Gabe

“Who in the fuck does that kind of shit?” Anne screeches. She’s pacing in the living room of my townhouse, her boyfriend watching her every move.

Anne showed up here unannounced and welcomed herself inside with her boyfriend in tow. Luna’s barking her head off from the backyard, not happy with the intrusion.

“What’s going on?” I cross my arms, glancing between the two.

“This! This is what’s going on!” She holds up a section of her hair in the back and underneath, there’s a huge chunk missing, a very noticeable chunk by the way it was cut. “Do you see this?” Anne comes closer, pointing to her hair. “What’s wrong with that bitch? She fucked up!” She drops her hair, throwing her hands in the air. “How am I going to fix this?”

“Relax, relax.” I hold my palms up. “Maybe it was an accident? Did this happen at the salon we’re watching?”

“Yes,” Anne snaps. “When I went there to scope out the place, I figured why not get a haircut. Blake said it’d be fine to browse their products, but I was afraid of looking out of place.”

“Who cut it?”

“A woman with wild curls. I should’ve known by looking at her frizzy mess.”

I stand up straighter, processing her words.

Curls. Wild, frizzy curls.

Fuck!

My arms drop to my sides, and my hands clench into fists. “Did anything happen while she was cutting it?”

Anne studies me for a second. “No, not that I can recall. Wait, I did answer my phone.” She points at me. “You called, remember? Earlier today?”

She’s right, I did.

Fuck again. Alicia must’ve heard me.

“Damn, I’m sorry, Anne. Maybe she didn’t even realize.” I shrug my shoulders.

Her boyfriend snickers behind her, and I swallow back my laugh.

Anne spins around. I swear steam shoots out of her ears. He’s gonna get it.

“What’s so funny, Colin? God forbid your precious tattoo guy fucks up on your ink. You’d be pissed too.”

He rubs his chin. “Yah, but that never happens. My guy knows his shit.”

Anne screams. “You men don’t understand!” She throws her hands in the air and heads for the door. “I’m not going back there, whether Blake wants me to or not. Colin, let’s go, I’m starving. Bye, Gabe.”

Anne glances back, giving Colin the death stare. He follows her out the door like a puppy dog, and I shake my head.

“Later,” I call, then I fetch Luna from the backyard. She scrambles inside, her nose going wild over all the new smells.

I leave her to it and search for my phone. I find it on the kitchen counter and pull up Alicia’s name, pressing it to call her. I meant to call her earlier this week when she got back into town, but work sucked all of my time.

Now she must think I’m married. Shit. How am I going to get out of this one?

“Hey.” Her voice comes over the phone, and my stomach clenches.

“Hey there, yourself.” My voice comes out huskier than I wanted.

Silence comes over the line. Shit, say something. Anything.

“How was your trip?”

“Fine.”

“Did you enjoy your time with Ruby?”

“Yeah.”

Shit, she ain’t making this easy.

“Are you hungry? I’d love to cook for you tonight. Want to come over?”

“No,” Alicia snaps. “I’m busy tonight.”

“All right. How about tomorrow night?”

“Busy then, too, Gabe. Or should I call you Peter?”

Fuck. “Alicia, listen, can we talk?”

The sounds of heavy breathing and sniffles come over the line. Please don’t be crying.

“Alicia. Just hear me out, okay?”

“Fine, but honestly, what does it matter anyways? We aren’t anything. We were only having fun, right? Besides, I don’t really care what your name is.”

I close my eyes, her words lancing through me.

She’s right. That’s what we said.

Why does this hurt, then? Why do I feel the need to explain to her, to hold her in my arms, to make her understand?

I never feel that way with anyone. Ever.

I can’t start now. I just can’t.

My heart conspires against my brain, but in this moment, my heart wins.

“Maybe you’re right. But all I know is, this shit isn’t sitting well with me. I need to see you and talk to you. But it’ll have to wait. I told my mom I’d stay here with her tonight. She had a treatment today and isn’t feeling well.”

