Meredith 

 

I plop into my seat at the table and run my hands through my hair. “I know we’re dating and all, but you shouldn’t have come here.” He had to be aware this could have ended badly. Like, so badly. “You do know Daddy’s had it out for you since we were in high school, don’t you? ”

Gabe nods. “Yes, I’m aware, subtle is not a word I’d use to describe your father.”

“Well then cowboy, please help me understand what you were thinking.”  

Kindness fills his eyes when Gabe looks at me. “I wanted to surprise you. Honestly, I thought your dad would be out working, not standing in the driveway, waiting for me to show up like I’d scheduled an appointment. Besides, the opportunity to see you outweighed any risk as far as I’m concerned.”

How is he always so damn charming? Can’t he see I’m trying to make a point here?

I level my index finger at Gabe in response to his words. “And what about you? Shouldn’t you be back at your place right now, working? Are Chet and Christy even back from their honeymoon? Don’t you have responsibilities of your own that need tending to?”  

Gabe comes to stand behind me and rubs my shoulders. “No, they won’t be back for another week. So, I asked Hank to come over and keep an eye on things.” 

I close my eyes and sigh as his strong hands melt the knots in my neck. “Wait. You left Hank in charge of the entire ranch? And that made sense in that little head of yours?” 

Gabe leans down to look me in the eye. “My little head?” His mouth forms the most devilish of grins. “No, Doll. I wasn’t thinking with my little head.”  

I playfully slap his hand. “Stop it. You know what I mean.” 

He winks. “I think I do, kitten.” Gabe straightens. “I might have been a little concerned, but Hank’s created a decent business for himself since he took over Christy’s old place. Maybe he’s an idiot savant or something. I mean, who hasn’t questioned his decisions at one time or another? But the man can fix anything with an engine. Add to that, the fact he hasn’t burned her place to the ground, and I figure he ought to be able to watch cows eat grass for a few hours. Regardless, it’s been a week since I saw your face. I needed a fix. So…the ranch be damned.” 

The thought of him needing me catches me by surprise.

“Hey, is that my shirt?” Gabe points at my freshly stained t-shirt. 

“Hmmm?” 

He smiles. “It is, isn’t it? You’re wearing my t-shirt. The one we didn’t have time to look for because you had to sneak me out like I’d robbed the place.” 

“What? This old thing? I—I don’t know, I found it crumpled on the floor,” I say coyly. 

He takes a seat across from me. “Is that right? The stain is new. But I’m pretty damn sure that’s my shirt.” 

“Fine. It's your shirt and I'm sorry about the stain. ” I bite my bottom lip. “But it's not really my fault. See, I spilled coffee when I heard someone calling my name and asking for paper. Then I saw you and my brother about to kill each other in the driveway.”

Gabe leans in, his eyes dancing with excitement. “Does it smell like me? Is that why you’re wearing it?”

My cheeks burn. “No.” Not anymore. I’ve worn it to bed every night for the last week. Frankly, it’s starting to smell like a funky version of me. “Stop trying to change the subject,” I say, trying to change the subject. 

Gabe’s smile tells me he knows what I’m doing, but he’s choosing not to call me on it. “I thought we could drive down to Sterling for the afternoon. Grab a bite to eat, maybe do a little shopping. How’d that be?” 

“Shopping? What on Earth for?” I look down at my coffee-stained shirt and PJ bottoms. “I’m not even dressed.” 

“Exactly. It’s three in the afternoon on your day off, and you’re still in PJs. I thought you might enjoy an afternoon of pampering. You deserve it more than anyone.” 

I stare at Gabe in disbelief. “Are you being serious right now?”

Without hesitating, Gabe answers, “One hundred percent.”

“And how many other women have received similar offers from you?” My words are meant as a joke, but I worry I may not be strong enough for an honest answer.

Without hesitating, he pulls one of those ready-made answers from his pocket. “Nah, this is a first for me. Besides, the only face I ever saw was yours.” 

I punch him in the shoulder. “Nice try.”

Gabe recoils as if he’d been hit by Mike Tyson. “Come on now. You’d punch a man in my condition?”  

“Your condition? Isn’t it funny how your condition only flares up when it’s convenient for you?” I roll my eyes. “Give me a few minutes to change and do something with my hair, okay?” 

Gabe leans back in his chair, pleased with his victory. “Take your time, Doll.”  

* * *

The fitting room attendant eyes the mound of clothing draped over my arm. “How many items you got?” She asks because she’s supposed to. I really don’t think she could care less.

“Umm…” I jostle the bundle and try to count hangars. “Seven?” There’s more like seven pounds of clothing in my arms, but the woman waves me past without missing a beat. I turn back to find Gabe lowering himself into a plush armchair.

“I want pictures.” He lifts an eyebrow and I fight a blush as I duck down the hallway, avoiding eye contact with the attendant.

The day has been good. Like, way better than I expected it to be. Gabe still knows exactly what to say to make me laugh. I haven’t seen the man in almost twenty years, but it’s like no time has passed at all. Like he’s still the most important thing in my life and I’m still the most important thing in his.

I make a sound, half laugh, half sigh, as I hang my clothes on a hook in the changing room. History would argue that I never was the most important thing in his life, or else he would have listened to me way back when. Whatever. That was then, and this is now, and I agreed to cut the man some slack.

I dig through the clothes, in search of the sundress Gabe picked out. It’s simple, but beautiful. He always did know exactly what I’d like. As I slip off my shoes, my phone buzzes with a text.

Gabe: cough cough pictures cough cough

I giggle as I tap out a reply. Me: yeah, yeah. I hear ya.

My gaze darts to my reflection as I undress. In this lighting, with this mirror, I don’t look half-bad. I slip the sundress off the hangar and pull it on, then stand in the small room laughing at what I see in the mirror. I grab my phone and snap a shot.

