“And more intelligent.” She laughed and kissed him on the cheek.
“Speaking of intelligence, I spoke to some people on their way out the door tonight,” Richard said. “Most mentioned they’d never thought much beyond the curse before tonight. They just believed in its power. They’re rethinking those views now,” he said.
“Did you see the way
“Mary’s devious, all right,” Richard said. “There’s no question she gets things done. It’s her means of doing them that are questionable.”
“Well, hopefully her days of subtle threats are coming to an end. If nothing else, Gabrielle has gotten people to think about whether putting Mary Perkins back in office is something they want or something they feel compelled to do because they’re afraid of her.” Sharon was definitely pleased with tonight’s outcome.
“I really appreciate all you do for me.” He tipped her face and kissed her, keeping things slow and sensual, the way she liked it.
“Mmm.” A purr escaped from the back of her throat.
“Please tell me you can come back to our home for a while tonight,” he said in a gruff voice.
“I think I can manage that as long as you drop me off at my parents at a semirespectable hour,” she teased.
He let out a long-suffering groan. “I hate that we have to be apart.”
“Another couple of weeks and we’ll be married. Then I won’t have to leave you ever again.”
He hugged her tight.
“Well? Will you get me home early?” She knew that meant setting an alarm so neither of them fell asleep.
“Let’s see. Take you home now or squeeze in a few hours alone with you and live without sleep.” He devoured her with his eyes. “You drive a hard bargain.”
She wiggled her eyebrows. “I’ve only just begun,” she said, promise rich in her voice.
CHAPTER FIVE
GABRIELLE STEPPED INTO the muggy summer air, a direct contrast to the air-conditioned library. Yet despite the humidity outside, she breathed more easily. It helped that she had Derek by her side. She stepped closer so her arm deliberately brushed his as she walked. A ripple of awareness shot through her and she inhaled deeply, only to be surrounded by his masculine scent.
His overpowering presence enabled her to focus on the more positive parts of the evening, including her successful speech and the fact that she’d openly revealed the idea for her next novel.
Because it was summertime, the sun hadn’t yet set and there were still vestiges of light in the sky. In the meantime, the streetlamps were already turned on in anticipation of darkness.
“Can I hitch a ride home?” Derek asked.
She smiled, happy to have more time with him. “Sure.”
His steps slowed but they continued their walk, pausing at her car. “I need to talk to you.”
Something in his tone had her stomach churning uncomfortably. “What is it?” She shielded her eyes from the setting sun, squinting as she met his gaze.
“Here.” He held her arm and moved her around so he could swap places with her, taking the brunt of the glare. He leaned against the car and shaded his eyes with his hand.
She waited for him to speak.
Finally he cleared his throat. “This afternoon? That kiss?”
Gabrielle’s entire body stiffened in automatic denial. “Oh, no. No way are you going to tell me it was a mistake.” Not when everything about it, and them, had been-and could still be-so right, she thought.
“Maybe I should tell you more about my past few years so you’ll understand why I still believe in curses. Now more than ever.” The set of his jaw told her he wasn’t kidding.
She stepped back, needing space so she could think. Argue. Fight. Because she wasn’t going to let him go as easily as she had the last time. She was older now, wiser. Stronger emotionally and at a point when she’d experienced more of life, and she knew what she wanted. She wanted Derek and she wasn’t going to let him use ancient history as an excuse not to try again.
“Look, I’m only in town for another few days, but I only live an hour from here. We have all the time in the world to talk things out. It’s been so long, can’t we just enjoy getting to know each other again?” she asked, in an effort to buy herself time before he made a final decision.
She turned around to see his face and caught sight of her car. Her beloved black convertible, purchased with her first big advance, had been keyed. An ugly scratch mark split the paint from below the handle across to the end of the single door. “Bastard!”
“Hey, I’m just looking out for you,” Derek said, clearly upset.
“Not you! My car. Someone keyed my car!” She pointed to the long, jagged mark in the paint.
He jerked around in surprise and studied the damage for himself. “That wasn’t an accident,” he said under his breath a few moments later.
Derek ran a hand over his eyes. “I have no idea.” But he didn’t like the fact that someone thought nothing of doing this with a huge crowd inside.
“Come on. Let’s get you back to the Rhodes Inn. I’ll call Harry at the garage and talk to him about getting it painted.”
She shook her head. “I’ll take it into the Lexus dealer when I get home,” she said, her mood deflated.
She pulled out her keys and unlocked the doors. The beep echoed in the night air. She climbed inside.
He joined her around the other side, unsure of what to say. He sure as hell wasn’t going to upset her any more by bringing up the curse. He leaned back against the seat and heard a crunching sound of paper beneath him.
He reached down and pulled out a piece of paper. “Sorry,” he muttered, smoothing the crumpled paper in his lap.
Gabrielle reached to snatch it back but it was too late. He’d already read the red scrawl.
“It’s nothing.” She leaned back in her seat and exhaled hard.
“I don’t call a threat nothing.” If someone had a problem with Gabrielle, they were going to have to deal with him first.
“It’s hardly a threat. It’s more like a welcome note I received this morning.” She put the key in the ignition and started the car.
“It’s still a threat. Did you tell Sharon? The police? Anyone?”
She laughed. “Come on, Derek. It’s written in crayon, for God’s sake. Nobody in their right mind would take this seriously.”
She backed out of the parking spot and started to drive.
“I want to go back to your room with you. I want to make sure you get inside okay.” Derek reached out and brushed her hair from her face.
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye before returning her gaze to the road. “I appreciate that, but I can take care of myself.”
“Did I say you couldn’t? I’d just feel better knowing you were locked safe and sound inside. In case the note and the damage to the car are related.”
“Do you think that’s possible?” She gripped the steering wheel harder, causing the muscles in her arms to tense.
“Anything’s possible. What’s more probable is that someone didn’t want you to speak at the library tonight and left you a note, while stupid kids keyed your car as a prank.” At least that’s what he hoped had happened.
But because he couldn’t be sure, he was going to keep an eye on her. Just in case.
“How will you get home?” she asked.