“I’ll come to you then. I’ll help you take care of her. I won’t spend the night. I have to get back for Luna.”

“I…I just don’t know. Don’t you need to be with your wife?”

There it is. She said it.

“My wife? No. I told you I’m single.”

“That’s not what I saw earlier today. Your wife came into my hair salon. And she called you Peter.”

“She isn’t my wife, Alicia. Believe me.”

“How can I, Gabe? Your picture was clearly on her phone with the name hubby across it.”

“I can’t talk about this on the phone. I’ll be over soon, okay?”

“Fine. But it’d better be good.”

* * *

Alicia

I pop chocolate kiss after chocolate kiss into my mouth and stare at the sky, wrapping my shawl tighter around my shoulders.

Gabe will be here anytime now, and I wish I’d stood my ground and said no.

What is he going to tell me? No, I’m not married, I just show up on girls’ phones with the name hubby.

The chocolate isn’t working to soothe me, and I throw the bag on the patio table, my stomach queasy.

Hear him out, see what he has to say.

Ruby, my mom, Mel, Maddie.

They all tell me the same thing. At least he’s not running and hiding. He wants to talk, explain his side.

I hear his truck pull in, the engine loud. A wave of nerves run through me, my stomach flipping. Hurrying inside, I hang my shawl over a kitchen chair and make my way to the front. A soft knock plays on the door, and I open it wide, his entire frame filling the doorway.

Goddamn, he’s sexy.

My eyes run over him from head to toe. I feel my insides clench, desire filling my every pore. He’s wearing sexy, tight dark jeans with a fitted black shirt, his leather jacket hugging his arm muscles nicely.

Absolutely fucking delicious.

“You going to stare at me all night like I’m your midnight snack or are you going to invite me inside?” He grins down at me, and I flush.

I step back, and he walks by me, his familiar scent filling my nose. God, I’ve missed that smell. I didn’t realize how delicious it was until now, until I’ve gone without.

Shutting the door, I move to the living room and sit on the couch. Gabe comes over and sits next to me, his leg brushing mine.

I ignore my feelings, my heart beating loudly in my ears.

He takes my hand, his large one covering my small one. I should pull away, but I don’t. “I’m not married. Anne’s my partner from work and we sometimes use that as a cover.”

His words run over me, and I lift my eyes to meet his. “A cover for a traveling salesman? Why would you need a cover?”

Gabe shrugs. “It helps with sales, I guess. And I like to keep my real name private. So, when I’m working, I use the cover name of Peter, complete with a fake ID. I didn’t want to say that in front of your co-worker the other day, so I said Mia mixed my name up with my partner. I need to keep my cover a secret at all times.”

A part of me finds what he’s saying sketchy, and I’m not quite sure I believe him. I glance at his hand and there’s no wedding ring, but that doesn’t mean anything.

I stand, pulling my hand from his, and move to the window. I stare outside, wishing the answer would just come to me.

I don’t trust when it comes to love. Period. It’s not worth it.

Heartbreak is one of the worst types of pain to suffer through.

I saw it with Mom. Dad crushed her soul with his infidelities.

I experienced it myself with Jack, thinking I’d give love a chance. It was worth a shot.

Instead, I was left to pick up the pieces of my shattered heart.

“I know you’re hiding something, Gabe. The hushed phone calls, the leaving without a reason, without an explanation…I can’t take it.”

“Alicia, you know, it’s my job—”

Before he can finish, I’m halfway to the kitchen, not caring to hear the same tired excuses. He’s behind me, hot on my trail.

“I’m sorry, Gabe. I…I can’t do this anymore. Not like this.”

“Alicia. Wait.”

“What?” I spin on him.

“I have to stay undercover. Otherwise I put you, myself, my job at risk.”

I shake my head, wanting to understand, but I…

I just don’t fucking know.

A pair of strong arms snake around my waist. I lean back into his solid frame, moving my neck to the side as he nuzzles in. His scruff rubs on my sensitive skin, and I shiver. Damn it, my body is such a traitor.

