The knock at Livvy’s door shot her heart rate into overdrive. She took a calming breath before opening it. Gabe stood on the other side, wearing a smirk, board shorts, a navy T-shirt, which stretched across the tight muscles of his chest, and a pair of stout walking boots.

His gaze skimmed over her, settling on her boots for a second, before he lifted his eyes to her face. “Oh, good. They fit. Ready?”

His laissez-faire attitude triggered her annoyance scale, which was quickly climbing upward. Livvy crossed her arms over her chest. “A little presumptuous of you, don’t you think?” She fixed him with a hard stare.

A brief frown drew down his brows, then he hit her with a smile so dazzling, she considered putting on sunglasses. “You’re wearing them now, so I can’t take them back.”

Livvy expelled an irritated sigh. “It’s not about that.”

“Then what is it about?” he asked. But before she could answer, he said, “Let’s have this argument on the way. We need to get going.”

Livvy gritted her teeth as she grabbed her keys. “Fine. Do I need anything else?”

Gabe shook his head. “It’s all in the car.”

He turned around and set off towards the elevator. Livvy slammed the door to her apartment and marched after him. Something about Gabe had changed. Since she’d told him about the accident, he’d stopped treating her with kid gloves. This Gabe was much more authoritative, and if she were being honest with herself, she kind of liked it. He was very different than Mark, not only in looks, but also in personality, which was a good thing. She didn’t want to be reminded of Mark when she was with Gabe. It made the swathes of guilt easier to keep at bay, almost as if she’d split herself in two. The Livvy who’d been married to Mark wasn’t the same Livvy who was trotting after Gabe.

By the time she reached the elevator, he’d already pressed the call button. His lips twitched as he caught sight of her face, which continued to reflect her irritation.

“A good hard hike up a mountain should get rid of all the negative energy you’re dragging along, Livvy. It’s a pair of boots. Get over it.”

Yep, she’d been right about his change in attitude. A shiver crept up her spine, which, on examination, she recognized as excitement. Most people she knew had walked on egg shells around her for more than two years, and their careful treatment of her had gotten much worse after she’d tried to kill herself. As she peeked into the light and realized she had a chance for a future, she knew she didn’t want to be treated like that anymore. She wanted to be called out on her shit. The only one who came close to doing that was Ches, and even she considered every word spoken for fear Livvy would regress and try to take her own life once more.

But ever since Livvy had met Gabe, she could feel herself changing—and that thrilled her.

As they stepped out into the dazzling sunshine, Gabe dropped his aviator sunglasses into place. They hid his sharp green eyes, making him harder to read, though his twitching lips told her he still found her annoyance amusing.

He held open the car door and gallantly waved his arm. “I take it this is okay? Or would you prefer to open your own door?”

Livvy’s first response was to narrow her eyes, but as his lips curved even further upward until he was full-on laughing, she cracked a smile. “You’re an ass.”

He gave her a playful nudge with his shoulder. “I thought you British types preferred ‘arse’.”

“Ass suits you better, especially as it doubles up as another name for a mule.”

Gabe’s laughing grew louder as he closed the door behind her and walked around the hood before climbing in the driver’s side.

“Where are we going, anyway?” Livvy asked as he clipped his seat belt in place and fired up the engine.

Gabe glanced over his shoulder and began reversing. “Echo mountain.”

Livvy wrinkled her nose. “Never heard of it.”

He glanced over at her. “It’s in the San Gabriel Mountains—my namesake,” he said with a wink. “It’s a hard hike, but I think you’re up to it. I’ve brought a picnic, which we can eat at the top. The views are amazing.” He pulled out onto the highway before joining the interstate and heading north.

Livvy stared out the window as they left the city behind. The closer they got to the mountains, the more her restless legs began to twitch. She’d wanted to hike the mountains behind Los Angeles ever since arriving in California, but hiking on her own didn’t appeal. Some activities were better when shared, and she was really looking forward to sharing this one with Gabe.

He eventually pulled into a small parking area and cut the engine. As Livvy stepped outside, the sun beat down on her. She reached back into the car for her baseball cap and pulled it on, feeding her ponytail through the gap at the back. Gabe opened the trunk and lifted out a sizeable backpack. He dug into one of the side pockets and passed her a tube of sunscreen.

