Chapter Two
After his morningswim, Gabriel entered his apartment to the scent of coffee and food beingcooked. Rhianna couldn’t cook and often resorted to takeout, so that left oneperson.
He stood in thedoorway, watching Claire as she stood at his stove. Her long, brown hair waspulled back into a loose ponytail, the natural curls all bound up. Today, shewore shorts that were too tight for her, so he knew they came from Rhianna, andone of his shirts.
“Don’t you haveany clothes now, either?” he asked.
He’d noticed hershapely legs and body. Even last night as he had her back pressed up againsthim, the curves of her ass nestled quite nicely against his dick.
She turned aroundand he saw she was listening to music again but this time, only had one earbudin.
“Huh?” She glanceddown at herself and he noted the deep blush of her cheeks. “Oh, yeah, er, mylandlord decided to throw all my stuff out on the street. I’m going to be doingthe laundry today. Rhianna lent me these.”
He stepped up closeand he touched his shirt at her waist. “This wasn’t hers to give.” She smelledlike vanilla. He didn’t like that flavor in anything.
Her lips were niceand plump. He could imagine them wrapped around his cock as he fucked her mouth.
Claire had turned intoa beautiful woman, there was no denying that. One he had no intention oftasting or touching.
“Do you want itback?” she asked.
Her nipples werepressed against the front of the shirt and she sounded breathless. He got toher too. Nice to know.
“Not right now. Ithink a little modesty is in order.”
“From what I heardabout you, you don’t believe in modesty.” Her cheeks were pink as she spun backto the stove.
He couldn’tresist. Stepping up close behind her, he put his lips right next to her ear. “You’reright. I’m used to having women parade naked around me. Now, Claire, you’ve gotme curious. What have you heard about me?”
“N-nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me.I don’t like liars.” He wanted to bite her neck, to suck on her pulse and leavehis mark. “Who hit you?”
She turned herhead. “My ex did.”
“Give me hisname.”
“Why?”
“I’m curious.”
“No.”
“I can find out.”
“Then use yourtime and money to find out. I don’t care. I’m not telling you anything.”
He liked her fire,her passion.
Smiling, hestepped back without a word. He poured himself a coffee, grabbed the paper, andmade his way toward the table. He’d gotten comfortable and took his first sipas his sister joined them.
“You’re nothelping cook?” Rhianna asked.
“I don’t cook.” Hedid, but only sparingly. His life was way too busy and hectic to take on thejoys of cooking. The coffee was good though. He couldn’t help but enjoy thesmells of breakfast or the warmth that seeped into his chest.
No woman had takenthe time to cook for him, certainly not a woman who wasn’t getting paid by him.
“You look reallysmart today, Gabriel,” Rhianna said.
“I went swimming.I’m not even ready yet,” he said.
“Well, theswimming is really working out. I can just see it now, all those women swooningover you.”
He put his paperdown and gave his sister his full attention. “What do you want?”
“What makes youthink there’s anything I could want?”
He raised a brow.
“What? Can’t asister compliment her brother?”
“Normal sisters,yes. You’re not normal.”
“That’s, like,really rude and unfair.” She nibbled on her lip.
“We got over this yearsago. Tell me what you want.”
She rolled hereyes. He’d been taking care of her since she was ten years old. Their parentshadn’t exactly been good role models, and neither had Claire’s. Their parentshad preferred not to acknowledge they had kids or responsibilities. Growing up,he’d lost count of the number of times he’d gotten a beating. Not that helooked back with any remorse. It helped to build him into what he was now.
“It’s Claire,” shesaid.
He had no doubt.
“With her eye, andwell, she’s got nothing. No one is hiring.”
“And?”
“She’s a goodwaitress, Gabe. Honestly. She’s hard-working and smart.” If his sister wascalling him Gabe, she was desperate. “Claire hates charity and I worry abouther.”
“You want me tohire her?” he asked.
“Yes. Please. Anyjob, that is you know, legal. She’s not into all that dark stuff.” Rhiannanibbled on her lip again.
He wanted to sayno but after his little encounter in the kitchen, he smiled. “Sure. I’ll hire her.”
Rhianna squealedand threw herself at him. “Yes. Thank you. Thank you.”
Claire walked infrom the kitchen, carrying two plates. “Here you go.”
“My brother isgoing to give you a job,” Rhianna said.
“Oh.” Her gazefell on him. “You are?”
“Yes. I’ve got aspot. Don’t worry about your eye. Everything will be fine. You can starttonight if you’d like?” He expected her to turn him down but she was alreadynodding her head.
“Yes, of course.Er, I’ve got to do some laundry.”
He perused herbody and shook his head. “I’ve got some errands to run but I’ll bring you backsomething to wear. Don’t worry.”
“But my size—”
“Don’t worry,” he repeated.Pushing the paper to one side, he dug into the breakfast she’d made for him,closing his eyes and enjoying the flavors. It had beena long time since he’d enjoyed a delicious breakfast. “When did you learn tocook?”
“She’sself-taught,” Rhianna said. “Most of the time her mother forgot she evenexisted and she never had the money for takeout.”
“Thanks, Rhi,” shesaid.
His sister beamed.“Come on, let me brag a little about you. I remember you learning in school andthen at home. You nearly gave yourself food poisoning once. Her chicken was rawand she nearly ate it. After that, you only ate vegetables.”
“I got better.”
“How is your mom?”he asked. He didn’t really care as he hadn’t gone back to the small town wherethey had originally grown up. His family had left to move to the city and indoing so, he’d found Claire there more often than not. The move was for hisparents to be closer to him. He’d started making a name for himself and theywanted to reap the rewards. His parents had been money suckers, going whereverthere was easy cash to make.
“I don’t know. Sheleft the trailer on my graduation day. I
