It took a few minutes for Gabe to fight his way through the dream-filled fog of sleepiness before he realized where he was. Running a hand ran through his dark hair, he knew he must have been more worn out by the week’s events than he’d imagined. He never stayed all night at Bri’s. How many times had she tried to get him to remain by her side after they’d taken their fill of one another? He smiled thinking she’d be elated by him finally capitulating.
Rolling to his side, Gabe was surprised to find the bed empty. An early riser? He was reminded of how little he really knew Brianna Davis. With a shrug he kicked back the covers and his disappointment to search for his clothes, which he quickly located laying neatly on the corner chair. He was sure that wasn’t where he’d removed them. He laughed as he moved to pull them back on. Nothing like climbing back into the same stuff you took off the night before – another reason he never stayed. The main reason remained – commitment. That was something neither of them wanted and, so far, it had worked out quite nicely.
The back of his hand brushed against Bri’s dress as he reached for his suit pants and he veered off course, picking up the dress instead. He breathed deeply as he rubbed the silken material against his cheek. Mon Chére Dulce, the perfume he’d given her for her birthday. He like it.
She’d looked nice, Bri had, with her blond hair piled atop her head accentuating her long neck and bared shoulders. She’d accessorized with a large pearl pendant on a thin chain, drawing attention to the swell of her breasts. Gabe felt desire sweep through him. She was a lovely woman, a pleasant bed partner, though he’d have preferred having her waiting next to him when morning finally found them still together. Irritation quickly quenched his need as he tossed the dress onto the chair and climbed back into his high-dollar, black tie suit trousers. He bet Felicity would have stayed!
He picked up the dress again, trying to imagine it on Felicity. She’d have looked beautiful, simply because she was, though he could more easily see her in lavender lace … preferably lace lingerie. His lips twitched at the vision behind his closed eyes. He wondered what she smelled like. He’d always imagined her with a light, floral scent; perhaps because he associated her with flowers. In his mind he nuzzled her neck, drinking in her scent as his hands explored the silky material created purely for temptation.
Jarred from his thoughts by a noise behind, Gabe turned to find Bri watching. Brows knit, she looked from his face to the dress he still held.
Gabe chuckled. “I was thinking how lovely you looked last night,” he told her as he returned the dress to the back of the chair. With a lazy smile that would have disarmed any other woman, he crossed the floor to stand before her. Her eyes remained at chest level, her face expressionless. She stepped back as he reached for her.
Confused, he tried again; his reflexes faster than hers, he pulled her against him. She stood stiffly in his arms, only lifting her eyes to meet his when he spoke her name.
“Bri?”
Her eyes were filled with torment, pain – a look he’d have never thought Brianna Davis possible of wearing.
“Mind telling me what’s going on?” His quick release caused her to stumble back. He stepped back as well, increasing the distance between them. He was unsure, wary of the dejected creature before him. He much preferred the aloof, in-charge woman he’d come to expect. Her, he knew how to deal with.
As he watched her, she turned away. Again, he fought irritation, feeling quite certain she had no plans to answer, though she surprised him when she wheeled around and asked her question, point blank. “Who is Felicity, Gabe?”
“What?” It wasn’t that he hadn’t heard; more a reaction of utter surprise.
“Are you seeing her, too?” Brianna crossed her arms and leaned against the wall, her eyes swimming in sadness, not anger.
“No. I’m not … Where did you hear about Felicity and why would you even consider asking a question like that? What difference does it make?” Gabe’s mind was whirling. He felt about as in the dark as he’d ever felt in his life.
“You’re in love with her, aren’t you?” Those words knocked the wind out of him. He couldn’t speak, only stare as she continued.
“You talk in your sleep, Gabe.” Her pause was long. “You’ve called me by her name before as you’ve held me. I could overlook that. But the sweet sound of her name as it floated from you while you dreamed…” Their eyes locked. “It was a whisper from your heart. You’re in love with her and I can’t compete with that.”
Gabe remained stunned, silent for several moments – not protesting, not agreeing. His brows pulling together, he countered with a question of his own. “Would you even want to compete? You led me to believe you’d defend your independence at all cost. Has that changed?”
This couldn’t be happening. When had it happened? As a highly skilled observer, he’d failed to see what was going on before his very eyes.
He didn’t look at Bri, didn’t want to see, didn’t want to feel. With a deep breath, loudly expelled, he turned away. Determined steps took him back across the room to retrieve the remainder of his clothing from the chair. Still no words were shared as he passed her, sweeping out of the room and out of her life. Anger engulfed him, though he wasn’t quite sure why. He slammed the door on his way out.
“Damn it!” His palm collided with the leather padding of the steering wheel before he finally started the car and sped away.
Gabe was over half way home before he managed to get control over his emotions. Twice now he’d been side-swiped by women; one trying to pull him in, the other pushing him away.
Three times, actually. Bri was right. It had happened. He was in love with Felicity.
He ran a hand down his unshaven face. Sweet, sweet Felicity. What was he going to do about her? What could he do? What…