Me: Something’s not right… I attach the picture of me in a dress that must be three sizes too big. The thing hangs like a sack off my torso. One of the straps won’t stay on my shoulders, exposing the top of my bra and the swell of my breast.

My phone vibrates.

Gabe: Sold. I love it. Just try one thing, would ya? For me.

Me: What’s up?

Gabe: Slide the other strap off.

I do as he asked, and the dress slides down, held up only by my chest, and barely at that. I can almost hear him chuckling in the waiting room as I step out of it. I glimpse myself in the mirror and on a whim, snap a picture of me in my bra and panties. Am I really about to send an almost naughty picture of myself to him? What has gotten in to me? Before I think better of it, I hit send.

Me: Done.

An eternity passes while I wait for his response and I pull up the pic and zoom in. What have I done? I mean, for one, we’re on what? Day one of dating? Except this is Gabe, so that’s not exactly true. But for two? I’m not a girl anymore and I don’t have the kind of body that deserves to be ogled through pictures on the internet. I can take it back, right? Please God, tell me I can take it back. I just about jump out of my skin when my phone buzzes again.

Gabe: More.

Me: I haven’t put on the next outfit yet.

Gabe: Thank God.

Gabe: Clothes be damned.

Gabe: I want more

Gabe: OF YOU

A tinge of excitement settles into my belly as I read his words. If the man wants more, I’ll give him more. I slide my bra strap off my shoulder and push my breasts up, then snap a picture. Before I can think better of it, I hit send. My phone buzzes.

Gabe: MORE

I turn and look over my shoulder, make my best porn-star-surprised-by-her-own-ass face, snap a picture, and hit send.

Gabe: KEEP EM COMING

I slide my hand under the waistband of my underwear, take another picture and send it his way.

Gabe: Looks like you might need some help…

Gabe: Shall I join you?

I take another picture, a closeup of me rolling my eyes. I hit send.

A minute later, my phone buzzes with Gabe’s reply.

Gabe: Sad face

Pleased with myself, I hurry through trying on the rest of my clothes, happily taking pictures and sending them to Gabe. When I’m finally done, I head out to where he’s waiting and find him sitting with several different sizes of the white sundress in his lap.

“Find the one in your size, because that’s a keeper,” he says.

We finish the day hopping from store to store, spending way too much on clothes and shoes and anything else Gabe thinks will put a smile on my face.

The sun is hidden by the cloudy, late afternoon sky as we walk to Gabe’s truck loaded with bags all of sizes and colors. My head rests on his shoulder and in this moment, I am happy. “This has been…sublime. Thank you.” Gabe smiles as he walks me to the passenger side and opens my door, such a gentleman. Before I climb into the cab, I turn to look him in the eyes, I want him to know how grateful I am for a day of being spoiled. I want him to know how much I appreciate it, how much I needed it, but I can’t find the words. Everything seems clumsy and hollow.

I guess he sees the fight happening behind my eyes, and he responds perfectly. He smiles, playfully taps the end of my nose with his finger and says, “Wanna head into Denver tomorrow and do it all over again, Doll?”

I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him down as I stretch onto my toes to kiss him. “Thank you,” I say, and then I kiss him again. “Thank you…for today…for this…just, thank you.”

The drive home is peaceful. Gabe holds my hand the entire time. He even goes so far as to reach over the wheel with his left hand, so he can adjust the radio when his favorite song comes on.

The sound of gravel as we turn onto the driveway reminds me of the inevitable controversy awaiting, but to hell with that for now. I have precious little time left with this man and I want to make the most of it. I unbuckle my seatbelt and slide over to cuddle beside him.

“Thank you again,” I whisper as we park.

“My pleasure, beautiful.” Gabe wraps his arm around me. “It’s not too late to come back to my place, ya know?”

I want to. My body is totally onboard with the idea. Wicked thoughts have danced through my mind all afternoon. “It’s…complicated…you know, with my folks. I mean, I realize I’m an adult and it’s none of their business, but I think it might be too much for Daddy’s heart, if I didn’t come home tonight.”

Gabe sighs. “Totally understand.” He chuckles. “I worry about Jim’s heart too. Keeps me up some nights, ya know?”

I rub his chest and am distracted by the feeling, so firm and masculine. “I’m sure you do,” I say, rolling my eyes.

Gabe groans his approval of my hand on his body. His hand slides off my shoulder to my upper back, rubbing along the way. His touch is exactly what I need. So much so, that I forget we’re twenty feet away from the house where my parents are undoubtedly spying on us through a window.

I kiss Gabe along his neck, from his collarbone up to his chiseled jaw. His stubble scratches my lips, but I don’t care, it’s all part of his masculinity and it’s intoxicating. Gabe lifts my chin and kisses me. His body pushes into mine, stretching me back across the bench seat while he repositions himself above me. He slides a strand of hair behind my ear and the sensation tickles my skin, causing me to gasp.

“Did that tickle?” Gabe asks. “Here, let me help.” He kisses my neck and my ear as he cups my breast and I want more. I rub his cock through his jeans, and it strains for me. I’ve lost all sense of time and space. I want this man. I need him. If he takes my clothes off right now, I have no defense against him.

And then…

The porch light flips on, causing Gabe to stop the magical things he is doing. Damn my father. Reality ruins the moment, once again.

I sit up. “I guess now that we know they’re watching, it sort of kills the mood, huh?”

Gabe runs his hand through his hair. “Guess so.”

I hastily button my shirt. “Rain check? Next time, maybe we try your place?”

Gabe smiles. “Deal. Chet’s porch light is so far away, he couldn’t see anything even if he did flip it on.”