Breathless Read online

  Emma’s eyes jumped to Amy.

  “She’s right, Emma. It’s all in good fun. We weren’t going to tell you.” She glared at her sister-in-law beside her. “But now you know. I hope you don’t think any less of us.”

  The surprise at the existence of the bet sank in as her heart settled its rapid pace. “No. Not of you, if that’s what you mean.” Humor started like a small seed in her belly. “Who’s winning so far?”

  Darby shot Amy a relieved look and grinned at her. “Ryan’s tying with Donny, the last I heard. The pool is up pretty high, apparently. After tonight, it should skyrocket.”

  Ryan. Gabe’s friend. The cute blond who had sat himself down next to her within minutes of their arrival at the family’s booth.

  Emma looked over to where he was standing propped up with one elbow on the bar. The toe of his boot was hooked over the stool in front of him. He was talking to Gabe while Gabe served clients around him.

  Gabe’s grin as he joked with the men at the bar sent heat spiraling in her blood and burning its way through her body. His eyes caught hers, and his grin faded slightly. Ryan raised an eyebrow and turned to look at what had caught Gabe’s attention, raising his beer to her in salute, a cheeky grin widening his full mouth.

  Emma dropped her eyes to her drink and wrapped her hands around the half-empty glass.

  Stop it, girl. He’s gay. He’s most definitely not available.

  She almost laughed at the irony of that. The first man she was attracted to—an unwanted attraction, at that—and he was gay. There really was something wrong with her head.

  “He’s not in on it, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

  Emma blinked. “Who?”

  “Gabe. He’s not on the list,” Darby clarified.

  Of course he isn’t.

  Emma’s reply didn’t make it past her lips as her eyes caught on a lone figure sitting on the other side of the wide dance floor, in the last booth, far to the back in the shadows.

  “Who’s that?” She was sure she hadn’t seen him sitting there when Darby had taken her around for introductions.

  Darby spun in her seat and followed Emma’s gaze. “Oh, that’s Old Pete. His wife died a few years ago. He comes here every night for dinner. He doesn’t say much. Keeps to himself. He eats, listens to the band or the jukebox for a while, then disappears again. Same time every night.”

  Emma’s heart constricted and clenched tight. The poor thing. She glanced around at the other tables. No one took any notice of him. No one even looked in his direction. Tears for the loneliness this man must be feeling—to come and spend time at the busiest time of day in a crowded bar—welled up.

  She bit down hard on her rampant emotions and picked up her glass, scooting to the end of the bench seat. “I’ll be back soon.”

  Taking in their surprised expressions, Emma stood and walked across the dance floor. Every eye in the place followed her progress. The strength of their stares impaled her. She forced herself to ignore it and stopped in front of Old Pete’s booth.

  Pete looked up from his half-eaten meal and stared at her. A sudden stab of pain and affection spiked through her.

  Wow. He looks so much like Pop.

  Even after five years, Emma’s grandfather’s death was still an aching wound. She cleared her tight throat.

  “Is this seat taken? Would you mind if I sat down for a moment?” she asked, holding her breath. He appeared to be in his eighties. Clean, but rumpled, and obviously not in close acquaintance with an iron.

  He shook his head. “No, ma’am.”

  Emma sat and held out her hand. He stared at it for a moment in confusion. “I’m Emma. I’m new here. I just wanted to say hello.”

  Faded brown eyes looked back up at her face. His expression softened and he nodded, holding out his own hand. “Folks hereabouts call me Old Pete.”

  Emma sent him a huge smile. He hadn’t asked her to leave. “Well, would you mind if I just call you Pete?”

  “She’s pretty, isn’t she?” Dan asked as Gabe placed his stacks of glasses on the bar before him. Dan took them and set them down onto the counter behind the bar, out of sight. “The guys are certainly having fun trying to impress her. It’s funny watching them try and outdo each other.”

  “No. She’s far beyond pretty. I don’t think I know a word to describe her,” Gabe replied. He glanced up at his brother when he didn’t receive an answer. “What?”

  Dan’s face pinched, like he was in some sort of pain. “What can I get for you, Emma?”

  Oh crap.

