With a Twist (Last Call #4)(57)

It is however, annoying, particularly when I have breakfast plans with Andrea, so I figure the best way to pacify her and get her out of the door is to play her game.

"Listen …  I just needed a little time to myself," I assure her quietly, and maybe a little dramatically. "Just taking a much-needed break after that undercover operation …  trying to get back in the swing of things. It was really draining, Gabs. But I swear there is absolutely nothing for you to be worried about. I just need some solitude for a few days."

Gabby tilts her head to the side and her eyes swim in sympathy. I can tell she buys my story …  that I need some "alone time" because this undercover operation has me beaten down a bit. She opens her mouth …  I'm betting to give me some commiseration and then hopefully, to tell me goodbye with an apology for barging in, but before she can say a word, I hear coming down the hallway from my bedroom, "I changed my mind, Wyatt …  I decided we should stay in for breakfast and if you're a good boy, I'll let you have me for starters."

Wincing, I lower my head and rub the bridge of my nose. I didn't miss the high arch of one of Gabby's eyebrows and her lips pursing in surprise.

Andrea walks around the corner and into the kitchen. I swivel my head and take in her appearance …  fucking gorgeous in nothing but one of my white, button-down shirts, which she is currently holding closed with her hands and not the buttons. She has a sensuous look on her face as she comes into the kitchen.

Her eyes pin to me for just a moment …  full of wanton promise …  but just as quickly, she registers that Gabby is here. Her gaze goes quickly to Gabby, who only arches an eyebrow higher, and then looks back to me.

Face flushing red, Andrea immediately starts stammering, "Oh, my God. I am so sorry. I didn't realize you have company. This is so embarrassing."

She says all of this while clutching my shirt around her tighter and backing away from Gabby and me.

"So, you need some solitude, huh, Wyatt?" Gabby says with a light sneer. "This operation really wore you out, didn't it?"

"It's not what it looks like," I say as I scrub my hand through my hair in frustration. 

"Really?" Gabby says sarcastically as she sets her coffee down and crosses her arms over her chest. "Because it looks to me like you're blowing off your friends …  in particular, your best friend …  under the guise of needing alone time, and yet …  you don't look to be alone, do you? Looks like you are very occupied."

"Um …  I think I'm going to go get dressed," Andrea says and starts to turn away from us.

I lunge off the counter, grab her by the shoulders, and haul her back around to face Gabby.

"I assume Hunter told you about our talk the other day?" I ask Gabby.

She nods her head. "Of course he did. He shares everything with me, which is a warning to you that you shouldn't ever tell him a secret you don't want me to know."

"Duly noted," I say curtly. "Then I assume he told you about Andrea, right?"

She rolls her eyes but comes around full circle, pinning me with a direct stare. "He sure did. Said you were all stuck on her but didn't have the balls to go after her, which is sort of lame, Wyatt. I thought you had more gumption than that, but anyway …  now I know why you didn't bother going after her," she says as she gives a nod toward Andrea. "You clearly found something to occupy your time."

Then, as an afterthought, she actually looks at Andrea with a soft smile, "No offense."

"None taken," Andrea says with a smile, fully enjoying this now.

I can't believe Gabby just fucking outed me in front of Andrea …  that I had feelings for her. Not that I would hide something like that, but it would have been nice for me to tell Andrea that, rather than her hearing it secondhand.

Gripping Andrea firmly by the shoulders, I give her a little push toward Gabby and in two steps, we are right in front of her.

"Gabby …  I'd like you to meet Andrea," I tell her. Angling my head down toward Andrea, I say, "Andrea, this pain in my ass is Gabby …  a longtime friend and fiancée to my best friend, Hunter."

Andrea's hand shoots out toward Gabby. "Pleased to meet you."

Gabby's face is filled with utter confusion, and I have to restrain myself from laughing at her. She slowly reaches out and shakes Andrea's hand, her eyes flicking back and forth between the two of us.

"This is Andrea?" she asks me dumbly. "Your Andrea …  the one that was undercover with you?"