“Thanks.” She layered a decent amount on all exposed skin before passing back the tube to Gabe, who followed her lead. They both had a quick drink before Gabe shrugged into the backpack. He took hold of her hand, and they set off up the trail.

As they walked, he pointed out the odd landmark, but mostly they climbed in silence, for which Livvy was grateful because her lungs were burning with a combination of effort and the intense heat from the sun. Every once in a while, they stopped to take in fluids before setting off once more.

When they reached the summit, Livvy planted her hands on her hips and took a moment to catch her breath. It hadn’t been a long climb, but it had been steep, and her lungs were protesting the effort. Gabe, on the other hand, appeared completely unaffected.

“You’re very fit,” Livvy said between panting breaths.

Gabe waggled his eyebrows at her. “Thanks, darlin’, although you’re not the first woman to tell me that.”

Livvy rolled her eyes. “I meant exercise-wise.”

Gabe chuckled. He set the backpack on the ground and pulled her close. The peaks of their baseball caps clashed, and Livvy giggled.

Gabe twisted his cap back to front then dropped his hands to her waist once more. “Got your breath back?”

Livvy nodded, her giggles receding as Gabe looked into her eyes. His earlier mirth had disappeared. He stepped closer to her and bent his head. His lips hovered inches away before he brushed them softly over hers. Livvy’s stomach clenched deliciously, and she pressed herself closer to him, but Gabe disappointed her by stepping back.

He righted his cap and bent down to pick up the backpack. “Follow me.” He pointed straight ahead. “It’s quieter over there.”

He stopped at a relatively flat area and unzipped the backpack. He reached inside and pulled out a blanket, laying it on the ground and then indicating for her to sit.

In minutes, he’d set up a whole picnic with tasty sandwiches, pastries, and fruit, along with a half bottle of champagne, two glasses, and a large bottle of water.

“I can’t believe you hoisted all that up the mountain,” Livvy said.

Gabe winked. “I’m fit. Remember?”

Livvy groaned. “Not going to live that down in a hurry, am I?”

Gabe shook his head. “Nope.”

Livvy grabbed a sandwich and bit into it. “Did you pack this yourself, Mr. Chef Extraordinaire?”

Gabe tilted his head to one side. “Are you mocking me, Hayes?”

Livvy grinned. “You make it too easy.”

“Hmm, we’ll see about that. Actually, no, my housekeeper did.”

She nodded. “Well, tell her…” She paused. “Her, right?” When Gabe nodded, she continued. “Tell her she’s a bloody marvel. These sandwiches are amazing.”

Gabe chuckled. “You’re very easily pleased.” He uncorked the champagne bottle without spilling a drop then poured her a glass and passed it across to her before filling his own. Livvy took a sip. The champagne was delicious. She finished her sandwich then reached for a huge strawberry.

After they’d eaten and finished the champagne between them, Gabe insisted she take on plenty of water as he cleared away and stuffed the trash into the backpack. He zipped up the bag, picked up a bottle of water for himself, and took a long pull. Livvy’s eyes fell to his throat as he drank. She wanted to put her mouth on it and taste him, but her natural hesitancy prevented her from acting on the urge. Instead, she dragged her gaze away and finished her own water. She handed him the empty bottle, which he slotted into a side pocket.

“Full?” he asked.

“Couldn’t eat another thing.”

Gabe lay back on the blanket and raised his face to the sun. Livvy stretched out beside him, a contented sigh escaping from between her lips.

“This is heaven,” she murmured. “I wish we could teleport back down.”

Gabe turned onto his side and propped himself up on an elbow. “Tired?”

She shook her head. “A bit lethargic. The food, the sun. I’m feeling lazy.”

“You’re different,” Gabe said. “Much less uptight.”

Livvy pushed her sunglasses on top of her head and squinted at him. “I know.”

“Why?”

She shrugged. “Not sure. Maybe it was sharing what happened to me. It’s easier talking to a stranger than those who know me well.”

A frown drifted across his face. “Do you consider me a stranger?”

