Page 16 of The Valiant Knight (The Ravensmire Chronicles #2)

That sucked, but now, she really needed to know what kind of an idiot would leave this man?

It was clear he was a gentleman and fantastic.

She was curious.

“Can I ask questions, or is it painful?” she inquired, willing to back off.

He glanced over his shoulder.

“It was three years ago. You can ask, and I need you to know that you’re killing me by sitting there staring at my ass,” he said.

She laughed.

“Mr. McKnight, when I was standing over there, I was able to see you in the shower. Methinks you took a peek. Turnabout is fair play,” she admitted, enjoying the Finn show.

It wasn’t often she was brash, but in this case, she was going with what Tony said.

She was going to have some fun.

At her words, he laughed.

“My handcuffs are at the bottom of the lake. I’ll have to go look for them, and then you can take me in for being guilty as charged.”

That amused her.

Without another word, he turned the tables on the woman.

“If I looked and figured that out, then that means you looked too.”

Oh, he’d better believe she did.

Gabby was no saint.

That was for sure.

When he focused on her, she had two dimples in her cheeks, and merriment danced in her eyes.

That answered that question for him, and somehow, he was NOT disappointed.

This woman was opening up for him like a flower that was blossoming. How could any man hurt her? He didn’t get it. She was sweet, funny, and interesting.

AND SEXY.

It was clear that her ex-husband was an idiot, and for more than just one reason.

Gabby stared into his eyes.

“I plead the fifth, Detective Inspector. In my country, that means I am saying nothing, but there’s a damn good chance I know that you lean to the left.”

He looked down.

Well, shit.

He did.

As soon as he realized she had been checking out the family jewels, and his erection, it got harder.

Well, now, he really had a problem.

“Anyway,” she said, loving how his ass looked with water streaming across it.

It was tight, and she was willing to bet he ran.

A.

Lot.

Yeah, she shouldn’t be comfortable with this man, especially since she was only in a robe, and he was buck-ass naked, but she was.

“Why did she steal your cat, plants, and toaster?” Gabby asked.

He was honest.

“I overheard her talking to her mother. She mentioned going back home, and I panicked. I asked her to stay so we could keep working on our relationship. Instead, she got on the plane and never looked back. It blindsided me because we were at two years together, and I meant nothing to her.”

She understood how that felt.

Being blindsided sucked.

Gabby wondered if he’d ever feel like that for her. Yeah, it was crazy to go there, but she wanted to know what this man would be like if he loved her.

Would he protect her?

Would he fight for her?

Would he ever hurt her?

She kept asking questions.

“So, no girlfriend since her?” she asked.

He washed his hair, and rinsed off, turning to the side. Turnabout was fair play. He gave her the same sneak peek that he’d had, and when he looked over, she was staring into his eyes.

Then, she let them glide down his body, and right to his dick. It was when she let her gaze slide back up to meet his that he knew he’d been right.

He was in love.

“None,” he admitted.

“Well, I’m surprised she left,” she said, not leaving anything to the imagination about what she thought about his erection.

Holy shit.

This woman was something.

“Yeah, well, people leave. That’s a reoccurring theme for me. I’ve yet to find someone who can break that streak. It makes me irrationally angry when I invest time, and someone doesn’t care to stick around. I am still looking for my forever person.”

Oh, Jesus.

Her heart skipped.

She knew in that moment that if she kept flirting, he was warning her. There was no mistake what he wanted, and it wasn’t a fling.

He wanted a long-term relationship.

Now, she had to decide if she was in, or out.

Gabby thought about how he selflessly dove into that icy-cold water to save her, and how she’d prayed for one more chance.

And here it was.

With HIM.

Honestly, she wouldn’t mind sticking around to be his forever person as long as he kept her safe.

Gabby’s heart was patched together with hopes, dreams, and nothing more. One more blow to it, and she’d crumble.

She had only enough strength to put herself out there one more time.

Was she making a mistake?

Probably.

But she couldn’t deny that he made her curious about what a romance with him would be like.

At the knock on the door, she barely had time to say anything.

It was flung in, and Tony came running in like a bat out of Hell.

Or was that a bat INTO Hell?

“I heard you were….”

Before he could finish what he was going to say, Tony looked over.

“Naked in a bathroom with a man and I should have definitely waited for you to invite me in,” he said. “Awkward. This is a threesome that no one asked for today.”

That was amusing.

Because the cop looked horrified, she tossed Finn a towel so he could wrap it around his waist.

Tony went back to what he had been focused on.

