Chapter 25

Skye

I spend all of the next day in a Gabe-filled cocoon. Even though I’m back at the caseta, I can still smell Gabe on my skin.

The man is a machine. There are no words for him.

We didn’t stop at one. Oh, no.

After the first time, he got up and came back with a warm, wet face washer and cleaned me up.

Cleaned. Me. Up.

I’ve no idea what they’ve done to the real Gabriel Bassett, but this man is someone I never expected.

His warmth… I think that’s the best thing I love about him. Love? Well, I’m not going to go around declaring that, especially to him, but this feels like something other than just two people screwing. The way he took care of me. The man is unbelievable.

I fold my head into my hands — giving up on reading my book — when I think about the shower we took to clean ourselves up with. That led to him bending me over in the shower, and now I have a new appreciation for detachable shower heads.

We fell asleep and when I woke at three am, he wasn’t trying to shove me out of bed so his daughter wouldn’t catch us. Oh, no, he was rolling over my body, kissing and sucking every inch of me until he begged me to let him in. Begged me. Like he’d even have to.

I never knew men like Gabe existed; the ones who worship your body and keep asking if they can do this and how do I feel about that. Even when he drove into me, losing his cool when I was riding him; he flipped me over and rolled those damn hips until his bed creaked its way to my next orgasm. I lost count. And this is exactly why you should not mix business with pleasure; because now I want more of him.

I want more of Gabe in the bedroom. I want that sexy beast of a man who makes love to me hard and fast, giving me what I need without it being rough and ready, or like it’s a hook up and all he cares about is getting off. Gabe isn’t like that. Everything about him is done with precision. Being pinned beneath him has to be the highlight of not just my night, but my entire year.

I grin to myself when I remember him asking me if he was too hard, if he’d been too rough. I’d laughed when I pointed out all the scratches on his ass where I’d dug my nails in.

I’d also had to leave super early, since Trinity wakes around five. That’s when little Daisy trotted down the hall and Gabe took her outside before I left. So creeping back to my caseta, hoping Gran didn’t notice the car being gone all night, I dove into bed and lay there, trying to not beam from ear to ear because of what we’d done.

I’m his nanny.

He’s my boss.

The grumpy CEO.

But there isn’t a cure for what I have. I’m completely addicted.

I also have no clue how I’m going to handle this at work on Monday. Clearly, neither of us thought this through, but I can’t help but wonder if maybe we could keep it going until I leave. Until I leave.

Not for the first time, I ask myself if it’s what I truly want.

The more time I spend around Stoney Creek, the more I start to fall in love with it. I know it’s dumb to fall for my boss. A whole range of possibilities could go wrong at any given moment. But one thing neither of us can deny is the passion between us.

I’m also wondering what would happen if I stayed. I could easily make a life here. Especially now my parents want to spend the summers here. My brother moved back and then there’s my grandparents; I mean, they’re not gonna be around forever.

I’m happy here, and I’m not just saying that in the post-orgasmic afterglow. I could also be overthinking it.

I pull my phone out, the dilemma about Izzy’s dream prevalent in my mind. I have to tell them. I want to know what they think.

I tap into the group chat and type:

Me

SOS

I know it’s early, and a Sunday morning, but Isabelle is a trooper. I see her responding as I sink back into the pillows.

Izzy

What’s wrong? Don’t tell me that handsome cowboy wrangled you already?

My, how perceptive she can be.

Me

He’s not a cowboy. He’s the CEO of a bourbon distillery

Izzy

Shush. I can have any fantasy I want ??

Me

I slept with Gabe

Izzy

Holy shit!

Me

I know

Izzy

Was it good?

Me

Uh, he demolished my little kitty and now I can’t stop thinking about him and if I’m doing the right thing

Izzy

Woah, hold up. You spent the night with him. It was a hookup. What do you mean, if I’m doing the right thing?

Of course, Izzy can read me like a book. I’m a romantic at heart, and she knows it.

Me

Leaving. I love it here. The people are great. The scenery is stunning, and the town is gorgeous

Izzy

And Gabe is hung like a horse and you can’t get enough of it?

I bite down on my bottom lip, aware that she’s completely correct; I can’t get enough of him.

Me

Not just that. Maybe I’m reading too much into it?

Nadine

Hey! What did I miss?

Izzy

Skye slept with her boss and now she’s in love and wants to stay

Me

Hey! I did not say that!

Nadine

I just scrolled. Holy crap, Skye, go you! Tell us everything

Izzy

She’s freaking out because she has feelings for him

Me

What if I am? Is that dumb?

Nadine

Does he feel the same way?

Me

I don’t know exactly yet

Izzy

You need to talk to him, find out where he’s at

Me

Maybe he just wants a little fun before I have to leave

Nadine

Didn’t he say that he never brings girls home, though?

Me

Yep and his previous nanny told me the same thing. That dialed up the hotness factor just a little

Izzy

You should get nanny gold stars. You boned the boss man, and not on work time

Me

Iz!

Izzy

What? You did. We want details

Nadine

Yes we do. So he’s handsome, sexy, smoldering, and now he’s got a big dick? He’s got brothers, right? I might move to Stoney Creek

I laugh, shaking my head.

Me

Yes, he has brothers. One of them is taken, so that only leaves two

Nadine

I’m good with two

Izzy

Oh, God, you dirty ho! I was just going to say that ????

Nadine

We’ve got this ????

