Gabby Revealed (Finding Perfect) (11 page)

Chapter Seventeen

Shane wanted desperately to ask but waited her out. The two words left on the screen of her laptop had dimmed,
and then the damn power saver mode took away his leverage. Now he would appear to be snooping if he brought up the monumental words every editor, every agent, every publisher longed to hear their pet author say.

Gabby was zoned out, her eyes focused on the television show in front of them, but if he asked, Shane knew damn well she wouldn’t be able to tell him what had happened. She had typed with so much, Gabby had physically given her all to her work, until the last two words…
”the end.”

Truth be told, Shane had no clue about the content of the show either. He’d been watching Gabby. Her eyes were getting heavy
, and she still held the fry in her fingertips, dragging it back and forth through the ketchup mindlessly as she stared ahead. “Darling,” he said gently, removing the drowned piece of potato. “Why don’t you go to bed, get a good night’s sleep?”

She turned to face him but didn’t speak. Gabby
’s eyes were glazed over and she only blinked once every few moments. “What are we doing?” she asked flatly.

If he wasn’t already on his ass, sitting on her floor eating at the coffee table
, he would have landed on it. Her bland question was so frank and so loaded; Shane didn’t know which direction to take. “Well, uh…are you sure you really want to have this conversation now? When you’re so tired, darling?”

“Quit calling me that. Don’t. You don’t have
to pretend. I’m not one of your New York Barbies.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“You. Flirting. Calling me that. You don’t have to. Not anymore. We’ve met. You’ve seen me. Hell, you’ve seen me cry—which so help me God, if you ever breathe a word of that I will kill your ass. But I shouldn’t have bothered you. It…it was a—” Gabby hung her head. “A gut reaction. I shouldn’t have. I’m sure you need to get back to your…” she trailed off.

“My what
, Gabby?” he coaxed.

“Don’t make me say it
,” she spit back, swiping at her cheek and looking toward her front door.

Shane took a stab in the dark, “My girlfriend? Gabby
, darling, look at me.” He gently eased her face to meet his, her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “I do not have a girlfriend. Haven’t for quite some time. As a matter of fact, things just sort of fell to shit for me in that department after taking on a new client. After our first, albeit colorful conversation, I lost interest in anyone else.” He let her chin go, stroking her cheek softly instead. “I just sort of fell under her spell, and I don’t want to break it. Especially now, Gabby.” Her face fell. Here he was laying his heart out on his sleeve trying to tread carefully as to not spook her yet she looked like he’d just broken up with her. “Gabby?”

The excess ketchup in her stomach started churning. It’d been years since
the night she’d been stood up by the quarterback, but the hurt hadn’t waned. Admitting she had feelings for Shane, much less risking his rejection, made that raw and sickening hurt come roaring back to the surface. She wasn’t a lovesick high school girl anymore. If Shane was trying to make her feel better because of John, but later, well then what happened? He held her writing in his hands. She didn’t trust anyone with her heart, but her work? No one else would ever touch that part of her but Shane.

“Gabby, did you understand what I’m trying to say?”

Focusing on the grains of the coffee table, memorizing the old barn wood she sighed. “Have you ever been the laughing stock of the school, Shane? Have you ever had rumors spread about you by your best friend, just so she could be accepted into the ‘in-crowd’? Writing. Shane, writing saved me. The store saved me. I spent hours there, only my grandparents and John and Edith knew about the notebooks I filled.”

“Because of your father’s dream?”

She nodded. “If I can’t write. I don’t know what…I just don’t know.” His palm ran down her head, following her hair down her back. It felt good, almost like it was sincere but she knew that was all in her head.

“Why would you give up writing?”

“Because.”

“Because why?”

“Listen. It’s late, I’m sure you have to get back—”

“I’m going with you to the funeral tomorrow.”

“Okay. So then fine. You’ll need to be ready to leave after that.”

“I’m not
. Going. Anywhere, Gabby,” Shane said, speaking each word slow and deliberately while trying to peer around the dark shield of hair she’d let fall between them.

“Don’t play games. Don’t jack with me, Shane. I’m too fucking tired
, and I’m not some stupid girl from the sticks.”

“You’re not stupid, but you’re a stubborn woman—more so than I’ve ever encountered.”

