foray, but they’d made a mutual decision to keep the girls behind locked doors until they were sure mama bear wasn’t an issue. Luke had brought down the dogs again just as everyone was settling in for the night, and as much as Gabi knew the little puffballs wouldn’t be able to defend anyone from more than a rogue mosquito, it was still comforting to know their little ears would warn them of danger.
But right now it was quiet except for the crickets and a pair of loons out on the lake. Luke had pulled out Scrabble after she’d admitted a weakness for men who played board games, and as they’d set up tiles, her zapping nerves had decreased to a low hum.
Luke raised his eyebrows. “Seriously? You’re challenging me?”
“Absolutely. You feed me your favorite beer and give me the comfy chair, and then you do those eyes … and that half-smile thing. You think you’re toying with me, but I’m onto you.”
“That so?” His smile was lazy, inviting, oh-so-flipping-hot. “And what is it you think I might do if you let your guard down?”
She felt her face flame as possibilities flew through her mind. “Um, cheat?”
“I don’t cheat.”
“Okay. What … would you do?”
“I don’t know.” He studied her. “But has anyone ever told you you’re cute when you’re flustered?”
“No.” She rolled her eyes. “And what makes you think I’m flustered?”
“You’re blushing, which I find incredibly … cute. You’re also cute when you’re annoyed. Cute when you’re downright mad. Cute when you’re overthinking. Cute when you show up in the dining hall in the morning with one side of your hair all mashed down and the other side sticking out.”
He laughed as she automatically reached for her head. “I’m not sure how you are when you’re in your normal element, but I’m finding I like the out-of-her-element Gabriela. Like her a lot.”
“Well, I could use a few more element-appropriate skills.”
“I do kind of have those wrapped up.” He winked, holding up a bruised thumb. “For instance, my skill with hammers.”
“Well, you do have … some skills.” She smiled. “Like, for instance, pancake making. You are excellent with the pancakes.”
“Comforting.” He sipped his beer. “Anything else?”
“Absolutely. You’re aces with rope tying.”
“Aces?” He smiled. “Seriously?”
She pointed to the Scrabble board. “And you can … spell. I assume. Not tonight, but usually.”
“Vital life skill. Thank you.” He nodded at the board. “And that is, too, a word.”
She looked at his face, let her eyes trace his jawline, his lips, the eyes full of heat. Then she swallowed hard. “You wear a Red Sox T-shirt really, really well.”
He tipped his head. “Well, there’s a skill I never realized was a thing.”
“Oh, it’s a thing. It’s most definitely a thing.”
She pushed herself up, and like a hummingbird to sugar water, stepped toward his chair. “You also take off a Red Sox T-shirt really, really well.”
“Is that so?” He set down his beer, full concentration on her.
“Yes. I might have maybe seen you do it once or twice. It might have been a problem.”
He reached out one finger and slowly hooked the elastic waist of her skirt, pulling her ever so slightly toward him.
“What kind of a problem, Gabriela?”
She let him pull her, let herself fall slowly toward him as his other hand came up to caress her cheek.
“Um … the kind of problem that makes concentration a little challenging?” Her voice faded to a whisper as his fingertips touched her earlobe and she leaned her face into his hand.
“Sounds kind of serious.”
“It—is.”
“What should we do about it?” He slid his fingers ever so slowly along the waistband of her wispy skirt, and she took a sharp breath as he pulled her even closer. There was no way she’d be able to resist him tonight, even if she wanted to.
“I think … maybe we go inside?” Her voice was breathy, shaky as she swallowed.
He pulled back. “Is that what you want to do?”
“I—yes. No. Yes? I don’t know?”
He paused, smiling again. “One thing I’ve never put you down for is indecisive, Gabriela.” Then he kissed her softly, making her sigh quietly. “Easy question, sweetheart—do you want me? Because I have to tell you, there is nothing in the world I want more than you right now.”
“Oh. God.” Her words left her lips just as he kissed her again, then stood up, holding her hand firmly as he swung open the cabin door and led her into the warmly lit space.
Gabi smiled as she got her first