Best Man Under the Mistletoe

Fighting her needs.

* * *

Gabe’s doorman had let Chelsea up nearly fifteen minutes ago. He stood at the floor-to-ceiling window, watching as the sun cast a bright orange glow across the horizon as he waited for her. People were starting to really fill the street. Couples were strolling hand-in-hand, heading into restaurants for dinner dates. The little town came alive at night—especially on a Friday.

He watched as people posed in front of the giant Christmas tree in the town square just a block away. The tree stood tall and proud, decorated with what seemed like a million clear lights. There would be an annual candlelight and caroling evening in less than two weeks. He loved this town, loved the traditions it upheld.

Before the doorman had called to announce Chelsea’s surprise visit, Gabe had actually been getting ready to head out and grab a drink at the TCC to see who was spending their evening

there. Though there likely weren’t many people hanging out in the club’s bar tonight. These days, nearly everyone was either married, engaged, caring for or expecting a baby.

So much had happened over the past year, both good and bad. Weddings, babies—all of that had brought families together. But the Maverick scandal still left a dark cloud over the club and the town.

Just this afternoon, he’d been in contact with the sheriff to see if there were any updates regarding Dusty’s accomplice in planting the camera in the locker room. There had to have been someone and Gabe wanted to know who it was. Until that person was brought to justice, this nightmare wouldn’t fully be over.

At least he had been cleared of any involvement early on in the investigation. And even more importantly, Chelsea had started trusting him more and more.

Something had changed Chelsea’s mind about him, otherwise she wouldn’t have come of her own accord to his loft.

Which made him wonder why she hadn’t knocked on his door yet. Gabe had given the doorman a small list of guests who didn’t need an okay from him before they were automatically rung up. Chelsea had been at the top of the list for over a month now. But the doorman had called Gabe fifteen minutes ago to tell him she was on her way up.

Yet his unexpected guest hadn’t made her presence known to him. She was most likely hesitating out in the hallway, wondering why she’d come. He knew exactly why she’d come.

Gabe shoved his hands in his pockets and smiled. He’d put the proverbial ball in her court and it had been excruciating waiting on her to come to the conclusion that they needed to get this out of their system. Those two make-out sessions hadn’t even come close to alleviating his ache.

Turning from the window, Gabe crossed his loft and went to the door. If she’d come this far, the least he could do was give her a hand and help her the rest of the way.

Gabe opened the door wide and spotted Chelsea leaning against the wall directly across from him. Clearly startled, she jerked and clutched her purse in front of her...as if trying to use something to shield her from the big bad wolf. Didn’t she know? There was nothing he couldn’t knock down to get what he wanted.

“How long were you going to wait before you knocked?” he asked.

Squaring her shoulders and tipping her chin, she cleared her throat. “I wasn’t sure I was going to knock. I was thinking of leaving.”

“No, you weren’t.”

Chelsea blinked, opened her mouth then closed it and continued to stare.

“Are we going to do this in the hallway or are you coming in?”

“Do what?” she asked.

“Whatever brought you here.” He stepped back and gestured her in. “Don’t look so worried, Chels. I only bite when I’m asked to.”

Her eyes widened for a fraction of a second before she blinked and stepped forward, turning sideways to pass without actually touching him. Gabe bit back a grin as he closed the door, securing it with a click of the lock. He had the entire top floor to himself, and knew they wouldn’t be bothered, but he still wanted that extra layer of privacy between the outside world and his Chelsea.

No. She wasn’t his. Gabe needed to stop thinking along those lines. He wanted her. That was all. Once, not so long ago, he’d let emotions over a woman cloud his judgment and it had resulted in his partner being killed. He’d let his need override his job, thinking he could handle an attraction to a woman and still think clearly out in the field. He’d been wrong and his partner had paid the ultimate price.

He couldn’t forget the promise he’d made to himself after that to stay focused on work. Any extracurricular activities had to remain strictly physical, which was more than fine with him. Especially where a certain computer hacker and CTO was concerned.

After the hell that she’d been through, she deserved respect. She may keep that steely front in place, but he knew there was an underlying vulnerability after the leak of those photos.

Gabe appreciated Chelsea enough to place the control in her hands. And now she’d risen above her vulnerability and had come to him.

Damn, she smelled amazing. That familiar jasmine scent he’d come to associate with her surrounded him. Gabe crossed his arms and watched as she did a slow circle, taking in his space.

He’d imagined her in his bed many times, but never had he imagined her in his living room for a casual visit. That would have been too personal.

“You’re sneaky,” she muttered. “I mean vans and trucks, Gabe.”