Temptation on Ocean Drive - Jennifer Probst Page 0,91
be a good father and husband?
He pushed away the panic and reminded himself she just needed time. Time to be with him and allow her trust to blossom.
When she came back in, he’d just closed the dishwasher. She slipped her arms around his waist and leaned against him with a sigh. “Do you know that for women, real porn is a man who cleans up?”
He chuckled, savoring her light floral scent and the lithe length of her body. “Hmm, so you’re saying if I meet you naked with an apron around me, it’ll turn you on?”
“I’d devour you,” she whispered, pulling his head down for a long kiss. “Are you staying?”
He paused. His brain told him it’d be better to go home tonight. Sit with his feelings and rebuild his defenses. Maybe she’d miss him.
But his big head wasn’t going anywhere.
“Yes, if you want me to.”
“I do.” She cupped his cheeks and met his gaze head-on. “And I want you stay tomorrow for breakfast. To be here when Zoe wakes up.”
He pressed his forehead to hers, accepting the offer. It was another tiny step toward him, and he’d savor each one. “I’d like that. But right now, all I can think about is porn.”
She laughed softly, her hands dropping to his ass, squeezing tight. “What do you have in mind?”
“Me. You. And some seriously dirty . . .”
“Dishes? Laundry?”
He nipped at her bottom lip. “Exercise. I’ll need to bathe you afterward. I’ve been dreaming of getting you in the tub with nothing but a bunch of bubbles between us.”
She shuddered and he took full advantage, backing her up step by step into the bedroom. “Dirty exercise is good. We’ll work off the ice cream.”
“And next time I’ll bring over my iron and G-string. Get you real hot and bothered.”
She smiled up at him with joy. “I’m crazy about you, Gabe. I haven’t been this happy in a long time.”
“Me, either. Now get into that bedroom and make my fantasies come true.”
He shut the door behind them, satisfied she’d given him as much as she could for now.
Chapter Nineteen
Gabe scrolled through his exploding in-box. Since the Bridal Style article had hit, Sunshine had been inundated with new clients. Unfortunately, a bunch of them were just curious to meet him, and some of his initial consultations had turned into awkward come-ons and brides bringing their best friends to meet the hot wedding planner.
Frustration simmered at a low burn. Usually, he took this crap in stride, but lately the small-town vibe that had charmed him the past few years seemed like a noose around his neck. Hopefully, things would settle back down, and he could do what he did best without being judged on his damn looks.
He stopped at the urgent flagged message from Endless Vows Bridal Agency. It was one of the NYC-based agencies Adele had fired for being too big-time, but their reputation was stellar. Celebrities used them, and they were known in the industry as being the Holy Grail.
Curious, he skimmed the email, then started again at the beginning.
They wanted him to interview.
Surprise spiked through him. The agency had a strict policy of not hiring anyone without a minimum of five years’ experience in big-budget weddings. Would he even qualify?
He glanced at his watch. He had half an hour before he needed to head out. He’d never been interested in being another number in a big company full of egos—that had driven him to Cape May for the small-town feel—but he’d be crazy not to call and see what they really wanted. On impulse, he quickly dialed the number, asked for Melody, then introduced himself.
“Gabe, we’re thrilled you called back,” she said with genuine enthusiasm. “You did Adele Butterstein’s wedding, and we were stunned by the turnout.”
“Thank you,” he said politely. “Weren’t you originally booked as her planner?”
Her laugh held a touch of self-derision. “Indeed, we were, and we screwed up royally. But our mistake could end up being our best asset. We’d love to invite you in to interview with Palmer Matterson. He thinks you’re a fresh vision in this industry and wants the opportunity to pitch you.”
He stared at the phone. Palmer was the actual owner of Endless Vows, which meant he wasn’t going through a random HR interview. He knew the agency put out constant feelers to recruit, but this seemed different. “What exactly is he interested in?” he asked. “I’ll be honest, I’m happy at Sunshine Bridal and wasn’t looking to relocate at this time.”