to sort out whether she’d have found him just as gorgeous, just as warm, just as sweet if she was in a normal state of mind … on her own turf.
He motioned to the porch. “I have your favorite kind of chair here. Want to sit and have a beer with me? I’d offer wine, but I don’t drink the stuff.”
When she didn’t move, he continued, “I could use the company. All I’ve got here is the four-legged variety.” As she started up the steps, he opened the screen door, and two little white balls of fluff tumbled out and zoomed her way.
She laughed when she got to the top step and found herself unable to walk as the two tiny dogs threaded themselves around her feet.
“Down, killers.” Luke scooped one dog with each hand, letting Gabi pass through the door. “Sorry about that. We don’t get a lot of company.”
“They’re adorable.” Gabi reached out to pet one of them, and was promptly rewarded with a lick to her chin. “Aww. Hi, little one.” She looked at Luke. “How come we see so little of them?”
“My friends Josie and Ethan run a special home in town for kids who are dealing with cancer. Josie comes and kidnaps the dogs all the time to go hang out with the kids.”
“That is so cool. So they’re like therapy dogs?”
“Not officially. They’re just small and sweet and love kids.” He shrugged. “It works.”
“Can I hold one?”
“Be my guest.” He handed her a dog, who squirmed in her arms, desperate to deliver more kisses. She sat down, giggling, as the tiny thing burrowed its head into her neck and licked her ear.
“I’m sorry. You can put her down.” Luke reached for the dog, but Gabi laughed.
“Oh, she’s fine.” She settled the dog in her lap, where it promptly turned three circles and lay down, looking up at her with big brown eyes. “I have to say, I totally would have pictured you with a Saint Bernard or something.”
“Thank you. I think. I did used to own a respectable-sized dog. Just putting that out there.” Luke handed her a beer, motioning to the popcorn. “I don’t know what you drink. Hope this works.”
“I live in a dorm with fifty girls. I usually don’t drink, though they give me ample reasons to take up the sport.”
He clinked the top of his bottle with hers. “Then this oughtta taste really good.”
She put the bottle to her mouth, trying not to notice his eyes on her lips as she took a long draw.
“Good?” He smiled.
“Almost as good as your coffee, yes.” She popped a piece of popcorn into her mouth. “And I haven’t had popcorn in forever. Thank you.”
“So … what really brings you out into the wilds at this hour, braving life and limb?” He set down his beer, full attention on her. “I suspect there’s more to it than sleeplessness.”
She took another sip, trying to choose her words carefully. After trying and discarding multiple possibilities, she took a deep breath and looked him directly in the eyes.
“I think … I want to give you the girls.”
Chapter 18
The words that came out of Gabriela’s mouth couldn’t have surprised Luke more. Or Gabriela, he guessed. When he’d seen the beam of her flashlight come over the rise, his stomach had jumped hopefully. Was she lonely? Had she been replaying their almost-kiss on the beach in her head all day, too? Had she spent last night restlessly wishing she could sleep … like he had?
Or had she spent it wishing she had a reason not to spend the night sleeping?
He cleared his throat. “I’m not sure I follow. And also, that’s a really frightening proposition. Just saying.”
She took another sip of her beer, and he struggled to tear his eyes away from her lush lips as they cradled the bottle. Oh, to taste those lips.
He shook his head. Jesus.
“I’ve been thinking about what you said that first day we came—when you asked if I wanted to bring the same girls back to Briarwood, or different ones.”
He nodded. He’d said something of the sort, yeah. Funny that she’d been noodling on it since then, though.
“I need to bring back different ones, Luke. I need to bring back girls who aren’t going to fall back into the same patterns they had before they left. I need to bring back girls who will have the confidence to pave their own way and stop spending so much energy fighting everything, just for the