Chapter 10

Lauren

I opted for a quiet location that I’d gone to years back and hoped their food was still as heavenly as before.

Gage hadn’t taken his eyes off me since he picked me up, and for a moment there, I thought he might just drive us off the road if he didn’t give it a peek. We fell into comfortable conversation, and he’d made me laugh for the first time in weeks since my break up with Craig.

As we walked across the parking lot, he took my hand and helped me over a few parking curbs, but he dropped it to open the door for me. I’d been content to hold it for a while, but I knew it probably wasn’t like a date for him.

We’d spent a little time flirting in the car, but mostly it was just friendly reminiscing. I knew I shouldn’t read too much into it, but it was hard not to.

“I haven’t been to this place in ages. Great choice, by the way. Maybe they will let me back in now. Do you think the staff has changed since your brother and I were in here last?”

I stopped and pulled him with me. “What did you do?” I should have known him and my brother had done something to get thrown out of the nicest restaurant in town.

“Nothing, we just did a few noodle races on the window, and then Noah might have hit on the waitress.”

“When?” I held my breath and looked around. Those two could be such animals when they wanted to be.

“Remember when we took those seniors to the prom?”

“You were freshmen, right?”

“Yeah, two of the coolest freshmen in school. Well, until that whole noodle race. Our dates bitched us out, and then the waitress called the manager. We made a few lewd comments and got tossed out.”

“How embarrassing for your dates.”

“Yeah, my date’s dad wanted to fight Noah when we brought them home.”

“Prom wasn’t very much fun for me. Everyone who wanted to ask me had to go through the third-degree with Noah, so a week before prom, I still didn’t have a date.”

“Right, and since I knew he didn’t trust anyone with you, I offered to escort you. Your dad was all for it, even suggested it, but Noah about shit. He said absolutely not.”

“Daddy wanted you to take me?” I had never known my dad to pay any attention to who I was interested in, but had he known I was crushing on Gage, too?

“Yeah, I think he would have paired the two of us together.”

I couldn’t believe it. “And just when I didn’t think my father could surprise me anymore, he does it twice in one day.”

Gage smiled and took my hand as we were led to our table. “He was a good man.”

“Yeah, I miss him.”

He pulled out my chair for me. “Thanks. Boy, this place hasn’t changed much inside, has it?” I looked around at the décor and couldn’t spot one thing that hadn’t been there years back. The place was well taken care of and still one of the finest places in the town.

“No, it hasn’t. It’s kind of nice, actually. When something isn’t broke, you shouldn’t fix it.”

“I agree. Speaking of broken; thanks again for helping me out tomorrow with the cabin. I’ve been thinking about selling the place, and you can tell me if you think it’s worth bothering.”

“Why don’t you fix it up for yourself? And I’m not just saying this because I’m a contractor, but it might be nice to have a place back home. You could use it as a second income, a retirement plan.”

“Oh, lord. Don’t say retirement. It reminds me too much of Reed. He’s obsessed with retiring as a millionaire like our father.”

We ordered our drinks and then opened our menus.

“What about you?” Gage asked. “You’re well on your way, aren’t you?” He must not have realized how hard it was for a woman like me in my field.

“After today, it’s looking like a possibility. What about you? I hear that company of yours is doing well, especially after you saved those men in that plane crash.”

“Actually, I made most of my money after the hurricanes down south and from working overseas. It seems the private islands all the celebrities were buying up are changing hands quickly, and luckily, I got in on that.”

“That’s great, Gage. I know your father would be proud and your mother. You’ve grown that business into an empire, and you’re a hero.”

“Yeah, some hero. I was scared to death. I did what anyone else would have done.”

“Maybe, but still, I think it was heroic.” I could tell it bothered him a bit, so I busied myself with the menu.

He gave a soft laugh. “Thanks. I wanted to ask you a favor, actually. If you don’t want to do this, just say so, but I’ll pay you if you like.”

“Pay me? You don’t pay a friend for favors, Gage.”

“Well, it’s your work, so I don’t mind. I need a contract looked over.” From the look on his face, I felt like there was something wrong.

“Is there a problem with it?”

“The guy I saved, James Bivens, he’s recommended this client to me. It was just after I turned down a potential illegal deal.”

“You think he might be doing the old switcharoo?”

