It was Friday afternoon when Gabe entered the kitchen, his arrival like clockwork. In his hand, he carried what appeared to be a straight strawberry smoothie.

“Hey.” Tossing the thick braid over her shoulder, she closed the fridge door and placed the pack of meat on the counter. “That for me?”

“Of course.” He met her at the island, handing it over. “It’s your favorite. Boring. But whatever.”

“Boring is good.” She grinned as she took the smoothie from him. Their fingers brushed. His were rough and sent a jolt up her arm. Nikki stepped back. She’d been careful not to touch him since the . . . incident at his workshop. “Thank you.”

“No problem.” He lowered his hand and backed off, hopping up on one of the stools. “So, what’s for dinner?”

“You’re actually joining Devlin?”

He lifted a shoulder. “Maybe.”

She tugged the paper off the straw, tossing it into the trash. Gabe hadn’t been attending dinner since the first week she’d been here. Lucian and Julia sporadically joined, but when they did, they got their own food. There hadn’t been any more dinners that Nikki had been invited to.

“Lamb is on the menu.” Glancing over her shoulder at the meat, she curled her lip. “Ew.”

“Lamb is tasty.” He spread his thighs, hooking his bare feet on the bottom of the stool.

She shook her head. “Lambs are too cute to eat.”

A grin appeared as he pulled his phone out of his pocket, placing it on the island. “And I’m guessing you don’t find cows cute, because you have no problem eating them. Or chickens.”

“Cows and chickens are cute, but I choose to not think about them while I’m eating them.” When he arched a brow, she grinned. “Don’t question my logic.”

“Would never dare to do so.” He trailed a finger along the edge of the island. “So, you got any big plans this weekend?”

Actually she did.

And it wasn’t finishing the beads for her mother’s bracelet, either. Shocker. Her belly flipped and then flopped. “I’m going to look at an apartment later.”

“You found one?” Genuine interest filled his tone.

She nodded, having kept him up to date on her apartment search. “It’s nice and in a good area, just outside of the city. I hope it’s the one. Don’t get me wrong. I love being back with my parents, but living with them is not exactly what I thought I’d be doing when I’m about to turn twenty-three.”

He grinned. “Well, I’m not going to judge. All of us are still living here, at the family home.”

“That’s different. This place is so big, a whole family could move in and you guys would never know,” she reasoned, taking a sip of her smoothie. “Besides, you all have your own apartments. You don’t have to see anyone unless you want to, where if I stay out past eleven I feel like I’m sixteen sneaking back into my parents’ house.”

Gabe laughed. “I’m crossing my fingers for you.”

“Thanks.”

“Got anything else planned?”

She did. Turning from Gabe, she took her smoothie back to the counter. “I . . . I have a date tomorrow night.”

Silence.

Telling herself not to, she didn’t listen and looked over her shoulder at Gabe. His expression—yikes. His face was harsh. It kind of scared her. “Um, my friend Rosie set me up on a date.”

His hand stilled along the kitchen island. “So, it’s a blind date?”

“Yeah.” She turned away and moved down a foot. Bending, she opened the cabinet and pulled out a large roasting pan.

“Is that safe?”

She kind of thought that was a weird question. “Rosie knows him, and I trust her. She wouldn’t fix me up on a date with a creep.”

“What’s his name?” His tone was flat, like he didn’t believe what she said, which was ridiculous, because he’d never met Rosie.

Though the idea of Rosie meeting any of the de Vincents made her grin. Especially Devlin.

“His name is Gerald.” She placed the pan on the counter. “I doubt you know him.”

“Gerald?” He laughed loudly. “What kind of name is that?”

She twisted at the waist, her brows lifting. “It’s a name.”

He smirked. “Sounds like an old man’s name.”

“You’re an old man,” she retorted.

“Not old enough to be named Gerald.”

“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes. “We’re going to Crescent City.”

“Crescent City?”

“There is nothing wrong with Crescent City. They have amazing steaks and I love their French fries.”

“I’d at least take you to Morton’s. You’d love their fries.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Sorry. Morton’s is not on most people’s budget. Anyway, we’re just grabbing dinner. So, whatever.”

