Page 24 of Skin Game
“Sounds good. And how do you know Alfred is not possessed? An expert on haunted chairs all of a sudden, are you? How did I not know that about you?”
This time, Casey did shake his head, and he added an eye roll for good measure. His eyes had been getting a workout since Gabriel crashed into his life. “If it turns out to be haunted, I’m sure you’ll find a way to exorcise it. Threaten to chop it into firewood or something. Do you want me to go into Westfort with you tomorrow?”
“Don’t you have a job? Like, you know, actual work? Greta’s been pretty patient with you the past few days.”
“I suppose she has. I just worry you’ll get into some kind of trouble if I’m not there.”
Gabe grinned. “I bet I could get into trouble with you along as well.” He waggled his eyebrows. “Have you ever made out in the stacks?”
“Made out in the stacks? How old are you, really? Who says made out anymore?”
“So, you haven’t. Maybe you should convince Greta to let you tag along so we can remedy that.”
“I think not.”
“Killjoy.” Gabe began to pick up the things that Heidi had stored away and return them to the boxes. “I don’t know what to do with all this shit. Like any emotionally aware male person, I plan on finding a place to store it that’s out of sight, so I don’t have to think about any of it. I mean, who even has a tape player these days?” he grumbled, then brightened. “I know, I’ll stop by Seaside Records. I bet Ed has one he’d let me borrow for a little while.”
Gabriel never failed to boggle Casey’s mind. He had lived most of his life on Heartstone and worked in the region since returning after graduating from college. Yet it was Gabe who was on a first-name basis with just about everyone he came in contact with. Ed—record store guy, Colton—secondhand store, Mercy and Barry—the general store, Otto—Otto’s Erotica, Greg—the kite-shop guy. The area’s teens seemed to have taken to him too. It was weird. Even his brother liked Gabe.
A half grin curved Gabe’s lips. He stepped into Casey’s space and lifted his hands to cup his face, then stared into his eyes for a long moment, making him feel a bit vulnerable, exposed. Still, Casey returned the gaze, distracted, trying for the hundredth time to figure out exactly what color Gabe’s eyes really were. They seemed to alternate between hazel, green, blue, and sometimes grayish. Changeable, just like the man himself.
“What?” Casey finally asked. What he really wanted now was for Gabe to kiss him already. Maybe then he’d forget to worryabout all the people in his life who seemed determined to rush headlong into the unknown.
“What, what?” Gabe responded, his eyes glinting with humor.
“What. What, what?” Casey growled back.
Now Gabe was grinning. “You know what.”
Another three seconds of eternity passed before Gabefinallyleaned in to capture Casey’s lips with his own.
When Gabe broke off the kiss, Casey wasn’t prepared for it to end, and he felt slightly off-kilter, like he’d forgotten to breathe. Maybe he had.
Who needed oxygen when they had Gabriel Karne?
“Go on, get out of here,” Gabe said. “I can tell you want to be alone for a while. If you change your mind, come back or give me a call, and I’ll come right over.” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively. “If not, I’ll text you in the morning, but after I’ve checked out the library. Stop worrying about Mickie and Pedro.”
How had Gabe known that he’d started thinking about Mickie again? After managing not to think about him all day, Mickie had popped up in his brain.
“Checked out the library?” Casey repeated, not responding to the comment about his brother. “Very funny.”
Casey pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and checked the screen, just in case. But there was nothing from Mickie. No calls, no texts. He shoved it away again.
“I’m a funny guy,” Gabe quipped. “Now, get going and leave your brother to his own devices. Trust that Mickie will reach out when he’s ready. Look at me, giving out advice. The world must be coming to an end.”
In spite of his unreasonably grumpy feelings, Casey planted another kiss on Gabe’s lips and then, as instructed, left to attend to his own overthinking. Mostly around wondering what his brother and Pedro, the nice veterinarian, were up to.
He was going to probably regret not staying at Gabe’s place.Life was too short for regrets, especially not those within his control.
“I’ll be back later.”
“Promise?” Gabe teased.
“Promise.”
ELEVEN
CASEY – TUESDAY EVENING