now. I moved in with my parents for a while, but that just wasn’t working out, so I packed up and came here.” She sipped her Diet Coke. “And you? Siblings? Crazy ex-girlfriends?”
“None of the above. My relationships don’t last long enough to get messy.”
She wondered why. What made Ethan so sure he’d never want to settle down? He’d mentioned before that his mom died when he was ten. She didn’t want to pry, and he didn’t volunteer any more information, so she let the subject drop.
“Your grandmother says you’re a local celebrity around here,” she said.
“Does she now?” He shook his head, his expression softening with affection for Dixie.
“I guess I’d better do my homework and look for some YouTube clips of you in Beijing.”
“Or you could come see me in action right here in Haven. I’m in the pool at Off-the-Grid every morning swimming laps.” His smile had gotten flirtatious again.
And her cheeks were on fire. “Maybe.”
He leaned forward. “So, Gabby, can I take you to dinner tomorrow night?”
A refusal rose on her tongue, but she bit it back. God, she wasn’t ready for this. Not with any man, but definitely not with this man, who tempted her more than any man ever had before.
He grinned at her hesitation. “It’s just a free meal and another chance for us to get to know each other better. I’m certainly not opposed to exploring the chemistry between us while we’re at it, but you have my word that I won’t put any moves on you. That ball is totally in your court.”
She sucked in a breath and nodded.
His grin faded. “My grandmother knows everyone in town so we need to be seen out and about some.”
Gabby sobered at the reminder of why they were doing this. Dixie was dying. She’d only met the woman a handful of times, but she liked her a lot. And Dixie had obviously done a fine job of raising her grandson. If not for the lying, Gabby certainly didn’t mind doing whatever she could to help Dixie enjoy what time she had left.
“Dinner tomorrow then. But right now I need to get back to work,” she said. She needed to get back to the quiet safety of her cabin so she could process everything that had happened in the past hour.
They finished up their lunch, and he drove her back to Off-the-Grid Adventures. She shivered at the sight of Brad’s green Chevy Silverado parked around back. How had she not noticed it there before?
She hopped out of the Jeep and hurried back to her car. Ethan caught up to her before she could climb inside. He rested his hands against the car on either side of her, caging her in. Then he leaned in close, and oh God , he was going to kiss her! His word was no better than Brad’s. Desire warred with disappointment inside her.
“In case anyone is watching,” he whispered in her ear then pressed his lips to her cheek. At the angle they were standing, it would have looked like a real kiss to anyone inside the house.
With a wink, he stepped back. “Bye, Gabby. I’ll call you about dinner, okay?”
She nodded, still feeling the warmth of his lips on her cheek, the tickle of his scruff on her skin. He’d kept his word.
And before she could question why she felt disappointed, she hopped into her SUV and headed home.
C HAPTER FIVE
E than unclipped from the zip-line and gave the all-clear for Ryan to come down the final line to join him. From there, they hiked toward the rock face where Ryan would teach rock climbing.
“Tell me again why you’re having to bribe chicks to date you these days?” Ryan elbowed him in the ribs with a grin.
“Fuck you.”
“But seriously, why this chick? Why not find a girl who actually wants to date you?”
“I told you. Because Gram thinks Gabby is the one for me.”
Ryan sobered. “I just can’t believe it, man. Gram’s supposed to live forever.”
“Tell me about it.” They hiked for a few minutes in silence.
“Sure did look like you and Gabby were hitting it off, though,” Ryan
“None of the above. My relationships don’t last long enough to get messy.”
She wondered why. What made Ethan so sure he’d never want to settle down? He’d mentioned before that his mom died when he was ten. She didn’t want to pry, and he didn’t volunteer any more information, so she let the subject drop.
“Your grandmother says you’re a local celebrity around here,” she said.
“Does she now?” He shook his head, his expression softening with affection for Dixie.
“I guess I’d better do my homework and look for some YouTube clips of you in Beijing.”
“Or you could come see me in action right here in Haven. I’m in the pool at Off-the-Grid every morning swimming laps.” His smile had gotten flirtatious again.
And her cheeks were on fire. “Maybe.”
He leaned forward. “So, Gabby, can I take you to dinner tomorrow night?”
A refusal rose on her tongue, but she bit it back. God, she wasn’t ready for this. Not with any man, but definitely not with this man, who tempted her more than any man ever had before.
He grinned at her hesitation. “It’s just a free meal and another chance for us to get to know each other better. I’m certainly not opposed to exploring the chemistry between us while we’re at it, but you have my word that I won’t put any moves on you. That ball is totally in your court.”
She sucked in a breath and nodded.
His grin faded. “My grandmother knows everyone in town so we need to be seen out and about some.”
Gabby sobered at the reminder of why they were doing this. Dixie was dying. She’d only met the woman a handful of times, but she liked her a lot. And Dixie had obviously done a fine job of raising her grandson. If not for the lying, Gabby certainly didn’t mind doing whatever she could to help Dixie enjoy what time she had left.
“Dinner tomorrow then. But right now I need to get back to work,” she said. She needed to get back to the quiet safety of her cabin so she could process everything that had happened in the past hour.
They finished up their lunch, and he drove her back to Off-the-Grid Adventures. She shivered at the sight of Brad’s green Chevy Silverado parked around back. How had she not noticed it there before?
She hopped out of the Jeep and hurried back to her car. Ethan caught up to her before she could climb inside. He rested his hands against the car on either side of her, caging her in. Then he leaned in close, and oh God , he was going to kiss her! His word was no better than Brad’s. Desire warred with disappointment inside her.
“In case anyone is watching,” he whispered in her ear then pressed his lips to her cheek. At the angle they were standing, it would have looked like a real kiss to anyone inside the house.
With a wink, he stepped back. “Bye, Gabby. I’ll call you about dinner, okay?”
She nodded, still feeling the warmth of his lips on her cheek, the tickle of his scruff on her skin. He’d kept his word.
And before she could question why she felt disappointed, she hopped into her SUV and headed home.
C HAPTER FIVE
E than unclipped from the zip-line and gave the all-clear for Ryan to come down the final line to join him. From there, they hiked toward the rock face where Ryan would teach rock climbing.
“Tell me again why you’re having to bribe chicks to date you these days?” Ryan elbowed him in the ribs with a grin.
“Fuck you.”
“But seriously, why this chick? Why not find a girl who actually wants to date you?”
“I told you. Because Gram thinks Gabby is the one for me.”
Ryan sobered. “I just can’t believe it, man. Gram’s supposed to live forever.”
“Tell me about it.” They hiked for a few minutes in silence.
“Sure did look like you and Gabby were hitting it off, though,” Ryan
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