Dangerous for You (15 page)

I sped through the aisles and slipped through the door in less than a minute. My palms dampened as I imagined Gabriel bearing down on me. Although I wanted to escape this round, I really couldn’t wait until he captured me.

Which, if I didn’t make it to my car in time, would happen sooner versus later.

I made it safely and was at the first stoplight out of the mall when my cell rang. Desire coiled low in my belly and anticipation kept my muscles taut.

“Hello, Gabriel. You know you’re allotted one call every thirty minutes.”

“Hello, Emma. You didn’t specify how many times I could call you. You only specified that you’d give me a clue twice an hour. Besides, I’m the one who added the checking in bit, remember?”

Actually, I forgot but Gabriel didn’t need to know that. “You’re a tricky man and yes, I remember.”

“Good. Did you enjoy your little run?”

“Actually I did. My blood is pumping nicely.”

“Lovely,” he purred. “You know I let you get away though, don’t you?”

“I thought I outwitted you at the end.”

“You mean when you ducked into Ann Taylor?”

The light turned green. I pulled out of the mall parking lot and onto the boulevard that would take me back towards Obelisk Pointe. “You saw that.”

“Yes, I did.”

“Then why did you walk past the store?”

I could practically see Gabriel’s smile through the phone. “For the same reason you tried to throw me off your track.”

“Which was?”

“To make this last longer.”

TEN

My mouth went dry. Giddiness took over. “So you like it too?”

“Absolutely.”

“You don’t think I’m being silly for doing this?”

“I think you’re brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.”

I sighed, smitten without recourse. I knew he’d understand. Gabriel always understood me. “You make me so happy, Gabriel. I feel like…” My voice trailed off as I struggled to put my feelings into words.

“Like what? You can tell me anything, Emma.”

Hearing his soothing voice in the quiet isolation of my moving car inspired secret confidences. “I feel safe. I feel like there’s nothing I can do that would make you think less of me.”

“Emma, that’s all I’ve ever wanted you to feel. Thank you for finally understanding me.”

My eyes unexpectedly filled with tears. It took me a moment to find my voice. “I wish I’d let you catch me.”

“You mean you wished I’d decided to catch you,” he corrected with a teasing lilt.

I wiped my cheeks and laughed, tone trembling with regret and gaiety. “I’m not sure if I’m buying that completely, Gabriel, but I’ll go with it.”

“Oh, my girl, you really should buy it because it’s true. Now it’s time for you to give me my clue.”

“Your clue…hmm…let me see…”

“What? You didn’t have time to come with a clever ditty about it yet?”

“Sorry. I was a bit busy trying to outwit you.”

“Try and try again, sweetie. You’re sure to do it soon enough.”

“But not tonight?”

“I’m afraid not. I’m on the hunt for my kitty and she’s not going to be able to escape me for long.”

My exit came up faster now that traffic had thinned out a bit. “Sweat.”

“Sweat. Hmm…this clue might be worse than your first.”

I grinned, silently agreeing that designing mind games wasn’t my strength. “If you can’t find me then I go home and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“That little threat of yours isn’t a deterrent, baby, but an incentive.”

“Good.”

“See you soon, Emma.”

“Maybe you will.” I ended the call, absurdly happy and excited to see if Gabriel would indeed find me as quickly as he did the first time. Soon I was back at Obelisk Pointe, parked in my normal area, before heading up the elevator.

It took getting off on the wrong floor and taking a left instead of a right, but I arrived at my destination. Entering the sprawling gym, I expected to find it packed but was surprised to find it mostly empty.

Seems to fit the theme of my night so far.

I walked up to the sleek counter where a trim brunette and an incredibly fit man were manning the station.

“Hi, can I help you?”

“Yes…” I looked at her nametag. “Keri, I work in the building—on the 29
^th
floor—and I was wondering if I could check out the gym. I’m thinking about joining, but I’d like to check the facilities out first.”

“Sure! I’m just going to need to see your ID and your badge.”

She processed me quickly, pausing only to take a call from her boss if her demeanor was any indication. Handing my things and a visitor pass with a sunny smile, Keri asked, “Would you like me to take you on a tour or would you prefer to check it out on your own?

“On my own if that’s okay with you.”

“Sure thing.” Keri slid a brochure across the desk. “Here’s a map with all our amenities listed. If you need any help or have any questions, all you have to do is find the courtesy phones stationed here, here, here, and here. Dial “0” and you’ll have a direct line to Jason or myself.”

“Thank you.” I took the map and immediately made a beeline for the stairs. I wanted to have the perfect vantage point just in case Gabriel did manage to guess my location off that terrible clue.

I didn’t have to wait too long.

While strolling past the treadmills, I felt a change in the air. Charged awareness crept up my spine. I didn’t have to turn around to know Gabriel was there. I didn’t want to run anymore. I wanted to stand still and let my Gabriel claim me.

Finally.

We dragged out the final outcome. I pretended I didn’t know he was there and he pretended I didn’t know he was. Unlike my time at the mall, this time I was the one who strolled about as if I didn’t have a care in the world. I circled the top floor twice. Occasionally stopping by a piece of equipment, I let my fingertips drag down the cool metal, imagining I was touching Gabriel’s hard chest.

I wondered what he thought of my strange behavior. A wry smiled tweaked my lips. Knowing Gabriel, he read my actions correctly. When I wandered into the locker room I was disappointed he didn’t follow.

