JUNE
June grabbed her phone and rocketed out the passenger door. The air was warm with the summer sun, and she walked on the grass strip beside the highway, careful to stay on the shoulder. Cars whizzed by, assaulting her senses. She shook her head to clear it.
Time to call about Matt again.
“Hi. This is June Hawley calling to check on Matthew Hawley’s status again?”
“Hi, Miss Hawley. Matthew is in fair condition. The surgery on his leg went well, he slept through the night with some help from his medication. He’s in recovery now, having his concussion assessed,” the lovely voice said on the other end of the line.
Her heart leapt at the news, and her shoulders loosened a fraction. “Thank you so much for the good news. We’ll be there soon.”
“You’re welcome, Miss. I’m sure he’ll be happy to see a familiar face. Take care now.”
A few tears escaped down her cheeks as the relief washed through her body. She knew his injuries could’ve been a lot worse, and the thought of what might have been…it scared her. But he was fine. His injuries would heal. Things were going to be okay.
Although Gabe wasn’t happy. In fact, he seemed downright upset. She picked at her braid and sighed. Last night was amazing. This morning was wonderful. She loved how he’d brought her breakfast and packed up the car. They had talked effortlessly over the past few hours. He was getting to know her.
Last night, the story about his ex brought down a wall inside Gabe, and he was more open. Would the missed work calls bring that wall back up? After all, she was the one who distracted him.
But that wasn’t fair. She didn’t ask him to turn off his phone, and she didn’t distract him on purpose. What kind of job didn’t let you have a moment of peace? Promotion on the line or not, his job seemed like an awful hassle. Did she want to be with someone who worked twenty-four hours a day?
Even though they had an undeniable connection, and she’d had a crush on him for years, she didn’t want to play second fiddle to a job. And she didn’t appreciate the way he spoke to her before she left the car.
Turning around, she headed back to the vehicle. On her approach, she saw Gabe gesturing wildly in the car, still talking to someone. Better to not interrupt.
The heat was getting to her, so she made her way to a lonely tree a few feet off the road. Sweat beaded on her skin, and she plunked down under the cover of the canopy, resting her head against the trunk and closing her eyes. The last few days had been a roller coaster, and she wasn’t sure what was waiting at the end of the ride.
A car door slammed, and she opened her eyes. Gabe walked toward her, looking a little worse for wear. His hair was dishevelled, like he’d been running his fingers through it, and his eyes looked weary. She couldn’t help but feel for him the tiniest bit, even though she didn’t appreciate his actions.
Maybe this wasn’t a good idea after all.
He sat down beside her and pulled her into his arms. She let him. Why not?
“What are you thinking, June?” he asked, rubbing the pads of his fingers up and down her arm.
She needed to be honest with him. This whole situation was confusing. Fresh enough that they didn’t have to proceed if they didn’t want to. The last thing she wanted w as to be involved with someone whose sole focus was work—or who spoke to her so shortly. She didn’t like that side of him. “I’m thinking I’ve seen what it’s like for someone to be consumed by their work, and it’s never good. I can’t be with someone like that.”
Gabe let out a long sigh, his head resting on top of hers. “And I know what it’s like to lose sight of what I want and have everything slip away.”
He was talking about his previous job. That hurt. A tear escaped from the corner of her eye. She wiped it away and took a steadying breath.
“Glad we figured that out sooner than later,” she managed to say. They’d be a one-time mistake caused by proximity and heightened emotions. She broke free from his hold and headed toward the car without turning back.
He was a mistake. This was too fast. They didn’t know each other. Not really. Their pseudo-relationship over the past five years didn’t count. He’d never gotten to know her despite all her efforts. Talking in a car or in a hotel room late at night didn’t magically create a relationship, and she didn’t need another man in her life disappointing her.
So why did she feel so lousy?
GAbrIEL
June walked to the car while he stayed rooted to the spot. Was it that easy for her to walk away? They’d only spent a couple days together, but they were good fucking days—despite the circumstances. The connection he felt to her was so strong, it took his breath away. His chest ached with need. He wanted to be with someone again. With her. No matter what Matt said.
Yet she was walking away like it was nothing.
The job consumed Gabe, an accurate assessment on her part. It was the one and only thing in life he was passionate about. He hadn’t always been so absorbed with work, but then Cassandra happened, and he became obsessed with getting back what he lost. At his new job, he worked twice the hours, never said no, and hardly ever took a day off. And he was tired. Exhausted, actually.
And I know what it’s like to lose sight of what I want and have everything slip away. He wasn’t sure if he was talking about June or his career when he uttered those words. Logically, letting his guard down and allowing June in further would be a mistake. It would distract him from his job. It already had. The endless evenings of work and overtime had to pay off. He was close to a major promotion—to getting back to where he left off. But his heart couldn’t help itself. He needed to use the remaining time on the road to help clear his head.
