Safe from Harm (Protect & Serve #2)(61)

“I’ve turned down the offer,” she told him. “But they’ve asked me reconsider. And Charlotte’s just worried after the shooting. She’d feel better if I wasn’t with the prosecutor’s office anymore.”

Gabe sent a sidelong glance her way. “Okay…and?”

“And what?”

His brows came together in a frown. “And what are your thoughts?”

She hardly knew anymore. The more she’d thought about the offer, the more appealing it became. She loved the volunteer work she did. And her aunt had been right—helping women and children to put their lives back together made her feel like she was making a difference. There were times when she was working on a case that she couldn’t help but wonder if she was prosecuting someone who was innocent of the crimes with which he’d been charged. And there were times when she knew without a doubt that someone was guilty but couldn’t do a damned thing about it.

Not that her volunteer work didn’t come with frustrations. Too many women she worked with went back to abusive spouses or came in again later, after getting involved with yet another bad relationship. But the success stories…well, they made all the frustrations worth it.

“I’m considering it,” she admitted.

Gabe took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Elle, you can’t let this bullshit with Monroe scare you away from doing something you love. I know how much your job means to you. I could tell even before you told me about why you chose to go into law.”

“I was so lost after my family was killed,” she admitted. “It was the most horrible time in my life. And if I hadn’t had Charlotte to help me through it, I hate to think what would’ve become of me. A lot of the women who come into the foundation don’t have anyone like Charlotte to turn to. I can help these people, Gabe. I wouldn’t be abandoning my promise to my family—I’d just be narrowing my focus.”

He reached over and took her hand, bringing it to his lips. “I’d certainly miss seeing you in action at the courthouse,” he said with a wink. “You’re sexy as hell when you’re arguing. Sometimes I just provoked you to see you get mad.”

She laughed. “You’re joking!”

He shook his head, a mischievous grin curving his lips—his incredible lips she could never taste enough. “Nope. You’re adorable when you’re angry.”

She shook her head, so many things about him making sense to her now. All those times she thought he was just being a jerk, he’d been baiting her because he thought she was cute when she got mad. “You’re incorrigible.”

“Guilty.”

She slid a glance his way, the mention of his seeing her in court suddenly giving her pause. “Gabe, do you realize that if…if things continue between us, I’d have to recuse myself from any of your cases. And probably your brothers’ cases, for that matter.”

He glanced away from the road to send a frown her way. “Okay. Would that be so bad? It’s not like there’s a shortage of crime in Fairfield County.”

She blew out a breath, trying to figure out how to answer that question. “No, but it would dramatically affect the kinds of cases I get. Let’s face it—you and your brothers tend to get the big ones. If there’s something major going on, the Dawson boys are typically on the other end of it.”

“Don’t make a career decision based on me,” he said. “Or us.”

Elle’s stomach sank. God, what had she been thinking? Of course it was way too soon to be thinking in the long-term where she and Gabe were concerned. They were supposed to be taking things slowly, day by day. That had been her own suggestion. Now she’d just made it sound like her entire career would be decided by her relationship that was all of about two days old.

She closed her eyes, feeling the heat of her embarrassment flooding her cheeks. “Gabe, I didn’t mean… I wasn’t implying…”

Damn it!

She couldn’t even figure out how to dig herself out of this one. She totally sounded like one of those clingy, desperate women who started planning their weddings after the first date and then went psycho when the guy turned tail and ran.

He chuckled. “Hey, Elle?”

She groaned. “Yes?”

“It’s okay. I know.”

She dared to send a glance his way. “You know what?”

“I know you want me.” When she laughed and smacked playfully at his arm, his grin widened. “Ow! Hey, it’s okay. I know I’m adorable, too. You just can’t help yourself. Don’t worry about it.”

“Have I mentioned you’re incorrigible?” she shot back, grinning, glad he wasn’t going to make a big deal about her reference to a future.

He cocked his head as if considering her question. “Nope. Don’t think so.” Then he offered her a wink.

For several minutes, they rode in comfortable silence, hands clasped. Then he said softly, “Hey, Elle?”

“Yeah?”

“I want there to be an us,” he told her. “I just don’t want us to be what makes you decide whether or not to take a job. I want you to do whatever’s going to make you happy. I just hope whatever you decide that maybe…maybe that future will include me.” He shifted in his seat, his neck growing red. Then he coughed, clearing his throat before adding, “Anyway, thought I’d throw that out there.”