Rush (Breathless #1)(40)

When she walked out of the dressing room, Gabe was standing, waiting for her. He put his hand on her back as they walked toward the front of the store, and it was like being scalded. Would her reaction to him ever diminish? Would there ever be a time he could touch her without eliciting a bone-deep shiver? It didn’t seem likely given the intensity of the attraction between them. They were like two magnets inexorably pulled together.

After taking care of the purchases with the saleslady, Gabe ushered Mia outside to the waiting car and they began the ride back to his apartment. Knowing Caroline was going to wonder what the hell happened to her, Mia pulled out her phone and texted her friend.

With Gabe. Not sure if I’ll stay over again tonight. Have an event to attend. Just went shopping, OMG. Will catch you up later.

Gabe glanced curiously at her but didn’t comment. She slipped the phone back into her purse but mere seconds later, it rang. It was Jace’s ring tone and she dug through her purse again.

Jace, she mouthed to Gabe.

Gabe nodded.

“Hey, Jace,” Mia said as she answered the phone.

“Mia, how are things going? Everything all right?”

“Yes, of course. What about you? When are you and Ash going to be back?”

It was an answer she dreaded because she knew when Jace returned there was no way for her to hide that she was working for Gabe. And no way to know how much speculation or gossip Jace would hear regarding her and Gabe. She wasn’t prepared to face Jace with this yet. Maybe never.

“Day after tomorrow. Things are going well here. I just wanted to check in on you and make sure you were doing okay.”

In the background, Mia heard the soft laughter of a woman and Ash’s voice. Her eyes widened as she remembered the chatter she’d overheard in the bathroom.

“Where are you?” she asked.

“In the hotel suite. We have one more meeting tomorrow and then we’re attending a social event for potential local investors tomorrow night. We’ll catch an early flight out the next morning and be back in New York by early afternoon.”

If they were in the hotel suite, it was obvious that there was indeed a woman with Jace and Ash. It was clear there was a lot she hadn’t known about her brother. It was weird and kind of icky to suddenly know aspects of her brother’s sex life. No, thank you. She didn’t want to imagine him in some illicit threesome with Ash and another woman.

“Okay, I’ll see you then.”

“Let’s plan dinner together when I get back. I hate that I missed you at the grand opening. I haven’t seen much of you lately.”

“I’d like that.”

“Okay then. It’s a date. I’ll call you when I get in.”

“Love you,” she said, feeling a surge of affection for her older brother. He’d been such a vital component of her life. Not quite a father figure, but definitely a steadying, supportive presence from a very early age. Not many men would have stepped in and taken care of a much younger sister when he himself had been so young when their parents died.

“Love you too, baby girl. See you soon.”

Mia disconnected the call and sat for a moment staring down at the phone, guilt flooding her. There was the argument that she was an adult and fully capable of making her own decisions. But there was also the fact that Jace and Gabe were best friends and business partners. Coming between them wasn’t something she wanted at all. And yet she couldn’t turn away from the uncontrollable pull between her and Gabe.

“Something wrong?” Gabe asked.

She glanced up and offered her best effort at a smile. “No, not at all. Jace wants to have dinner when he gets back in. Then she paused and frowned because Gabe had exclusive rights to her time. “I’m assuming that’s okay?”

Gabe sighed. “I’m not some bastard who’s going to isolate you from your friends and family, Mia. Especially not Jace. I know how close the two of you are. Of course you’re free to go to dinner with him. Afterward, though, you come to me.”

She nodded, relieved at his easy acceptance. Gabe was possessive and controlling. She knew this before the contract had been produced. She had no way of knowing just how far he’d take things or how literally the contract would be interpreted.

“Tell me something, Gabe.”

He looked at her in question.

“This job, as your personal assistant, is it just fluff? I mean I was introduced to everyone as your PA but then Eleanor is ordering in lunch for me and catering to me. It could be awkward for me. There’s already talk—”

He held up his hand, his eyes suddenly fierce. “What talk?”

“I’ll get to that in a minute,” she said impatiently. “What I want to know is if my job is going to have any real substance. You’re paying me a lot of money and I’d rather earn it and not just on my back.”

He raised his eyebrows in surprise. “You’re not some whore, Mia. I’ll spank your ass if you ever suggest such a thing again.”

It was a relief to hear him say it even if she never thought that that’s how he viewed her. Perhaps it was more of the way she viewed herself, and she didn’t like how it made her feel.

“As for your question, just because I didn’t overwhelm you on your very first day doesn’t mean that you won’t have plenty to do. I’ll work you into my routine and familiarize you with how best to assist me. You have to remember, this is new territory for me as well. I’m not used to having a personal assistant and it will be an adjustment for me.”