The Naughty List Bundle - Kylie Adams [212]
Misty slid out of the booth to stand before Elizabeth, her brow drawn into a thoughtful frown. “Now, I’m not sure you should rule everything out.”
Honey agreed. “He is acting darned strange about all this.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Elizabeth knew they wanted to be kind, to spare her. “I’m not letting anything or anyone get in the way of my goals.”
“What are your goals? I know you said you’re doing your thesis on the mystique of heroes, but why?”
“I’m hoping to go into counseling. Too often the ordinary person tries to compare herself to the true heroes of the world and only comes up lacking, which is damaging to self-esteem. I’d like to be able to prove that there are real, tangible differences to account for the heroes.”
Before either sister could remark on that, Elizabeth asked for directions to Jordan’s veterinary office. He was the only brother she hadn’t spoken to yet. From what she’d heard, this particular brother was vastly different in many ways, but still enough to melt a woman’s heart.
She looked forward to grilling him.
GABE WRAPPED HIS ARM around Ceily from behind, then gave her a loud smooch on her nape. “Hey, doll,” he growled in a mock-hungry voice.
Jumping, Ceily almost dropped the tray of dirty dishes loading her down, and would have if Gabe hadn’t caught it in time.
Rounding on him, Ceily yelled, “Don’t do that, damn it! You about gave me a heart attack.”
“Shh.” Gabe grinned at her. “I don’t want anyone to know I’m here.”
Ceily seemed to think that was very funny, judging by her crooked grin. “If you’re looking for your newest girlfriend, she already left.”
Disappointment struck him, and he muttered a low curse that made Ceily’s grin widen. “Do you know where she went?”
She took the tray from him and set it in the sink. “Maybe.”
“Ceily…”
With a calculating look, she said over her shoulder, “I need a leaking faucet fixed. I can talk while you repair.”
Gabe didn’t want to waste that much time, but he reluctantly agreed. Ceily was one of his best friends, and she made one hell of a spy. Though she didn’t gossip, she always seemed to know anything and everything that was said in her diner. “All right. Show me the sink.”
Five minutes later Gabe was on his back, shirtless to keep from getting too dirty, trying to tighten a valve. The job was simple, but Ceily needed new plumbing in a bad way. “I can fix it for now, hon, but we’re going to need to make major repairs soon. When’s good for you?”
Ceily was at his side on a stool, taking a quick break while business was slow. “You just give me the word and I’ll make the time.”
Seconds later, Gabe shoved himself out from under the sink and sat up. “All done. So start talking.”
Ceily checked the sink first, saw it was dry and nodded. “She went to see your brother Jordan, but she said she’s also going to do some shopping.” Ceily gave an impish smile. “She wants to dress more casual, like Misty and Honey.”
Gabe groaned. Misty and Honey had chic comfort down to a fine art. The women could wear cutoffs and T-shirts and look like sex personified. “I’ll never live through it.”
Ceily thought that was about the funniest thing she’d ever heard. Gabe used her knee for unnecessary leverage and came to his feet. “You care to share the joke?”
“You don’t think it’s amusing that the mighty Gabe Kasper, womanizer and renowned playboy, is being struck down by a prim little red-haired wallflower?”
Anger tightened his gut for an instant before Gabe hid it. He didn’t like anyone making fun of Lizzy, but he knew Ceily hadn’t meant to be nasty. She, like him, was merely surprised at his interest in a woman who was so different from his usual girlfriends.
But then, that was precisely why he felt so drawn to her.
He began lathering his hands in the sink while he gathered his thoughts. Ceily tilted her head at his silence, then let out a whistle.
“Well, I’ll be. You