Gabe's Destiny (Alien Mates Book Three) by Serena Simpson Page B

together and sent it to her mother.
    “Ma’am, my name is Gabe. You don’t know me but you’ll see me in the picture I just sent of me and Taya. I want to assure you that I will take care of her.”
    Her mother’s voice broke as she cried.
    Her dad’s voice came through the line. “Young man, you take care of my daughter. I’m going to hold you personally responsible for her wellbeing. Am I clear?”
    “Yes sir.”
    “Taya?”
    Gabe handed her the phone back.
    “Dad?”
    “Your mother and I love you and we expect you to take care.” Her father’s voice was warm in her ear. “I love you, Taya,” her mom whispered.
    “I love you too. I love both of you. Later.” She ended the call and there was a smile on her lips.
    “Gabe, can I walk to town?”
    There would be no more sneaking away until she knew what she was facing and how to defeat it.
    “You should be fine, but I would feel better if I walked with you.”
    “I would like that. Give me a few minutes to change.”
    “Go ahead.”
    She didn’t have much in her suitcases but she wanted to put on her sneakers for walking, change into a different pair of jeans, and grab a jacket. The air could still be a little nippy. In no time at all she was back on the porch. Gabe reached over and took her hand like it was natural. They walked into town quietly.
    Her thoughts were all over the place because he wasn’t acting like she thought he would. Mike, her last boyfriend, used to pressure her into doing what he wanted. If she said no, it was like she waved a red flag in front of his face. Gabe wasn’t doing that. The time they spent in silence didn’t feel like punishment. It was more like a comfortable silence between lovers.
    Not lovers. She resisted the urge to hit herself on the back of the hand and go naughty Taya.
    “Was there any place in particular you wanted to go?”
    Kill. Her. Now! There was no way in hell she was going to tell him she wanted to buy new panties just in case. Yep, no way.
    “I wanted to hit a couple of stores, look at some clothes. You know, girl stuff.”
    “Aww you should have said so, the females would have abducted you and taken you to the mall in the next town over where you can do real shopping. Their words not mine.”
    “I will remember that for next time.” She gave him a smile.
    “I’ll just hang around town waiting for you to finish. I’ve been trying to make my way to Victor and Cal’s art studio but I keep getting interrupted, maybe I’ll try again.”
    “I’ll look for you when I’m done.” He squeezed her hand before he let it go.
    She was standing in front of a store that looked like it catered to women’s lingerie. When was the last time she looked for intimate apparel? She honestly couldn’t remember, which meant it was too long.
    She walked into the store past the jeans and a few dresses that were up front. This was a small town so the good stuff would be in the back where no one could see it from the street. A quick hand over her lips kept her from laughing out loud. She was right, this was lingerie heaven.
    “Can I help you?” a sales lady asked as she walked up to her. Thank heaven she looked normal.
    “I need to update my lingerie collection.”
    “Aww you found a special someone. He must be special to attract such a nice looking woman.” She gave her an appreciative look before leading her over to some matching bras and panties.
    “I’m betting with all those sinful curves you’d look good in this.”
    She held up a little red number that made Taya lust after it. Yeah, lingerie was her thing, sort of like catnip for her.
    “You’d look good in this too.”
    Was the sales woman hitting on her? She ran her eyes over her body again. Yes! The sales woman was hitting on her. So what? Taya was into men but she knew beauty when she saw it and this woman was beautiful. What a way to get a confidence boost.
    Before it was over she was sure she had twenty new pairs of barely there panties with