Page 50 of Enticed
“Jasmine.” The sound of Gabe’s voice licked up my spine, and tingles erupted across my overheated skin. I turned to find Gabe striding toward me with Rory skipping giddily next to him. He stopped in front of me, his blue eyes filled with concern. “Let me take those. They look heavy.” Before I could protest, he slipped a finger beneath each of the straps and lifted them off my shoulders. The contact sent a buzz of electricity crackling over my skin. The memory of how those fingers had brushed against my thighs only a week ago caused a shiver to race down my spine. It had been nothing more than a gentle caress, but it had still made my heart race.
With my arms empty, Rory jumped in to greet me with a hug.
“Hey, kiddo,” I said, twirling one of her French braided pigtails in my hand. “Did you do these yourself?” I’d been teaching her how to French braid when she came over for lessons. She was catching on quick.
She beamed up at me, nodding enthusiastically. “Uh huh.” I ooh’d and ahh’d and murmured praises over her improving skills. When I turned back to Gabe, my stomach dipped at the sight of him. He’d gotten a haircut, and his beard was trimmed close to his face. He was as handsome as I’d ever seen him.
“Thank you, but I can take one of those back so you don’t have to carry both,” I offered.
“Not a chance,” he replied with a crooked grin, and my knees went weak. My body somehow didn’t get the memo that we were still mad at him.
“My goodness, do you see the muscles on that boy?” Fern said, pressing a wrinkled hand to her chest. Gabe’s bicepsstrained against the sleeves of his plain white tee and the way the snug material stretched over the tanned skin had me daydreaming about licking his arms.
A chuckle rumbled up Gabe’s throat. “I haven’t been called a boy in a very long time. You ladies make me feel young again,” he declared, and I swear, all three of them swooned. I rolled my eyes and pinched my lips together.
“Youareyoung, sweetie,” Hazel said, patting his cheek. “You’ve got plenty of life left ahead of you. Don’t waste a minute of it.”
Gabe’s sapphire gaze drifted to mine and held for a long moment. I silently prayed that he would take her sage advice.
“Yolo,” Rory chirped her agreement, and the tense moment was broken as we all dissolved into a fit of laughter.
“Exactly,” Gigi confirmed. “Sometimes adults need a reminder, but you’ve got it all figured out already.” Rory let out a giggle when Gigi booped her nose and looped her arm through hers. They took off toward the auctioneer’s tent while the rest of us trailed behind them.
When we arrived, Gigi, Hazel, and Fern began laying out their creations. One of the bags had the beautiful horse blanket my great aunts had been working on the day I’d gone to brunch with them. It was gorgeous. The level of detail was equally impressive and enviable. In the same bag were beanies done in the local high school’s colors and matching scarves. In the second bag, there were baby blankets, stuffed animals, purses, and a few other miscellaneous items all knitted by my grandmother and great aunts. All the proceeds from these items would go to the local children’s hospital where I’d recently learned the Granny Gang donated lots of knitted hats for babies and cancer patients and stuffed animals for other sick children. I felt terrible for thinking they used their knitting club as an excuse to day drink, but now that I knew, I was determined tojoin in when I could since I was mastering the art of knitting thanks to them.
“Wow, I love these,” Rory said, picking up an axolotl in one hand and an octopus in the other. “Dad, will you bid on one of these for me?” she asked, turning her pleading eyes on him.
“Actually,” I began, cutting in, “I have something I think you’ll like even better.” Gabe eyed me curiously. I hadn’t told him about the project I’d been working on with Gigi. He would be just as surprised as Rory. I’d spent every free evening I had knitting this special creation, and now it was time to see if my hard work paid off.
“You do?” Rory asked, practically buzzing with excitement.
“I do,” I confirmed, reaching into the bottom of the bag. Her eyes lit up when I revealed a pink drawstring bag and handed it to her. She tore it open and thrust her hand inside. Pulling out the knitted chinchilla, she held it up and gasped, her eyes growing wide.
“It looks just like Andy,” she announced, her voice filled with wonder. “Did you make this?”
“I did. Do you like it?”
“Like it? I love it!” she declared and sprang into my arms. “Thank you.” She hugged me tight, refusing to let go for a long time. Then she said something that cracked my chest open and clogged my throat with emotion. “I love you, Jasmine.”
“I love you too, kid.” My eyes found Gabe’s and a deluge of emotions flashed in his. They said more than words ever could. She released me and skipped over to my grandmother to show off her new toy. Gabe stepped up next to me, and my skin hummed at his nearness.
“I didn’t know you could knit,” he said, his tone impressed.
I shrugged. “I only learned recently,” I explained, leaving out the part where I only did it so I could make Rory’s gift. He studied me a moment, a spark of recognition flashing in his eyesas they filled with appreciation. He opened his mouth to speak, but a man’s voice boomed over the speakers and the crowd around us quieted.
“Attention please. The auction will start in five minutes. Please make your way to your seats.” We finished displaying the items and slipped away to the back of the crowd.
“Are you sticking around for the auction?” Gabe asked.
“Just long enough to see who wins my item so I can get their information,” I replied as the auctioneer presented the first item up for bid.
“What do you have up for grabs?” he asked, eyes alight with intrigue.
“Why? Are you going to bid?” I asked teasingly.
“Maybe,” he replied with a playful grin.
“You might be disappointed.”