Gabby turned on him scowling. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means you won’t listen to me. I’m trying to tell you how I feel. I’m trying to tell you I moved here. For you.”

“What the hell in God’s name are you fucking talking about?”

“I’m staying at the B and B. My stuff is at Mr. Delbert’s storage units. Doug is letting me work from here…permanently.
Well not ‘letting’ me, we formed a partnership. I’m going to keep doing my side of things from here. My apartment in Manhattan—already gone. Everything I have, everything I need…is here.”

“But?”

“Big step? Didn’t talk to you first? Have you met the Gabrielle James I know? She doesn’t trust words, only actions. I understand why now. So…that’s what I did. Acted.”

“But?”

“Darling. I do believe this is a first for you. Seeing you at a loss for words.” He winked.

“Shut up
, jackass,” she spat back.

“There’s the girl I’ve come to adore.”

His playful side was pissing her off which was a mile better than moments before. His words, or his
actions,
rather, scared the piss out of her. Breathing hard and clenching her jaw to keep the tears at bay, Gabby leaned back against the couch to think for a moment.

Chapter Eighteen

The trash truck in the alley woke Gabby, only to find herself in a tangle of arms and legs on her couch. If Stan was already working, the grinding of his truck proof, it was around five in the morning. Maybe if she was real still she could keep pretending a little longer. She liked the feel of Shane’s shirt
against her cheek as she used his chest as a pillow. Although she had no illusions, that softness had to come with a hefty price tag, and even if it was fading, his cologne still surrounded her.

Gabby wanted to be mad that he’d technically slept with her two nights in a row. The rumors would be burning up the phone lines. For once, she didn’t care. Not in a
“protect herself” way, but in a “don’t give a shit” way. There was a certain peace she felt near him that Gabby had never been privy to before. Last thing she remembered was the utter shock from the bombshell he’d dropped on her. For once, she wanted to believe all the fluff and flowery romance stuff. He’d hit the nail on the head. If Shane would’ve gotten down on one knee, she’d have scoffed at him. However, packing up and moving to Renlend…to her?

Her heart thudded and she tried to keep her breathing slow and easy. Gabby snuggled in against his chest, reveling in Shane’s news. She was a realist through and through, but Gabby couldn’t contain the smile spreading
across her face.

“Somebody’s happy this morning.” His voice rumbled through his chest lowly.

“Shit,” Gabby mumbled having been busted. “You’re awake?”

“Have been for quite a while. It’s nice, waking up like this with you in my arms.”

Gabby held her breath, unsure of his next move. A chess player she’d never been, sucked at it actually. Feebly, she nodded.

Shane kissed her head. “That’s what I thought.”

“So, how’d we end up on the couch anyway? Together?”

“You leaned your head against the cushion, half-looking like you wanted to punch me. After about thirty seconds you were out cold. I picked you up
, and my thought was to lay you in your bed, but you grabbed my shirt and held on. I didn’t want to presume more than I already had, so I laid you down on the couch. You’re the one who sort of decided I was sleeping with you. Awake or not, you weren’t letting go. And…I, I was thrilled.” Great. So her subconscious gave her away. So much for not letting all her feelings lay out there for him to trample on. “Um, Gab, did you know you talk in your sleep?” She propped herself up immediately, daring him to continue. “I’ll take that death glare as a no.” He chuckled.

“I. Do. Not.”

“You told me several interesting things, Miss James. Such as—”

“You’re lying.”

Shane grinned. “No, I’m afraid not, darling. You told me not to leave you. That you—”He pulled her down on top of him. “Have never felt like this about anyone else before.”

“That’s bullshit.” Her fight was losing its fire. She had nothing in her arsenal
to defeat that smile of his.

“You also said you couldn’t believe I was here—with you.”

The wicked gleam in his eye held a secret, one she wanted to know, but didn’t. One she was afraid she already knew. Had Gabby told him something in her dreams she’d been way too scared to say in the light of day?

His palm stoked a need in her she’d hidden away, doused in cold water, but he was igniting it as he moved his hand from her hip, over her butt
, and up her back, the slight pressure pushing her down on him. Shane killed every comeback, every retort, any excuse she had in her head as he stared at her, the flecks in his eyes darkening, like emeralds, their pull too strong to look away. The jovial boyish grin fell from his face.

