he announced as he swept back into the room. As masculine as it was all by itself, the room seemed bigger, more alive, with him in it. It was as if he wore the space like a favorite pair of old blue jeans. He untied his bow tie and let it hang around his neck as he unbuttoned his collar. His neck was tanned and powerful, and yet again she was struck by how strong and forceful a man he was.
Every ounce of awkwardness and shyness she’d ever experienced flooded her as she stood there. She ought to say something sophisticated and smart, and all she could do was stare at him. God help her if she was drooling. If she’d ever thought she was woman enough to seduce Gabe Dawson, she knew, positively knew, in that instant that she was completely out of her league. She would never be woman enough for Gabe Dawson.
Chapter 9
The sight of Willa Merris in his living room, blushing like a nervous schoolgirl, brought Gabe to a complete halt. He could stand there and look at her all night long and never tire of the sight. She was the soul of innocence and oozed sex appeal all at the same time.
He’d never gone much for younger women, but he couldn’t ever remember desiring any woman the way he wanted her right now. He wanted to debauch her, to tease her and teach her, to take her innocence for himself and unleash all the simmering sensuality she didn’t even know she had within her.
If only he was a dozen years younger. He’d give anything to have her think of him as someone other than a safe uncle. This morning, when she’d sashayed out of her bedroom in that sassy little T-shirt and skimpy shorts, he’d thought maybe she was flirting with him. And then that backless dress...
But who was he kidding? At the moment, she looked on the verge of bursting into tears, or maybe bolting altogether. She might need reassurance that she was still desirable after Ward’s attack on her, but she didn’t want him, personally. Hell, for all he knew, Willa Merris was looking for a father figure. Lord knew her old man had failed her miserably in that department.
“Can I get you something to drink?” he asked her in resignation.
“Umm, why am I here?” she responded.
“So I can protect you from whoever seems determined to break in to wherever you’re staying?”
Shock registered on her face. Didn’t want to spend the night with him, huh? It might have been okay once, in Dallas, where no one would catch her and she had an entire suite to herself. But heaven forbid that she get caught with him in Vengeance. Had she honestly not known just how giant a pariah he was among her friends and associates?
He hated himself for wanting her to want him, and he hated himself for lying to her about why he’d brought her here. But hey. In for a penny, in for a pound. He added another lie on top of the first.
“Not to mention, Paula Craddock is gunning for you. She told me so herself. And after you sicced Jacquelyn Carver on her, she’s going to be madder than ever at you. I figure she’ll hang out at your house or your mother’s looking for you. If, for some reason, she comes sniffing around here, she and my shotgun have an appointment to get better acquainted.”
Willa’s musical laughter made him look up sharply from the whiskey he was pouring for himself. “Can I be there to see that?” she asked.
“Sure.”
“Promise?”
“Scout’s honor.” He poured her a glass of Licor 43, a Spanish liqueur that women told him tasted like chocolate-chip cookie dough. Personally, it was too sweet for him. But over the years, he’d dubbed it “Liquid Panty Remover.”
“Kick off your shoes if you want. Get comfortable.” He carried the drink to her, and enjoyed how her face lit up when she tasted it. She sank onto one of the matching leather sofas while he lit the fire already laid in the fireplace.
He spoke wryly over his shoulder as he fanned the fledgling flames. “I’d turn on some music, but I wouldn’t want you to think this was some cheesy seduction scene.”
“Of course not,” she answered quickly. Too quickly.
He sat down on the other end of the couch and studied her carefully. “I can’t read you. What are you thinking?”
Her cheeks went crimson. “Umm, nothing.”
“In my not inconsiderable