Gabe froze in his steps. Had he misjudged her age by that much? “How old is she, Dad?”
“She must be about twenty-one, I suppose. She graduated from college this month. How old did you think she was?”
“Oh fuck. I mean, oh my fucking God. Are you shitting me?” Gabe ran both hands through his hair and stared dumbfounded at his father. How the hell had he so underestimated her age?
When his dad started laughing, Gabe ignored him. “I guess she did look fairly young last night in that sundress, but I assure you she’s legal. What did you say to her?”
“Not enough.” Oh God. He pondered the various lines he’d used. He’d treated her like a child. She must have been fuming mad. No wonder she left in tears. He’d dismissed her without any explanation, assuming it was clear to her they couldn’t mate until she was older. Except she was older. Significantly older than he’d assumed.
Gabe turned toward the door. He needed that run more than he needed the coffee now. He needed to clear his head, and then he needed to find Kathleen and fix the mess he’d made. If she’d even speak to him after the way he treated her last night . . .
Kathleen had to return to the gathering with her parents today. She had no choice. She’d personally arranged with her older sister’s intended for everyone to be scarce so the man could come to the house, surprise Kenzie, and woo the shit out of her until she saw reason. Everyone had to vacate the premises. Herself included.
That left her with little option but to return to the Albertson’s. Great. Good times. Maybe someone could go ahead and slam her hand in a car door too. It would hurt less.
By ten o’clock she was standing outside the meeting hall kicking the dirt with the toe of her sandal. It was another warm day. Her family had already gone inside, but she’d lingered, hoping to somehow vanish into thin air rather than run the risk of encountering Mr. Cocky himself, who was somehow too good to mate her.
She turned away from the building and headed toward the tree line. A run would be better. She could leave her clothes on the edge of the trees and take a long run without anyone being the wiser.
Except, just as she reached the edge of the grass, she was intercepted by a long shadow. “Going somewhere?”
It was him. She sucked in a breath and glanced down at the ground. “I was. Did you want to order me around a bit more and tell me what’s good for me?” she retorted.
“I deserve that.” He stepped right into her personal space. “And I owe you an apology for last night.”
“An apology? You mean like—sorry I was such a condescending ass and I’m really not like that and I promise I won’t treat you like the dirt under my shoe for the rest of our lives. That kind of apology?” She was angry. She had a right to be. Fuck him.
After spending the night tossing and turning, wishing things had gone differently last night, she just wanted some peace and quiet this morning. The last thing she needed was more of his shit.
“I deserve that too,” he whispered. “I’m sorry, Kathleen.”
She angled her face up to his.
The sincere look in his eyes made her thaw just a little. “And?”
“And, please forgive me and spend the day with me.”
“Just like that? How do I know you won’t go all bipolar on me and decide to talk to me like I’m about thirteen years old again?”
He swallowed. “I thought you were,” he muttered. “I had no idea you were in your twenties. I knew the minute I touched you and smelled you when you slipped into that room last night that you were mine. I was trying so hard not to claim you until you were older. But, I honestly thought you were like fifteen. You look so young.” He smiled. His teeth shone white and straight when he grinned like that.
She melted a little more. “Fifteen? Seriously? Do I look that young?”
“You did. In that dress and . . . well, I’m just gonna shut up before I dig myself a deeper hole. But, yes. Although, now that I take a moment to really look at you, I can see you’re not a teenager. My dad said you already graduated from college. What’s your degree in?”
“Education. I just graduated. I start my first teaching position this fall.” Small talk?
He stepped closer. Took her hand. “Can we start over? Come back to the house with me.”
She hesitated. Could she trust him? With her heart? Did she have a choice really?
His hand was warm as he wrapped hers into his much larger palm. He entwined their fingers and tugged her back in the direction she’d come.
“I’m still way older than you,” he said as they walked. “Does that bother you?”