Pulse - McHugh Gail - Страница 33

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Emily let out a breath, her eyes wide. “No, Caveman, I didn’t sleep with him. He became a little… obsessed with wanting to date me.”

“Obsessed?” Gavin questioned, his brows furrowed.

“Phil’s a good guy, Gavin,” Lisa interjected. “A little quirky, but nonetheless a decent guy. I went to college with him, and we became best friends. He took my sister out on a few dates. That’s all. But let’s just say after her interest in him faded, he didn’t give up so easily.”

Gavin smiled one of those killer, sexy smiles known to drop panties. His blue eyes lit up with raw humor. “Ah well, who am I to fault the man for that? Your sister brings out an honest fight in any warm-blooded creature. As long as he didn’t develop stalker tendencies, since I’m the only Caveman allowed to get like that with Emily, I see a very enjoyable evening in our future.”

Again, Lisa laughed as Emily let out another breath.

Gavin shot Emily a wink, his lips grazing her ear as they followed Lisa to the house. “You know I’m going to have a little fun with this guy if he pushes the wrong buttons, right?”

“You?” Emily playfully questioned as they stepped into the foyer. She closed the door and cupped Gavin’s cheek. “You’re not only known for your stalker-ish tendencies. I’ve come to know you as one of the biggest wiseasses I’ve had the pleasure of loving. Just don’t be too hard on him, okay?”

After setting down their luggage, Gavin dipped his head and kissed Emily’s lips. “I’ll try. But I promise nothing.”

She rolled her eyes and looped her arm through his, leading him into the kitchen where Phil was leaned against the counter while her brother-in-law helped Lisa set the dining room table. When Phil saw Emily, his face lit up, his smile more than showing he was happy to see her again. Emily flicked her gaze to Gavin, his smile more than showing he was definitely going to have his share of fun with Phil.

Headed right in her direction, Phil’s smile widened. “There you are, kiddo. I had no idea you were coming out until Lisa told me.”

Before he reached them, Gavin leaned into Emily’s ear. “Kiddo? What are you, twelve years old? I already feel like smacking him across the back of the head. Please tell me I have your permission. I’ll be quick. I swear to God I’ll be quick.”

“He’s nine years older than me,” she quickly whispered, nudging his ribs… hard. It was Emily whose smile widened when she heard Gavin release an audible “oof.” Looking at him, she shot him a wink this time. “Be nice.”

Rubbing his rib, Gavin mocked severe pain for a second and then grinned. “Whatever you say… kiddo.”

“Hi, Phil,” Emily said as he approached. “Yes, it was kind of a last minute trip.”

Phil smiled. “The one who got away from me. It’s been way too long. You look absolutely beautiful. Actually, you look stunning.” Sweeping his gaze from Emily, his eyes landed on Gavin. “And who do we have here?”

“We have here this stunning woman’s boyfriend.” Gavin held out his hand. Phil shook it, and Gavin found his grip weak. Yeah. He’d easily be able to knock him around. “I’m Gavin. It’s a pleasure meeting you, Phil. Emily’s told me a ton about you. It’s always good putting faces with the names of men she got away from.”

Stepping back, Phil rubbed his chin, carefully analyzing Gavin. “Odd. She never once mentioned your name the last time I spoke to her.”

“Which was over a year and a half ago,” Emily blurted out, staring at Gavin who now had his eyes narrowed on Phil. “I wasn’t dating anyone at the time.”

“Right. Right,” Phil agreed, his eyes locked on Gavin’s. “That would make sense, I guess.”

Gavin was far from an asshole. He could tell the guy was trying to ruffle his feathers. Time to pluck some feathers from the fucking turkey. “I knew you looked like a smart man, Phil,” Gavin said calmly, sweeping his arm around Emily’s waist. “I can spot them a mile away.”

“Talent of yours?” Phil questioned.

Gavin lifted a brow, a smirk toying at his mouth. “One of many. Ask Emily. She seems happy with my… talents. I’m pretty sure I can keep her from getting away.”

Oh Jesus. If Emily had a knife, she could’ve cut right through the alpha-male tension filling the air.

“Hey, hey, hey!” Michael approached the group, his jovial voice music to Emily’s ears.

Tension deflating like a balloon, Emily leaned into her brother-in-law’s embrace, hoping he could bring a little balance to the semi-heated situation. She let out a weighted breath. “Hey, big brother.”

“Hey, little sister,” Michael laughed, releasing Emily from his bear hug. “Looking good.”

“You’re not looking too bad yourself,” Emily said, her smile growing by the second.

Michael patted his stomach. “You like the extra cushion?”

Emily giggled. “Love it.”

Wearing a proud smile, Michael turned to Gavin. “Hey, buddy. Good to see you again.”

Gavin accepted Michael’s hand. “You too, man. How’ve you been?”

“You know. Same old. Just be careful with this one,” he said, jerking his chin in Emily’s direction, a grin smothering his face. “If you stay with her long enough and she ever learns to cook, she might turn you into a fat slob the way her sister did me.”

Gavin chuckled. “I’ll take whatever she can give me. Even the clogged arteries.”

“Good man.” Michael patted Gavin’s shoulder. “We’re about to get this show started. Who’s ready for some kickass food?”

Feeling her stomach growl, Emily grabbed Gavin’s hand and started for the dining room, dragging him along. “I am.” She plucked a basket of rolls from the counter and craned her head back to look at Gavin. “You’re ready to eat, right?”

“Depends on what I’m eating,” he whispered into her ear, his tone seductive. Wrapping his free hand around her waist, he pressed his pelvis against her ass. “Unless my assumption of keeping you from getting away was wrong, I’d like to enjoy my dessert somewhere on your body after dinner.”

Sucking in a deep breath and tingles overtaking every inch of her, Emily stopped and watched Michael and Phil breeze into the dining room. Phil’s eyes locked on hers until he disappeared around the corner.

Emily spun around, her gaze catching the sexiest baby blues ever placed upon a man’s face. “Gavin Blake, you listen to me right now.” Her eyes dropped to his luscious lips forming a smartass smirk. She bit her own lip in an effort to cause pain that might possibly distract her. It didn’t work. Gavin stepped closer, and the smell of his cologne completely fucked up her plans. God, she wanted him. Bad. Her heart jumped into her throat as he nuzzled his nose against her hair. She tried to breathe. “You’re not listening to me.”

“I’m all ears, sweets,” he said, his voice low. “Talk to me.”

“You’re making it difficult,” she breathed.

And he was because his hand was now lightly rubbing the back of her neck, his eyes drilling into hers. “I’m making it difficult for you to speak?”

“Yes, you bastard. You are,” she whispered.

Gavin chuckled. “God, I love it when you get nasty. You have no idea how much it turns me on.”

Wanting to melt into him right there, Emily poked her head into the dining room. Everyone was already seated and waiting for them. She turned back to him, her voice becoming heated. “Gavin, are you going to make me beg you to stop?”

Gavin blinked. “Are you trying to get me to take you right here in the kitchen?”

Shaking her head and about ready to let him do exactly that, Emily laughed and reached for his hand, once again pulling him along. The escape into the dining room was quick but comical as she heard Gavin release a dejected sigh. She felt bad, but considering he commanded a room by simply being in it, she loved knowing she had power over him.

“So how’d she do on the flight, Gavin?” Michael asked. “Did you need to drug her up?”

Emily rolled her eyes as Gavin pulled out her seat. “No, he didn’t have to drug me up.”

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