Threads Of Desire (Creative Hearts Book 3) by K.M. Jackson Read Free Book Online Page A

yada, yada, yada. And now Nicholas Ross was in her living room and he had her crossing her legs and risking a UTI instead of facing him while she looked less than her best. She let out a low hiss and flipped back her covers.
    “Screw this.” But when her feet hit the old rug covering the worn wooden floor, Gabby paused at the enormity of the day coming over her. Steve was leaving. What if he decided to stay out there? Who knew what this job would lead to, how it would change their lives. She suddenly wanted to tuck herself back under the covers. This little home she’d made with Steve felt more like home than any she’d ever had, even with her own mother.
    She shook her head. This was ridiculous. It was finally happening for her friend and she was glad. But his leaving was a huge reminder that she was no longer the young design hopeful who had moved in with him those years ago, the two of them ready to take on the world. Somehow she’d gotten stuck. Stuck in her career, stuck in her love life. And now Steve was moving on to a new life and she was standing still. A placeholder. The caretaker. Perfect to water the plants and make sure the pipes didn’t burst while he left for la la land.
    Gabby got up, stretching. Enough. If Steve could move forward, then so could she. By the time he came back, who knew where she’d be? Maybe she’d have made a stride or two on the career front. But then she remembered her dinner disaster with Dono. So much for him supporting her ideas to update Zenia to his dad. If she could just get Mr. Cabberera to inch forward a bit into the twenty-first century, she knew she could turn the dated fashion house around. She’d been lobbying since she was hired for trading the polyester and the sequins for more eco-friendly fibers and to expand past the skinnies to include the fuller-figured women. She knew she had it in her to design for all women. She’d been making clothes for herself since she was a kid and was given a second-hand machine and her first sewing lessons from Steve and Nick’s mom.
    The thought made her stop and smile and sadly brought a lump to her throat. She loved her own mother dearly and always would, but theirs was a difficult relationship at best. Her mother, young, beautiful, and single, had always felt she was saddled with a kid way too young. There wasn’t any time for the PTA, when it was ladies’ night somewhere. At times she missed Mrs. Ross almost as much as she knew Steve and Nick did.
    She pushed her hair back and reached for a pair of Lycra shorts. Steve leaving was obviously getting to her. But losing herself to morose feelings about the past would get her nowhere. She headed toward the door. Might as well send her friend off in style with a nice breakfast—besides, after last night, she was sure a little grease would do his body good.
    But first she made a beeline for the bathroom. Necessities were necessities. Glancing quickly toward the couch, she noticed it was done up—the pillows perfect, the sheets folded neatly and set to the side. And no sign of Nick. She did a quick peek in the bathroom, checking behind the curtain before she closed and locked the door behind herself. No need to tempt fate.
    But when she came out, she was hit by the smell of freshly brewed coffee and the sight of Nick in basketball shorts and a tank top at the kitchen counter. Not a bad morning view. He was a looker from any angle; she’d give him that. Long legged and broad shouldered, firm backside and trim waist. She let out a sigh and shook her head at the déjà vu feeling of it all just as he turned around.
    “So, once again, you’re looking at my ass.”
    Gabby twisted her lips. “Very funny. How about you just work on not being an ass and we’ll get along fine.”
    He looked at her long and hard for a moment and then gave a nod. “You’re right. I have been an ass. And I’m sorry for it. You deserve better—you always did.”
    Nick was staring at her, his dark eyes