Chapter Eighteen

Taka knocked on the heavy timber front door and tried to control the bone-deep shudder that wrapped around his body.

He held his collar closer around his neck but the icy rivulets of water found their way down the back of his neck anyway. His hair was plastered flat to his head. Even the short run from his car was enough to drown him. He preferred his motorbike, but the rain hadn’t let up all day and at this time of year it chilled to the bone.

She’d left. She’d taken the coward’s way out and bolted while he was at work. It left him feeling betrayed all over again, dredged up all those memories and left him feeling like he was nineteen again. Which was stupid. Had he done something wrong last night? Something she hadn’t liked?

No. She’d enjoyed it as much as he had. Her responses proved that.

Then what had sent her running?

Perhaps it was the sex itself. She hadn’t had a lot of relationships. Usually she was very careful about who she let into her life. Maybe taking the intimacy out of the equation like he’d thought last night would help. If he pulled right back, she might relax and let him in.

The lights from inside splashed their welcoming warmth into the darkness around him. He hoped that was indicative of the reception he’d get. Hunching his shoulders further into his shirt, he stared out into the dark while he waited.

The soft click of the turning latch brought him back around and face to face with a gray-eyed vision in chocolate-colored cashmere.

Gabby stood in front of him in a wraparound dress. The lines emphasized her full breasts and the unbelievable curves that only hours before had been under his hands and his for the taking. And take he did, several times over. Surprise etched itself across her face at his appearance.

“Takeshi! You’re drenched. You must be freezing!”

She grabbed his hand and pulled him through the door. He toed off his sodden sneakers to follow behind her, squelching down the hallway in soggy socks.

His eyes were drawn to the way her body moved beneath the dress. It was so sensual he tore his gaze from her ass to stare at the walls as she led him down the hall. This wasn’t the time to get all hot and bothered.

She drew him into the bathroom and handed him a towel. Taka wiped his face and began to dry his hair. Gabby’s hands went to the buttons on his shirt, popping them rapidly.

“What are you doing?” His eyes went wide in surprise.

“Getting you out of that wet shirt. Your skin’s like ice. You need to get in front of the fire. What in hell were you doing standing out there in the rain? Since when have you ever needed to knock to come into my home?”

Since we had a night of mind-blowing sex and you left without a word, that’s when.

Taka shrugged and resisted saying that out loud. It wasn’t exactly something he could say and not get slapped. Gabby stripped the dripping shirt from his shoulders and threw it onto the vanity behind her. Taka’s thoughts tumbled to a halt when her hands dropped to the button of his jeans and snapped it open.

“Whoa!” Taka closed his hand over hers. “You’d probably better stop there, unless you want a repeat of last night. I can take it from here.”

Gabby stepped back quickly, her face flaming.

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking. I…I’ll take your clothes and throw them in the dryer. All the appliances came with the house. You should jump in the shower to warm up a little first. Drop your clothes outside the door when you’re ready.” Taka watched her beat a hasty retreat out the bathroom door, then kicked himself. He should have let her keep undressing him. That would’ve been a much nicer way to warm up.

He dragged his jeans down his legs. They landed in a sodden pile at his feet. Shivers shook him from head to toe while he waited for the water to heat up.

Gabby was right. He was freezing.

 

Gabby shook her head and pressed the back of her hand to her blazing cheeks. Just what had she been thinking to try and strip him like that? She’d lost her damn mind, that’s what. A night of fantastic sex would do that to a person.

And he’d looked mortified that she’d been stripping him.

God, she was so humiliated.

She bolted into the safety of the kitchen and prepared some hot drinks. At least it was something to keep her hands busy.

Matt had emerged from his bad mood long enough to get her a few things at the supermarket. She hadn’t wanted him to, but the mere mention of her getting a cab had sent him into a cold sweat and drowned his arguments about her leaving Taka’s place. She was glad, because he had been getting to the point where she couldn’t have fobbed off his questions much longer.

Her son gave the Spanish Inquisition a bad name.

He’d ended up coming back with everything from a toaster and kettle, to a whole dinner set. As well as enough groceries to feed a third-world country. And she was under an embargo on the whole taxi thing. It was rather funny when your twenty-eight-year-old son forbade you from using a cab.