  Gabe turned and gazed straight into Emma’s come-get-me eyes.

  Double crap.

  A faint blush fanned across her cheeks, proving she’d heard his comment. “Just an orange juice, thanks, Dan,” she murmured. She couldn’t hold his eyes while she waited for her drink, her gaze wandering over the mirrored back wall of the bar.

  “Emma, I just want to be clear that—” Gabe started.

  “It’s okay, really. I’m flattered,” she interrupted. “It’s not every day you overhear a handsome man say you’re pretty. It’s sweet. At least I know you’re not on that stupid list.”

  Sweet?

  “Ah…no. I’m not on the list. But how did you know that?”

  She finally looked at him, her blue eyes friendly. “Well, it’s not hard to guess, is it? You’d hardly be on it, considering. I’m glad, because it’s a little off-putting. I feel like a horse at an auction.”

  Considering what?

  “You’ve lost me, Emma. Why wouldn’t I be on it?”

  “Darby explained everything earlier. So I understand.” She placed her warm hand on his forearm. Electric energy crackled from just that small touch. “I’m fine with it.”

  Gabe frowned at her, trying hard to ignore his body’s all-consuming reaction. Even thinking was a problem with her so close. “What are you talking about? What exactly did she tell you?”

  Gabe noticed a few people listening while waiting for their drinks at the bar. If Darby had tattled his private business, he was going to have her head on a pike.

  “You don’t need to hide it from me. Being gay isn’t a bad thing,” Emma said, glancing around them at the sudden noise in the room. Their small audience had grown.

  All the blood drained from his brain in a rush, leaving him breathless and unable to think. If he wasn’t crazy, he thought she’d just called him gay. “What did you just say?” he whispered.

  Emma smiled and squeezed his arm where her hand rested on it. He couldn’t look away from that smile. It didn’t help his focus any.

  “It’s okay, really. I know heaps of gay men back home.”

  “Gabe’s gay?” Ryan was laughing so hard Gabe thought he’d hurt himself. Ryan slapped him hard on his shoulder, making him stumble. “Oh, buddy. This is too good!”

  Gabe’s blood returned and superheated his body in a matter of moments. “I’m not gay,” he said loudly enough so everyone within earshot would hear. They all knew that. He honestly didn’t give a damn what they thought, but Emma was new here, and he didn’t want her thinking the wrong thing. Not because he was interested or anything—because he wasn’t—but he needed to set her straight.

  “I knew it! I knew there was somethin’ you were hidin’, Gabe. Does your mama know yet?” Mike Pierson’s voice rang out over the swelling laughter and comments. “I hope you aren’t hankerin’ after me, ‘cause I’m not interested.”

  Gabe shot him a dirty look. “You’re not my type, Mike. So you’re out of luck.” Mike had been a pain in his ass since junior high. He was always trying to find a way to wind him up. This would only make the guy worse.

  Peals of laughter echoed around them. Emma’s gaze flew to Dan, who looked so shell-shocked that her stomach took a nosedive toward the floor. She waited until Gabe turned toward her.

  “I thought they all knew,” she whispered. She felt sick to her stomach. Small towns were notorious for being conservative. And here she’d j
ust outed one of their most eligible men.

  He closed his eyes and shook his head. “I’m not gay, Emma.”

  “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make problems for you.”

  “Okay. This isn’t funny anymore.” Gabe’s expression darkened.

  Emma looked around, imploring the crowd. They were all eating this up like it was the funniest thing ever. At least they weren’t all pulling away from him. How could she make it up to him? Of all the things to do the very first time she went out in her new town, this would have to be the most unforgivable.

  “Come on, Gabe. Just come clean and fess up. You may as well, now that she’s gone and done all the hard work for you,” said Mike.

  “Darby didn’t say it was a secret. She—”

  “Shut the hell up, Mike.” Gabe grabbed her shoulder and made her look at him. He was looking angrier by the second. “You’re not listening. What did she say to you?” he ground out.

  “I…uh,” Emma stumbled, desperately trying to remember Darby’s words. “She said you weren’t interested in girls. I assumed she meant you liked men.”

