Summer was a consummate performer. “You’re an incredible talent.”
“And you’re a very kind critic,” she countered. Pulling away from him, she floated down to the floor, folding her legs in a yoga position.
Sobering, Gabriel sat down beside her. “It has nothing to do with kindness. You are what you are.”
“Does this mean you’re ready to sign me to your father’s record label?”
He wanted to tell her that if he offered her a contract with Serenity Records it would be for life. Now that he had found a woman who appeared to share his passion for music, he did not want to let her go.
“Yes. That is, if you want it.”
Reaching up, she twisted her hair, tucking it into a tight bun at the back of her head. “If you had offered me something like this ten or even fifteen years ago I would have accepted it without batting an eye. But times have changed and so have I.” She gave him a smile that made his insides quiver like gelatin. “Thank you anyway, Gabriel.”
He forced a brittle smile. “We could be the new Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. Moving closer, he launched into a rendition of “If I Could Build My Whole World Around You.” Gabriel sang Marvin’s part, and Summer Tammi’s, the words flowing from his heart to his lips. And he did want to build his whole world around her. He wanted to calm her fears, make her laugh until her sides hurt, and protect her forever. What he did not want to acknowledge was that he was beginning to like Summer more than he wanted to.
Like a small child, she crawled trustingly into his lap and rested her head on his shoulder. He held her close singing in her ear, “Like sweet morning dew I took one look at you, and it was plain to see that you were my destiny.”
Summer went completely still when she recognized the words to “You’re All I Need to Get By.” She pressed her fingertips to his mouth. “No more. Please.”
He caught her small wrist, holding it firmly. “Why not?”
“You’re moving too quickly.”
He shook his head. “Wrong, Summer. If I move any slower we’ll both be ninety before we acknowledge this … this thing that’s pulling us together.”
She pressed her forehead to his. “I feel it, too.”
“What do you plan to do about it?” he asked, his tongue tracing the fullness of her lower lip.
Renegade would have had a quick answer for him, but it wasn’t her alias sitting on Gabriel Cole’s lap, enjoying the touch of his mouth on hers. It was Summer Montgomery, completely unmasked and unplugged.
“Wait until the time is right to act upon it,” she whispered, then parted her lips to accept the heat of his kiss. It sang through her veins like the words of the love song they’d just shared. Somehow she found the strength to pull away. Running her forefinger down the length of his nose, she gave him a demure smile. “I think it’s time we close this nightclub.”
He nodded, smiling. “We’ll reopen it again after I prepare dinner for you.”
“You cook?”
“A little.”
Summer gave him a skeptical look. “Why can’t I believe you whenever you say that word?”
Rising to his feet, he pulled her gently off the floor, brushing a gentle kiss across her forehead. “I thought in the eyes of the law everyone is considered innocent until proven guilty.”
She wanted to tell him that she was the law, but held her tongue. Instead, she enjoyed the protection of his arm around her waist as they made their way to the kitchen.
Five
Summer sat in a dining area in the kitchen, across the table from Gabriel, her gaze fixed on the outline of his mouth under the black mustache. The facial hair was new because in all of the photographs she had seen of him he had been clean-shaven. The mustache changed his face, adding maturity and character.
She wasn’t certain which of his features she liked best: his hair or eyes. The thick, wavy salt-and-pepper hair flowing down his back was masculine and
very
sexy. Then, there were his
“And you’re a very kind critic,” she countered. Pulling away from him, she floated down to the floor, folding her legs in a yoga position.
Sobering, Gabriel sat down beside her. “It has nothing to do with kindness. You are what you are.”
“Does this mean you’re ready to sign me to your father’s record label?”
He wanted to tell her that if he offered her a contract with Serenity Records it would be for life. Now that he had found a woman who appeared to share his passion for music, he did not want to let her go.
“Yes. That is, if you want it.”
Reaching up, she twisted her hair, tucking it into a tight bun at the back of her head. “If you had offered me something like this ten or even fifteen years ago I would have accepted it without batting an eye. But times have changed and so have I.” She gave him a smile that made his insides quiver like gelatin. “Thank you anyway, Gabriel.”
He forced a brittle smile. “We could be the new Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. Moving closer, he launched into a rendition of “If I Could Build My Whole World Around You.” Gabriel sang Marvin’s part, and Summer Tammi’s, the words flowing from his heart to his lips. And he did want to build his whole world around her. He wanted to calm her fears, make her laugh until her sides hurt, and protect her forever. What he did not want to acknowledge was that he was beginning to like Summer more than he wanted to.
Like a small child, she crawled trustingly into his lap and rested her head on his shoulder. He held her close singing in her ear, “Like sweet morning dew I took one look at you, and it was plain to see that you were my destiny.”
Summer went completely still when she recognized the words to “You’re All I Need to Get By.” She pressed her fingertips to his mouth. “No more. Please.”
He caught her small wrist, holding it firmly. “Why not?”
“You’re moving too quickly.”
He shook his head. “Wrong, Summer. If I move any slower we’ll both be ninety before we acknowledge this … this thing that’s pulling us together.”
She pressed her forehead to his. “I feel it, too.”
“What do you plan to do about it?” he asked, his tongue tracing the fullness of her lower lip.
Renegade would have had a quick answer for him, but it wasn’t her alias sitting on Gabriel Cole’s lap, enjoying the touch of his mouth on hers. It was Summer Montgomery, completely unmasked and unplugged.
“Wait until the time is right to act upon it,” she whispered, then parted her lips to accept the heat of his kiss. It sang through her veins like the words of the love song they’d just shared. Somehow she found the strength to pull away. Running her forefinger down the length of his nose, she gave him a demure smile. “I think it’s time we close this nightclub.”
He nodded, smiling. “We’ll reopen it again after I prepare dinner for you.”
“You cook?”
“A little.”
Summer gave him a skeptical look. “Why can’t I believe you whenever you say that word?”
Rising to his feet, he pulled her gently off the floor, brushing a gentle kiss across her forehead. “I thought in the eyes of the law everyone is considered innocent until proven guilty.”
She wanted to tell him that she was the law, but held her tongue. Instead, she enjoyed the protection of his arm around her waist as they made their way to the kitchen.
Five
Summer sat in a dining area in the kitchen, across the table from Gabriel, her gaze fixed on the outline of his mouth under the black mustache. The facial hair was new because in all of the photographs she had seen of him he had been clean-shaven. The mustache changed his face, adding maturity and character.
She wasn’t certain which of his features she liked best: his hair or eyes. The thick, wavy salt-and-pepper hair flowing down his back was masculine and
very
sexy. Then, there were his
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