steps and stopped in front of her . “But I was just on my way to get some coffee.”
She stared at him for a minute , then shrugged. “I have some in my room if you want it.”
Gabe forced a smile, feeling his stomach drop to the floor . He was still a little raw, but how could he pass up a peace offering? His palms itched as he remembered the feel of her shapely legs as he’d carried her over his shoulder. Again, he tucked his hands in his pockets. “Beats hiking half a mile to the gas station , I suppose .”
She didn’t return the smile but walked past him back into the hotel. He followed her in silence and waited while she unlocked her door. When he stepped in, she waited at the door. He turned to look at her and was amazed at what he saw.
Tory stood , holding on to the door and she had her bottom lip caught between her teeth. Not only was it the first nervous gesture he had seen from her , but she was almost smiling.
“It’s on the counter.” She pointed to the small kitchen area of the suite. “I just brewed it before Vance called so it’s fresh.”
Intrigued, he realized he wasn’t quite ready to go back to his lonely room yet. “Mind if I have it in here or are you turning in?”
She hesitated, which also spoke of nerves. Fascinating. “You can have it in here.” She clicked the door shut behind her.
She poured two cups and passed one to him. Gabe took a seat in one of the chairs at the table and Tory settled on the edge of her bed.
“Why were you brewing coffee at one in the morning?” he asked her on c e she was settled.
“Why were you walking half a mile to go buy some?” Her tone was as dry as the Sahara, but amusement twinkled in her eyes.
“ Touche ,” he saluted her with his mug. “ So I take it you are Vance are—”
“Over,” she clarified. “He was fine with it when we talked earlier , then he just called me out of the blue to bitch. And I ended it again . I’m actually fine wit h it. I didn’t think I would be, b ut I am.”
“He’s an asshole.”
She smirked at that. “Anyone in his profession is. I just wish we could have gotten along better . We had a great run, I suppose.”
“What profession is he in?”
Tory stole a glance at him under her lashes. “Modeling.”
She smiled when he choked back a laugh.
“You don’t sleep either?” Tory asked him as she sipped her coffee.
“Not like I should,” h e said composed , but he couldn’ t wipe the grin off his face. He pictured Vance posing for a picture with the black eye and fat lip Adam had given him.
“Why not?”
Gabe leaned forward, sobering. He could tell she was uncomfortable carrying on a conversation with him and was touched that she would do it anyway. She might be a wildcat, but she also had a compassionate nature. It touched him that she was trying to prevent him from spending more time alone. “Don’t really know. That’s how it’s always been for me. Why don’t you sleep well?”
She shrugged and focused her gaze in her cup , changing the subject smoothly . “Storms moving in pretty quick. We’re going to set up tomorrow morning and get some readings. You’ll probably get some good pictures with this one .”
“That’s good.”
“Adam is really excited you’re here. I don’t know if you know , but he’s really into photography. Maybe you could give him a few pointers. He really looks up to you.”
“He’s into photography?” Gabe asked both amused and moved by her simple request made on her brother’s behalf. Compassionate, he thought again. There was a whole different side to Tory he didn’t mind learning about.
“Yeah.” She shrugged. “He’s pretty good at it.”
“I’ll have to see some of his work.”
“That’s really nice of you.”
He debated with himself on how to handle this situation. For one, Tory was beginning to see him as a person. And two, he was growing more and more attracted to her by the second. There was chemistry. She couldn’t
Learning to Kill: Stories