Page 47 of Loving Wild

Of course they’ll be women at the meetings. It’d be ridiculous to assume just because he works in construction, they’d be no women involved.

“One of my meetings is with Karen McAlister,” he says quietly. “Not just her, our project manager, Zac, Cooper, a few others.”

My heart free falls into my belly and does a couple of backflips before splattering at the bottom of it somewhere.

I sip my coffee, but it does nothing to relieve my dry mouth and just adds to the nausea in my stomach.

“I’m meeting her up at the property tomorrow,” I tell him for something to say. He already knows this because I’d had to ask him to lend me his car.

“Yeah, I was thinking I’ll just come home early tomorrow and come with you, that way I can bring the drawings and walk you through them.” I nod, let out a little huff and add, “Sounds good,” when actually it sounds anything but good. He’s going to see her today, then again tomorrow. A woman he had an affair with, a woman he’s fucked. Nothing about that is good.

“I don’t want you alone with her,” I blurt. “Not even for a minute,” I add, ya know, just to make sure he’s left under absolutely no illusion what an insecure, petty little bitch I am.

“Ren?” He says my name wearing a frown as he moves towards me.

“I made you a coffee, mind you don’t get it on your shirt,” I turn away from him and mumble.

“Hey.” His hands go to my waist, and he turns me back to face him. I know I’m behaving like a child, but I stare at his chest instead of looking up at him until he takes my jaw between his thumb and index finger, raising it until my eyes meet his.

“Woman, you have absolutely nothing to worry about.” Leaning in, he kisses me gently on the mouth. His hand slides down my chest until it finds my nipple, which he brushes with his thumb.

“I loveyou.” He kisses me again as his hand moves lower. This time he lifts my T, finds the edge of my pyjamas, and slides his hand inside, down my belly, lower. He keeps going until his fingers rub against that sweet spot between my legs. Leaning in, he presses his mouth against my ear.

“I wantyou,” he says, dragging his teeth along my jaw. “Like, really, really, want you, Ren.”

Lifting my leg so my knee is raised to his hip and I’m wide open for him, he pushes two fingers inside me. I’m wet, the evidence of that sounds loudly in the kitchen.

At the same time, a noise from downstairs reminds us of Ava’s presence. Gabe steps back, holding his fingers up between us before sliding them in his mouth. Removing them, he licks his lips.

“I’m not gonna wash this hand all day, every chance I get, I’m gonna put these under my nose and without anyone else knowing, I’m gonna sniff them. I’m gonna smell me and you, and I’m gonna get hard.” He kisses the tips of his fingers before burying his hands in the pockets of his suit trousers.

Screwing up my nose, I shake my head. “You need help,” I tell him.

“Oh, Little Bird. It’s too late to help me. I’m a lost fucking cause. Have been since the moment I laid eyes on you.” He winks, turns, then walks away. Leaving me standing there, a confident, insecure, outgoing, introverted, extroverted, neurotic, horny mess.

Chapter 12

Gabe.

Karen McAlister strutsinto our meeting room fifteen minutes late. She’s carrying a cream-coloured coat over one arm, a large black leather bag in the crook of the other. Hips swaying, a smile on her face, she moves towards the table we’re all sitting around as we discuss the drawings for the renovations and extension on her Red Hill property.

“Good morning, all. So sorry I’m late, traffic was an absolute nightmare.”

Her eyes move between each of us, settling a little too long on me. She’s still an attractive woman, I won’t lie and deny that, but she does nothing for me. I feel nothing. No connection to what we had in the past, not even regret. As far as I’m concerned, she’s just another client, and I really hope she feels the same way. Our construction company can give or take the work, but she’s high-profile, so obviously we’d prefer to take it. But, if us working together is going to be an issue, I’d rather walk away and let someone else project manage. The only reason I want to be involved is because Lauren is. I like the idea of us having a shared interest in this project, and I’m worried if I step aside, it might risk Lauren’s involvement, and I know how excited she is about it.

Dani takes Karen’s coat and offers her a coffee, as Dave Mackenzie, one of our site managers who’ll be running this job for us, nudges my foot with his. When I look at him, he raises his brows a couple of times and gives a chin lift towards Karen’s general direction.

“Nice arse,” he says not so quietly.

I narrow my eyes and shake my head.

“Sorry?” Karen says. “I didn’t quite catch that, Gabe.”

“Not me,” I tell her with a headshake, “Dave here was just admiring your bag.”

Dave’s foot kicks mine under the table as he clears his throat.

“Aye, my daughter has one just like it is what I said,” Dave says in his broad Scottish accent.