Gabe (Blue-Collar Billionaires 3)

f flip-flops that Sasha keeps near the door. When I went home, I just grabbed a pair of sweatpants, clean underwear and a few shirts. I didn’t think about footwear. I really need to keep a gym bag with sneakers and a change of clothes in my car from now on. Not that I'm planning on more sleepovers in the future but just in case.

Just in case she gets sick again? Yeah, right.

I'm shamelessly taking advantage of the situation to spend time with her but even I know it's unlikely that Sasha will ever need my help like this again.

When I got up this morning, I spent a long time just staring at Sasha. I'd intended to get up after she fell asleep last night and go back to the guest room. I've never particularly liked sleeping next to someone. You end up getting too hot and fighting for the blankets. But I fell asleep with her ensconced in the cradle of my arms and woke up feeling warm. In more ways than one. I haven't slept this well in a long time and I can't even begin to examine what that means.

I open the front door, trash bag in hand, and then stop at the sight of a black SUV in the driveway. Sasha seems pretty concerned about her neighbors seeing a man at her place, which seems really old-fashioned to me. But I don't want her getting shit about me being here so I turn around to go back in when the guy calls out my name. He slams the door and walks up the driveway.

"Eli? I didn't recognize you at first."

I've met him a few times at Tank's place before seeing him at the engagement party so it's not like we don't know each other. But with the way he's glaring at me, it's clear he's not thrilled to see me at Sasha's house this early in the morning. Maybe she had a point about not wanting anyone to know I'm here.

"Sasha hasn't been answering her phone. Kay was getting worried."

The first day, Sasha's phone had been ringing constantly. I knew that she'd called her family to let them know she wouldn't be coming by so I'd assumed that she'd called her friends, too.

"She's been sleeping a lot but she's feeling better now. I'm not sure if she's up to visitors though."

"Yet, you're here?" He raises an eyebrow.

Right. I'm not sure how to answer that so I focus on the basket in his hand. "You brought food?"

He looks down and then extends his arm, the dainty basket looking ridiculously small next to him. "Kay was worried about her being alone but I didn't want her to come and risk getting sick. It's just some blueberry muffins and a little container of macaroni and cheese that Kay made for her. It's Sasha's favorite."

"Comfort food. She's going to love this." I take the basket, unsure whether he's going to want to come in. His body language isn't the most welcoming but he hasn't done anything threatening. Yet.

He turns to go then stops and looks over his shoulder. "You're Tank's brother and that counts in your favor but Sasha is a friend. So if you're here for any reason other than the right ones, just be aware that I'm watching you. And I'm not the only one."

He turns and walks back down the drive, leaving me with a basket in my hands and a trash bag at my feet.

I walk back into the house and place the basket on the counter. It’s early and Sasha probably won’t wake up for a few hours. Especially since I kept her up late last night. Shame has my fist tightening around the edge of the counter. Sasha is a good girl, the kind that probably thought doggy style was inventive sex. My dick hardens just thinking about the prior night. I was demanding, barely giving her time to catch her breath between orgasms before I was working my way back inside her. No doubt she’ll be sore today as well.

It would be all well and good if I were the kind of guy who sticks around. The boyfriend type who would run her a bath to soak her sore muscles and spend the day cuddling and reassuring her.

But Eli’s visit just reminds me of the obvious. I’m not the boyfriend type and sticking around as long as I have is only going to make it harder when it’s time to leave. Harder for Sasha. Even though she thinks she can handle a little fun between the sheets, she’s not the type who can share her body and not her heart.

Worse, the more time I spend wrapped up in her world, with her sweet brand of affection, the harder it is for me to do the right thing: leave her alone.

* * * * *

It’s been a long time since I’ve done this. I blow out a breath, eager to get this over with. While I’m waiting, I pull on a pair of thin black gloves. An image of Sasha, warm and cuddly in bed, runs through my mind. She’s probably just waking up now. Soon she’ll find my note.

Soon she’ll hate me.

I shake my head, refusing to allow myself to second guess the first rational thing I’ve done since the day I met her. It’s better she hates me than get hurt by someone aiming for me. What I’m about to do is further proof of how wrong I am for her.

A door slams across the street and I slide down further in my seat. Blade looks both ways up and down the street before he gets into the dark sedan parked at the curb. I don’t move as he pulls out, keeping my head carefully averted as he passes by.

As soon as his car turns the corner, I open my door. After glancing in both directions, I cross the street quickly, keeping my eyes on the building before me. I’m on alert for any signs of movement or life. I’ve seen no indication that anyone but Blade is here but that’s the kind of thing I can’t afford to be wrong about.

As soon as I reach the side door, I pause, struck with a moment of doubt. This feels like so much more than just picking a lock. It’s crossing a line, stepping back into waters I once swore I’d never enter again. But then I don’t really have a choice, do I? Max has brought this fight to my doorstep and the only choice I have is to fight back in the only way I can. With information.

“You weren’t kidding about being out of the game.”

At the sudden voice at my side, I jump back, fists at the ready. “What the hell are you doing, Cole? You just scared the shit out of me.”

“Didn’t take much. I wasn’t even trying to be quiet and I got the drop on you.” Cole is dressed similarly in dark jeans with a black hoodie pulled up over his head. His slightly reddish hair looks darker than usual.