Temptation on Ocean Drive - Jennifer Probst Page 0,19

tingled. She stared at the phone, torn, but Gabe never reached out to her with an emergency. She texted back. When?

Three dots appeared. I’m at your front door.

Belle gasped and looked down. Old yoga pants, bare feet, and a faded T-shirt. Hair in a scrunchie. No bra. No makeup.

Crap.

She forced herself to take a breath. It was about work, and there was no need to try and impress him. Better for him to realize she wasn’t the sexy sort, lounging around in panties and a crop top. She was an unglamorous, messy, tired, single mom.

She responded before she changed her mind. Putting Zoe to bed. Come in.

She grabbed a fleece hoodie and slipped it over her T-shirt to take care of the no-bra situation but left the rest as is. Unlocking the door, she stepped back as he filled the space with clean, cold air, spice, and the heady scent of man.

“Thanks. Sorry about barging in, but it couldn’t wait,” he said in that deep, sexy voice. He dumped a plastic bag on the chair and shrugged out of his wool jacket. His off-the-clock outfit consisted of worn jeans that cupped his ass and a long-sleeve black Henley that brought out the depths of his eyes. His chiseled jaw sported a bit of stubble. His hair was windblown and mussed, like a woman had run her fingers multiple times through the thick strands.

Damn him. His sex appeal was beginning to mess with her head a bit. He made her feel juvenile, and she hated every second of her body’s reaction.

“No problem,” she said, shutting the door and walking as far away from him as possible. She tugged the hoodie down farther. “What’s up?”

His gaze flicked over her. “Want me to wait till you get Zoe down?”

On cue, her daughter screeched Gabe’s name and flew into his arms. Bella’s throat tightened with emotion as she watched them interact with an easy affection that had only grown with time.

“What’s up, buttercup?” he asked.

“Mama and I are gonna watch Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island this weekend. It’s really scary, though.”

He gave a shudder. “What’s on the island? Vampires? Witches? Ghosts?”

She giggled. “Zombies, silly. Wanna watch it with us? We’ll make popcorn.”

“Hmm, sounds good, but let me check if I’m working, okay? Hey, I heard you didn’t have any winter dresses to wear for show-and-tell. What’d you do?”

Her face pulled into a sad, adorable expression. “I have no pink ones. I tried to wear my summer dress, but Mama said no, but then she let me wear my cool pink boots. Wanna see?”

“Maybe later, I know you have bedtime. But I brought you something. Wanna see?”

“Yes!”

He set her down and handed her the bag.

Zoe carefully reached in and pulled out a bright-pink sweater dress with a high neck and flowers stitched down the side. “Oh my gosh, look, Mama! A pink dress I can wear in the winter!”

Raw emotion slammed through Bella. Even though she’d only made a short comment about that crazy morning, he had gone out and bought Zoe a dress because he cared for her. Dammit, why did he have to be so nice to her daughter? It only made it harder for her to keep a safe distance from him.

Her voice came out rough. “It’s beautiful. What do you say to Gabe?”

Zoe hugged him. “Thank you so much, Gabe, I love it! Can I try it on?” She began jumping up and down.

Gabe easily cut in. “In the morning. I have to talk to your mom about work stuff, and you need your sleep.”

She looked at the dress longingly but gave a sigh. “Okay. I’m going to wear it tomorrow. Can you tuck me in?”

Bella hesitated. It was rare he was around Zoe at bedtime, so she’d never had the opportunity to ask him before.

Gabe looked at her. His expression was patient, waiting for her decision, but it was the gleam of longing in his eyes that she couldn’t deny.

“Of course. But no reading tonight. Straight to bed.” She kissed her daughter and watched the pair head up together.

The moment they disappeared, she turned away. An emptiness yawned inside—vast and deep—and lately, she didn’t know how to deal with it. Having Gabe in her house, with her daughter, only reminded her of all the things she’d once had with Matt and ached to experience again. It had been so long since she’d had male companionship, someone she could trust and love and laugh with. Would it always remain like this? Was