Gabby took the two mugs and walked into the living room. A dim lamp and the firelight was the only illumination.

Taka sat with his back to her on the large ottoman in front of the fire. His bronzed skin glowed in the light from the flames, his muscles playing across his back while his hands rubbed a towel through his hair.

Severe longing cut through her at the sight of him wrapped only in a towel. She ground it down hard and rounded the ottoman to hold out the mug. He wasn’t hers, never would be. She just had to suck it up and get over him. Somehow.

Taka glanced up and smiled his thanks, taking it from her. He hung the spare towel around his neck. “I need this. Especially after today.”

“Why’s that?” Gabby sank down on the sofa across from him.

“I lost someone,” he answered quietly.

Gabby’s chest tightened. “Oh, Yoshi. I’m sorry. What happened?”

He shrugged a shoulder at her, trying to be apathetic. But she knew him better than to believe it wasn’t cutting him up inside. He seemed to think he could save everyone. And when he couldn’t, it hit him hard.

“He had a blood clot in a pulmonary vein. He came in with concussion and ended up in the morgue. Matt came and asked me for a consult. By the time I got him into surgery, he was gone.” His voice softened as he glanced over at her. “He was only twenty-five.”

Gabby moved to sit beside him. Oh, no. That was the surgery he’d been performing when she rang and left her message this morning.

“Are you okay?” she said, touching his shoulder.

“Yeah. It’s just hard when it’s something that’s relatively easy to fix that causes a death. If I’d known. If I’d gotten to him a little earlier, or the ER doctor had done a different test, or I…” He trailed off, lifted his mug to his lips and breathed deep.

Gabby lifted her hand to his jaw and turned his head to face her. His beautiful eyes were haunted. Hollow.

“Stop it. You can’t blame yourself for something like that. You did what you could with what little time you had. I know that’s no real comfort, but you did your best. That’s what matters. No one could ever say you don’t give all you’ve got. If you’d lost me, it wouldn’t have been surprising considering what the nurses told me of the mess I was in. But you didn’t give up on me, and you got me through. Doesn’t that tell you something about your skill?”

“I didn’t have any choice in the matter. Losing you wasn’t an option.”

Gabby’s stomach flipped at the fierce expression on his face. “Matty would’ve forgiven you, you know. He wouldn’t have wanted to, but he would’ve. You’re the closest thing to a brother he has. He loves you,” she said softly.

Taka pulled his gaze away from hers to stare into the flames. “Matt’s forgiveness was the last thing on my mind. I would never have forgiven myself.”

They sat together quietly for a few minutes. The only sounds in the room were the crackle and hiss of the fire settling in the grate, and the steady drum of rain on the roof.

Gabby stole a quick glance at him. He sounded so uncompromising like that. She knew she mattered to him, if only because of Matt and her friendship with his mother. If it hadn’t been for that damned ring, and Monique, she’d be tempted to believe he might feel something for her. Something strong. He looked so determined, so—

“Are we okay?” Taka asked.

Gabby jumped at the sudden sound of his voice intruding on her thoughts. “What do you mean?”

Taka turned to face her. “Us. Last night. Is that why you left today? You know I would never touch you if you didn’t want me to.”

Gabby shifted uncomfortably beside him and fidgeted with the handle of her cup. “I can honestly say that’s not the reason. Last night was…incredible. Besides, I asked you, if you remember.”

“Then why did you leave?” he asked.

“The house came through early, and I figured you’d probably want your home back to yourself. If you were to want to take someone back to your place with me there, you’d feel awkward. I figured I’d save you the trouble of asking me to leave.”

Dammit! That small white lie had sounded far more respectable in her head.

“Okay.” Taka nodded and stared hard at her. “We just spent the night together. An amazing night, I might add, and you’re talking about me bringing someone else home? I don’t understand. Why would I do that? How about you tell me the real reason.”

Gabby’s stomach hit the floor. How could he see through her so easily? She wracked her brain for something that would pass as plausible, but was horrified to come up with nothing. The only things she could think of were the damned ring and the note. He’d asked her outright, and she had never lied to him other than that one disastrous night all those years ago. She wasn’t about to start now.

Here goes nothing. She took a deep breath.

