Six feet of hard-muscled Latino Superman, with the deepest dimples you ever saw and the softest lips she’d ever kissed.
Michelle’s mouth literally watered at the sight of him. It was stupid. She’d looked up his gym’s Instagram account to get a sense of the brand, and it of course featured photos of Gabe, along with his business partner, Fabian. Gazing at Gabe’s sweet smile had broken her heart all over again, but she’d told herself it was better to be prepared. He’d been a hottie at eighteen, but back then, he was still just the boy next door, her best guy friend who’d somehow grown up to be cute.
But seeing him in person again, after all this time...
Yowza.
In black track pants and a white T-shirt that was unaccountably stylish on him, and the backward baseball cap that had always been his staple, Gabe was really, really ridiculously good-looking.
And he was searching for her, his dark eyes scanning the line of cars.
What would happen if she didn’t stop? If she just drove pasthim and went back home? It wasn’t too late. Gabe could hail a taxi, find a hotel, hire somebody else—maybe even Nathaniel—and Michelle could go back to her life as it was before she’d received his email.
And wonder “what if” for the rest of her days? No gracias.
Michelle tapped the horn to get his attention, then gave a little wave when he turned his head. She pulled the Fiat up to the curb and popped the trunk with shaking fingers.
Gabe moved around to the back of the car, rolling his gray hard-shell suitcase behind him.
Inside, Michelle turned down the music. Then she turned up the AC. And then, because she couldn’t stand it a second longer, she got out.
She hadn’t planned to. The LaGuardia curbside pickup was a logjam of cars and people and luggage, and it was best to get in and out as soon as possible. But she couldn’t take the thought of sitting next to him in the car without... something.
Gabe hefted the suitcase into the trunk with ease, then shut the hood. He turned as she came up beside him and without a word, Michelle reached up and threw her arms around his neck in a tight hug.
She hadn’t planned to do this either, but she couldn’t stop herself. Sheneededit.
His arms came around her, enveloping her in his embrace. It felt good, so freaking good.
Gabe still gave the best hugs.
He smelled good, too—clean and fresh, like soap. And his hug felt strong, warm, and safe.
But he wasn’t safe. She had to remember that.
From the feel of his body pressed to hers, Michelle noted the ways he’d changed. He’d grown a few inches taller than the last time she’d seen him, and put on... a lot of pounds of muscle. Holy hell. It was like being hugged by a living, breathing, flesh-and-blood wall. Or a marble statue, one of those sexy ones with defined muscles, an air of self-important boredom, and an accommodating fig leaf. Something without an ounce of softness, but you still wanted to cuddle up against it because the beauty was so staggering and alluring.
But it hurt too. Oh god, did it hurt. Heartbreak and longing and arousal and love and anger and sadness whirled around inside her like a tornado of conflicted feeling, fascinating and destructive.
He’d been her best friend. And he’dlefther.
But it was hard to stay angry when he held her like this.
Just as Michelle became too aware of her breasts pressed to his hard chest, of her face nestled into his shoulder, and his breath on her neck, a car horn blasted behind her, making her jolt. She pulled away, dropping back down on her heels. And got her first good look at that handsome face.
Gabe had a jaw square and sharp enough to cut, with killer cheekbones leading down to dimples that could ruin your life. Dark eyes narrowed with a hint of wariness, and his thick, straight brows gave nothing away.
“Hi,” she said, trying not to sound as breathless as she felt.
“Hi.” His voice was deeper than it had been, and something about that made her want to cry. “Thanks for picking me up.”
“You’re welcome. Let’s go before somebody yells at us for being parked too long.”
She berated herself as she got back behind the wheel.That was real fucking stupid, Michelle.He hadn’t deserved that hug.
But she had. After all this time, it was the least of what she deserved.
GABE TRIED NOTto stare, but he was pretty sure he was doing a terrible job of it.
