True Blue by Amy Knupp

Author:Amy Knupp [Knupp, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lake House Books

Chapter Fourteen

Lexie pushed herself up to a sitting position from her slump as she stared into Gabe’s intense crystal-blue eyes and tried to process his words.

“I know the timing is wrong,” he said in a rush. “You’re still getting over your breakup and coming to terms with not getting married, and I get that. I don’t expect anything from you.”

“What… Whoa.” She still struggled to catch up. “You…”

Gabe let go of her hand, ran his through his hair, and re-situated himself a couple more inches away from her. “I just needed to tell you,” he said, his gaze averted. “To be honest with you, because we’ve always been honest with each other. Except for this. I’ve hidden it because I don’t want to ever screw up our friendship.” His gaze popped back up to hers. “Have I screwed up our friendship?”

Lexie expelled a sort of half laugh, half nervous exhale. “You’ve got to slow down. I’m still trying to understand. You… You’re attracted to me? Like, sexually?”

He blew out a breath. “Sexually, romantically, more than friendly.” With a shake of his head, he took her hand again, palm to palm between them, their fingers entwined, and continued, “I’m not asking for anything from you right now, but I needed you to know. I needed to tell you before you decided to find some new guy. I didn’t want to miss the opportunity yet again.”

Yet again? “How long have you felt this way?”

“A long time. Years.”

“You never let on. Ever.” She frowned, thinking back for any sign. Had she been missing signs for…years?

“It wasn’t always easy, but I didn’t want to lose you, Lex. I still don’t want to lose you. I meant what I said about the timing being bad.” He let out a self-deprecating laugh. “The timing is terrible. All I’m trying to say is, once you’re ready to get involved with someone again, whenever you’re done working through Raleigh and the breakup and all that, just know that I’m throwing my name into the hat. Because too many times, I didn’t, and every damn time, I regretted it like hell.”

He kept going, talking, giving her outs, pleading his case, but Lexie barely heard any of it. She was stuck back a couple of miles ago, letting it sink in that Gabe was attracted to her. Sexy, beautiful, golden-boy Gabe. She studied the hand that was locked with hers, his fingers long, thick, so very strong and capable. It dwarfed her hand and his touch warmed her clear through to her heart.

Her gaze moved to his face, his scruffy jaw, his symmetrical nose, his lips, still talking, the lower lip slightly thicker than the upper one. Then fell into the depths of his light blue eyes that were filled with so much earnestness and emotion—and insecurity.

That’s what finally cut through to her, drove her to action. Big, gorgeous, confident Gabriel North was baring himself to her, letting her see his vulnerability, his fear, his self-doubt, and God, this man had nothing to doubt.

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