I can’t fucking resist him.

Gabe will be the same way. He’ll hurt me.

He’ll fucking destroy me.

I pull away and spin around. “How do I know?” I whisper.

He grabs my waist and pulls me close, his face burying in my curls. “How do you know what?” he whispers back.

“That you’re telling me the truth,” I breathe.

Gabe leans back, taking my face in his hands. His eyes pierce mine. “I don’t know what the fuck we’re doing here, nor do I know how you feel. But what I do know is, I’ve been enjoying every second I spend with you. And I want more, not less. I wouldn’t lie to you. I hate lies and bullshit. That’s not me. But I can’t make promises, and you can’t either. So, let’s just enjoy, Alicia. Enjoy what we have and not overthink it. Believe me when I say I’d never do anything to purposely hurt you.”

I melt at his words, tears filling my eyes. I don’t know how to respond, so instead I lean my face into his hands and close my eyes, the tears leaking down.

His mouth presses to mine and I’m lost.

Lost in him, in this moment, in all of it.

I know it’s a mistake. Deep inside, I feel he can’t be trusted. No one can.

But do I listen to myself? No, of course not.

I let go and enjoy, kissing him back with everything I’ve got.

I’m such a fool.

* * *

“Yes, purple!” Kayla jumps up and down, riffling through my book of hair color swatches. “Can we do purple, please? Pretty please?”

She looks up at me with big brown puppy dog eyes, her lip quivering. I can’t help but laugh. She’s good, I’ll give her that.

“Fine, but only streaks. If I dye your whole head, I don’t think Mia would be too happy with me.”

Kayla rolls her eyes. “She’s not my mom. Why would she care?”

“Of course she’ll care. She wants the best for everyone here.” I glance back at Gabe, hoping he’ll chime in here, but he’s distracted, watching every person in here like a hawk.

I’d been excited all week to come and offer makeovers for the girls. Usually, we do more simple things like haircuts or mani/pedis, me offering them tips so they can learn skills. This time, I offered to do hair dye and makeup.

They’re thrilled and so am I.

Gabe offered to drive me, wanting to catch dinner after, and the original plan was for him to stay outside.

But of course, as luck would have it, Mia was pulling in at the same time we were. As soon as she saw Gabe, that was it, the conversation in full swing, her asking him to come in. She asked if we’d become friends, and Gabe nodded, quickly changing the subject.

I ignore my inner gut poking me and focus on setting up for the girls.

Kayla gives me another sassy teenage eye roll. “Whatever you say, A.”

I shake my head and prep all my supplies.

Several makeovers later, I’m exhausted, and an antsy Gabe is starving. We head to a local diner I raved about to him in past convos.

Gabe’s quiet. He didn’t say much in the shelter either. He watched, like he was looking for someone or something.

“Everything okay?” I ask.

“Yeah, sorry, just got a lot on my mind.” He reaches over and squeezes my hand.

“I know the feeling.”

“You’re amazing with those girls, you know that?” He looks over, and I swear, the soft smile on his lips has my heart fluttering.

Underneath all that muscle and tough inked skin, he’s a sweet, gentle soul.

I wave my hand. “Nah, I’m just trying to help out.” Shrugging my shoulders, I look out the window. “I know what it’s like to be a lonely teenager.”

Gabe blows out a breath and when I look over, his face has fallen. I take his hand back, offering him a squeeze this time.

“I was lonely, too.” His sad eyes find mine, and my heart constricts in my chest. I want to know his story and tell him mine.

Gabe pulls into the diner and when he parks, I climb into his lap, needing to taste him, feel his arms around me.

He gives me what I need, his own needs matching mine.

Our hearts sync together, as do the breaths we take.

I kiss him, wondering about his life.

I kiss him, picturing myself baring my soul to him.

I want to know everything about him, the good, the bad, the ugly.

I don’t care if he’s robbed a bank or stolen a car. My heart has a mind of its own.

And right now, it’s falling in love with Gabe.