HER.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

Gabby nodded.

“Yeah, Tony. Unfortunately, I went swimming, and Finn had to jump in. The good detective saved me.”

Interesting.

Not that he saved her, but the fact the detective was full-on naked in the same room with Gabby. There was a whole bedroom outside the door, and she chose not to head there.

That told him everything he needed to know.

“So you decided to have some fun in Scotland?” he asked.

She laughed.

Gabby was not going there with the other man.

“We were just talking, Dad. I swear. I’ll hang his tie on the doorknob if we’re doing more than that next time.”

Tony snorted.

And Finn wished he could reach his tie. The fact that she said ‘next time’ got him giddy.

Tony winked at her.

“So sassy, Gabs. Thanks for saving her,” he said, glancing over at the Scottish detective. “Oh, and nice dick.”

This was a weird day for Finn.

Tony being Tony kept going.

“I found something in the crypt,” he said. “You’re going to want to see it, if you’re not busy,” Tony added, wiggling his eyebrows. “If you are busy, then good for you, Mother Teresa.”

She snorted.

He called her that all of the time since she didn’t date, she didn’t try to get entangled, and she lived the life of a nun.

Well, those days were over.

In her head, she was living in sin.

With Finn.

“I’m not, but I do have a question.”

Because this sounded private, and it was awkward standing there in a towel with the other man right there, Finn got out of the shower, walked past Tony, and picked up his things from the floor.

“Before you can go anywhere, Gabriella, remember that the doctor is on his way here. You nearly drowned, and need a checkup first.”

She grinned.

“Yes, Dad,” she said again.

Only, he wasn’t having it. He moved toward her, and put his lips by her ear.

“Daddy maybe, but never Dad,” he whispered, not sure what came over him.

Oh, he knew.

There was another man near his woman. It was time to mark his territory.

With a gentle touch to her face, he stared into her eyes and saw she wasn’t the least bit upset.

“I’ll keep that in mind, Finn.”

Oh, well, he hoped so.

Then, because his dick was tenting that towel, he gave them privacy.

As soon as he closed the door, Tony grinned.

“Jesus, he’s hot. If I wasn’t straight, married, and a Top, I’d have me a party. Someone loves him some ink.”

Well, she liked it too.

Because she knew Tony, and he only had two levels, silent and way too loud, she put her hand over his mouth in case whatever was coming out next was an HR issue.

You never knew with him.

“Your brain doesn’t register what you’re saying before you say it, does it?” she asked.

He shook his head no.

Clearly.

When he mumbled something behind her hand, she finally moved it.

“What?” she asked.

He was happy for her. Tony wasn’t thrilled that the man had to save her again, but he was excited that she was about to have a good time.

FINALLY.

“What did he whisper in your ear. Come on. Tell your good buddy Tony. Share with the class.”

She had to.

Why?

She needed a voice of reason, and never in her life did she think it would be him.

EVER.

“I’ll tell you if you help me.”

He looked concerned.

“Is he too much? We can get you out of here,” he offered, and she slapped him.

“ HEY ! Hands are NOT for hitting,” he said. Then, he grinned. “In some cases.”

She snorted.

“Be serious. Please.”

He could do that.

“He told me I could call him Daddy, but never Dad. Am I in over my head?” she asked.

Oh, well, this was going to be interesting.

He.

Could.

Tell.

“I mean, that depends. He’s giving you a clear picture of what he wants. Now, you have to decide what you want. Do you want to climb Mount Scottish Cop?” he asked. “He was giving you a choice.”

Yeah, she saw that, and it was definitely appreciated. As for climbing that mountain…

Hell.

Yeah.

She wasn’t an idiot.

“He said he was looking for his forever person. His last girlfriend stole his cat and toaster, and he’s single. Do I risk it?”

He had bad news for her.

“Honey, only you can answer that. I will give you one piece of advice that Elizabeth gave me after I was shot in the chest, and nearly died. Jaxon ran from me, and Elizabeth said, if there’s something in life you want, you have to sometimes chase it.

If you’re looking for a partner, and a new life, he’s telling you that he’s available. ”

Yeah, he was.

“You’ll be putting a lot on the table and gambling, but had I not followed Jaxon, and hunted her down, I wouldn’t have Jack and Samantha.

I wouldn’t have a marriage that fulfills me.

I wouldn’t have love so great that it makes me want to weep.

If you think he’s special, you just have to try.

You don’t win the lottery if you don’t play, right? ”

He was right.

If she didn’t try, she’d never know.