He joined June in the car. “Ready to go?”
She nodded and opened her book.
He pulled back onto the highway. Only a few hours to go. Time he could use to assess what he really wanted.
Did he want to base his life solely on his career? Or did he want to take a chance on the woman beside him, if she would even have him? She’d made it clear she didn’t want a workaholic, and he was definitely a workaholic. How many phone calls had he taken on the road? Getting time off work to see Matt was hell—if you could even call it time off. Was that the life he wanted to live for the next ten, twenty, thirty years?
Two days ago, this decision would’ve been simple. A woman or his job? He’d always pick his job. In fact, June had made it easy. There wasn’t even a choice for him to make because she’d already said she couldn’t be with someone obsessed with their job. But she’d turned his plans upside down in such a short time. For the first time in years, he’d allowed himself to connect with someone, even if it was only a little. Something he hadn’t been able to do with anyone else since Cassandra.
He’d adjust. Everything inside him screamed it’d be difficult and slow, but possible. Gabe finally knew in his bones he could make a change. It was time. The idea of continuing to kill himself over a job was no longer appea ling. He just needed the right woman to help him admit it to himself.
And, dammit, June was the right woman.
JUNE
The silence in the car was overwhelming. She pretended to read her book, but her eyes kept skimming the same paragraph on the same page. Her mind was elsewhere. Namely, on the brooding man sitting in the driver’s seat.
How did his sullen mood make him even sexier? She shook the thought from her mind. Thinking of him like that was no longer an option. He had made it abundantly clear that his focus was on work and the potential promotion.
She did not want to be with a workaholic. The way a career could consume people was ugly, and she had firsthand experience with that whole situation, thanks to her father. Though Gabe wasn’t like her father.
He wasn’t overbearing or controlling. He’d picked her up when he didn’t need to. Opened up to her and shared about his life. But work was an obsession for him, and she knew firsthand how people could drown in their obs essions when left unchecked. Maybe she could be his life preserver?
Presumptuous to assume after two days that Gabe was feeling the same way she was. She had years of pining for him compared to his two days of interest in her. Yet there he sat, frowning in his seat, gaze firmly locked on the road. Whatever he was thinking, it was seriously troubling him. Her heart fluttered at the idea he was thinking of her, but she knew that was a long shot.
More likely, his worry was increasing the closer they got to seeing Matt. She noticed her feet tapping more than usual, and her hands were jittery. But it wasn’t all attributed to seeing her injured brother. Some of that anxiety was stemming from their trip soon ending.
No doubt Gabe would stay in a ritzy hotel, and she’d try to find somewhere cheap and close to the hospital. He’d fly back to Vancouver to ensure he made his important meeting on Tuesday, and she’d stay with Matt as long as she could. The bus was always an option to get home like she’d originally planned.
Matt could pay for a plane ticket back to Vancouver easily, if he was good enough to fly. No doubt he’d offer to pay for hers, too. In an ideal world, she wanted to be the one to bring him home. She didn’t have the money, but at least she could be by his side .
A loud trill from the car speakers brought her back to the present. Another work call for Gabe. Of course.
“Gabriel. We’re meeting with Hartnett in five. Can you be here?” A gruff voice filled the car.
She tried to absorb herself in her book, but there was no way not to eavesdrop. The man was on speakerphone, after all.
“Charles, what kind of question is that? You know I’m on the road.” Gabe’s tone was measured, but it was obvious he was pissed off.
“Well, the meeting is happening today. Hartnett had some major schedule changes, and Tuesday is out. The only time he can meet is now.” Charles sounded impatient.
Right now? Gabe couldn’t be there in person. She knew how important this meeting was for his future with the company.
Braving a look over at him, his face was a picture of composure, but anger simmered behind those icy blue eyes.
“The terms were set for Tuesday. Can’t Hartnett just video or call in?” Gabe asked.
“He’s the priority, not you, Gabriel,” Charles quickly shut him down.
Gabe sighed and pulled the car over at the next turnoff, still in constant communication with his boss. They’d only been on the highway for about an hour since their last stop, but this delay was unavoidable. Gabe had to take part in the meeting, and that meant doing it on the fly on the side of the road.
June slipped out of the car and used the opportunity to call the hospital again. She wandered around the Take-a-Break area while she was on hold.
Pulled over, occupying the opposite end of the turnoff, was a large truck. The road was busy and the traffic going by created a steady roar in the background. She plugged one ear with her finger to hear better when a nurse on the other end finally picked up.
