Page 111 of The Wrong Groom

He’s quiet for a moment, his grip on the armrests tightening. “Because I know how it feels.”

A small, surprised sound escapes my lips in response, and he gives me a rueful smile.

“I know you don’t want Travis,” he says, “but even thinking about you being engaged to another man… it’s enough to have made me jealous. Every time we saw that jackass, I was irrationally pissed.” He lets out a breath. “So I understand. Even if you know I don’t want anything to do with her, seeing Jennifer act that way around me…”

“It doesn’t feel good,” I say quietly.

“Exactly. So I don’t want her around anymore.”

I let out a breath, nodding, relief coursing through me at the realization that Gabriel is so firmly on my side. “Well… thank you.” I pause, a playful smile tugging at my lips. “And when you outbid me at the charity auction⁠—”

“Same feeling,” he admits, dipping his head until we’re almost eye to eye.

“You had nothing to worry about.”

“Neither do you.” He leans in to press his lips to my temple. “But I like seeing you get jealous like this. Because that’s how I feel about you all the time.”

I raise an eyebrow. “You really mean that?”

“Yes,” he breathes. He moves lower to kiss the side of my neck, and I shiver, tilting my head up to allow him access. “Yes, I do.”

He glances up at me, a gleam in his eyes as a wicked smirk spreads across his face.

“I’ll show you.”

He lowers himself to his knees in front of the chair. His hands caress my inner thighs, slowly spreading my legs apart. As he looks up at me, something passes between us, lingering in the air like an invisible thread pulling taut. My breath hitches as his fingers skim lightly over my skin, his touch sending goosebumps scattering over me.

“Let me prove it,” he murmurs, his voice low and rough, filled with intent.

My heart pounds in anticipation, every nerve in my body attuned to him. And as his hands move with deliberate care, I realize that whatever resistance I thought I had is gone.

I’ve made such a conscious effort, this entire time, to keep my heart wrapped up tight. To protect myself. To keep my hopes from rising too high.

Now, though, it’s impossible to keep those walls in place. My feelings can’t be contained. Whatever this is, whatever it’s becoming, it’s out of my control.

And I can’t stop myself from thinking that it might be real.

Chapter 36

Alexis

The bell above the animal shelter’s door jingles as Gabriel, Peyton, and I step inside. A wall of sound greets us as we do, the cacophony of dogs barking from their wing of the building.

Peyton races ahead of us, clutching the straps of her purple backpack. She makes a beeline for the hallway where the kittens reside.

“I can’t believe I let you two talk me into this,” Gabriel mutters as he follows in her wake.

I grin at him. Before I got to know Gabriel, I would’ve taken that statement at face value. Now, I know better. That gruff, reluctant exterior surrounds a soft center.

“I guess we wore you down, huh?” I tease, swaying to the side so that our arms brush.

He gives me a fond, exasperated look. “Yeah. Guess so.” He sighs. “Pets just make life harder. I know she won’t remember to clean the litter⁠—”

“This will teach her. And besides, you know she’s going to love that kitten more than anything. Isn’t that worth a little mess?”

“Cats claw furniture,” he grumbles.

“We’ll get a scratching post when we stop at the pet store today,” I retort, “and we can put a covering on the couches to protect them.”