The Naughty List Bundle - Kylie Adams [235]
“Didn’t what?” He smoothed a long red sooty curl behind her ear. “Didn’t risk your life for those animals? Didn’t face injury without a thought? Didn’t do what had to be done almost by instinct?”
“But…” She sucked in a deep breath. “I was so scared.”
“For yourself?”
She stared into his eyes, bemused. “No, not at first. I was afraid for you, and for the poor animals. But now I’m shaking with nerves.” She held out her hand to show him, and Gabe cradled it in his large hand.
“Only a fool wouldn’t react after going through something like this. You think after that boating incident I wasn’t something of a wreck?”
“You said you weren’t afraid.”
“I was mad as hell at that fool for falling out of his boat. I wanted to tear something apart, and since I couldn’t get hold of him, I punched a hole in my wall, then had to repair it.” He gave her a sheepish grin. “It’s all just reaction. Anger, fear…I’ve even seen people start laughing and not be able to stop. You’re trembling. I got violent. We’re the same, sweetheart, but we’re also different. And what you did today is no less significant than what I did a year ago.”
She seemed to consider that for a long time, and Gabe was content to hold her. Finally, without quite looking at him, she said, “I don’t want to be a coward, Gabe.”
“You’re not.”
She bit her bottom lip. “Have you enjoyed spending your time with me these last few weeks?”
His heart started pounding. His palms got damp. Gabe didn’t give away his reaction when he answered, keeping his tone mild. “I told you I love you. So of course I love spending time with you.”
She nodded slowly, then curled tighter to his side, keeping her face tucked under his chin. “How many women have you loved?”
Wrapping a red curl around his finger, he said, “Hm. Let’s see. There’s my mother. And now Honey and Misty.”
She punched his ribs. “No, I mean romantically.”
“Just you, sweetheart.”
“You’ve never told another woman that you loved her?”
“No. Though plenty of women have told me that.”
She was so surprised, she leaned back to glare at him. “Really?”
Gabe flicked the end of her nose. “Really. Just not the one woman I wish would tell me.”
She swallowed hard. Her blue eyes were round and filled with feminine daring. Gabe held his breath.
“What would you think,” she asked slowly, “of me finishing school and coming back here to stay?”
Afraid to move, Gabe said, “Are you considering doing that?”
“I think, since you love me, and since I love you, it’d make sense.”
He let his breath out in whoosh. “You little witch!” He laughed and squeezed her, then winced as his head pounded. “Why haven’t you told me before now?”
“I wasn’t sure if I’d dreamed it or if you’d want me around forever. I wasn’t sure if I was making too much of things. I’m not very good at figuring out this whole romantic business. But I do love you. I can’t think of much besides you.”
Going for broke, Gabe said, “You know you’ll have to marry me.” He frowned at her just to let her know he was serious. “You can’t tell a man you love him and then not marry him.”
Her face lit up and her smile was radiant, despite the black soot on her cheeks and the end of her nose. “I have to finish out my semester first. But that won’t be too long.”
“I can wait. I don’t want you to give up anything for me.” Then he shook his head. “I take that back. I want you to give up your guilt. And your free weekends because I’ll be coming to see you whenever you’re off school. And I most definitely want you to give up any thoughts of other men, or—”
She touched his face. “Okay.”
Gabe grinned so hard his head hurt. “I just love an agreeable woman.”
Epilogue
“QUIT LOOKING so disgruntled.”
Gabe frowned at Jordan, his face red, his fists clenched. “I can’t believe you stole her right out from under my nose.”
“She came to me willingly, Gabe. And besides, I need her.”
“So do I!”
Jordan shrugged indifferently. “You can get anyone to answer your damn phones, but Elizabeth has the touch. The animals love her. More than they love me, sometimes, and that