Me

You guys, this is an issue. I can’t go to work tomorrow knowing what we did and wondering when we’re gonna do it again

Izzy

Thank your lucky stars he was good. Imagine how awkward it would’ve been if he’d sucked ??

She has a point. Still, she’s not helping.

Nadine

You need to tell him how you feel. It’s not a hard one to figure out!

Me

I know, but he’ll just think I’m clinging because the sex was good

Izzy

*sigh* this sounds a lot like one of those miscommunication tropes in one of my romance books ?????♀? plz don’t do that

Me

This man is intense… well, not when he’s in the sack. He’s the whole damn package. He was so sweet and caring

Nadine

I’m definitely going to come and snag me a country boy

Izzy

Not if I beat you to it ??

Nadine

Don’t make me use origami on you, Iz. We both know how lethal I am

Me

Isn’t origami paper folding?

Nadine

Yes, but most people don’t know that

Me

LOL. Anyway, I’ve got to go. I’m supposed to be having brunch with Gran, then we’re going to the hospital

Izzy

Keep us updated on Gramps

Nadine

Sending my love ??

Me

Thx besties, talk later x

Izzy

Bet you’re going back to Gabe’s first chance you get

Nadine

Bang him again! I would!

Me

Bye ladies!!

I chuckle as I put my cell phone aside for a little while and try to freshen up enough to appear normal when I see Gran. Not as though I’ve been up all night romping the night away with Gabriel Bassett. I can’t stop smiling.

Even my lack of sleep can’t taint what I’ve got going on. Nothing is going to spoil it.

* * *

Gabe

How are you?

I stare at the message, my heart doing a giddy-up as I scramble to read it.

Yes, it’s safe to say Gabe has me unglued. I thought about messaging him earlier, but I didn’t want to appear desperate.

I also don’t want to seem too eager, so I wait an agonizing ten minutes before I construct my reply.

All I manage is:

Me

Hey. I’m good. You?

I want to facepalm myself.

Am I being too casual? Acting nonchalant isn’t my style, but also diving in headfirst is a little eager.

I see the gray bubbles immediately form and I wait, biting on my lip, for his reply.

Gabe

Not great

Uh, oh.

Me

What happened?

Gabe

Some beautiful redhead kept me up all night

My smile turns into a grin as I roll over onto the cushions on the little couch by the window. I hug myself, knowing I shouldn’t get my hopes up, but unable to stop the jolt of electricity in my chest.

Me

That sounds very naughty. Mr. Bassett. Is this a social text or did you need something?

Gabe

Oh, I need something. Pity I have to wait until Trin goes to school tomorrow

Me

If you’re suggesting I fool around on work time, that would be highly unethical

Gabe

You’d be surprised how unethical I can be, Red

Heat pools between my legs. I am a little sore, but not in a bad way. Doing it three times in one night will do that to a girl. It’ll also take your blues away, and any other problems I may have had harboring.

Me

You’re a very bad man

Gabe

Funny, last night you said I was a very good man

Me

Good in the sack. Amazing, actually, not that I’m rating

Gabe

I don’t mind being rated, as long as we can do it again

My heart flutters just a little.

Me

I’ll see how you behave this week

Gabe

I don’t know how I’m going to keep my hands to myself

Me

I guess you’ll have to try, for the sake of the onlookers

Gabe

That means all bets are off when we’re alone

Oh, boy. I hope so. Not that I can imagine the CEO himself taking time off work so we can get busy while Trinity is at school. Then there’s the new addition, who I don’t mind playing with. I’ve always loved dogs.

Me

How is Daisy this morning?

Gabe

I’m trying to seduce you via text and you want to know how my new puppy is?

I laugh out loud.

Me

Just seeing if she was settling in

Gabe

If you must know, she had an accident… or five. But Trin is in love with her, so that’s what matters

Me

They’re so cute together

Gabe

My daughter gets away with blue murder all because she’s cute. I’m dreading the teenage years

Me

You’ll be fine, you’re a fantastic father

A few moments go by. The bubbles appear, then they disappear, then they start again.

Gabe

Do you want kids someday?

My heart races in my chest when I imagine being pregnant with his baby. Where in the hell did that come from?

Me

Someday, yes. I’ve always wanted a family

Gabe

I would’ve loved more kids. I always thought I’d have a big family, like my mom and dad

Me

It’s never too late. You’re not that old

I laugh as I type it.

Gabe

Are you suggesting I’m almost over the hill?

Me

Almost, but not quite

Gabe

I’ve got to go. The dog just did number twos on the floor

Me

Oh no! Remember, wet wipes are your friend ??

Gabe

Good to know. See you tomorrow

See you tomorrow.

I should give myself a stern talking to. I shouldn’t let my heart run away with me like this. Starting something we can’t finish isn’t right. But I also know how good Gabriel felt in my arms. Treating my body like it was made for him and only him.

You are mine.

I shiver at his words. All of them. Who knew that Gabe had such a dirty mouth on him? And I’m here for it.

I can have this one indulgence. I’ve no reason to feel guilty. He knows I’m leaving.

Yet, the more I think about doing just that, the more I want him to ask me to stay.To give the two of us a shot.

Gabe deserves to be happy, especially after all he’s been through. Seeing him over the weekend only proved that the chip on his shoulder is solely reserved for when he’s at the distillery. I love that he can really separate the two. And remembering his after-care last night sends goosebumps all over my skin.

Gabe isn’t just a god in the bedroom, he’s affectionate and caring. He’s a giver.

And there’s something incredibly appealing about all those things.