Gabe

My windshield wipers squeak as they brush over the glass, the mist just enough to be annoying. It’s chilly and raw, and I run my hands in front of the rental truck’s heat, trying to warm up. One nice thing about being away from home on a case are the luxuries we get.

The townhouse suites, a badass pickup truck, along with a business phone and laptop. The location might suck along with the weather, but at least I live in comfort.

I steer the truck into a parking lot, the coffee shop buzzing with the lunch rush hour. I’m in and out in less than ten minutes, the coffee order placed ahead of time by Joe. We need coffees and some sugar to survive this day.

It’s been a fucking slog the past week as we spend hours deliberating and coming up with plans. The days have blurred together, all of them feeling the same. I work all day, barely have time for the gym or walks with Luna, then it’s sleep and back to work.

Being in the same room for hours upon hours with the same people is exasperating. I’d rather do physical labor at this point. The air in the room chokes me, the walls closing in and suffocating me. A lot of times I get up to leave and I’m first to volunteer to pick up lunch. I need the fresh air.

An end is in sight; we should be ready to crack this case soon.

My mind steers back to Alicia.

I can’t get that woman out of my damn head. I lie down at night and see her face, I wake up in the morning and see her face. A strong need possesses me to see her again.

A part of me wants to make sure she’s okay while the other part of me wants to fuck her silly. I tried to ignore the burn, the one that had my fingers itching to call her every second of every day. But it began to consume me, and she was inside my every waking thought.

I broke down and called her. We’re having dinner tonight. Her voice filtered through me, and we spent an hour talking on the phone about nothing.

It was one of the best convos I’ve ever had.

I want to spend more time with her, so much more time. I push the nagging thought to the back of my head that I’m not permanently staying here and it’s a bad idea to get involved with a local. Our training classes warned us about these exact types of situations. It never ends well.

But fuck if I can’t resist her.

She’s a balm for my hurting soul.

A soothing presence I’ve never found with anyone else.

What’s so wrong with needing someone like that? Someone who can help you, support you.

It’s wrong if I can’t help back. And I can’t.

My life is dangerous, full of unknowns. She can’t be wrapped up in my shit. I need to protect her from it and that means not getting involved.

I can’t be a good support to someone when I have so much darkness myself. My darkness would consume her the way it consumes me. That’s not fair to her.

She’s full of light and happiness and doesn’t deserve to be dulled by me.

A dinner shouldn’t do any harm, though, right? A nice meal shared between two friends who enjoy each other’s company.

That’s all it is, right? No harm done.

Or, so I think.

* * *

Her lavender scent fills the truck, and my cock stirs. Her smell is intoxicating, and I can’t help but drool over her in the cute skirt she’s rocking. My eyes roam up her long legs covered in thick tights with soft fur boots on her feet. She’s wearing a fleece jacket, complete with gloves, a scarf, and a hat that tames those sexy curls.

She smiles at me, and that one smile, that breath-catching, heart-stopping smile, sucks me in, down into a trance, my mouth finding hers on its own.

Our kiss is needy and possessive.

Hot and desperate.

It’s as if I’ve been starved for water and she’s my drink.

I can’t get enough, my tongue exploring hers, as small moans escape my throat.

My hands push off her hat and tangle in her curls, pulling her closer to me, not letting her break away.

We kiss and kiss until our mouths are swollen and I need to back away for both of us to gulp down air. I press my forehead to hers as I rub my nose along hers. I close my eyes and pray this moment never ends. Her mere existence soothes me.

I never imagined someone could do this for me, never mind actually experiencing it.

Her name comes off my lips in a whisper before I capture her mouth again, her sweet lip gloss teasing me.

Time disappears as we focus on each other. She must feel it too. It swirls thick in the air between us.

Sometime later, I finally back out of the driveway and drive us to dinner. The food is delicious and our conversation flows easily. We share a bottle of wine, Alicia growing flushed and giggly as the night wears on.

“Tell me, are you really looking to adopt?” She studies me, and my stomach flips. I knew eventually she’d want to know.

“I’m not entirely sure. I’ve always had a soft spot for kids looking for a family. My job doesn’t really seem to be a good fit for parenting, but things have a way of working out, don’t they?”

“Traveling isn’t easy when raising kids and you being a travel salesman will mean long trips on the road.”

I nod. Traveling salesman is the cover I always use. It covers the need for traveling and why I stay in places for periods of time, trying to work out deals. “A teen might be a better fit. Handle the travel better, anyway. School could be an issue.”

Alicia grins. “Most likely an issue. I love the teenagers there. I’ve grown close to Kayla. She’s an amazing person underneath all that shitty trauma. I hope she gets a chance at the life she deserves.”

My heart squeezes. Alicia is an amazing person, and I don’t deserve her. She deserves so much better than me.

I’m such a selfish prick. I want her all for myself.

“I hope she does too. None of those kids, or women for that matter, deserve to be in that situation.” I sip the last of my wine.

Alicia reaches out, putting her hand in my own. “You’re an awesome guy, you know that, Gabe?”

I look away. No, I’m not.

