This girl was smart. And thoughtful.
“Now we need something to wrap them in,” she said. “I think I saw some gift bags on an end cap.”
“No way. No gift bags.” He led her to the aisle filled with wrapping paper and bows. “My mom always wrapped our presents, even if it was just a package of socks. There’s something special about ripping open the paper and discovering a present.”
“You keep surprising me.” Looking up at him, her face held a goofy grin. “You’re not really the aloof bad-boy that the media makes you out to be.”
“You’re only saying that because you haven’t known me that long. Hang around me long enough, and I’m sure I’ll disappoint you too.” He said it with a sarcastic attempt at humor, but in his heart, he felt it was the truth.
And from the look on her face, he knew she was seeing through his poor crack at sarcasm.
He didn’t want or need her pity. He sure as hell didn’t need her trying to psychoanalyze him. He got enough of that from his family. She didn’t know him. And he didn’t plan on spending enough time with her to give her a chance to get to know him. This wasn’t a relationship. It was a brief diversion. What did she call it? A sneak and grab?
Yeah, that was it. A quick sneak in and a little grab, and he’d call it good.
So why didn’t it feel good? Why did thinking about calling it off with her make him feel so bad? He could feel the scowl descend on his face, and the familiar dark cloud settle in around him.
Turning, he snatched a roll of wrapping paper off the shelf. “You want to grab a couple of bows and cards, and let’s get out of here.”
They checked out, and Owen carried the bags then tossed them in the back of the 4Runner. He opened the door for her, and she slid into the seat.
The ride back to her apartment was quiet—a little small talk, but mostly just listening to music.
He pulled up to the bakery and got out to open her door. “Thanks for coming with me. You made it much more fun and kept me from making a fool of myself by waltzing into the party carrying a couple of bicycles.”
“It seems to me that you think you make a fool of yourself much more often than anyone else thinks you do.”
“Pick you up at six?” he asked, brushing off her comment. “If you still want to go.”
“Of course I still want to go.” Tipping up, she dropped a quick kiss on his cheek then turned to go up the stairs. “I don’t want to miss out on seeing the kids,” she called over her shoulder, getting in one last shot.
Nice. He shook his head and chuckled as he got back in the truck. He could tell she had a brother, because she sure wasn’t a pushover. She gave it as good as she got. Which was one more thing that he liked about her.
The list was growing.
He was supposed to be using her to help his image look better, and she’d certainly helped with that father and son in the toy store today. Especially if they posted that picture on social media. He’d even remembered to smile. That part hadn’t been hard.
Gabby had been holding the camera, and all he had to do was look at her and a smile broke out on his face. He rubbed his cheek where she’d left the brief kiss.
Geez. He was getting sappy.
Time to put this thing back into perspective. Gabby was a temporary distraction. Something to help his reputation.
So why couldn’t he get her, and her lips, out of his head?
Chapter Seven
Gabby smoothed on a swipe of lip gloss and took a last look at herself in the mirror. The pale pink dress fit perfectly—the silky fabric draping elegantly along her figure.
The design was classic, but the long slit up one side gave it a just a hint of sexy. The bodice dipped to a V in the front, tasteful but still showing a glimpse of her ample cleavage.
The magnificent dress made her feel like a princess in a fairy tale. A beautiful, sexy princess. Too bad she didn’t know if her night was going to end up with a prince or a toad.
A
“Now we need something to wrap them in,” she said. “I think I saw some gift bags on an end cap.”
“No way. No gift bags.” He led her to the aisle filled with wrapping paper and bows. “My mom always wrapped our presents, even if it was just a package of socks. There’s something special about ripping open the paper and discovering a present.”
“You keep surprising me.” Looking up at him, her face held a goofy grin. “You’re not really the aloof bad-boy that the media makes you out to be.”
“You’re only saying that because you haven’t known me that long. Hang around me long enough, and I’m sure I’ll disappoint you too.” He said it with a sarcastic attempt at humor, but in his heart, he felt it was the truth.
And from the look on her face, he knew she was seeing through his poor crack at sarcasm.
He didn’t want or need her pity. He sure as hell didn’t need her trying to psychoanalyze him. He got enough of that from his family. She didn’t know him. And he didn’t plan on spending enough time with her to give her a chance to get to know him. This wasn’t a relationship. It was a brief diversion. What did she call it? A sneak and grab?
Yeah, that was it. A quick sneak in and a little grab, and he’d call it good.
So why didn’t it feel good? Why did thinking about calling it off with her make him feel so bad? He could feel the scowl descend on his face, and the familiar dark cloud settle in around him.
Turning, he snatched a roll of wrapping paper off the shelf. “You want to grab a couple of bows and cards, and let’s get out of here.”
They checked out, and Owen carried the bags then tossed them in the back of the 4Runner. He opened the door for her, and she slid into the seat.
The ride back to her apartment was quiet—a little small talk, but mostly just listening to music.
He pulled up to the bakery and got out to open her door. “Thanks for coming with me. You made it much more fun and kept me from making a fool of myself by waltzing into the party carrying a couple of bicycles.”
“It seems to me that you think you make a fool of yourself much more often than anyone else thinks you do.”
“Pick you up at six?” he asked, brushing off her comment. “If you still want to go.”
“Of course I still want to go.” Tipping up, she dropped a quick kiss on his cheek then turned to go up the stairs. “I don’t want to miss out on seeing the kids,” she called over her shoulder, getting in one last shot.
Nice. He shook his head and chuckled as he got back in the truck. He could tell she had a brother, because she sure wasn’t a pushover. She gave it as good as she got. Which was one more thing that he liked about her.
The list was growing.
He was supposed to be using her to help his image look better, and she’d certainly helped with that father and son in the toy store today. Especially if they posted that picture on social media. He’d even remembered to smile. That part hadn’t been hard.
Gabby had been holding the camera, and all he had to do was look at her and a smile broke out on his face. He rubbed his cheek where she’d left the brief kiss.
Geez. He was getting sappy.
Time to put this thing back into perspective. Gabby was a temporary distraction. Something to help his reputation.
So why couldn’t he get her, and her lips, out of his head?
Chapter Seven
Gabby smoothed on a swipe of lip gloss and took a last look at herself in the mirror. The pale pink dress fit perfectly—the silky fabric draping elegantly along her figure.
The design was classic, but the long slit up one side gave it a just a hint of sexy. The bodice dipped to a V in the front, tasteful but still showing a glimpse of her ample cleavage.
The magnificent dress made her feel like a princess in a fairy tale. A beautiful, sexy princess. Too bad she didn’t know if her night was going to end up with a prince or a toad.
A
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