quickened when those lips parted…then moved. Ben blinked, suddenly pulled from his trance. “Can you read lips?”
His gaze snapped to Gabriel’s eyes as he nodded. Searing heat rose up his neck and flamed his cheeks and ears. He had obviously been caught staring at his mouth.
He pulled the phone out from his back pocket and tapped a quick message on the display. Texting is easier. He peeked up at Gabriel after his face had cooled.
“That would mean you have to give me your number.”
Ben chewed his lip, not sure what to do. That was obviously a pickup line. At least…he thought it was. There was something about Gabriel that made him comfortable enough to reveal pieces of himself without worry. He typed out another message. Are you flirting with me? Best to ask the question rather than risk misinterpreting his intentions. Maybe the guy was just a smooth talker and a conversationalist who loved charming people with his smile and that evil dimple.
Because he wasn’t kidding himself, that dimple had magical powers and could sucker anyone into doing just about anything.
Gabriel shrugged and half smiled. “Is it working?”
Ben bit back a grin and nodded. He looked away, trying not to stare. Fidgeting with his shoelace, he couldn’t help his gaze absently sliding up the man’s tree-trunk legs and skipping over to his muscled forearm. Thick dark hair couldn’t hide the flexing muscles that tensed under his watchful eye. His gaze traveled up the path of defined dips and curves to Bull’s bicep, the T-shirt stretching across his upper arm.
He released a slow breath through parted lips. He shouldn’t stare. Not this much. Not this obvious. Ben swallowed heavily and dared to make eye contact. Steadying his shaking hands, he managed to type out a message. Sorry. I know I stare. It’s a bad habit I’m trying to break.
Those warm brown eyes held more playfulness than before. “It doesn’t bother me.”
Something pulled Gabriel’s attention to his right where the others gathered. Ben glanced over, the group of friends suddenly busying themselves or staring up and around. They were horrible at disguising their curiosity. Ben couldn’t help the chuckle that surfaced. He looked back at Gabriel, smiling wider when Gabriel aimed a scowl at Aidan.
He was tempted to touch the stretched jean material but opted to tap the big boot instead to sign a question. “You know Aidan?”
Gabriel nodded. “We met while serving about fifteen years ago. He’s my best friend.”
“He’s been good to me,” Ben signed, debating how much he should reveal and what bits of information would push the man away. He chewed his lip, another habit he needed to shake. “I’ve known him for a while.”
“I know.”
He stared into those rich brown eyes, wondering just how much he actually knew. There was something about the man’s gaze, revealing and honest yet guarded.
“I know this is your second stay here at Halfway House.”
Ben ducked his head and closed his eyes. So much for the element of mystery. Some people would label him an ex-con for the rest of his life and keep their guarded distance. He just wished he had a little more time with the man sitting across from him. The man had turned out to be far better than the fantasy Ben had assembled in his mind the last two nights. Definitely not the type of man he expected from the bull-sized package with the scuffs and bruises.
He wanted more time.
He took a deep breath, driving the negative thoughts and fears from his mind. Maybe he could salvage a friendship between them. After all, it was silly to think a man like Gabriel would be attracted to him. He glanced up and was met with questioning eyes. He wished he could read minds as well as he could read lips.
“I know you served twice, and I know the charges for both.” Gabriel stopped talking, returning Ben’s unwavering gaze as if waiting for him to challenge the bits of information.
Somewhere along the way during their interaction, Gabriel had stopped signing, almost as if picking up on Ben’s comfort level with lipreading. Especially with this conversation. For some reason, Ben didn’t want anyone interpreting the sign language between them and inadvertently eavesdropping.
A tap to his sneaker drew his attention. “People make mistakes,” Gabriel said, ducking his head to keep eye contact. “Mistakes aren’t always bad. Sometimes, they make you stronger and smarter.”
Ben grabbed his phone and typed a quick message. I’ve made A LOT of mistakes. Without looking up, he