He was silent for the moment. “You don’t sound very excited about your date with Gerald.”

“I’m excited.” That was the truth. Kind of. She was excited to go out and have a nice dinner and she was excited because she was meeting someone new. And after what happened between them at the shop, she really needed to meet someone.

Anyone other than him.

“Uh-huh.”

Shaking her head, she walked over to the spice cabinet. It was time to change the subject. “What are you doing this weekend?”

“Working. Don’t change the subject. I want to know more about Granddad Gerald.”

“Oh my God,” she laughed, turning around completely. “I’m pretty sure Gerald is my age, so knock it off, Pappy.”

Those stunning eyes were sharp as they focused on her, and she realized in that very second, something had changed. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but her senses were firing off left and right. “Didn’t realize you were looking to be in a relationship.”

“I didn’t say I was.”

He straightened. “Then why are you going out on a date?”

She stared at him, sort of struck speechless for a good half a minute. “Why do people go out on dates, Gabe?”

“To fuck?” he answered.

Whoa. That was not exactly where she was going with that train of thought, but hearing that come out of his mouth made her feel warm in areas that did not need to feel warm. At all. “I was going to say to meet new people, but I mean, I guess if that’s what happens, it happens.”

She had no idea if that would happen, but she knew she’d need to be into Gerald for that to go down, and she hoped she was.

His head tilted to the side. “So, you’re looking for a hookup?”

“I’m not saying that I am actively seeking a hookup—”

“But you’d be down for it if Gerald is?”

“I thought we agreed on not having this conversation,” she reminded him.

“I don’t know what you think we agreed on. I want to talk about you and Gerald.” He rose from the stool and crossed the kitchen, coming straight for her. “Do you even know what he looks like?”

“Um, yeah, Rosie showed me a picture.” Her hand tightened on the bottle of cumin. “He’s cute.”

“Cute?” He stopped in front of her.

Nikki tilted her head back. “Yeah.”

“Interesting.” He stepped forward and his bare feet brushed her flats.

She pressed against the counter, still holding on to the stupid bottle of spice “I am not sure why you find any of this interesting.”

Placing his hands on either side of her hips, he dipped his chin and suddenly their mouths were lined up. She sucked in a soft breath as her heart threatened to slam its way out of her chest.

“What are you doing?” she whispered.

“About to have an awkward conversation with you again.”

“And that requires you to be all up in my personal space?”

“Yes.” A small grin tipped his lips.

“I do not think that’s the case.”

He tilted his head slightly, and when he spoke, his breath danced over her lips, sending shivers down her spine. Did he realize how close their mouths were?

Better yet, was he out of his mind?

“You know what I can’t picture?” he asked.

“I guess you’re going to tell me.”

Thick lashes lowered, shielding his eyes. “I am. Ready for it? I can’t picture you hooking up with some guy named Gerald.”

How mad would he get if she threw the cumin on him? “Is it because you think I’m still little Nikki?”

“Pretty sure I stopped seeing you as little Nikki about four years ago.”

Her eyes widened. What did he just say?

“Back to my point. Do you know why I can’t picture you hooking up with some guy named Gerald?”

“Why?” she whispered.

Gabe leaned in, brushing his nose against hers. Her chest rose sharply as she sucked in air. “That right there,” he said. “That little inhale you just made. That’s why.”

A sweet and heady flush coursed down the front of her body. All she could think about was those brief moments at his workshop. Him pressed against her, his hand clenching her hip.

That had not been her imagination.

“I don’t . . . I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, swallowing hard.

“Yeah, you do.” His nose brushed hers again, sending another tight wave of shivers throughout her body, and then he pulled back. “You sure you want to go out on that date?”

What date?

Breathing heavy, she watched him step away and then turn. He picked up her smoothie and took a long drink. She was about to ask him exactly what the hell he was up to, but the sound of heels drew her attention.

Freaking Sabrina entered the kitchen.

There were few stronger wake-up calls than seeing Sabrina Harrington. Her slim figure looked absolutely elegant in a pale-blue dress that complemented her skin tone. The icy-blonde hair was coifed back behind her ears, showing off glittering diamond earrings.

