“Or worse, crying.”
Been there, done that.
That had been the worst hookup in the history of hookups. But it had been a good lesson. Expectations up front.
Exactly like Gretchen and I had done last night. It wouldn’t hurt to go over them again tonight at dinner.
More for myself than anything.
“I don’t think you have to worry about that with Laura. The only reason she’d be crying is if your performance was lacking.”
Derrick barked out a cocky laugh as he told her, “No problems there.”
“That’s what they all say.”
Gretchen’s sassiness surprised me, in a good way.
My brother gave her a chin lift and said, “Ask her if you don’t believe me.”
Her lips curled into an amused grin, like she knew she was getting under his skin and enjoyed it. “Don’t worry, I will.”
I could tell Derrick wanted her to do it right then, like his ego needed the reassurance. When she didn’t move to retrieve her phone from her back pocket, he subtly rubbed the fingers together on his left hand while chewing the inside of his cheek—one of his tells that he didn’t like something. He’d had it since he was a kid.
Derrick had to know I’d give him shit for acting like a little bitch if he pressed Gretchen to call her friend. I didn’t think hewanted to know because he liked Laura any more than his other “special customers”. I knew it was all about his pride.
Since he was doing me a solid by helping me unload the cabinets, I took pity on him and changed the subject.
“Let’s get these in the garage. I know you need to get to Flannigan’s.”
****
Gretchen
After watching Gabe and Derrick unload the cabinets, I was convinced there was nothing hotter than a guy doing manual labor.
The way the Mitchell men’s muscles moved under their Henleys as they lifted the cabinets off the truck bed made my heart race.
I wasn’t attracted to Derrick, but I had to admit, he was hot. I could understand why Laura had wanted to take him home.
But that was nothing compared to what watching Gabe was doing to my lady parts. I was glad I’d already given myself permission to enjoy his company—and talents—one more night. Because even if I’d told myself it wasn’t happening, once I watched him break a sweat, I would have caved in a heartbeat, provided he was interested. But after what he’d whispered in my ear when he got here, I knew we were on the same page: dinner, followed by a repeat of last night, then maybe breakfast.
After that, it was back to reality. I’d told my parents I’d pick up Jake by noon tomorrow.
Which meant I had one more night with the sexy man in my garage whose shirt was clinging to his muscles and making my mouth water.
The same man who held the fate of my future in my house in his hands.
I just wished he wasn’t so danglikeable.
Chapter Twenty-One
Gabe
After the last cabinet was lined up neatly next to the others along her garage wall, Derrick took off his gloves and tapped them to my chest.
“Here you go. What time do you want to bring the rest over tomorrow?”
I took the gloves and glanced at Gretchen.