“It’s possible. Look, I’ve done jobs for him before where I wasn’t sure what I was building. Warehouses in the jungle, large houses in third world countries where I wasn’t able to ask any questions. I made a huge fortune, and I’m not sure where most of the money came from. A lot of it is probably dirty. It’s why, after the accident, and now that I’ve decided to come home and be a father to Olivia, I’m more careful about what I take on. When it was just me and I was making all the money, I didn’t think about it as much.”

“I’ll look at it. It’s no problem. But just for kicks and giggles, what kind of illegal activity do you think they’re involved with?”

“Hell, I don’t know. Could be drugs, sweatshops, the diamond trade. I have no idea, and more than that, I don’t want to know.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re out of that, and I’ll do what I can to keep you out of it, so if you ever want me to look over anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Thanks. Maybe if this cabin needs fixing up, I can trade a little labor with you.”

I held out my glass for a toast, and he raised his too. “Now, that’s what friends do.”

“Speaking of friends, I got a warning to behave myself.” He looked down at his wine.

“You too?” I should have known I wasn’t the only one. “I bet Noah’s pacing the floor. We should send him a selfie. Show him we’re having a good time.”

“Yeah, hold your drink up and look sauced. He’ll be on the next plane home.”

“He’ll have a long way to go. Did you know he was in Vegas?”

His eyes widened in surprise. “No, I didn’t know that. I wonder why he didn’t tell me, or at least invite me along.” He gave a shrug and took another sip of his drink.

Finally, the waiter returned, and we ordered. We continued the small talk about Noah and reminiscing about old times, and when we were done, he paid the check, and we left.

On the way back to the hotel, I rested my arm on the center console next to his, and soon enough, he caressed the back of my hand with his fingertips. I turned my hand over to hold his. This wasn’t like the friendly hand-holding we’d done before when our hands touched; it was like electricity went through me, a strong magnetic force drawing us together.

His eyes met mine as he laced his fingers in mine, and then, after glancing at the road ahead, he brought my hand up to kiss my knuckles.

He was feeling me out, so I smiled and gripped his hand a bit tighter.

His brow rose as he gave me a sideward look. “I hope that’s okay.”

“It is with me.” I lifted my chin, determined to show him that I’d defy Noah in a heartbeat to be with him. No amount of discouraging texts would keep me from him, and Noah could just deal with it.

As we passed the Gatlinburg Space Needle, I knew we were getting closer to my hotel, and I didn’t want the night to end.

I contemplated whether or not to invite him up as he pulled into the parking lot. “I’ll walk you up if you like?”

“Yes, please.” I had my brother’s voice screaming in my head, and I didn’t give a damn. I was wondering just how far Gage was willing to go. There was only one way to find out.

I waited until he parked and we were on our way up to the hotel entrance. “This night has flown by. I don’t want it to end.”

“Me neither. But at least we get to see each other tomorrow.”

We walked inside and crossed the lobby to the elevator, and I was relieved that no one else was going up with us, especially when he took my hand and led me inside.

As the doors shut, he stepped closer and looked down into my eyes. “I have to admit, tomorrow isn’t going to come soon enough.”

“It’s a shame we couldn’t go tonight,” I blurted. I pulled my lips in tight and couldn’t believe I’d spoken my thought out loud.

He cozied up closer until I was leaning against the rail and close enough to kiss him. “Well, we are all grown up. Old enough to do what we want.”

And who. “Do you think we should? I mean, I know it’s got electricity, but the heat probably hasn’t been on.”

“Then we’ll make a fire. They don’t call me hot stuff for nothing.”

“I thought it was because of that dragon tattoo.” The image he’d had needled into his arm was a large dragon blowing flames across his shoulder. Noah had nicknamed him “Hot Stuff” ever since.

“Yeah, well, that too. I’m leaving it up to you, Lauren. I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”

He had taken me back in time and didn’t know it, back to the place where my heart ached for him. To the days when I longed for his lips to meet mine. He stood a breath away, and although I knew I shouldn’t, I wanted to kiss him, and I knew I would have to make the first move if I wanted it to happen.

“Well, stay or go?”

I stepped closer to him and rose up on my toes. He pulled me closer, and as if I were dreaming, he closed the distance and put his mouth on mine in a soft, languid kiss.

It was so much better than I’d ever imagined, and when I pulled away, I met his eyes. “I want us to go.”