“I—”

“Gabby? Is that Takeshi’s car in the drive? Would he like to stay for dinner?” Jonathan’s voice echoed down the hall. He rounded the doorway carrying bags of food.

Gabby glanced at Taka as he rubbed his hand across his eyes. His polite tone contradicted his face.

That’s weird. He knew Jon was her friend. She glanced between them. Understanding hit. Taka must feel strange with things so unsettled between him and Monique, especially if he was thinking of a reconciliation. Jon being here would only compound his discomfort. She scooted back over to the sofa to sit, putting some distance between them. She didn’t want to make it harder for him than it already was.

“Hi, Jonathan. I won’t be staying.”

Jon stopped halfway across the room and stared at him, humor sparking in the depths of his eyes. “By the looks of you, son, you’ll be here awhile. I take it you got caught in that mess outside? I hope you like Thai—I found this great little restaurant near the hospital while Gabby was there.” He raised his voice as he continued walking through to the kitchen.

Resigned, Taka nodded. “Yeah. Thanks. I’ll come help. I can’t believe you went all that way just for take-out.”

He stood and tightened the towel around his hips. Gabby averted her eyes when she realized she was staring at the tight lines of his butt, a butt she’d had her hands all over only that morning. It really wasn’t covered by much.

“Oh! Taka, where are your clothes? I’ll go sort them out.” She stood to take care of it.

Taka threw her a sexy grin that sent flocks of butterflies racing around her stomach. “All done. I threw them in the dryer when I came out of the bathroom. They should be ready soon.”

She smiled back at him. “Then let’s eat.”

 

 

Gabby stood in front of the dryer watching it spin. There was something innately calming about doing laundry. Or rather, watching the dryer spin and spin…and spin. She didn’t have to think too hard standing here.

She admitted it. She was a coward.

She’d come in here to hide away for a few minutes and regroup.

It wasn’t as awkward like she’d dreaded it would be. Taka was a little edgy, but she’d expected that. Jonathan and he got on well, and Taka was nothing if not discreet. She knew he would never mention their night together in front of Jon. It wouldn’t go down too well if he was serious about reconciling with Monique.

So why am I hiding out in here?

Gabby went to the floor-length window that looked out onto her backyard and sighed. She was damned if she knew the answer.

On the one hand, she was glad Jon had interrupted her by arriving. It gave her an out in explaining why she had left so suddenly, once she had told Taka it wasn’t their love making that had sent her running. Honestly, she should have just gone along with it and let him think she felt awkward.

But he deserved to know that was definitely not the reason why. Especially after the way he’d made her feel.

On the other, she could kick him.

Talk about crap timing. It would have been so much easier to just get it out of her system and ask Taka outright what the hell was going on that he could own an engagement ring and sleep with her. At least she would know the answer. Now the moment was gone.

The dryer stopped and beeped softly, letting her know it was finished. She pulled open the door and took out his shirt, checking to make sure it was completely dry. The heat from Taka’s shirt soaked into her hands and spread up her arms with a shiver. She pressed the shirt to her face and inhaled.

His scent swirled into her lungs and spread warmth through her whole body. Her heart leaped and rushed blood through her at lightning speeds, sending images from the previous night flashing behind her eyes. Her breath caught, tightening her lungs as her sensitized skin relived the sensuous feel of Taka’s mouth and hands.

Was it really just this morning that she had woken in his bed and smelled the same scent on the pillow beneath her head?

“I’m hoping that doesn’t smell.”

Gabby jumped and spun around to face the doorway to the laundry.

“Oh my God!” She pressed her hand against her chest where her heart was trying its best to escape. She hoped like hell that he couldn’t see her thoughts splashed across her face. “You scared me!”

His wry tone warmed her as he leaned against the doorjamb in his towel. “Sorry.”

She tried to frown at him. “No, you’re not. You’ve got that smug look on your face.”

He shrugged a shoulder, the corners of his mouth twitching. “If you say so. Is it dry?”

“Yeah, here.” She tossed it to him, watching his firm torso flex as he caught it. Her fingers itched to be back on that delicious skin. While his whole body was toned, he wasn’t muscle-bound by any means. While he was too lean to beef up too much, what was there was nicely put together. Too nicely.

