dani shook her head. “Why will nobody listen to me when I say I’m okay?”
“Because we want to take care of you,” Zeke said. “Let us do this for you.”
Dani nodded, and before she knew it, she was in Gabriel’s arms once again as he carried her out of the club to his car. Once he made sure she was comfortable and belted in, he climbed in and started the car. She rested her head against the window. It was dark, so she really couldn’t see much.
In what felt like record time, he pulled up in front of her apartment building. “You are not carrying me in.”
“I am walking you in.”
“Okay.” She waited until he came around and opened her door. She’d learned that lesson early when Gabriel admonished her for not allowing him to help her out of the car. Together they made their way to her apartment. Dani was steady on her feet, her mind perfectly clear. She unlocked her door, pushed it open, and turned to Gabriel.
“Tonight was amazing. Thank you.”
“I should stay with you tonight.”
She shook her head. She needed time to process everything that had happened. “I’m totally fine. I’m going to undress and go to bed. Go home, Gabriel. We can talk tomorrow.” She went up on her toes and brushed a kiss over his lips before stepping back and closing the door.
Dani was surprised when Gabriel walked away, but maybe he understood that she needed this time alone. He’d set her bag by the door. She left it there and padded into her bedroom. Once there, she quickly changed out of her club clothes and into a T-shirt and fell onto the bed. She was so tired.
Tomorrow would be soon enough to deal with her emotions over tonight, what she’d overheard, and to try talking with Gabriel. She wanted to enjoy the way her ass still tingled from their scene, because it was probably the last time it would ever happen.
* * * *
Gabriel was on his third cup of coffee when Zeke walked into the office.
“Did you sleep at all?” Zeke asked.
“Very little. Dani wouldn’t let me stay with her, and I haven’t been able to reach her this morning.” He took a hearty drink of his coffee. “I’m worried about subdrop.”
“Why are you sitting here?” Zeke prompted.
Gabriel didn’t waste a second. He jogged to his car and drove over to Dani’s place. Her car was in its allotted slot. The lobby door was locked, and she wasn’t answering her bell. He was starting to get really worried and was about to call the police department for a welfare check when someone opened the door.
The older woman looked at him suspiciously, and he put on his most charming smile. “Good morning, I was just checking on Dani. She is new in the building.”
“Oh, that nice young girl.” The woman stared at him. “Didn’t I see you here the other night?”
“Yes. We had a date, but I haven’t been able to reach her this morning, and I wanted to check on her.”
The older woman stepped aside, holding the door open. “It’s nice to see that you young men can be gentlemen and check on a woman.”
“Yes, ma’am.” It took everything in him not to run down the hallway. When he got to Dani’s door, he pounded on it. “Dani,” he yelled.
The door opened, and Dani stood there. The air left his lungs. She looked beautiful with mussed hair and bare feet.
“Gabriel? What are you doing here?”
“I been trying to reach you for the past few hours.”
“I’m sorry.” She stepped back and gestured for him to enter. She closed the door behind him. “I just woke up a few minutes ago, and my cell phone is dead. I forgot to plug it in last night.”
Gabriel pulled her into his arms and held her. “I was worried.”
“I can see that.” She brushed a kiss over his jaw. “I’m perfectly fine.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.” He held her at arm’s length. “I want to see your ass.”