It’s all lies. I’m dark and evil, and I’m only going to weigh her down, hold her back. Sure, I love kids and feel for those in shelters and without families. It touches home with me, and I want to help in any way I can. But adopt one? While being single?

Not too sure about that. I have to keep my cover or me being at the shelter is suspicious.

“Thanks, but you’re awesome. You volunteer and spend your free time there, helping out.” I lean across the table and kiss her lips. “Ready to go have some real fun?”

She laughs and after we finish and I pay, we’re in my truck. I head to the church parking lot where I plan to look at the stars with Alicia, but this time she’ll be in my arms.

“Where are we going?” Her question snaps me from my thoughts.

“You’ll see.” I grin and throw her a wink. She shakes her head and goes back to looking out the window.

Ten minutes later, I pull in, and Alicia squeals. “I knew it!” A beam of happiness shines from her.

I park the truck in the area with the most open sky space and hop out, ready to show her what I brought. I grab the bag I packed earlier from behind my seat before shutting my door.

I help her out, planting a soft kiss on her cheek. She follows me to the back of the truck. I open the tailgate and hop in.

“One sec. Let me just set up.”

Alicia giggles and watches as I open my bag of tricks.

I pull out blanket after blanket, a pack of wine coolers, and a few hand and foot warmers. Spreading the biggest blanket out on the bed of the truck, I help Alicia up and offer her some warmers. “You may not need them. I’m sure I can keep you warm and toasty.”

She laughs, her loud, infectious laugh filling me up. I could listen to it on replay.

We settle down next to each other, piling three blankets on top of us and various warmers placed between us. Once you pop them, they instantly warm up and last about an hour.

I pull Alicia between my legs and wrap my arms around her waist, tucking her against me. The heat from her ass warms my cock and it stirs to attention. Her head rests against my chest, leaving space between my chin and her head. I must have six or so inches on her, my tall six-feet-four frame towering over her five-feet-eight-inch height.

We stare in silence at the clear night sky, the time slipping away, more stars visible than the last time we were here. Minutes turn into an hour, the air growing colder. At least the cold rainstorms ended.

My hands have a mind of their own as they move over her, along her back and over her hips. Her breath quickens and my cock grows thicker.

“Mmmmm…” Alicia murmurs, and I massage her shoulders before trailing my hands back down. I crave to touch those long legs of hers.

The heat builds between us, and I don’t know how much longer I can last. I crave to be inside her, her gorgeous body wrapped around mine.

“Want to get out of here? Back to my place?”

She nods, and we scramble up quickly, gathering the blankets, the empty wine coolers and used up warmers. We’re back in the truck in a flash, and I adjust my pants, my cock begging for attention.

“I wish I didn’t have to work in the morning. We could spend the day in bed.”

“You’re working tomorrow? On a Sunday?”

“Yep. Have a full schedule. I’m telling you, that salon is weird.”

“What do you mean weird?”

Alicia shrugs, biting her bottom lip. “Some days, we have full, crazy schedules, and other days, we have none. The vibe around there is weird. My boss is a creep. Hell, I don’t know. I could be all wrong, but it’s just the feeling I get. I don’t think I’m going to be there much longer. I don’t like working in an uncomfortable place.”

I take in this information and decide to push further. This could be just what I need for the case. “How is your boss creepy?”

“He stares at me and my co-workers, and I swear, his comments are all meant sexually even though my co-worker, Deanna, told me that’s crazy.”

I clench my teeth. Stares at her? Sexual advances?

“He fucking stares at you?” I snap.

Alicia darts me a look. “Yeah, sometimes. I ignore it.”

My hands grip the steering wheel. “I’m going to say something to him. He needs to back off.”

“Whoa, whoa, Gabe. Where’s this coming from? I can’t have you going in there telling my boss off.”

“He shouldn’t be staring at you or making sexual comments. It’s unprofessional and it pisses me off.”

“You’re right. He shouldn’t. But you going in there acting like a jealous boyfriend would not work out well.”

“I don’t care, Alicia. I’m not standing for that.”

“Gabe, relax. You aren’t my boyfriend. I can take care of myself.” She crosses her arms and sucks her bottom lip in. I’ve annoyed her, but I don’t care.

I can’t see straight, my jaw flexing as I picture smashing his face in.

No one will touch her. No one but me.

I ignore the need to analyze my feelings and hurry back to the apartment. Alicia stares out the window, her whole body faced away from me, her arms still crossed. Fuck.

“Look, I’m sorry, Alicia,” I say as I pull into the lot of townhouses. “I just hate men like that, especially when they’re treating someone I care about poorly.”

Alicia turns to me, her hands falling into her lap. “Someone you care about?” she whispers, fiddling with her hands.

“Yes. I care about you, of course I do. And you don’t deserve a crap boss.”

She looks up and her eyes search mine.

Fuck, this is deeper than I thought.

So much deeper.

I don’t think I’ll ever come up.

Do I even want to?

I break the silence, my voice a husky whisper as feelings gurgle in my throat, choking me. “Luna must be ready to pee everywhere. Let’s go in.”

She chuckles and that’s all I need.