"Hey Beth... I'm sorry about that interruption," he began as he strode into her room. Gabriel skidded to a halt as he caught sight of Beth curled up in a ball, still wearing her jeans and snoring soundly with a book in her hand. A warmth washed over him as he stood in the entryway of her room watching her.
The greedy part of him was tempted to wake her, but he simply didn't have the heart to. Walking as quietly as possible across the room he bent and took the book from her fingertips - some sappy romance novel with a steroid-pumping goon holding a sword on the front cover - dog-eared the page she was on and set on it the night table. Grabbing the top of her knit blanket he pulled it up over her, to her chin, and then leaned down and kissed her on the temple.
"Goodnight baby," he whispered as he straightened back up and turned off her reading lamp. As he exited the room he didn't take notice of her eyes opening and watching him leave.
Chapter 9
Beth heard Gabriel come into the kitchen, but pretended to be too preoccupied with preparing breakfast to have noticed. His footsteps sounded behind her, and her heartbeat accelerated with each step he took. By the time he made it to her she could feel her heart thudding so hard in her chest that she was sure he'd be able to hear it beating.
Stay strong, you decided last night to keep this strictly professional from here on in, the voice at the back of her mind reminded her. She knew she made herself the promise, but his cologne was now reaching her nose and it smelled so divine. All Gabriel. She gulped down the lump forming in her throat.
"Good morning. I'm sorry about last night. You were asleep when I went looking for you." Gabriel wrapped his arms around her waist and nuzzled the side of her neck.
She stiffened in his embrace, to keep herself from melting into his arms. It would be so easy to just roll with it and lose herself in him again. She'd like nothing more than that actually. "Morning Gabriel,” she replied solemnly.
"I have a fun day planned for us after breakfast."
Gotta stay strong. "Is it business-related?"
Gabriel stopped nuzzling her neck and took a step back from her. A part of her cried out in frustration as the sweet sensations that were beginning to get her wet and cause a fluttering in her stomach immediately stopped. "Beth, what's wrong?"
Taking a deep breath to gather the courage she needed to say what she needed to, she spun around to face him. Her resolve faltered as she noticed the concern in his eyes and expression. "I think us getting involved beyond an employer/employee basis is a bad idea and I feel it's best if we-" she lowered her eyes to the floor between their feet.
He placed his index finger under her chin and tilted her eyes up to meet his once more. "Are you saying that because it's what you really want or are you just scared of what might happen between us?"
"Gabe..." Not wanting to discuss it any further or continue to have his dark eyes staring into hers she attempted to turn away, but he grabbed her upper arm and spun her back around to face him.
"Is it Chyna? Nothing happened last night between us. I seriously doubt she'll ever be back."
Why did he have to make it so difficult? His eyes coaxed her to tell him the truth and she found herself unable to keep from spilling what she felt to him. "I'm not like them," she murmured, avoiding eye contact at all costs.
Gabriel's frowned deepened. "I'm not following you Beth."
"The women you date. I'm not anything like them. I'm your maid!''
He raked a hand through his short dark hair and shook his head. "We've been through this already. I want to be with you because you're not like them!" Smoke began to rise from the pan she had on the stovetop behind her. "Fuck!" Leaning over her, his hard, lean body pressing hers against the countertop, he turned off the stove and removed the burnt food from the heat.
She waved at their burnt breakfast, in disgust with herself. "I can't even do the job properly." She fought back tears threatening to well up in her eyes.
"I don't give a shit about breakfast Beth, so don't change the subject. You want to discuss this, well then, let's discuss this," his voice had risen, not a lot, but considering he was always so calm and collected the slight shift in tone and volume was slightly unsettling.
Her own temper ignited as they glared at each other. Fine! He wants honesty, he'll get it! "I am not going to be a fling. And I'm not going to be used," she growled, planting her fists on her hips and daring him to say the wrong thing.
Gabriel closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. Taking a deep breath in, he held it for a few moments before releasing it in a loud huff. He shook his head as he opened his dark eyes back up, the anger rapidly leaving them. "When did I ever say you were? And why would you ever think..."