Her gaze slipped lower. That towel really wasn’t holding on by much. She found herself willing it to fall while he was distracted pulling the shirt up his arms.

She pulled his jeans from the dryer. The denim was quite hot to the touch. It always seemed to hold the heat more than other fabrics. She hugged them to her body.

The smile he’d been hiding finally broke out on his face. “I’m assuming I’m going to get those back at some point.”

Gabby smiled back at him. “Not until I’ve sucked out the last of the warmth from them. They feel like a miniature furnace.”

His soft laughter warmed her more than the clothes ever could. “That’s right, I forgot you’re a frog. Anything warm within a ten-foot radius, and you’ve got it. Or are on it…or in it. And here I thought you were holding my shirt because you like my aftershave.” Taka’s eyes glittered. “I hope you have an electric blanket. You’re going to get cold this winter.”

Maybe I need a human blanket, Takeshi.

“Maybe I’ll buy a cat. It’ll keep me warm,” she replied instead.

Taka’s grin widened. “I’m sure it would. Hand ‘em over, wench. I’m feeling a little vulnerable over here.” He held his hand out for his pants.

“Why don’t I believe that? You’d be quite comfortable wandering around in your birthday suit.” Gabby held his pants out for him. “And watch out who you’re calling wench, little boy.”

“Not so little. I’ve been bigger than you since I was seventeen.” His smile faded and he took a breath. “I’d better get going. I have an early start tomorrow. Thanks for dinner.”

Disappointment took her smile with it. “Anytime. You’re always welcome. And don’t stand outside in the rain next time. Remind me to get you a key cut, will you? Matt has my spare.”

She glanced out the window again. “Listen, why don’t you stay? That rain seems to have got even heavier. You’ll get drowned again and you just got dry. Stay here tonight.”

“Really?” Surprise colored his deep voice.

A blush crept its way up her cheeks. Damn, she hated it when she blushed. It was a blazing neon sign to everyone within a ten-foot radius that she was embarrassed.

“Of course. There’s no need for you to go out in weather like this. This house is huge.”

“Where would I sleep? You don’t have any furniture.”

She hesitated a moment. Did she dare ask him? “You could have my room, and I’ll sleep on the sofa. It’s very comfortable.”

Hell. She was such a bloody coward when it came to him.

Taka shook his head. “No. I’m not making you sleep on your sofa the first night in your new house. Or any night. I’ll take my chances with the rain. Thanks for the offer, though.”

Gabby plastered a smile on her face. Why hadn’t she said what she really wanted to and asked him to share her bed? He could take it how he wanted then.

“If you’re sure. It’s pretty nasty out there.”

Taka looked at her harder, and she couldn’t hold his gaze. She chewed on her lip, not sure what he was thinking and too nervous to ask. She’d want to fall through a hole in the floor if she asked him to sleep with her and he said no. And what type of person did that make her, that she still wanted him when she wasn’t even sure if he was available?

“I don’t have a change of clothes with me so it’s probably not practical. If I get caught again though, I might just take you up on it.”

She nodded and looked back at him and forced her face to remain impassive. “Of course. Next time I may even have a spare bed for you.”

Taka moved forward and tilted her chin up so that she was looking straight into his eyes, leaving her nowhere to hide.

“As long as we really are okay. I won’t leave if there’s something not quite right between us. We’ve known each other too long to let anything get in the way of our friendship. Regardless of what happened last night.” His intense stare sent her insides into a tailspin.

Friendship. She hated that word. Is that all they were, friends? Is that what he was trying to tell her?

“You’re right, and everything’s good. We’re good. I’m really going to miss your company, though.”

A glint of a smile reappeared in his eyes. “I’m only a few minutes away. If you need me, call me. Anytime. I’ll be here. I’ll stop in and see you each day after work, unless it’s some ungodly hour of the night.”

A surge of warmth at his offer broke through her morose mood. “You don’t have to do that. Matt’s going to be painful about being here—at least at first. I’m sure you have more important things to do.”

He shook his head. “No, I don’t. I’m still your doctor. You’re not going to get away that easy.” Warm lips pressed gently to her forehead.

My doctor. And friends. Ick.