  “You assumed wrong. I’m. Not. Gay. I’m as straight as they come. Tell me, does a gay man kiss like this?” he demanded, his mouth landing hard on hers.

  Gabe grabbed the back of her head and ground his lips into hers, punishing her for the misconception. Emma’s hands went to his chest, her palms flat against his soft cotton shirt, ready to push him away. Only she couldn’t. The hard-muscled planes of his chest tempted her fingers, making her itch to take her time and touch him. Even verging on painful, his kiss felt so amazing she couldn’t stop him.

  Gabe swiped his tongue across her lips, and her mouth opened of its own accord. His tongue plunged into her mouth. Fire swamped her, igniting her blood, sending it to the boiling point in the space of a heartbeat.

  Emma swept her tongue up to meet his and, abruptly, the kiss changed. His lips softened, and his mouth became uncertain, though no less demanding, questing for an answer. She gave it to him, her body melting into his as he deepened their kiss.

  Her hand slid up his chest and into his hair, her fingers curling through it and grabbing hold as he tasted her mouth. Gabe’s hands slid down her sides and pressed her close. He felt like granite against her, but yielding to her softness at the same time.

  Emma couldn’t think, couldn’t do anything but feel the fire burning her flesh from the inside out.

  Wolf whistles erupted around her, suffusing her ears with strident sound. Calls of “get a room!” swept over her, penetrating her brain.

  Gabe tore his mouth from hers. A soft sigh of refusal escaped her lips. She opened her eyes and blinked, trying to regain her bearings. Gabe’s expression grounded her immediately. He looked horrified. Alarm and dismay washed over her. She didn’t dare look at anyone other than him.

  Oh God in heaven. She’d been making out with Gabe in public. The whole room was a mass of noise—some encouraging, some suggestive.

  Gabe looked as appalled as she felt. Here she was, new in town and trying to make a good impression, and she was kissing a guy she barely knew. In a bar.

  “Oh hell,” she whispered.

  Gabe wrenched his gaze from hers. “Okay, guys,” he said, addressing the men standing around them. “I get the drift. Can the comments.”

  Ryan lifted his glass to Gabe. Emma couldn’t help but follow the motion with her eyes. His eyes gleamed with mischief in the dim lights at the bar. “Emma’s realized her mistake, don’t you think? Tell me, does she taste as good as she looks?”

  Emma’s hand flew to her face, her palm pressed tightly to her cheek. Maybe, if she wished hard enough, she could pretend that hadn’t just happened.

  “Enough, buddy. I think I proved my point.” He looked at Dan, standing behind the bar. Dan’s grin threatened to split his face in half. “I’ll just go get those cases from the storeroom for you.”

  Gabe threw her an apologetic grimace, then bolted.

  If wishes were horses…

  Great, just great! Emma looked from one set of questioning eyes to another. What the hell did she do now?

  Her feet were rooted to the spot. An arm slid around her waist and whisked her around. Emma found herself moved and stashed into the far corner of the high-backed booth she’d eaten dinner at, her back to the room. Amy and Darby slid in beside and in front of her, blocking her from sight.

  “You looked like you could use a little rescuing,” Amy teased. She pushed her drink of scotch and cola toward Emma, the bottle of wine having long disappeared. “Here, have it. You look like you need it.”

  Hell yeah.

  Emma picked up the glass and took a deep drink, promptly coughing and spluttering. “Ergh! This is really yuck.” She took another big gulp. “But who cares,” she choked out.

  Darby couldn’t keep the grin off her face. “Well? What did you think?”

  Emma squinted at Darby through the raw taste of the strong spirits she’d just chewed through. She just wasn’t a hard drinker.

  “About what?” Emma asked.

  Darby stared at her, incredulous. “‘About what’, she says, Amy. Hell, girl! About Gabe. What’d you think ‘bout that kiss?”

  Emma cringed. She shook her head. “I’m trying not to. I can’t believe I let that happen. You all must think I’m such a tease. And those ones over there—” she jerked a thumb over her shoulder toward Millie’s table, “—that just reinforced their wonderful impression of me. I’m so sorry you have to deal with this.”

