Page 37 of House of Scarlett
“Through there.” I squeak out the reply, because what almost came out was,“I thought you’d never ask.”
Calm down, Scarlett, before you lose it completely.
Thankfully, Gabriel doesn’t notice my squeaking. In a few moments, we’re in the middle of my over-the-top-feminine bedroom, where he’s lowering me onto the fluffy duvet and a nest of throw pillows.
Shockingly, though, he doesn’t run as soon as his arms are empty. He looks around the room, his blue eyes taking note of everything, it seems, before coming back to my face.
“It fits you.”
Chadwick hated my bedroom and said it made it impossible for him to get a hard-on, but clearly Gabriel is a different kind of man. My frilly lace and serene colors don’t make him look ridiculous. If anything, they make him seem even more masculine.How is that even possible?
“Thank you,” I whisper, scooting back into the pillows. I reach forward to grab the edge of the throw blanket lying on the end of the bed, but my incision twinges and I freeze.
“Hey. Whoa.” Gabriel bolts forward to grab it for me. “No sudden movements. That’s why I’m here. You just lay back and chill. Tell me what you need.”
When he spreads the nubby chenille throw over my legs andtucks me in, I can barely think straight because it’s so freaking domestic and adorable and comforting.
Before he can move away, I slip my fingers into his and squeeze them. “Thank you.”
“I haven’t done anything yet,” he says, his expression unreadable.
“Yeah, you have. And I appreciate it more than you know.”
That’s when he shocks the hell out of me.
With one hand braced on the bed right beside my hip and his fingers tangled in mine, he leans in until his lips are a breath away from my temple.
“Realstarts now, ladybug. I’ll show you.”
His lips brush across my skin so lightly, it barely even counts as a kiss, but it’s the same as everything he’s giving me right now—exactly what I didn’t know I needed.
Gabriel Legend, I hope you know what you’re doing.
Twenty-One
Legend
When a knock soundsat the front door, I leave Scarlett to answer it. I don’t bother to check the peephole, given that I think it’s an interior door that leads to the store. Plus, I just gave orders for our stuff to be brought up.
Standing in the hallway is a young woman whose mustard-yellow one-piece outfit probably cost more than my truck, but it doesn’t stop it from being ugly as sin.
“Mr. Legend. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Amy said you’d be Scarlett’s guest this evening.”
“Yeah, I’ll be here a while. Call me Legend or Gabe. No mister.”
She nods like her head is attached to a spring. “Got it,Legend. Okay. Well, I have Scarlett’s flowers and balloons from the hospital right here.” She grabs the handle on a cart and pulls it into view. My duffel is on the bottom shelf, so I nod.
“Come on in.”
“My name is Liz, if you need anything this afternoon. And just in case Scarlett is hungry, I’ve brought menus from all her favorite places. If you just text me at this number,” she whips a card out of her breast pocket and hands it to me, “I’ll have someone bring whatever she wants immediately. Her prescriptions will be coming from the pharmacy shortly too. Amy said Scarlett has everything she needs for tonight, though, so those will be for tomorrow. Am I forgetting anything?”
From the way she wrings her hands, it’s obvious she’s nervous as hell, and I’m assuming that’s because of me.
“Thanks. I’ll text if she needs something. She appreciates your help, Liz.”
The girl lights up like a Christmas tree. “Thank you. We all want to make sure she’s comfortable.”
“Doing a great job. I’ll get her settled and let you know.”
