Outfoxed by Marie Harte Page B

only that was all he could remember, he could have chalked up his attraction to chemistry. But everything about her made him soft inside. Hearing her laugh, seeing her interact with Millie, watching her eyes light up with joy when she pleased others…
    “What’s wrong?” She frowned. “Are you okay?” Gabby glanced away from him, then back. “Is it Joy?”
    Joy. Fuck. The truth swam between them, an ugly reminder that he had the situation with Joy to make right. Gabby had just handed him an opportunity to wipe the slate clean.
    But as he stared into her whiskey-brown eyes, he couldn’t do it. Not yet. Not until he’d made them strong enough as a couple to withstand the small fib. “Ah, no. Not at all. I just don’t want to screw up my chances with you.”
    She raised a brow. “Chances?”
    “For a movie and dinner. That’s all.” He put on his best smile. “I swear. That’s all.” Unless you want more. “I was thinking we’ve been living in the pride together for three months but we don’t know each other too well. And I owe you for Saturday night.”
    “Excuse me?”
    Christ. Every time he opened his mouth around her, he insulted her without meaning to. “Gabby, I’m usually pretty good with words. Just give me a minute.”
    “Your note yesterday morning was nice.”
    “Yeah, well, maybe I should go outside and write you another one. Then you could read it and we could go out. On a date. Together.”
    She said nothing, probably waiting to see how far he could shove his foot in his mouth.
    “I’d like to get to know you. In bed, sure. I’m not stupid.” He chuckled. “But out of bed too. I think we’d like each other if we knew each other better. And about the other night…” He had to get this right. “Let’s just forget all about Joy and Dean and everything, okay? Pretend they don’t exist. Because you and me, that was never about them. It was about us. You were there for me when I needed you, and I’ll never forget it.” He gently rubbed her shoulder, constantly amazed at the delicate grace of her build and the strength of muscle within.
    She coughed into her hand but didn’t step away from him. “I… So you’re not upset about what happened at my place? I felt really bad that I’d taken advantage of you.”
    The woman had to be joking. “No way. I didn’t want you to think I took advantage of you . You know, you being all generous and then I make a move. Joy isn’t…” What you think she is. She’s a conniving feline like my devious brother. “She’s not important, Gabby.”
    What looked like relief flitted over her features. “Okay then.” She stepped back, and he regretfully let her go. “I’ll get my purse and jacket and we can head to dinner.”
    “My treat,” he promised.
    “With that offer, how can I refuse?”
     
     
    This is so, so bad. In the raptor-run restaurant a block down the street, Gabby smiled and tried to focus on Grady’s words, not the firm lips shaping them. If anything, the distance from him the past two days had made her need even worse. It was like he’d awakened an inferno of lust inside her and she needed him to put out the flames. She hadn’t paid any attention to the men who’d come to visit her today. Even Miles, who’d stopped by her store to check out the new places in town, hadn’t turned her head.
    Knowing how Grady tasted, how he felt in her hand, made it hard to do more than sigh at him. And then to watch him flirt with Millie, to tease her yet treat her with respect, to witness him gracefully sidestep the aggravating she-bears with ease without making a scene. She liked him more and more. There had to be something wrong with him…aside from the fact he couldn’t dance.
    “Why are you looking at me like that?” He sounded wary.
    “You’re awfully nice.”
    He nearly choked on the swallow of beer he’d taken. “Nice?”
    “Yeah. I’m trying to match this version of Grady with the man who taped a honk if you want me