  Shock widened Amy’s eyes. “No. Why would we think that?”

  “Why would it be a problem? Who cares what those twits think? They’ll be spitting fire because it wasn’t Millie, is all. If anyone should apologize, it should be my pathetic twin. He almost swallowed you whole! You’d think he’d at least just have a small taste the first time, then go for it—in private. No manners whatsoever,” Darby joked.

  Emma cringed at the inference. That would never happen.

  “No, Darby. There won’t be any ‘going for it’, in private or otherwise. I’m not looking for a man, short- or long-term. I don’t do one-night stands and I certainly don’t want a boyfriend. I have no use for men.” She slapped her hand to her forehead. “I can’t believe I said that to him. He must think I’m the biggest idiot. How did I get that so wrong?”

  Emma peeped up at grinning faces. She wasn’t going to get any help from this quarter.

  Amy laughed. “That must be the funniest thing I’ve heard in months, no, wait…years. Gabe…gay. I’m sorry, Emma. Here you’re feeling awful, and all we’re doing is laughing about it. It’s just that we don’t get much chance to have so much fun around here.”

  Darby giggled and turned her amused gaze to Emma. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so angry. I think you wounded his pride beyond recall. He had to make good, especially in front of all his friends. I bet he didn’t expect to like it so much though. You don’t want a boyfriend? That’s cool. But I can think of a few things a man is useful for. Apparently he’s pretty good at that.”

  “Darby, leave the poor girl alone. Can’t you see she’s embarrassed enough?” Amy stared over at the bar. “Come on, let’s get out of here. I think we’ve had enough excitement for one night, don’t you, Emma?”

  Emma nodded. She wished she could sink through a hole in the floor, but since Roadrunner-style ACME Instant Holes seemed to be scarce, she could appreciate leaving.

  “It’s decided. My place, girls?” Darby asked.

  Amy nodded. “Wonderful idea. Let’s take this party home and leave the boys to their own games.”

  Emma waited while Darby and Amy extricated themselves from the booth, then shimmied along the bench seat to the end. They both linked their arms through hers and walked her out the doors, laughing as they exited.

  Chapter Five

  Gabe dumped the case of whiskey onto the counter behind the bar, the bottles clinking against one another in protest of the rough t
reatment. He glanced in the mirrored wall to catch a glimpse of Emma, but couldn’t see her. Frowning, he turned and saw the booth was empty.

  So was the dance floor.

  “You scared her off, Brother Bear.”

  Dan’s voice reverberated in his ear. He turned to look at his older brother. “I didn’t do any damned thing.” He shrugged a shoulder, trying to appear nonchalant when his insides were still churning from that fight with molten lava they were calling a kiss. “It was nothing.”

  Dan’s eyebrows rose so high Gabe thought they’d fly right off his face and into his hair.

  “Is that what you’re calling it? Suit yourself. If it was so much nothing, why’d you run away so fast?”

  Gabe shot a dark look at him. “I didn’t run anywhere. I went to get your alcohol.”

  The side of Dan’s mouth twitched, and it looked like he was trying hard not to laugh at Gabe. That just ratcheted his annoyance up to a higher degree.

  “So you did. They took her, if you’re at all interested,” Dan said, pouring a beer and placing it in front of a customer. He turned and leaned against the counter.

  Gabe frowned and paused in the middle of placing bottles of scotch under the counter. “Who did?”

  Dan’s grin slipped free. “Our crazy sister and my wife. I’m guessing they went back to Darby’s, or home. Who knows what they’re cooking up now.”

  She’d already left, and he couldn’t go running after her to apologize. He’d look like an idiot. He looked around to find Dan grinning at him like a fool.

  “So, she still not your type? ‘Cause to me and the rest of this place it kind of looked the opposite.”

  Gabe shook his head in disgust. “No, she’s not. I don’t care what it looked like. A guy’s got his pride, you know.” He glanced at Dan. Gay. How on earth had Emma gotten that idea? “I can’t believe she thought I was gay. That’s just…” He shook his head again, then narrowed his eyes as Dan’s smile widened. “You don’t have to look so amused. I didn’t think it was that funny.”