Shane slid his hand back down over her worn sweatshirt, the one she’d thrown on after a quick shower with only a pair of leggings, no bra, no panties and certainly no
premeditated thoughts of laying pressed up against the one man she’d dreamed of. With his gentle lead, Gabby let him bring her lips to meet his, her breath catching momentarily as his other hand slipped up under her shirt to find bare skin.

Gabby had only ever fantasized about a moment like this, especially after seeing him
the first time. Now here, in the flesh, he held her, his hands were roaming over her, possessing her like she belonged to him and only him. A growl rumbled deep in his throat as he figured out she had nothing on under the shirt and his kisses became hungrier. He locked his leg over hers, pressing himself into her. Feeling the length of his erection through his jeans and her thin black leggings fueled Gabby. She’d never known the deep longing for one certain man before, a want so strong it couldn’t be controlled.

Only a few dinners out with a quickie afterward, and only with a couple different men she’d met through the store from neighboring towns. She’d never brought her private life into Renlend, now she understood why—they meant nothing. Sex for her hadn’t been important, and definitely not a recurring event.

In Shane’s hold though, with him whispering her name against her skin, telling her how beautiful she was, how much he ‘d wanted her, how he’d dreamed of her as well…all in her home where she was comfortable, it was right.

Against his
strength trying to keep them close, Gabby put enough air between them to get her fingers to the buttons on his shirt. “Gabby, stop.” He closed his eyes. “I’ve wanted this way too long to stop if we go any further. I—” Swallowing, he looked up at her and she saw raw fire dancing in his eyes. “I need you.”

No one had ever made her feel so wanted before. He was still trying to be a gentleman, although Gabby saw his hold slipping. Watching his face, she unbuttoned one button
. He pulled in a long drag of air through his nose. Still maintaining eye contact, she slipped another button loose. A crooked grin spread over his mouth.

“I’ll take it from here.” Within seconds his shirt was gone, his hands back on her. “So you know, Gabrielle James, from now on—there
are no others. For either of us.”

“You’re marrying us or something?”
she smarted back, but bit her lip as she saw fire flash in his eyes. Her retort had struck a chord, and it’d been out of her mouth before she could recall it.

Her sweatshirt breezed over her head and landed on top of his shirt. Shane pressed her skin against his chest with one hand splayed along her back,
and then took control of her mouth. Feeling as if she weighed nothing, Gabby quickly found herself flipped and laying underneath the man as their tongue continued to fight and dance, he nipped at her lower lip, then her neck as she drew in a breath but found her lips being loved on again. Shane took her from sweet to punishing to soft and strong over and over. Gabby let go of his neck and hair to work her hands between them, to the button on his jeans. This time he didn’t stop her.

Shane held her body off of his as he continued to kiss her, but allowed her to get his jeans worked off of his hips. Letting her go, he slipped them off, then removed her leggings and socks as well.

“Oh my God, Gabby. I can’t tell you how many nights, how many days I’ve dreamed of this, of you. I want you so much darling. For now, tomorrow, forever.”

“Shane…please.” She was too far gone for flowery words. Hell, she wasn’t a girly-girl
, and he knew that. Shane knew her more than she wanted him to, more than she wanted to admit. But those were frightening realizations for later. Right now all she wanted was to feel.

He fished a box out of the drawer in her end table.

“Condoms? Who? When the hell did you put those in there?”

Winking, he smiled proudly. “It was blind faith. I was hoping we’d need them sooner rather than later. As it is, you’ve been about to kill me for years.”

“Why not the bedroom?”

Shane wiggled his eyebrows
. “Oh, darling. There’s a box in there too.”

“Just like a man.”

“What?”

“To assume
—” She started to lip off, but he was balanced, ready to enter her and the comeback died as he pressed on. “Ah, Shane.” Her eyes fluttered closed.

“No assumptions, Gabrielle. Just love, I’ll always protect you.” He whispered in her ear as he entered her in one slow push. Her head fell back, deeper into the pillow as he seated himself and began long slow strokes.

Gabby wrapped her leg around him and ran her hands up to his neck. She knew in her heart what he was saying was true. Getting her head to believe it would be a harder fight. Shane lowered himself against her and Gabby dug her fingertips into the flesh on his back, keeping him exactly like this, wanting the soft words and promises drifting into her ear to never stop.