Page 89 of Dark Angel
Well… hello.
Pushing out of her chair, Caroline helped Barbi remove the hair pins.
In silence, Gabriel soaked up the scene. He had a front-row seat to something even he hadn’t imagined. His mystery woman was revealing herself, one sexy layer at a time. When she and Caroline were finished, Barbi’s raven hair flowed freely down her back while her thick bangs cast her eyes in shadow.
Ciao, bellissima. Hello, beautiful.
Slash exited the bathroom, pulled up beside him. “Hey,” she whispered.
He tossed her a nod.
As Slash started to move forward, Gabriel stopped her. “Wait.”
And then, Barbi put her fingers in her eye, pulled out a contact lens, repeating it on her other eye.
“What the hell,” Gabriel murmured.
“She’s beautiful, don’t you think?” Slash winked.
“Do you want to borrow something… um… more festive?” Sydney asked.
“Oh, I completely forgot,” Barbi replied.
Gone was the Russian accent, her husky voice beckoning him closer.
But he did not budge.
Barbi unzipped her baggy sweatshirt revealing a maroon sweater that hugged her in all the right places.
Nice.
“There’s my girl!” Caroline exclaimed. “You look gorgeous!”
Gabriel stepped out of the shadows. “Yes, she does.”
Surprise flashed in Barbi’s sparkling blue eyes while her cheeks flushed with color.
“It’s you,” she murmured.
He couldn’t stop staring. Barbi was a total hottie.
Sydney rushed over to him.
“Ciao, sorellina,” Gabriel said folding Sydney into his arms.Hello, baby sis.
“I’m so happy you’re here,” Sydney said. “Did you take care ofthings?”
“All done,” Gabriel replied as he kissed each of her cheeks. “The house looks great.”
Sydney broke away beaming. “That means a lot, coming from you. Your villa is to die for.”
Gabriel shifted toward Barbi. She stood, flicked the bangs out of her eyes. Piercing blue orbs drilled into him like a million suns. The air crackled with excitement, the intensity in her gaze sending a blast of heat through his chest.
“Hey, G,” Caroline said hijacking his attention. “I’m glad you’re welcoming in the New Year with us. It wouldn’t be the same without you.”
Gabriel dropped light pecks on Caroline’s cheeks, then broke away to face Barbi.
“You’re a surprise,” he said.