Parker’s threat surfaced, and Nikki turned back to the lamb. Looking down at the spice in her hand, she wondered what the hell she planned on doing with it.

“I was looking for Devlin,” Sabrina said.

“I don’t know why you’d think Dev would be in the kitchen.” Gabe placed the smoothie on the counter.

Out of the corners of her eyes, she could see him crossing his arms as he leaned against the counter.

“Well, you’re in the kitchen, aren’t you?” Sabrina’s tone was thick and sweet like molasses.

“I live here.”

Sabrina laughed, but Nikki wasn’t sure what was so funny. “Devlin lives here, too. He could be in the kitchen.”

“You obviously don’t know the man if you think he’s in here.” Gabe’s tone was flat, like it had been when he was pestering her about the date. “Did you need help with something?”

Nikki stepped around Gabe and opened the fridge, grabbing the fresh thyme she needed to cut up.

“That’s sweet of you to offer.” Sabrina’s voice sounded closer.

Rolling her eyes as she picked up the cutting board, Nikki glanced over at Gabe. He arched a brow. Biting down on her lip to keep from smiling, she pulled the packaging off the herb. It was like she didn’t even exist in the room and that was fine by her.

“I was hoping you could help me, actually,” Sabrina said. “I brought this painting over that I wanted Devlin to hang in his office. Since I can’t find him, could you help me?”

“Did you try looking for him in his office?”

“Of course.” She laughed again, the sound grating. “I even looked for Mr. Besson, but I believe he must be on break.”

Nikki picked up the knife.

“Richard has the afternoon off.” He pushed away from the counter. “I’ll help you.”

“That’s so kind of you.”

Gabe’s arm brushed hers. “We’ll finish our conversation later.”

Nikki said nothing as she nodded, because as far as she was concerned their conversation was already over.

Because her date was something she wasn’t discussing with Gabe.

Gabe was barely listening to Sabrina prattle on about whatever painting she had in her car as they walked out the front door, to where her red BMW was parked.

“It’s in the backseat,” she was saying. “It’s a surprise for Devlin. Do you think you can hang it up for me?”

“I’ll let Dev do the hanging. It’s his office.” He was careful to keep a good foot’s worth of distance between them.

Sabrina opened the back door, and Gabe peered in. Was she for real? The painting was maybe a foot long and a foot wide. “You couldn’t carry this?”

“It’s heavier than it looks.”

He bent in, easily picking up the wrapped painting with one hand. Without saying a word, he turned and started back to the house.

Sabrina hurried to catch up to him. “Please be careful.”

“It’s fine. I’ll carry it to his office. You can wait for him in one of the sitting rooms.”

“Wait for him like I’m a guest?” She placed a hand on Gabe’s upper arm. “Darling, I’m going to be your sister-in-law soon. I don’t need to wait in the sitting room like I’m a guest.”

Shaking off her touch, he opened the front door. “Until you’re married to him, you’re a guest in this house.”

He started for the stairs, but Sabrina darted in front of him. “While I have your attention, I thought there was something we needed to talk about.”

“I don’t think there is anything we need to talk about.” It was a struggle to keep his tone even. “You want me to carry this upstairs? You’re going to have to move.”

Sabrina looked around before she stepped forward, lowering her chin in what Gabe could only guess was an attempt at looking demure. “Do you remember college? We used to be friends once.”

“We were never friends, Sabrina.”

“That’s not true.” She started to place her hand on his chest, but he stepped back, and her fingers closed around air. “Well, I suppose I was closer to Emma than you. Such a tragedy what happened to her then.”

His jaw locked down. “How in the hell do you know about that?”

Sabrina’s calculating gaze lifted to his. “Oh, you didn’t realize that I knew what had happened to her?”

All he could do was stare at Sabrina.

She tsked softly. “What was his name again? Oh. I remember. Christopher Fitzpatrick. I do wonder what happened to him.” She tilted her head to the side. “Didn’t he . . . go missing? How convenient what happens to those who have gone against the de Vincent family or those they care about.”