“I’m not drunk,” I grumbled defensively.
“That’s not it.”
No, I wasn’t drunk, but I was still a little tipsy, so I couldn’t make sense of what the problem could possibly be.
Suddenly, I gasped, “Oh my god, you’re in a relationship! I’m so sorry! Derrick said you were single, and I just thought… we were flirting at the bar, then you offered to take me home… I’m so embarrassed!”
“No! I’m not in a relationship. That’s not it.”
I cocked my head. “Then I don’t understand.”
“Sweetheart, I’m not who you think I am.”
Chapter Eleven
Gabe
I could see the panic on her face at my declaration and she flinched when I reached out to touch her arm.
Dammit!
“That came out wrong. I’m not dangerous or anything like that. I am single, and I am Derrick’s brother, but you need to know—”
“Do you have an STD or something?”
Jesus Christ, this was going from bad to worse.
“God, no! Nothing like that. I just—”
Fuck, fuck, fuck. How was I going to say this?
I took a deep breath and looked into her mesmerizing blue eyes, willing my brain to find the right words so that I could still salvage this. Although, I didn’t see how that was possible.
Man the fuck up, Gabe!
“My name is Gabriel, but I go by Gabe. Gabe Mitchell.”
It took a second for her brain to process my name, then her eyes went wide.
With a wry smile, I supplied, “Also known as the infuriating Jerk of the Year.”
I steeled myself to duck in case she tried to throw a punch or deliver a slap across my face.
Instead, she stared at me for a beat before pulling her shoulders back and standing up straighter. She gave me a devious smile and asked, “So, if I ride your cock, you’ll cancel my contract?”
****
Gretchen
The alcohol made me ask.
That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
Or maybe the sexy-as-sin man had turned my brain to mush when he’d kissed me.
Maybe it was a combination of the two.
Then again, it could be the fact that I hadn’t been touched by a man in almost a year.