“No. Not now. Although I don’t know very much about you, so you’re not exactly a close friend, either.”

His frown deepened. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

His body shifted, and before Livvy could figure out what he was going to do, he kissed her. Butterflies swarmed through her stomach as he traced his tongue across her bottom lip. She started to wrap her arms around his neck, but he gripped her wrists and held them against either side of her head, pinning them to the ground. His body covered hers, his erection pressing against her hip. He slung his thigh over her leg, easing her knees apart.

Livvy expected to panic, but instead, hot, powerful desire made her crave more of what this man was giving her. Wetness pooled between her legs, dampening her underwear, and a soft moan eased from her throat. Gabe’s response was to almost growl, the sound rumbling through his chest.

He tore his mouth away from hers and cursed. “I have horrible timing.” He brushed a thumb over her swollen mouth, inflamed by his kiss. “And you are far too intoxicating.”

He sat upright, rocked back on his heels, and rose to a standing position. Livvy tried to pull herself together. Her eyes fell to his groin, and when she looked up again, he was grinning.

“Looks like I’ll have the advantage climbing down too.” When she frowned, he tipped his head forward, indicating the unmistakable bulge in his shorts. “Third leg.”

As Livvy creased over in laughter, Gabe held out his hand. Still chuckling, she gripped it as he helped her to her feet. “Are you ready to go?”

She nodded as Gabe folded the blanket and tucked it away in his backpack. The journey down was easier than the hike up, and they reached the bottom in no time. Livvy’s eyes began to droop on the way home, and she allowed herself to fall into a doze.

Gabe’s hand on her arm woke her, and she forced her lids open and gave him a shy smile. “Thanks for taking me out today. I really enjoyed myself.”

Gabe took a deep breath. “Want to stretch out the day?”

Livvy pushed herself upright and glanced out the windshield. Instead of her beige thirteen-story apartment building greeting her, she was faced with what could only be described as a mansion—a large structure set in its own grounds. And what grounds they were. From her limited vantage point, she couldn’t see another dwelling.

She turned towards Gabe. “Where are we?”

“My place.”

Livvy’s eyes widened. “This is your house?”

He nodded and unhooked his seat belt. “Want a tour?”

Hell yeah.

“Sure,” she said nonchalantly.

“Great. Let’s go.” Gabe took her hand and led her into a huge foyer.

As they moved from room to room, he told her he’d designed the house and even had a hand in building parts of it. Once again, overwhelming feelings prodded at Livvy, making her feel out of her depth. Irritated with herself, she pushed them to one side.

They finished the tour in the backyard, where an enormous swimming pool dominated the space. A line of palm trees had been planted along one side of the pool, giving a sense of the tropics, and outdoor furniture made for plenty of seating. A large Jacuzzi was built into the side of the pool.

“What’s that?” Livvy pointed to an outbuilding with a triangular-shaped roof.

Gabe looked over at where she was indicating. “Steam room, sauna, and changing facilities. Saves walking through the house with damp feet.”

He led her to a shaded area, where a large jug of what looked like homemade lemonade had been placed along with two glasses. He pulled out a chair for her and took the seat opposite.

He lifted the jug and poured them both a glass. “So, what do you think?”

She took a sip and placed her drink on the table. “Of your place? Fabulous. Although it’s a lot of space for one person,” she said, giving him a suspicious glance.

Gabe laughed. “I like space. Remember I told you I didn’t have much growing up?” When she nodded, he continued. “Well, that was an understatement. I was very poor. I was one of three siblings, and we lived in a two-bedroom shack a couple of miles outside Austin. With the profits from my very first business deal, I rented a four-bedroom apartment, even though a one-bedroom would have worked just fine. I was ecstatic with the amount of space I had. When you’ve lived on top of your family members without an ounce of privacy, believe me, you crave it.”

Livvy stared at him. She didn’t have a clue about his background or what made him the man he was today. Yet with one little sneak peek, he’d given her more than a glimpse into the man behind the success.

“And where is your family now?”

He grimaced. “My father died a few years ago, no doubt because of the poor living conditions he’d had to put up with for most of his life. Sadly, my success came too late to help him. He was only forty-eight.”

