Read Online Beauty and the Feast by Julia Barrett - Free Book Online Page A

shook her head. “No, I can’t ask you to do that. I mean, I don’t really know you well enough to impose on you.”
    “You cooked me dinner last night. A very intimate dinner.” Gabe winked at her. “I think you know me well enough.”
    Eva didn’t answer him, but she blushed in a most becoming way.
    “Let me take you home and help get those cuts cleaned up. Do you need to go to the hospital? The bump on your head, I mean?”
    “No. I never lost consciousness. I don’t feel sick. I think I just need to put some ice on it.”
    “Let’s go.” Gabe reached for her.
    “Please don’t…don’t carry me again. I don’t want everyone staring at me.”
    “Tough.”
    Gabe swung her up in his arms and headed back toward his motorcycle. Eva buried her face against his shoulder. He didn’t care if she was embarrassed. He wanted to feel her warm body against his, and he didn’t want her knees to open up again.
    “My helmet,” came her muffled voice.
    Gabe set her on her feet next to his bike. He retrieved her helmet.
    “Here, let me help you,” he said, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
    Careful to avoid the bruise on her forehead, he secured the strap beneath her chin. Gabe climbed onto his Harley and lowered the passenger footrests. He started the bike.
    “Hop on,” Gabe instructed her.
    Eva climbed on the back slowly, trying to keep her bloody knees away from his thighs.
    “Don’t worry about it,” he said. “Lean on me.” He reached back and carefully brought her arms forward, wrapping them around his waist, tucking her abused hands beneath his jacket. “It’s okay, Eva. Relax. I’ve got you.”
    Gabe felt her exhale and press herself against his back. His mouth split into a grin. She felt good. She felt perfect. Blood, bumps, scrapes, dirt, foul mouth and all.
    * * * *
    Eva directed Gabe to her small home off Seminary. He pulled into her driveway and parked, helping her climb off the back of the bike. Eva was grateful for his assistance. Her knees were beginning to stiffen up and she knew from experience that cleaning them was going to be a bitch. She winced and bit her lower lip as she stuck a stinging hand into her pocket to retrieve her house key. She was a mess. And of course Gabriel Abbott had to be there to witness it. Eva didn’t know if she’d ever been more embarrassed in her entire life. Or ever wanted a man the way she wanted him. He was exactly what she’d pictured. Tall, dark, determined. The way he’d lifted her into his arms like she weighed nothing more than a feather… my God, the man made her quiver. She hoped he thought her shakiness was due to the accident. Maybe it was, at least in part. But pressed against him on his motorcycle? Her arms wrapped around his waist, her hands tucked beneath his jacket? Her fingertips brushing up against something that felt like…? She’d had to swallow a few moans on the ride home and they weren’t from the pain in her knees or the bump on her head.
    Gabe took the key from her trembling hand and unlocked the front door. He held it open for her and ushered her inside. Eva turned to him. She saw that he was looking around her place curiously and she hoped she hadn’t left any dirty laundry on the floor.
    “Thank you,” she said, “Thanks for rescuing me and thanks for the ride home.”
    “I’m not leaving you yet,” he replied. “You need to get those cuts cleaned up and it’s going to be pretty hard to do it by yourself.” Before Eva could protest, he threw his jacket on the couch and he strode past her. “C’mon. Where’s your bathroom?”
    Eva pointed mutely and trailed slowly behind. He was right, damn it. For some perverse reason, she didn’t want him to be right. For another perverse reason, she wanted him to be absolutely right and stay all afternoon, taking care of her. She heard the water running in the bathtub. She approached the bathroom door.
    “Uh-uh,” she said, shaking her head. “You’re not putting