Amy stood smiling like a love-sick fool. Gabriel had asked her out on a date.
Don’t get too excited. It could just be between two friends.
She shut down the negativity. He’d asked her out, and she was going to remember the moment for the rest of her life. Steven had asked her parents. She’d never been asked out before.
Gabriel came in carrying a large gift box. “I went into the city the other day to see a friend, and I saw this in the shop and knew it would look good on you.”
He laid the box on her lap. She ran her hand over the surface, relishing the sheen of the gift box.
“Open it,” he said.
“All in good time. I want to enjoy this moment.”
He laughed, and the sound was magical to her ears. Smiling, she cupped his cheek. “You’re a good man, Gabriel.”
“You don’t know all of me.” He made it sound like a warning.
“I’ve seen enough to know you’re a good man.” She ran her thumb along his bottom lip. His tongue peeked out and licked her thumb, making her gasp at the contact.
“You haven’t seen everything. Open your present.”
She pulled away and untied the bow at the top. Gabriel took it off her, throwing the bow to the floor. Laughing, she removed the top and the tissue paper.
Red fabric lay before her. Holding it by the straps, she lifted it out of the box.
“Gabriel.” She stood up and held the full length red dress against her body. “It’s beautiful.” There was a long slit up the outside leg. From the feel of the fabric she knew it had to have cost a pretty penny.
“There are some under-things to go with it, and I found some shoes.” He handed her the bag. “Would you try it on for me?”
“I’d love to.” She made to leave the room, but he stopped her.
“I’ll go and make us a drink. I’ll give you some privacy.” He walked out of the room leaving her staring after him.
She pulled her shirt over her head and tore off her sweat pants. In the box lay a sheer lace bra and matching red thong. The entire outfit screamed sex siren and expense. She put on the underwear and liked the way they felt on her body. The moment the thong settled into place, she felt the instant flare of heat inside her. The dress settled into place like a dream.
****
Gabriel paced outside the door. He’d gone into the city to see William about his decision to move to CapeFalls. His friend had already closed down the club he ran and was finalising all of his debts. Gabriel needed to tell Amy that William would be staying with them for a while. The dress in the store called to him the moment he saw it in the shop window. The mannequin hadn’t done the dress justice. When he’d gone inside, a petite blonde accosted him and offered to try the dress on. He had refused and had gotten it in Amy’s size. The underwear was a bigger indulgence. He felt women deserved to feel nice and appreciated.
For f**k’s sake. He was a forty-five-year-old man having feelings about a twenty-three year old woman. He should be taken into the woods and shot for his wicked thoughts. The door to the sitting room opened, and there stood a vision in red. Her hair fell around her in waves. She must have taken the clip that held the locks in place out of her hair. The dress fit her every curve. Her tits looked full and round, and her figure went in to her small waist then expanded out for her hips. She was a short woman to begin with, but in the red heels he’d found, she stood tall and proud. Her ass curved nicely out.
“Give me a twirl,” he said.
She held her hands out to the side and turned slowly. Her ass looked so tempting. The slit in the side of the dress made him want to reach out and feel the softness of her panties. He could finger her pu**y easily under a table, and no one would notice. “You look like a vision of beauty.”
“Thank you. That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said about me.”
He moved closer to her. The lemony scent he associated with her flooded his senses. She made his mouth water for a taste of her.
“I’ve got a friend coming to dinner to visit in the next few days. He’s only going to be staying the one night to meet you and the kids.”
“Is he your brother?” she asked.
“No, I don’t have any relatives. He’s a friend, but he’ll be staying with here soon until he finds a place of his own.” He hoped William could keep his desires to himself. Amy was his, and he would hate to fight a friend he’d known most of his life.
“Have you told him about CapeFalls?” Gabriel noticed her smile and couldn’t help but smile himself.
“Yes. He knows about this place. I think he’ll find it more of a challenge than a problem. Let’s just say William is not the type of man to be put off by a little derision.” He ran a hand down her back, bringing her closer to him. “Dance with me.”
She stumbled. “I’m sorry. I’m not used to these heels.”
He held her tighter against his body. “How long has it been since your wore a pair of heels?”
“Never. My parents didn’t like anything improper, and with the kids I never got a chance to.”
She looked sad. Gabriel knew he was going to spoil her with so many different pairs for her to look forward to. “You’ve got pretty feet, and you’d better get use to wearing heels. I like seeing them on you.”
He wrapped her in his arms, inhaling her scent as she rested her head against his shoulder.
“Thank you, Gabriel.”
“For what, honey?” he asked.
Amy pulled away. He saw the intensity of her gaze. She kept flowering before him, and he was seeing the true woman within.
“For everything. You’re an amazing man, and I’m so pleased to know you. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
He thought she was going to say those three magical words. Most of his life he’d avoided women spilling out their feelings for him. The one woman he wanted to hear say the words “I love you” kept the words back.
Gabriel knew his feelings for her were not fickle, nor would they change. She could ask him anything, and he would give it to her without question. The feelings inside him had progressed quickly over the last few months. He knew the reason he had kept visiting her at work was not only to make sure she was okay but to see her. He loved her company. She was a woman who’d suffered at the hands of a mad-man, and he’d seen her fight to be the woman who now danced in his arms.
No woman held anything to her. She really was the one for him. Her fingers curled in his hair, stroking the length.