The longer I dawdled the more I wished Gabriel hadn’t indulged me this long. Sitting on a bench, alone in the pristine space, the madness in my blood finally dissipated.

What was I thinking?

I’d driven like a maniac. I’d taken him away from his work as if we were still in high school and all I’d ask was for Gabriel to ditch class. And why did I do all of this?

Because I was afraid.

I was afraid of Lucas. I was afraid that Marie would eventually see the same thing that Lucas saw. Worse, I was afraid that they would be right.

So what was I doing hiding still? Standing up, I took a long look at myself in the mirror. I then walked out.

I looked for Gabriel but didn’t see him. He wasn’t by the treadmills, the free weights, and the other assortment of gleaming equipment. Panic hit me hard.

What if he left? What if he got tired of my stupid, juvenile game? Hell, I was already tired of myself. But the thing that really got my heart racing was what if Gabriel saw right through me to my immature core?

What if I wasn’t as good a person as he seemed to think I was?

No. He wouldn’t leave me. He’s never left me. Gabriel wouldn’t do it now.

I stopped and took a deep breath. I then walked to the staircase, mindful of the few members finishing their workout, and sat down on the third step. I waited. Then I waited some more.

I nodded and smiled faintly whenever someone passed me. I didn’t want to think too closely of what I must look like sitting there. I expected Keri to check up on me at anytime.

Or actually, I expected her to come and toss me out for being so damned odd.

I’ll wait forever, Gabriel. I hope you know that.

As if he’d heard my thoughts, Gabriel came out and stood behind me. “Found you.”

I closed my eyes when I felt his lips brush teasingly-soft along the nape of my neck. Between his long legs and arms, I was in a cage and never felt safer.

This was what I needed.

“My gym, Emma? You weren’t trying to hide very hard, were you?”

Leaning my head against his chest, I confessed, “You know, I’ve never been here before.”

“Probably because you were doing the same thing you’re doing now—hiding out. Excuse me—
trying
to hide out.”

“True. I still hadn’t figured out how I was going to manage avoiding you back then.”

“Silly girl,” he admonished softly. “That should’ve told you just how terrible of a plan it was.”

“Much like this one?”

“No, this is one is much better because it proves a point.”

I knew what it was but I wanted Gabriel to say it again. “Which is?”

“I’ll always find you.”

“Good. I don’t ever want to get so lost that you can’t ever find me again.”

He bopped me on the head with a bag. “Blasphemy! That will never happen, Emma.”

“Promise.”

Gabriel bopped me again.

I turned and scowled. “Will you stop doing that?”

So what did he do? Of course he did it again.

“Ouch!”

Gabriel immediately kissed my head, smoothing the hair back and said, “I didn’t really hurt you. You just pulled the pain card to get me to stop.”

“It worked.”

“I’ll remember this.” He brushed his lips across the shell of my ear. “So the next time you cry out for me to stop…I probably won’t.”

“Since when would I cry out for you to stop?”

“Hush. Now let’s talk about the consequences of your actions.”

“I get caught?”

“Hmph! You wish.”

“Gabriel?” I turned sideways so I could look up at him. I traced his chin with one fingertip.

“Yes, my love?”

“Were my clues that bad?”

“The worse.”

Ducking my head at his immediate answer, I traced a nervous pattern on my knee. “Really?”

“Yes.”

I puckered my lips for a kiss. Gabriel bent down and obliged me sweetly. “It must be true love since you found me anyways.”

“Of course, it’s true love. That and I have excellent resources.”

My mouth dropped open. “Help.”

“Assistance,” Gabriel substituted with a shameless shrug.

“You cheated!”

“No, not at all.” Gabriel pressed a finger against my mouth, halting my stream of outrage. “You said I couldn’t call your team and ask where you were. You never said I couldn’t call them and ask where
they
were.”

“It’s the same thing!”

“Hardly.”

“Gabriel, you had help. You weren’t supposed to have help and you know it!”

“I used my resources wisely isn’t quite the same as having help the way you define it.” He turned me around and slung his arm tight across my waist. “Emma, my brilliantly brainy love, please don’t sign any contracts or do any verbal agreements unless you have me or my lawyers look it over, okay?”

“Hey! I just don’t know how to read between the lines of business doublespeak.”

“Hmm, I don’t blame you. It takes a concentrated effort to become fluent in the sleazy art of doublespeak.” Gabriel kissed my ear, letting his tongue flick against the sensitive lobe. “Now, let’s address your flagrant disrespect earlier today, shall we?”

“Do we have to?”

Gabriel brushed my hair back, carefully and gently. “You know that we do.”

“But didn’t you have fun chasing me?”

“Absolutely. Finding you was even better. Still, we need some rules in place, Emma, else it’d be complete chaos.”

“Maybe I like chaos.” I could imagine Gabriel shaking his head.

“No, you don’t.” He lowered his voice to a velvet whisper. “You want and need the structure of my rules. Things have been moving fast in the last few days and that’s why you’ve rebelled. Isn’t that right?”

I remained mute.

“Emma…isn’t that right?”

My shoulders dropped along with my head. “Yes.”

“So what should I do first, Emma? Hmm?” Gabriel tickled the back of my neck. “If you were me, what would you do?”

“I’d let you off with a warning.”

“Wrong answer, my girl. Maybe I should handle this myself, what do you say?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“No, not really.”

His lips feathered across the nape of my neck. My knees pressed tightly together as all the sensation in my body centered onto one spot.