Livvy flung open the door to the restaurant, her breathing labored. She hadn’t been prepared to answer questions about her tattoo. She should have brushed it off with a quip instead of freaking out, which would no doubt raise his curiosity, leading to more questions. She barely knew the guy, and after her performance tonight, she was unlikely to see him again.

A jolt of disappointment surprised her. Despite her initial reservations, she’d enjoyed spending time with Gabe Mitchell. She hadn’t made any friends since arriving in California six months earlier, preferring to keep to herself, and apart from the odd chat with Sam on Tuesdays, she barely spoke to a soul. Gabe was good company, very easy to be around, and until he’d inadvertently stumbled upon a difficult subject, she’d felt at ease.

Without a clue where she was, she decided to head for the highway in the hope of flagging down a cab.

“Olivia, wait. Please?” Gabe shouted over the sounds of the passing traffic.

Embarrassment swamped her. He’d think she was crazy, and right then, she concurred. With no intention of sticking around and facing his inevitable questions, Livvy upped her pace. She scanned the highway for any signs of a taxi, but there were none. Dammit, what did she do now? She set off walking down the sidewalk, but before she got very far, Gabe caught up to her.

He put a hand on her shoulder. “Stop, please.”

She drew to a halt but kept her eyes on the ground. “I’m sorry,” she muttered. “I need to go home.”

He gently cupped her chin and lifted her head until she was forced to meet his gaze. “Then I’ll take you.”

She shook her head. “I’ve put you out enough already. A cab is fine.” She glanced up and down the highway once more.

“A cab is not fine.” With his hand firmly on her elbow, he propelled her back towards the restaurant car lot. His touch made her shudder, and he must have felt the tremor running through her because he let her go.

Exhausted and mortified at her not-so-minor freak out, Livvy got in the car.

Gabe started the engine, paused, then turned to her. “Okay?”

“Yes. I’m okay.”

He hesitated, obviously wanting to say something but unsure of her reaction. She watched him as he wrestled with his thoughts, her breath in her throat at the thought of him pushing her for an answer she wasn’t ready to give. Not an honest one at least.

“I shouldn’t have pried,” he finally said.

“No, it’s my fault. You asked an innocent question, and I freaked out.” She couldn’t help a small smile from creeping across her lips. “You must think I’m a madwoman.”

Gabe smiled back at her, and an uncomfortable feeling stirred in her chest at the way that smile made her feel. He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Compared to the circle I usually mix in, you’re the most normal woman I’ve spent time with in quite a while.”

His easy manner made her shoulders relax, and the tension in her spine lessened. “I forget it’s there most of the time. I’m sorry. I wasn’t prepared to answer questions about it. My reasoning is rather personal, you see.”

Gabe held his hands in the air in a pacifying manner. “Like I said, none of my business.” He reversed the car out of its parking spot and merged onto the busy highway.

They traveled in complete silence, both deep in their own personal thoughts. As nice and friendly as Gabe seemed, Livvy was nowhere near ready to share her story with him. He was clearly concerned about her extreme reaction, but with any luck, he wouldn’t press her. She was tired, overwrought, and craving isolation.

She risked a peek sideways. Gabe’s gaze was focused on the road ahead, although a nerve twitched in his right cheek, most likely from his firmly clenched jaw. Livvy faced forward once more. Silence as a companion was better than the alternative.

About twenty minutes later, they pulled up outside her apartment building, and Gabe parked in the same space they’d left not two hours before.

He killed the engine and turned to face her. “Home, safe and sound.”

Livvy stared at her hands. “Thanks for tonight. I had a nice time.”

Gabe sighed. “Did you?” She opened her mouth to answer, but before one word spilled, he continued. “Look, I don’t know what happened in your past, and I don’t want to know until you’re ready to tell me.” He chuckled. “Be honest, though. I bet you’ve had better nights.”

She tried to force a smile as a heavy sadness settled in her chest. “And much worse ones,” she said, staring out of the window.

He briefly touched her arm, withdrawing his hand the moment she faced him. “You intrigue me. I’d like to see you again. Do you think you can trust me enough to say yes?”

Livvy paused. She was so lonely, and the chance to spend time with a good-looking guy who was also great company was one she found she couldn’t say no to, even if she was at the end of a long line of women. If anyone could resist the charms of a man like Gabe Mitchell, she could. After all, she had guilt, heartbreak, and sorrow as her protectors.

“I’d like that.” Livvy reached for the door handle but then turned back in his direction. “Goodnight.”

“’Night, Olivia. I’ll be in touch. Soon.”

She nodded and stepped out of the car. As she headed towards the elevator, she risked a quick glance over her shoulder to see if he was watching her, but she was greeted with a view of car taillights as he drove away. She quelled an unreasonable stab of disappointment that he hadn’t stuck around to make sure she got safely inside, then she jogged upstairs.

She made herself a hot drink and went to bed, but, desire to know more about Gabe kept her from falling asleep. She grabbed her laptop from the living room and snuggled back under the covers, resting the computer against her bent legs. The web page from earlier in the day was still open. Images of all those women—so many women—hit her. Each and every one had been fleeting alliances, except Tabitha Hale.

She should leave it there and close the laptop. Don’t feed the desire to know the details. Yep, she should leave it alone. But she didn’t. Instead, she searched for information about Gabe and Tabitha.

The woman was beautiful. Actually, that adjective didn’t do her justice. Stunningly perfect was a better description. She and Gabe had made such a striking couple, and they seemed happy in the pictures, always laughing, touching, and sharing secretive glances. What could possibly have happened to split up such an ideal pair? The Internet was full of speculation, although neither Gabe nor Tabitha had shared any details. A publicist had issued a banal statement from Tabitha’s point of view. “With love and respect, Gabe and I have decided to take a break from our relationship.” Absolutely nothing had been released from him, not even a confirmation of their split. And clearly that “break” had turned into something a lot more permanent.

With a sigh, she closed the laptop. It was utterly pointless to compare herself to someone like Tabitha. Livvy couldn’t hope to compete with the beauty or confidence Tabitha projected. Still, her earlier unanswered question seemed even more poignant now. Why her? She was nothing like Tabitha or the multitude of women Gabe had been with since. What could she possibly offer a man like him other than a whole set of baggage he had absolutely no idea about?

She scooched down under the covers and closed her eyes. As she drifted off, her cell dinged with an incoming text, dragging her away from much-needed sleep. She picked it up off the nightstand. It wasn’t a number she recognized. She swiped the screen.

Olivia, thank you for this evening. I’m looking forward to next time.

Gabe

A lightness sped across her chest. He’d texted her. How did he even get my number? Stupid question. The man had found out her name and address in no time. Her cell phone number wouldn’t exactly be a challenge. She saved his number to her contacts list then penned a quick reply.

Thanks for dinner. Oh, and my friends call me Livvy.

Within seconds he replied.

Good to know you consider me a friend, Livvy.

A warm feeling started in her core and spread outward but was immediately followed by the clawing of remorse. Was she so shallow that the first beautiful face to pay her any attention had her grasping for it as if she were drowning? Gabe Mitchell had gotten under her skin, and she wanted him.

Except he was the last thing she needed.