“How terrible. Gosh, you wouldn’t think such things could happen in modern society.”

He blew out a slow breath, almost as though he were trying to regain control. After a few seconds, he managed to collect himself, and when he met her worried gaze, he smiled. “My mom is amazing, though. I hope you’ll get to meet her sometime. I’d love for her to move to LA, but she’s a Texan through and through.”

Livvy repressed a moment of panic. Meeting family members put any relationship firmly into the “serious” bracket, and she and Gabe were far from being at that stage.

“What about your siblings? Do they live locally?”

He stared at his hands for a few seconds, and when he looked up, his features had hardened. “My younger sister, Sophia, died when I was eighteen. She was only fifteen.”

Livvy briefly closed her eyes. Having had no sisters or brothers, she couldn’t understand his pain, but she could empathize.

“I’m sorry.” She curled her fingers around his. “What a tragedy.”

“My mother never got over it, although she hides her pain extremely well.”

“She must be a remarkable woman.”

He gave her a tight smile. “She is.”

“And what about your brother?”

Gabe’s eyes darkened, and his jaw clenched. A nerve pulsed in his cheek. “He’s a piece of shit. If he ever shows his face around here, he’ll be sorry.”

His vehement response sent a quiver of fear through her, and even though it was none of her business, she couldn’t help asking, “Do you want to talk about it?”

He blew out a slow breath. “Not really, but as you’ve been honest with me, I guess I owe you the same.”

Livvy shook her head. “You don’t owe me anything.”

He grimaced. “Sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.” He rubbed the tips of his fingers over his mouth as a shadow crossed his face. “Sophia had cystic fibrosis, so I’m sure you can imagine, with two older brothers, she was sheltered. Sometimes her health wasn’t too bad, and she could carry on like any normal teenager, but at other times, she’d spend weeks in the hospital, which put a terrible strain on a family who was already dirt poor.

“After yet another stay in the hospital, she hadn’t been home very long, when a group of girls from school invited her to the movies. It was difficult for Sophia to make friends because she spent so much time away from school, and you know what kids are like. Anyway, she was thrilled, and even though she hadn’t fully recovered, my mom relented. I dropped her off, and Aaron, that’s my brother, said he’d pick her up.”

Livvy began to get a really bad feeling about where this was going, but she didn’t want to interrupt him, so she sipped her lemonade and waited for him to continue.

“Cutting a long story short, Aaron was on a date, and he lost track of time. Sophia waited for him, but when it began to rain, she set off for home. Our house was five miles from the movie theater, and she walked the whole way. By the time she got home, she was soaked through, shivering, and couldn’t catch her breath. My dad took her straight to the hospital. She caught pneumonia, and with her lungs already so damaged from the cystic fibrosis…” He broke off, staring at his hands. After a few seconds, he lifted his head, his eyes going to hers. “They did everything they could, but she didn’t make it.”

“Oh God,” Livvy murmured.

Deep pain scored Gabe’s face as he relived the memories. “My brother chose his dick over his sister. I couldn’t bring myself to forgive him then, and I still can’t.”

“What about your mum? Does she still see him?”

“Yes. You’ll understand when you meet my mom. She’s an incredible woman with a huge heart and a capacity for forgiveness that I simply don’t possess. In the early years, she tried to make us reconcile, but now…” He shrugged. “She accepts and respects my point of view. Anyway, what about you?” he asked, making it clear he wanted to move on. “Any sisters, brothers?”

Livvy shook her head. “I was an only child. My dad died when I was very young. He was a soldier and got killed during a training exercise. My mum was heartbroken. She never really got over losing him. She died when I was at university.”

An expression of sorrow crossed Gabe’s face before he smoothed his expression, correctly guessing she wouldn’t want his pity. “You’ve had it rough” was the only acknowledgement of her difficult past.

“Sounds like we both have.” She shrugged. “But they make ’em tough in England.”

His lips lifted at the corners. “And in Texas.”

Livvy nibbled at the inside of her cheek. There was one person she was desperate to ask about but didn’t know what Gabe’s reaction would be. The closer she and Gabe became, the more curious—and envious—she was of Tabitha. Which was silly because Tabitha wasn’t there and Livvy was. But she couldn’t help the growing curiosity about what had happened to the perfect couple.

