The Naughty List Bundle - Kylie Adams [217]
He jerked, his gaze swinging toward her for a brief instant. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
She had to make him understand, Elizabeth thought. The last thing she wanted to happen, now that she was getting into the novelty of this unique courtship, was for Gabe to feel pressured and back off. His sisters-in-law had been clearly concerned that she might get hurt. Perhaps Gabe would worry about the same thing. But if she reassured him that they wanted the same thing, a pleasant way to pass the time during her visit, with no strings attached, then he’d feel free to continue his wonderful attentions.
And they were wonderful. Gabe made her feel sexy, when all her life she’d felt plain to the point of being invisible. He made her feel feminine when she’d never paid much attention to her softness before, except that it made her weaker, less competent in a crisis. And he made her feel sexually hungry when she hadn’t even known such a hunger existed.
“I like your brother.”
Gabe shot her a dark look. “Which one?”
“Well, all of them, but I was talking about Jordan. He’s different from the rest of you.”
Gabe’s hands squeezed the wheel tightly. “Yeah? How so?”
“Quieter. More…intense. He’s so gentle with the animals. I felt totally at ease with him, and that was certainly a first.”
Gabe’s jaw locked so hard she wondered that he didn’t get a headache. “You’re not at ease with me?”
Around Gabe she was tense and so hot she thought she might catch fire. But she wouldn’t tell him that. “It was just different with Jordan. And he let me help with that cat. I’ve never seen babies born before.” Her voice softened, but she couldn’t help it. Seeing the tiny little wet creatures emerging was a true miracle. “Have you? Seen babies born, I mean?”
“Sure.” Gabe glanced at her, then at the road. “Jordan keeps all kinds of pets around the house. We all like animals, Lizzy. He’s not different in that.”
“But Jordan’s…I don’t know. More discreet than the rest of you. Softer.”
“Ha!” Gabe shifted in his seat, looking disgruntled. “Don’t let Jordan fool you! He’s quieter, I’ll give you that. But he’s a man, same as I am.”
“Gabe, I didn’t mean to draw a comparison.” She couldn’t understand his reaction. It was almost as if…no. There was no way Gabriel Kasper could be jealous of his brother. She decided to change the subject.
“I had lunch with Honey and Misty today.”
Gabe’s brows pulled down the tiniest bit. “Did you enjoy yourself?”
“Yes.” Elizabeth pleated the edge of her skirt with her fingertips. “I’ve never really hung out with other women before. It was fun. The things they talk about…”
There was a strange darkness to his eyes as he asked, “What things?”
She shrugged. “Women things.” She had no intention of telling him Honey was pregnant. Now that she’d been initiated into the wonders of doing lunch with the ladies, she’d didn’t want to do anything to ruin it. When Honey told her husband the news, then Gabe would find out. “Shopping, Amber, men. Things like that.”
In a reflexive movement, Gabe’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. “What about men?”
“Nothing in particular. Just fun stuff. It was a first for me. I hadn’t realized how enjoyable that could be, chatting and laughing with other women. I’ve never quite fit in like that before, but they’re so nice and accepting. I like your sisters-in-law.”
Gabe stopped for a red light and turned to face her. “I like them, too. A lot.” He tilted his head, studying her, and there was something in his eyes, some vague shadow of consideration. “C’mere, Lizzy.”
Oh, the way he said that. It was so much more than an invitation to close the space between them. The heat in his eyes made it more. The low growl of his voice made it more. She looked at the seat where Gabe’s large hand rested. Warming inside, she scooted over as much as her seat belt would allow. It was close enough to feel his heat, his energy, to breathe in his wonderfully musky male scent.
Last night