Melanie rolled her eyes at Gabe. Why did she continue to hang out with that chick? She was obviously annoyed by her.
“Go keep him company.”
“Okay!”
Melanie launched herself into the car and slammed the door behind her before Nikki could change her mind about keeping the handsome penguin in the driver’s seat company.
“I am so sorry about that,” Melanie said, her hazel eyes concealed behind thick lashes and black-framed glasses. “She just showed up on the plane, demanded some big cage fighter give up his seat so she could sit beside me, flirted with him through both flights, and then invited herself to ride in the limo.”
“I get the feeling she’s hard to deter once she sets her mind on something.”
“If only she’d show the same sort of dedication to getting her life back on track.”
Gabe had been playing out his reunion with Melanie in his head all evening, and this was definitely not what he’d had in mind. He’d figured they’d already be locked in an endless kiss—hands roving, bodies pressed together—but Nikki’s unexpected appearance made him feel awkward. It was as if Nikki were sitting between him and Melanie, even though the woman was in the front seat. Melanie was obviously affected by Nikki’s presence as well. She sat stiffly and glanced repeatedly toward the front of the limo as if waiting for a zombie to launch itself through the glass.
A knock sounded on the window between the driver’s seat and the passenger compartment before it slid down with a mechanical whir. Nikki, who was now wearing the chauffer’s black cap, faced backwards and leaned over the seat, waving both hands. She had a killer smile affixed to her face, and her blue eyes were wide. She really was a beautiful woman. Stunning. Gabe was sure most men tripped over their dicks trying to get in her pants. He was not one of them. Why would any man settle for superficial beauty when he could have someone like Melanie, who had brains, sensuality, and good looks?
“This is so exciting!” Nikki said, and instantly Gabe understood why Melanie put up with her. Why she loved her. Nikki was vividly alive, the kind of woman who would still be young when she was ninety-five. That sort of vigor was addictive to be around, though it could be exhausting. “Why aren’t you two humping yet?”
Gabe chuckled. He’d been wondering the same thing himself.
“Because someone keeps interrupting,” Melanie said.
“It’s okay,” Gabe said. “We have three whole days in which to get our hump on. Let’s get you some food and cruise down Bourbon Street. We can hump later.” He winked at Melanie, and she released a long sigh. Was she relieved or disappointed? He couldn’t tell.
“Can we get bourbon on Bourbon Street?” Nikki asked. “I’m thirsty.”
“Alcohol makes her lose her pants,” Melanie warned.
“I know a great place to get bourbon,” the driver said.
Nikki hugged him around the neck. “I knew I liked you, my handsome penguin.” She pecked a kiss on his temple.
A strange sound came from Melanie—like a suppressed snort. Confused, Gabe glanced at her just in time to see her burst into laughter.
“I can’t…” She was laughing too hard to breathe, much less speak clearly. “I can’t believe…” She gasped for air. “…you called him… …that to… …his f-face…”
“Well, I don’t know his name. What’s your name, handsome?” Nikki asked and brushed a lock of hair from the driver’s forehead. He reminded Gabe of a young John Travolta. Dark hair. Blue eyes. Cleft in his strong chin.
The driver pointed to a slender gold name tag on his chest. “Parker.”
“Parker the penguin?” Melanie sniggered and then snorted before bursting into delighted laughter again.
“You okay?” Gabe asked her. He was pretty sure she was turning blue from lack of air.
Melanie clutched her stomach and nodded, blinking tears from her eyes as she struggled to get a handle on her case of the giggles.
“She gets like that when she gets wound up too tight,” Nikki said. “Eventually she explodes into a fit of laughter. It’s best to set her off as early as possible. No telling what kind of fit she’d have if she was allowed to keep winding.” Nikki made circles in the air with one fingertip.
“I’m not wound too tight.”
“Really?” Nikki said, her eyebrows arched high on her forehead. “I still have about fifty eye-daggers in my back from the plane trip. Care to take them back?”
“You should be glad they don’t allow real weapons on flights. I’m still pissed at you, Nicole Evelyn Swanson,” Melanie assured her, but the tension she’d drawn into the limo with her had vanished. “Now close the damned window so I can greet my sexy rock star properly.”
Nikki grinned. “Better hurry. I’ll be interrupting you again when we stop for food. And bourbon.” The window slid upward, giving Gabe and Melanie privacy and Gabe a strange case of nerves.
Chapter Five
Gabe wiped his suddenly damp palms on his thighs and stared at his embarrassingly large feet. He wanted so much to pull Melanie into his arms and show her how much he missed her, but he still wasn’t sure if she wanted him to. Her signals were mixed and terribly confusing. He hadn’t expected these feelings of uncertainty when he’d invited her for the weekend. They always interacted so naturally with each other. What if they spent the entire time sitting in awkward silence? Perhaps this rendezvous was a tad premature.
When Melanie turned to him and rested the fingertips of one hand against his jaw, his nervousness vanished in an instant, replaced with excitement and anticipation. The connection between them wasn’t gone. Thank God.
“Are you going to kiss me now, or do I have to make the first move?” she whispered, her gorgeous hazel eyes staring intently at his lips.
He removed her glasses carefully, which caused her to lift her eyes to meet his. He got lost in her gaze and warmth spread throughout his body—in his groin, yes, that was reassuring and familiar, but also in his chest, where his heart began to thud a rapid staccato.
“I was wondering if you were as perfect in person as I’d made you out to be in my memory,” he said.
“You see me every day,” she reminded him.
“It’s not the same,” he whispered. “I can’t feel your warmth. Smell the sweet scent of your perfume. See little details like those pale freckles on the bridge of your nose and the blue and green flecks in your eyes. I can’t touch your smooth skin, your soft hair.” He did that now. It felt just as glorious against his fingertips as it looked. Even better than he remembered.