Marquita Valentine - Not Over You

Gabriel Edwards leaned back in his chair, outwardly smiling at his date, but on the insidesomething was off with him, with them as a couple.

The server came by their table to refresh their water and pour more wine into their mostly empty glasses. The two things that everyone in Holland Springs could always count on at Jacks Fine Italian were great service and food.

Elise Dumas raised her glass, studying him over the rim. Her green eyes sparkled, and her red hair glowed under the lights. Everything okay? she asked.

Fine. Standard southern answer to a question. But he wasnt fine, and he hated lying about it. Just a little tired. At least that much was true. He was exhausted, having spent most the night before working on repairing a software glitch for the Special Victims Unit in Wilmington.

I think youre more than a little tired, she said gently, and he had to look away before she could glimpse the truth. The longer he and Elise dated, the more this off feeling had grown, until it felt as though his entire body was suffused with it.

He couldnt understand it, really. Hed been the one to ask her out, hed been the one to pursue her, enjoy the flirting and stolen kissesthe daily texts to make plans for lunch or have coffee, just because. Not just that, Gabriel wanted to settle down. He wanted a wife, a dog, and, eventually, childrenGod willing.

But he did not want those things with Elise Dumas.

Gabriel blinked, the errant thought completely taking him by surprise, because there was absolutely nothing wrong with Elise. She didnt deserve this sudden internal waffling. She deserved all of his attention, and not the sporadic amounts hed given her lately.

Turning to her, he placed his hand on hers. It was warm and small beneath his palm. His heart raced a little. A slow smile flickered on her face, and she licked her bottom lip.

Im not that tired, he said softly. How about drinksat my place?

That smile of hers curved up even more. I thought youd never ask. Usually, he wouldnt have.

Gabriel didnt exactly broadcast it to the world, but he had planned on waiting for his wedding night to have sex for the first time. Perhaps this off feeling was a result of that, of old-fashioned thinking. Growing up as the adopted son of a preacher had made him tentative in his relationships. Or maybe it was because he was still a virgin by choice.

With a wink, he said, I think a gentleman shouldnt keep a lady waiting for so long. Then he motioned for the server to bring him the check.

Elises brows rose, but she said nothing until after the bill had been paid and Gabriel was lacing his fingers in hers. Three months isnt that long, Gabe.

Try twenty-nine years, honey. He opened the door and inclined his head, letting go of her hand so she could go through first. She walked ahead of him, and he stood back to admire the sway of her hips, the way her slim skirt fit her curvy frame, and how her hair bounced on her shoulders with the movement.

A quick glance over her shoulder made him blush. He really shouldnt be ogling Elise in the parking lot. Sorry, he said. Exhaling, he strode after her.

Stopping by the passenger side of his truck, Elise stood, hands clasped in front of her as she waited for him. You didnt have to apologize.

He inclined his head to one side and opened the door, helping her inside. Pretty sure I did.

Nah, I liked it. She leaned into him, placing her hands on either shoulder. Its nice to feel wanted.

Just nice?

More than nice. Her lashes fluttered, and he knew in that moment she would kiss him. Hed welcome that kiss, that reminder of all the reasons why he found her attractive.

But just as his own eyes grew heavy-lidded, a flash of blond hair framing a familiar face caught his attention. He jerked back. Elise almost tumbled out of the truck.

Whats wrong? she gasped

I thought I saw He swallowed, unable to lie to her, yet unable to voice what his mind had registered. She couldnt be back in town. Not now. Not when Im so close to being over you. Something and it startled me. There. At least that was the truth.

If PDA makes you uncomfortable, Gabe, I wont try to kiss you again, she said. There wasnt a trace of bitterness or sarcasm in her tone, but instead of making him feel better, he felt like a freak.

Scared to kiss her, angel? Or are you thinking of another? A voice whispered in his head, soft, seductive, and completely deadly to his determination to scrub her from his thoughts.

The scent of sea breezes and cut grass washed over him, reminding him of Summer. He inwardly grimaced. Not Summer, but summerthe season.

Im over you. Doesnt make me uncomfortable, he said, cupping the side of Elises face. Now, where were we?

Then he kissed her, long and hard, until she melted into him. He kissed her while thinking of all the things he liked about her, of all the things he knew about her, and of all the things that made her special to him.

But who had to think this much during a kiss? Shouldnt a kiss be so overwhelming and consuming that the only thought you can hold onto is how to breathe?

Reluctantly, he pulled away.

Elises cheeks were rosy. Wow, she breathed. The measure of satisfaction he should feel never came. What was wrong with him?

With a heavy heart, he backed up. Drinks are waiting.

If drinks at your place are anything like this, I dont think Ill be able to finish in one sitting.

Gabriel had to smile over that. Her compliment flattered his ego, and then some. Then lets go.

After climbing in his truck, he cranked up the engine and pulled out of the parking lot, heading north on Broad Street. Elise tuned the radio to a country station that had them both humming along. She grabbed his hand, and he felt better. In fact, that off feeling was completely gone.

Here comes trouble, he sang, but then that familiar face caught his eye and his stomach contracted, like hed been suckered punched.

Summer Holland, the woman whod sworn never to come back to Holland Springs ever again, was walking down Broad Street. She looked the same to himbeautiful, strong, and unattainable. Though that wasnt always true. Once shed been vulnerable and always willing to throw herself into his arms.

But then hed let her down. All over a lie, that turned into a rumor, which spread like wildfire and hed done nothing to stomp it out, until it was too late, because the smallest part of him had believed it could be true. That, in truth, the apple didnt fall far from the tree.

Hed been the worst sort of snob, the worst sort of hypocrite, to believe some guys lie. It didnt matter that he had apologized. Summer had never forgiven him, and would always make him pay. Until he thought theyd finally broken through all that. Until he thought theyd finally be together. He had wanted to be the father of the child that wasnt his. He had wanted to be Summers husband, her lover, and best friend. He thought she had wanted the same.

Then shed shoved him away again. For no reason at all.

He almost slammed on the brakes, but somehow, he kept going, staring at her retreating form in the rearview mirror.

It was a damn good thing traffic was light.

Her hips swayed in barely there cutoffs, tan legs as long as anything. The blood is his veins thrummed. Involuntarily, his grip on Elises hand tightened.

Elise. Elise. The woman who sat so innocently beside him, singing and enjoying his company, while he salivated over another womans legs and hips. She deserved better than this, better than him, with his messed-up, tightly twisted history of dropping everything to help the girl who used to own his heart.