“What about Tabitha?” she asked, plunging in. “Do you regret things not working out between you?”

Gabe’s expression darkened, and pure venom blasted out of his eyes, sending a blaze of fire careering towards her. “No,” he snapped.

Determined not to be put off, Livvy pressed on. “But you looked so happy in the pictures I saw of you on the Internet. I mean, I’m not prying—”

“Yes, you are,” he said, cutting her off. His voice sounded pained, making Livvy regret her questioning.

She tucked her chin to her chest. “Forget it.”

Gabe reached out to her, his hand curving around her cheek. “I’m sorry, darlin’. I shouldn’t have snapped. It’s just that wasn’t a great time in my life. I’d prefer not to talk about it or her.” He almost spat the final word.

Livvy forced a tight smile and refrained from reminding him that she’d shared her entire past—every sad, depressing, devastating moment. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Come on.” He got to his feet as if the altercation hadn’t happened. “I haven’t shown you the best part of the tour yet.” Gabe curled his fingers around hers and led her down a gravel pathway. He unlocked a wood-paneled door and pushed it open.

Livvy followed him inside, and as she took in what he wanted to show her, she couldn’t stop her mouth from falling open. “Wow,” she said, glancing around at the garage full of cars. “How many does one man need?”

Gabe laughed. “I know it’s indulgent, and it probably makes me a bit of a dick, but I adore cars, and choosing only one when I didn’t have to seemed silly.”

Livvy trailed her hand across the candy-apple-red paintwork of the nearest car. “You have far too much money if you can afford a Bugatti Veyron.”

Gabe’s head spun around so quickly, he must have cricked his neck. His eyes widened. “You know about cars?”

Livvy nodded. “Mark was a real petrol head—that’s what we call car enthusiasts in the UK. He’d buy every car magazine going, and because it was a hobby of his, as his wife, I felt it only right to pay attention. After a while, I found I loved them as much as he did.”

Gabe’s broad smile made his eyes sparkle. “Wow. You’re full of surprises. It’s not often I get blindsided.”

Livvy moved farther into the garage, her eyes darting everywhere. If a supercar existed, Gabe owned it. The contents of his garage must have been worth millions, but it was the car—although car wasn’t the right word—tucked away on the far wall that caught her attention.

On tentative feet, she moved closer. “Oh my God,” she whispered. With an excited glance over her shoulder, she shook her head. “How did you get a hold of a 2006 Ferrari F1?”

Gabe’s stunned expression indicated she’d surprised him twice in a matter of minutes. He moved closer and caught her hips with his hands. “I think you may be my perfect woman.”

Livvy laughed, but as his face fell serious, so did hers. He moved slowly until their lips were almost touching, then a groan eased from his throat. His mouth covered hers, softly at first, but then harder, more insistent. Livvy went along with it as desire powered through her, making her knees tremble and her head spin.

When Gabe pulled back, his neck was flushed, his gaze intense. He lifted her hands to his mouth and kissed the back of each one. “I want you,” he said. “But I understand if it’s too soon. I’m more than prepared to wait.”

“I don’t want to wait,” Livvy said, surprising herself more than Gabe.

He hesitated for the briefest moment before Livvy found herself being towed out of the garage. She had to jog to keep up with him, but as they reached the bottom of the winding staircase in the center of Gabe’s home, he bent his knees and swept her up into his arms.

Livvy repressed a surprised squeal as Gabe took off up the stairs. On the top floor, at the end of the corridor, he kicked open a door, and Livvy found herself in what had to be Gabe’s bedroom.

“Are you sure?” he whispered as he placed her feet on the floor. He flicked her hair over her shoulder, his fingers lightly brushing her neck, sending delicious shivers over every vertebra in her spine.

Unable to find her voice, she simply nodded.

He pulled her into his arms, his mouth seeking hers. His tongue surged inside, tangling with her own. Sure and steady fingers snaked beneath her T-shirt. He gripped the hem and, breaking their kiss, tugged it over her head. His eyes fell on her breasts, the soft swells peeking over the top of cream lace. He groaned as he buried his face between them, his thumbs brushing the stiff peaks of her nipples through the satin. A sharp spike of desire curled within Livvy’s abdomen, and she clamped her thighs together to relieve the sweet agony.

