Mr. Rothe - Lynn Hagen Page 0,25

out my welcome, to make things awkward between us, so getting out while things were good was my only option.

“I’m sure,” I said.

“Don’t try to sneak away this time. Now you know why having Cole watch out for you is the only option.” Gabe took my hand and kissed my knuckles. It would be so freaking easy to fall for him. “In fact, I have another guy watching your house.” He held up a hand when I opened my mouth to protest. “I don’t trust Antonio. He might try to leverage your family.”

After such an amazing afternoon and evening, I felt sick to my stomach at the thought of anyone hurting them. “This is why I can’t be in your world.” I looked toward my house and saw the living room light on, and then I turned my attention back to Gabe. “It’s too dangerous for a guy like me.”

A veil fell over Gabe’s eyes. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

I laughed, trying to break the sudden tension. “We both know we had an itch to scratch with each other. Attraction kept you coming around, kept me seeking you out. Mission accomplished. Now it’s time to go back to our separate lives.” I reached for the door handle, my gut clenching. “I’ll see you around, Gabe.”

There was a tight set to Gabe’s jaw, but he didn’t say a word as I got out and headed up the driveway. Cole stepped from the shadows briefly to let me know he was there then sank back into them.

I didn’t bother looking for the other guy. I didn’t care. My mood tanked further when Gabe’s car pulled away. I had to stop myself from running after it.

Even if Gabe truly wanted me, again, our worlds were too damn different. There was no way he would settle into my mundane lifestyle, and I couldn’t fathom staying in his violent one.

My heart was in my feet as I walked through the door. I heard water running and knew my mom was doing dishes in the kitchen. My dad was asleep in his recliner, and Uncle Glen was sprawled out on the couch in his ratty underwear, his tinfoil hat propped on his head.

I groaned. “Can you put some pants on? Your nuts are hanging out.”

Uncle Glen gave me a smile. He wasn’t wearing his dentures. “I’m airing them out. You’ll see. When you’re as old as I am, you’ll see that your boys need fresh air.”

I nearly threw up in my mouth. “At least throw a blanket over your lap.”

“Glen!” My mom walked into the room, drying her hands on a towel. “How many times have I told you to throw those briefs away? Your soldiers are all over my cushions!”

My dad snorted and came awake, rubbing at his eyes. He yawned then looked over at Glen. “For fuck’s sake. Go to your damn room.”

Glen got up and shuffled away. I wanted to sit, but the thought of Uncle Glen’s saggy balls touching the couch made me dry heave.

And this was why Gabe would never fit into my life.

“You missed dinner,” my mom said. “Are you hungry? You’ve never worked this late before.”

“I wasn’t working.” I sat on the carpeted floor, pressing my back into the couch as my dad used the remote to find something to watch.

My mom sat on the end of the couch, opposite of where Glen had been sitting. “Then where were you?” She tossed the dishtowel over her shoulder. “Not that it’s any of my business. You’re grown and don’t have to answer to me.”

It was an unspoken deal with my parents. I pretended that living with them as an adult wasn’t a crushing blow to my ego and they pretended I was an independent grownup who wasn’t mooching off them.

So freaking pathetic.

“That guy from last night.”

“The one you were kissing all over in the car?” She blushed. “What about him?”

“Tell me you used a condom,” my dad interjected. “You young folk these days take too many risks.”

I slapped a hand over my face.

“Clyde,” my mom admonished. “Stop embarrassing him.”

“What?” my dad asked. “It’s a legitimate question.”

“I spent the day with Gabe.” I purposely ignored my dad. One, I was ashamed I’d gotten so caught up in the moment that we hadn’t used protection. Two, I wasn’t going there. My parents and I talked about a lot of things, but my sex life wasn’t up for discussion.

“He’s not a government worker, is he?” Uncle Glen shuffled back