Taking the Heat (Jackson: Girls' Night Out 3)

“Bullshit. You took a risk and went after something you wanted. Not many people actually do that, you know. It didn’t work out, but at least you tried.”

“Yeah,” she breathed. He watched her paste on a smile before she met his eyes. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell myself. I just have to figure out what to do now.”

“What do you want to do?”

Her fake smile softened into something more genuine. “Long term? I’m not sure. But I have definite goals for tonight. Want to get out of here?”

“Oh, hell, yes,” he said. He threw some cash on the table and leaned close to Naomi. “You good here? I’m thinking of taking off with Veronica.”

“Oh, yeah? Hang a tie on the door until you’re done.”

“I’m staying at her place. You can have the bed. You and Monique, I mean, not one of these horny bastards.”

“Party pooper.”

He stood and said his goodbyes as he took Veronica’s hand.

“Have fun, you two!” Naomi called.

Veronica’s face blazed, but she waved good-naturedly as they left. Once they were out the door, Gabe stopped her for a quick kiss. “You look pretty,” he said, sweeping his eyes down her skinny jeans to her heels, “but I miss your legs.”

“I was not wearing a short skirt around women with four-foot-long legs, thank you.”

“Fine. Save your shameless nudity for me.”

She tossed him a coy smile and began walking away. “Deal.”

He let her stay a few steps ahead of him for a minute, admiring the sight of her ass in those jeans. Sure, he missed her bare thighs, but this was a nice treat, too. She glanced back at him with another coy smile.

“I’ve been thinking,” he said, “that you rescue a lot more people than I do even though I’m on a search-and-rescue team.”

“I don’t rescue people. Not most of them, anyway.”

“Sure you do,” he insisted. “It’s not just the life-changing stuff. It’s smaller things, too. Just helping Benton out with his nephew. That’s important.”

She ducked her head. “I don’t know. I was thinking of going back for a master’s in psychology. I think maybe I could be a therapist, but I’m not sure I’ve been successful enough to guide other people.”

“I don’t believe that’s a requirement.”

She laughed. “I guess it’s not.”

“You’re good at listening. Good at seeing what people are saying.”

“I guess.” She shrugged off the compliment. “I had fun tonight,” she said. “And today was pretty nice, too. You’re very sexy climbing up those rocks, you know.”

“Am I?”

“Yes.” She sneaked her hand around his arm and squeezed his biceps. “You’re very strong. I like your arms. And your hands.” Her fingers slid down the inside of his arm and over his palm, leaving his skin tingling with pleasure. “I like seeing what makes your fingers so rough. It makes me think of how your fingertips feel against my nipples.”

“Jesus,” he breathed.

“What? I had my bath and I finally got my drinks.”

“I wanted to give you a bath,” he growled.

“Then I guess you shouldn’t have ditched me for a couple of hot girls.”

“You’re cruel. You know I had no choice.”