He cupped her jaw and turned her head toward him. As his mouth crashed onto hers, Chelsea turned in his arms, threading her fingers through his hair and taking what he so freely gave.
Just for a minute. That was all. Then she’d go back to loathing him and believing he was a liar. But right now, common sense and reality had no place here.
Nothing lied about his lips or the hands that roamed all over her body. He wanted her just as fiercely as she wanted him.
Gabe backed her against the wall and gripped her hips, pulling her toward him. His arousal was obvious.
If he lit her up this quickly, this intensely, what would happen once they were skin to skin? Would he take his time and savor the moment? Would he—?
“Excuse me?” A knock came on the door. “We have several girls who need to try some things on.”
Gabe eased back slightly and muttered under his breath. Chelsea wanted the floor to open up and swallow her whole. First, there’d been the naked pictures and now she’d been pretty much caught getting it on in the dressing room of the only bridal shop in town. Could she provide more fodder for the gossip mill? Maybe she should parade down the main street of Royal in the buff.
“My zipper was stuck,” she called out, realizing how lame that sounded. “Be right out.”
Chelsea pushed Gabe back, but he couldn’t go far considering the narrow space. “Either help me with the rest of this zipper or get out.”
His dark eyes were heavy with arousal, the bulge in his jeans an added reminder of what they’d nearly done. Heat crept up her neck and flushed her face. She reached to the side of her dress and found that he’d actually gotten the zipper all the way down. When had that happened? Likely somewhere between that first touch and when he’d nearly kissed her to orgasm.
“Your work here is done,” she told him, more than ready to get out of this dress and back into her jeans and boots.
Gabe took one step toward her, framed her face in his hands and leaned to within a breath of her mouth. “My work with you hasn’t even started.”
Releasing her, he stepped from the room and out the door just as casual as you please. Chelsea sank onto the tiny accent chair in the corner and took a deep breath. Right now the least of her worries was the people on the other side of that door when she walked out.
No, her greatest concern was the man who’d just left her aching even more than before. Nobody had ever gotten her so worked up, and here she was still trembling and in desperate need for him to finish the job.
Damn it. How was she going to keep her distance while they worked on this wedding, and not fall into bed with Gabe Walsh?
Gabe shut down his laptop and came to his feet. It had been two days since his close encounter with Chelsea at the bridal shop and he was no closer to finding relief than he was then.
The damn woman had gotten to him. Perhaps it was her sassy mouth, or maybe it was the fact she hadn’t initially believed him when he’d said he was in no way involved in leaking those nude photos. Maybe it was the way she wore jeans and tanks like they were made for her. Hell, he didn’t know. All Gabe knew was that Chelsea Hunt was an enigma that he simply couldn’t solve.
He’d been a damn special agent and still he couldn’t figure out how someone as smart-mouthed and difficult as Chelsea had gotten under his skin. He could find any woman to scratch his itch, but he wasn’t that guy anymore. In his twenties, he’d been selfish, falling into the bed of any willing woman. He was more particular now, definitely busier with work. And no one had pulled at him like Chelsea Hunt. So, no. No other woman would do.
But right now he had a few other pressing matters. Several of his clients had questioned him about his connection to his uncle. He’d already spoken with quite a few of them and he wasn’t done yet. Gabe planned to spend the rest of his day running interference and hopefully smoothing ruffled feathers.
He grabbed his hat and headed out the door of his loft apartment. He loved the prime location in downtown Royal. There were shops, restaurants, and it wasn’t too far from the Texas Cattleman’s Club. He planned to head over later to get some riding in. Getting on the back of a horse and taking off into the fresh air always calmed him and helped to clear his mind.
The only drawback to living in a loft in town was that he couldn’t have his own horses. Growing up outside Dallas on a working farm had been every little boy’s dream, and riding had been a staple in his life. At least being a member of the Texas Cattleman’s Club offered him anything he could want, including access to the club’s stables. So he had the best of both worlds right now.
Gabe’s cell vibrated in his pocket as he headed to the garage beneath his loft apartment. Pulling it out, he glanced at the screen and swiped to answer.
“Shane. What’s up?”
“Just checking in on you, man. How are you holding up with all the fallout from your uncle?”
Gabe tightened his grip on the phone and resisted the urge to groan. “It’s been a bit of a nightmare, but nothing I can’t handle.”
“Brandee and I are here for you, whatever you need. We know you’d never have a hand in anything this scandalous and cruel.”
Gabe slid his sunglasses from the top of his head and settled them in place. “I’m doing damage control with the company. There’s not much else anyone can do. I appreciate the offer.”
“Of course. I hate how all this is happening on top of the wedding details,” Shane added.
“Not a big deal. Like I said, nothing I can’t handle.”
“Speaking of wedding details, my fiancée is not happy.”
Gabe laughed as he settled in behind the wheel of his truck. “Sounds like your problem, not mine.”
“Oh, it’s every bit your problem,” Shane corrected. “Were you in the dressing room at the bridal shop with Chelsea? Wait, I know the answer to that. What the hell were you thinking, man?”
Blowing out a sigh, Gabe started the engine. “Does it matter? Nothing happened. Her zipper was stuck, that’s all.”
Well, that was all he’d own up to. Whatever was brewing between Chelsea and him was their business. As much as he’d like to claim there was more, things hadn’t progressed near to where he wanted them. This was the slowest form of torture and foreplay he’d ever experienced in his life.
“Listen, whatever you do with anyone else is fine.”
“Glad I have permission, Dad.”
“But,” Shane went on, “Chelsea is different. After what she’s been through and with her being Brandee’s best friend, this is a little more delicate than you just messing around with any other woman.”
“I’m well aware of how vulnerable Chelsea is.” Anger simmered as Gabe clenched the steering wheel. “And we’re not messing around.