“Hi again. I’m calling about Matthew Hawley’s condition? I’m his sister, June.”
“Oh, hello, Miss Hawley. Matthew is awake after sleeping through the night. He’s a bit groggy from the pain medication, but he’s been asking for you. What would you like me to tell him?” the nurse asked.
“That’s great news! Please tell him we’ll be there later today and that I’m so glad he’s doing okay.” Relief swept through her, relaxing the anxiety that had manifested in her body over the last couple days. “Thank you so much.”
“No problem, dear. He’ll be happy to see you.”
She hung up in a much better mood than she’d been in a few minutes ago.
The whole situation with Gabe might be confusing and agitating, but Matt was okay. Awake. Doing well. They’d be there to see him soon .
A hand landed on her shoulder, and she turned around to see Gabe—no, wait—not Gabe. She pulled away and used a hand to shield the sun from her eyes, getting a better look at the imposing figure standing in front of her.
“Hey, baby, no need to be like that,” the man said, eyes leering at her from beneath his baseball cap. “You look like you’re needin’ some help.”
“I’m fine, thank you,” she said in a curt tone, wanting to stop whatever this was before it got started.
“You sure? You seemed distressed a moment ago. Pretty little thing like you, wandering around the turn-out all alone. Now that ain’t right.”
His meaty paw stretched out to stroke her arm. Once again, she pulled away from his touch. “I said I’m fine. My car is right over there. I’m leaving now.” She hardened her gaze and tried to start toward the car, but the man blocked her path.
His grin seemed anything but friendly. “You havin’ car troubles? Is that why you pulled over? I’d be happy to help. I’m sure we can think of a way you can thank me after…”
June shuddered at the insinuation as he crept closer. Alarm bells rang full-blast in her head. She needed to get back to the car right now , but he didn’t seem keen on letting her go. There was no way past him. He was over six feet tall and must’ve been 300 pounds, easy . She was no match for someone with his massive bulk.
A car door slammed behind her, and she prayed it was Gabe and not some random passerby who had just pulled over. Knowing Gabe, the work call had all of his attention. The man’s greasy face turned from her to look over her shoulder.
“I got this all handled. This sweet little thing just needs some help with her car,” he called to the person approaching behind June. He took her roughly by the arm and began leading her away. She resisted, digging her heels into the ground and twisting out of his grip.
Everything happened so fast. A startling crack pierced the air, followed by the thud of a body hitting pavement. Gabe was standing over the stranger’s body, his left boot pressing down on the man’s chest. “This sweet little thing is mine.” His voice dropped to a dangerously low pitch. “Get the fuck out of here.”
Gabe wrapped his arm around her shoulders and ushered her back to the car. He asked her something, but her ears rang with adrenaline. Gabe just punched a man. Right in the face. He just punched that giant sleazeball to protect her. The word he spit in the man’s face played on repeat in her mind.
Mine .
Mine.
Mine .
“June?” He spun her to face him once they reached the car. “June, are you okay? Did he hurt you?” His hands trailed down her arm where the man grabbed her, inspecting her skin as if there might still be a trace of him there.
“No, I’m fine. It’s fine,” she reassured him, shaking her head to emphasize her point. “Thank you for saving me.”
Gabe’s concern-filled eyes bored into her, a stark contrast from the distant, frosty blue eyes that met her gaze in her apartment doorway only a couple days earlier.
He pulled her close and held her against his chest. Considering they’d ended things between them only an hour ago, she was a bit stiff and awkward. But after a moment, she gave in, embracing him back. His presence was calming, and she sensed he needed the embrace as much as she did.
June’s eyes shot open, and she pulled back. “Your call! The meeting. Was it finished?”
Gabe gave a strained chuckle. “No, it wasn’t, but some things are more important than work. Well, one thing is more important than work. One person.”
Her breath caught in her throat. The statement hung in the air between them. “What happened to losing sight of everything you want?”
Pulling her into his chest once more, his lips pressed agai nst the top of her head. He rested there, breathing her in. A beat passed, followed by a deep sigh escaping from his chest.
“You’re what I want, June. You. I don’t want to live for my job anymore. For money and promotions. I still love my job, but I need to significantly reduce my workload. These past two days have opened my eyes to how I was already feeling deep down. I can’t maintain this level of devotion to the company. I don’t want to. They wouldn’t even give me time off to go see Matt. And being with you for even this short period has been the happiest I’ve been in years. I don’t want it to slip away.”
As much as she wanted to believe what he was saying and as happy as those words made her, June had her reservations. “You’ve been set in your ways for a long time. I don’t know how this time with me changes any of that. How can you be so sure?”
She looked at him once again, his arms still holding her close. The heat radiating off her body had nothing to do with the sun streaming down on her back. He made her toes curl and heart beat faster. No denying that.