He sank to his knees and unlaced her boots, removing them one at a time before tossing them to one side. Her socks followed. He reached up and unfastened the button on her shorts, yanked down the zipper, then slowly peeled them down her legs.

In partial disbelief at what was happening, Livvy stepped out of them as Gabe slowly got to his feet. He must have recognized her semi-paralyzed state because he undressed himself until, like her, he was naked except for his underwear. Her gaze swept over him. She’d been right. He was a man who took care of himself. She wanted to sink to her knees and lick every single ridged muscle in his abdomen, but unfortunately, she was too damned scared, too frozen, and too bloody English.

His hands were warm and comforting as he led her to the enormous bed, which overlooked the backyard and the Hollywood hills visible behind the house. He encouraged her to lie down.

Livvy let her head sink into pillows so soft, they felt like clouds beneath her. In a dreamlike state, she closed her eyes as Gabe kissed her mouth, her shoulder, and the dip of her cleavage. Her bra loosened around her chest, then her breasts were bare. But as he went to remove her panties, panic bubbled up inside Livvy. Her mouth filled with saliva, and her heart rate spiked.

“No,” she mumbled, but he mustn’t have heard her, or he was lost in his own desires because his lips continued to blaze a trail over her body.

“God, you’re beautiful,” he muttered, but when the tip of his tongue traced her C-section scar, Livvy lost it.

“No,” she yelled. Her legs scrambled beneath her as she shot backward, curling her knees to her chest. She wrapped her arms around them. Her back was ramrod straight against the headboard, and her chest rose and fell with the effort of breathing through her panic.

Gabe held his hands out in front of him as though calming a startled mare. “It’s okay, Livvy. You’re in control. Nothing needs to happen.”

Embarrassment swept over her in waves. He’d asked her if she was sure, and she’d said yes. At the time, she thought she was, but the intimacy of feeling his tongue against the scar that had allowed her dead child to be removed from her womb… it was all too much.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered as her face began to burn.

Gabe said nothing as he climbed off the bed and disappeared into an adjacent room, but he was back seconds later, holding a bathrobe.

He passed it over to her. “Here. This will make you more comfortable.”

Livvy clutched the gown against her, which at least allowed her to cover her modesty, and when Gabe turned his back, she could have wept at his thoughtfulness. She quickly shrugged into it and fastened the belt around her middle.

She swung her legs over the bed and began gathering her clothes, averting her gaze from him. “I’ll get dressed and then be out of your way.”

“Stay, please,” Gabe said gently. “I don’t want you to go, not like this.”

Livvy’s chin dropped to her chest. “I’m so sorry for leading you on. It’s just… I can’t…” She covered her face with her hands. “Oh God.”

Gabe’s fingers curled around her wrists, and he tugged her arms apart. As they fell by her sides, he clipped her under the chin. She tilted her head upward as her eyes went to his.

“No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pushed. You’re right. It’s far too soon, but please don’t go. I want you to stay.”

Feeling an overwhelming need to explain herself, Livvy gave him a wry smile. “It’s my scar, you see. I—”

Gabe placed his forefinger over her lips, silencing her. “You don’t need to justify anything to me.”

She frowned. “Why aren’t you more angry? I led you on and then didn’t follow through.”

Gabe’s eyes flashed. “Now that makes me angry. Jesus, Livvy, you have the right to say no at any time. You didn’t lead me on—you simply changed your mind.” His gaze softened then, and he chuckled. “I might need to engage in a little… self-service later, and I can’t promise that I won’t be thinking of you when I do.”

Livvy laughed, and as she did, the tension in the room evaporated. “You’re quite something, you know.”

Gabe leaned forward until their lips were close, but he didn’t let them touch. “I’ll wait, Livvy. As long as it takes.” He moved back and rubbed at his chin, his gaze thoughtful. “You’re so different from what I’m used to, so refreshing. You let me know when you’re ready, and I’ll be waiting.”

And with that, he turned his back and left the room, leaving her alone to dress.