“It’s good stuff,” he agreed.
She nodded, then said, “And I know I haven’t met him, but your other brother Smith—” She stopped suddenly, as if she’d just realized she shouldn’t say any more. “Never mind.” She took a sip of Cabernet. “This is yummy.”
“What about Smith? You also want me to know how much you love his movies?”
She licked her lips and shrugged. “You’ve got to admit they’re all pretty good.” She stopped again, took another sip of her wine. “Just like this wine.” She pointed out the window. “Hey, isn’t that the baseball stadium over there?”
He narrowed his eyes. “You’re a baseball fan, too, aren’t you?”
“Blame Summer,” she said, giving him her most innocent look. “Her father used to take her to games when she was a baby and she’s loved it ever since. She was really thrilled about meeting Ryan at your mother’s party. He’s her favorite pitcher.”
Why did he have to have so many brothers? The stem of his wine glass almost shattered beneath his irritated grip.
Megan’s eyes were dancing as she pointed to the huge picture of an African sunrise on the wall. “I have to ask—did Chase take that?”
“Yes.” The word came out more clipped than he intended it to.
That was when he caught her smiling over the rim of her glass and realized that any illusion he’d ever had of being in charge of their evening was just that—an illusion.
Because in a matter of sentences, Megan had him right where she wanted him: acting like a jealous idiot.
Again.
Wanting a little retribution, he pulled her closer to him, her back pressed into his chest. “I’m glad you’re here, Megan.”
She was stiff against him for a few seconds and he thought she might actually push away from him. But then, he felt her settle against him, the top of her head against his chin.
“I am, too.”
* * *
Gabe could have sat there with her all night in perfect silence and watched the lights turn off and on all across the city. Because even though he was holding onto his control by a very thin thread with her soft curves pressing into his hips, Gabe had never been so comfortable with another person. Not even his family.
Too bad the Thai delivery person wouldn’t stop ringing the damn doorbell.
Megan didn’t look any happier about it than he did. “I guess one of us should get that.”
He didn’t kiss her, but he did bury his face in her hair for a split second before putting his hands on her waist and lifting her off his lap. “You get the door. I’ll grab some plates.”
God, she was gorgeous as she moved across the room and chatted with the young man—who also couldn’t take his eyes off her. Gabe had been with plenty of women who knew exactly what they were doing around men, women who “worked it.”
Megan was pure sensuality from head to toe without doing a darn thing other than breathing.
He was so caught up in her spell that she had reached into her purse for a tip before he could take care of it. The teenager was so busy staring at her, he would have forgotten to take the money if Gabe hadn’t cleared his throat and snapped the kid out of it.
Megan closed the door and carried over the bags of food. “This smells amazing.”
“Poor guy could barely string two words together in front of you.”
She gave him a look like he was crazy. “What are you talking about?”
“You, Megan. And how beautiful you are.”
She looked so stunned that he quickly took the bags from her before they dropped, and put them on the table.
Stunned turned to shy. And disbelieving. “You keep saying that.”
“Because I can’t stop thinking it, every time I look at you. Every time I think about you.”
She stared at him, her eyes searching his. “I’ve never met anyone like you, Gabe.” She dropped her gaze to her hands, before she lifted them again to his face. “I’m glad you were the one who found me and Summer.” She took a deep breath. “And I’m glad she insisted on bringing you muffins.” She bit her lip. “I’m even glad she tricked you into teaching us to snowboard.”
If he went to her now, he knew he wouldn’t just break his promise by kissing her, he’d take her right there, on the rug in the middle of the living room floor.
He pulled out a chair for her at the table. “Come. Eat.”
Because, please God, he was hoping—praying—she’d need her strength later.
Her cell phone rang as she sat down, playing “You Are My Sunshine,” and he moved to his own seat as she pulled it out of her pocket. “Hey honey, how’s Mickey?”
He loved watching the way her whole face lit up as she talked with Summer. His mother had always been there for him and his siblings, and as a kid he’d assumed that was how everyone’s mothers were. As an adult, he realized just how lucky he’d been.
And how lucky Summer was, too.
“Wow, that sounds like some water and fireworks show. I can’t wait to hear more about how they made the water all those colors when you get back home.”
He served them pad thai and cucumber salad as she laughed at whatever Summer was saying. But then, she abruptly stopped laughing.
“What am I doing tonight?” She picked up her glass and took a gulp of her wine. “Just like you, sweetie, watching the fireworks in a little bit.”
Gabe stopped plating their food. He wanted to hear what Megan told her daughter. Would she admit to being with him?
Megan listened carefully to the voice on the other end. “No, honey, not by myself. With a friend.”
Gabe didn’t like the way she wasn’t looking at him and he had to remind himself to have patience. The night was going well, better than he’d hoped. The problem was, where Megan was concerned, he wanted more than he ever had from another woman.
And he wanted it now.
Finally, Megan lifted her eyes to meet his over the plates and containers of food. “I’m going to watch them with Gabe.”
He could hear Summer’s happy squeal over the phone.
“I don’t know if he can come to the phone right—” She stopped partway through her sentence as he held out his hand for her phone. “Actually, here he is.”
He couldn’t decipher Megan’s expression as he said, “Hey, pretty girl. Been on any scary rides today?” He listened, chuckling at her descriptions of the rides. “Your mom hasn’t even been on that one?” He lifted an eyebrow in Megan’s direction. “Wow. You’re some pretty brave stuff, aren’t you? Here’s your mom again.” He was still laughing when he handed the phone back to Megan.