“Because I’ve been wanting to get to know you for so long—you have no idea. I’ve always had a thing for you. You’re crazy hot, but you’re Matt’s little sister, and that means you’re off limits. Well, were off limits. ”
She must’ve blacked out for a moment because there was no way in hell Gabriel Jackson just told her he’d had a thing for her. “You…you have? Wait—off limits? Who said I was off limits to you?”
He sucked in a breath between clenched teeth, and it all made sense.
“Matt told you not to mess around with me, didn’t he?” she huffed.
“He was only looking out for you, sweetheart. But damn, if I didn’t hate having to stay away from you all these years. Sure, you’re a little all over the place, but?—”
“Watch it now, Gabriel ,” she warned.
“But if I have to spend every day for the next month, the next year, proving myself to you, I will. Because you’re mine.”
Gabe cradled her face with his hand, meeting her lips in a soft kiss. She returned his gentle touch, lips parting to invite him in. She melted into him, and his tongue tenderly stroked hers. Letting out a quiet moan when he nipped her bottom lip, she inched her head back, and he traced his lips along her jaw.
“Am I yours?” he whispered, ghosting his mouth over her ear.
“Yes, Gabe. You’re mine.”
GAbrIEL
He could hardly keep his hands off June the entire rest of the trip. Whenever he had the opportunity, he had a hand resting on her thigh or holding her slender fingers as they spent the time getting to know one another in more detail. The car ride was like one of those nights you see in cheesy movies where the guy and girl stay up all night talking about everything under the sun. Except in their case, it was the middle of the day and on the highway.
A massive weight had lifted from his shoulders when she’d uttered yes, you’re mine . He was pretty damn sure he’d messed it up earlier, but thank fuck he didn’t. If he wasn’t mistaken, June seemed lighter, too.
The funny thing was, he didn’t feel the least bit nervous about talking to his boss when they returned to Vancouver. Actually, it was a surprising relief to be free from the constant concern of grinding every minute of every day for the foreseeable future. He was content to stay where he was and forge ahead in life with June. He only wished he would’ve made the leap sooner.
She helped him see there were more important things than work, opening his heart again to the possibility of sharing a life with someone. He hoped he could help her in equal measure.
The way she lived was unorthodox compared to what he was used to. Not even June would disagree. But it was carefully orchestrated and worked for her, and he hoped he could bring some stability to her everyday routine.
They pulled into the parking garage at St. Boniface Hospital many hours later. June finished talking with a nurse on the phone while he found an open spot to park. From what he could gather, Matt was continuing to improve and remained in fair condition. Visitors could see him. June was bubbling over with relief at the prospect of seeing her brother.
When she hung up the phone, Gabe cupped her cheek in his hand and drew her in for a kiss. Arousal ran straight through his body when she opened her lips to his. It was so similar to their first kiss—right here in these seats—but so different.
This time, she was ready for him. She didn’t freeze up at his touch. They moulded together like this was what they were supposed to be doing the whole damn time they’d known each other.
To think of all the years he’d wasted orbiting her life, hanging on the outskirts, because of a silly pact and the consuming need to get ahead in his career. He cursed at himself. She was the windstorm that swept into his life and disrupted his heart. And as much as he’d told himself that wasn’t what he wanted, it turned out it was .
He broke away from the kiss and looked at her smiling face. “Should we go in?”
She nodded and hopped out of the car. “So…think you’ll let me drive Betty White on the way home?”
He gave a playful scoff, grabbing her hand on the way into the hospital. “Not a chance, sweetheart.”
She shrugged. “Worth a try.” Looking down at their intertwined fingers, she added, “Do you think it’s smart to let Matt see us together like this, considering what you promised him? I don’t think a heart attack would be a welcome addition to his injuries,” she teased, but the worry lines on her forehead were unmistakable.
He stopped in front of the main doors and pulled June off to the side. “I know this won’t be easy. Neither of us wants to see Matt laid up in the hospital. But I’m here for you—anything you need. And if you want to take this slow, we’ll take it slow. We don’t have to tell Matt about us today. I’ll follow your lead, okay?”
June’s misty green eyes gazed back at him. “Okay. We’ll see how he’s doing and take it from there, but I don’t want to lie to him.”
“Who knows, maybe he’ll take it well? I’ve always bugged him about how hot you are. Why do you think he made me promise you were off-limits?” He winked and made his way through the front doors, glancing back to see her staring at him, mouth open, unmoving. He couldn’t help but chuckle .
“Come on, sweetheart.” He gestured at her to join him and gave her shoulders a tight squeeze as they approached the front desk together. “Let’s go see Matt.”