We clung to each other afterward, sweaty and spent. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed my shoulder, his lips tenderly grazing me.
“I have to go,” I whispered against him.
“Not just yet, babe.”
He picked me up and carried me to the bed, and he managed to make me forget about everything else for ten more wonderful minutes.
I must have fallen asleep. I woke up and heard Gabe getting out of the shower, quickly drying his hair and brushing his teeth.
Then I heard the doorbell ring.
“I got it,” he said, coming out of the bathroom and pulling a clean T-shirt over his head.
“Are you expecting someone?” I got up and quickly scrambled into a T-shirt of my own and some sweats.
He didn’t look at me. “Yep.”
Later, it would be the not-looking-at-me part that I remembered.
I followed him out to the front of the house, not caring that I smelled like sex or that my hair was a mess. He opened the door.
A police officer and a man with close-cropped hair, wearing a suit, were waiting outside. “Gabriel Betts?” the officer asked.
“That’s me.”
“Sir, I’m Detective Conant with the San Jose Police Department. This is Agent Marks from the FBI. You are under arrest for federal and state charges, including but not limited to wiretapping, internet fraud, and unauthorized computer use and access. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say may be used against you. You have a right to have a lawyer present while you are questioned. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you. Is that clear?”
“Yes. I’m coming with you willingly. I just have to get my wallet. You’re welcome to come with me.” Gabe and the detective walked past me. Gabe, still avoiding eye contact, grabbed his wallet and phone.
“Gabe, what the hell—”
He stopped me with a quick kiss. Then, he tucked a stray hair behind my ear and leaned over me, his eyes delving into mine. “I told you I wasn’t going to let you go to jail, babe,” he said lowly.
“Gabe, please.” I followed him as he walked out with the detective, who put him in handcuffs and led him outside. Agent Marks watched us both with interest.
Gabe’s security team was standing by in the driveway, as was Timmy and my driver. Gabe nodded at them as he was taken to the cruiser. “Take care of her while I’m gone. Don’t let her do anything crazy,” he commanded. They nodded back at him and respectfully didn’t turn their eyes my way.
I stood in his doorway, bereft.
Agent Marks got into the passenger seat, and the detective opened the back door of the cruiser. Just as he was about to get in, Gabe stopped and turned back to me. “Lauren,” he called. “Don’t do anything dangerous while I’m gone. There will be ramifications. And withholdings.”
The dark tone of his voice suggested all sorts of delicious, inappropriate things. Desire twisted in my belly even as my face flamed and tears pricked my eyes. Lust, embarrassment, and despondency flowed through me. I didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, or throw myself in the back of the cruiser with him.
“Gabe.” My voice shook. This was happening too fast for me to process.
Gabe looked at me expectantly while Detective Conant looked annoyed. “If you’ve got something to say, ma’am, say it now,” the detective said, clearly losing patience with us.
I didn’t want Detective Conant, Agent Marks, and our security team to hear me, but it was now or never.
“I love you,” I called.
Gabe flashed that dimple. “I warned you that you’d get attached. I told you, my instincts usually are correct.” He slid into the back of the cruiser, and right before the detective closed the door, he stuck his head back out. “By the way, babe—I love you too.”
Shaking his head, Detective Conant closed the door and hopped into the driver’s seat. Then, he drove the man I loved away from me, for crimes that I had committed.
Chapter 18
“I already told you—Clive Warren hacked into my system before I ever went near his company.” My patience was starting to wear thin. The fluorescent lighting in the room was giving me a headache, as was the endless circle of questions.