Chapter 16
"So, how did it go?" Nikki asked as she walked through the door to PT on Monday.
Paige winced. Nikki needed to learn some decorum. That and to lower her voice.
Thankfully, Gladys wasn't here today, but Sam was. Not that he was able to communicate well enough since his stroke to gossip about Paige being Gabe's fake girlfriend.
Gabe looked up from where he propped Sam's feet on the stepper. "How did what go?"
He acted as though he had no idea what Nikki meant.
Paige knew exactly what Nikki was talking about, and it twisted her stomach into a knot. She hated lying—to her parents, who asked how the birthday party went, and to Gabe's mom, who hugged Paige like she was her own daughter.
"You promised you'd tell us how it went when Paige met your mom." Giddiness filled Nikki's voice as she plopped down on the middle table.
"That's right," Luke said over his shoulder as he prepared a heat pack for Nikki. "I forgot to ask about that."
Paige exchanged a quick glance with Gabe. Surely, they didn't need to tell them everything. She’d like to keep the knee-buckling kiss and heart to heart with Gabe between just the two of them.
She'd done well pretending nothing had changed between her and Gabe since arriving today. It helped that he was busy with Sam. But after that kiss, and knowing what he was going through, she'd never be able to see him as just her physical therapist again.
"Who said she met my mom?" Gabe's expression remained neutral.
Paige didn't know how he did that. One minute he was joking, the next he looked dead serious even though he was teasing. Although Paige didn't think he was in a joking mood at the moment.
"No one." Nikki’s expression said she saw right through his act. "But you were anxious to find a girlfriend to take home to your mom, and Paige volunteered, so I assumed you took her home over the weekend." Nikki now gave Gabe a look that said duh. "So how did it go?"
"It went fine." The tone of Gabe's clipped words would have told most people he didn't want to discuss it, but Nikki wasn't great at reading social cues.
She turned her attention to Paige. "So is his mom like totally crazy?"
"No, she’s very nice." When the expectant look on Nikki's face didn't change, Paige added, "We had a nice visit over dinner."
"Did you have to hold hands and all that stuff?" Nikki's gaze darted between Paige and Gabe.
Paige had no idea what Nikki meant by all that stuff, but she didn't want to disclose any more than was necessary.
"Yes, I held Paige's hand." Gabe's tone was dull, sounding almost bored. "It was expected, since she's supposed to be my girlfriend."
A gleam filled Nikki's eyes as she grinned. "Did she make you guys kiss?"
Paige's heart rate spiked, and warmth swept over her as she recalled their kiss. Gentle at first, then more demanding and highly intoxicating.
Gabe's brows furrowed as he stared at Nikki. "Why would my mother make us kiss?"
"You know, to make sure your relationship is really legit." She giggled. "That's what always happens in romance novels."
"Oh brother." Gabe shook his head then scowled at Nikki. "My mother did not make us kiss." A tone of finality filled Gabe voice, and Paige hoped Nikki would let it go.
The younger woman would laugh her head off if she knew Paige and Gabe had stumbled over that particular hurdle before she even met Gabe’s mom. She'd relived that kiss many times, and every time, she concluded that it was one of the best kisses she’d ever had.
"Bummer." Nikki's face fell. "Your mom was supposed to make you kiss. And that's when you realize you’re soulmates who were meant to be together."
Gabe locked gazes with Paige. She couldn't decipher the message in his eyes because she was too busy wondering if their amazing kiss meant something, never mind that she didn't believe in that kind of stuff. He gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head before he looked away.
"You’ve been reading too many romance books, Nikki." Gabe looked over his shoulder at the nosy girl as he strapped Sam's left hand to the handle of the stepper. "If you believe all the nonsense you read in those books, you'll be sorely disappointed in real life."
Nonsense?
A sharp twinge pricked Paige's chest. She'd read her share of romances, and yes, when it came to her experience with Phillip, she'd been bitterly disappointed. But to hear Gabe so easily dismiss what every woman longed for stung, especially after the breathtaking kiss they'd shared.
"You're probably right." Nikki shrugged, not at all offended. "Because real men can never live up to our book boyfriends." She grinned at Paige. "Am I right?"
The twinge expanded to a dull ache in Paige's chest. Until a moment ago, Gabe had totally exceeded any book boyfriend she'd ever had. Why did he have to go and crush her illusion?
Because this isn't real, remember. You're only his fake girlfriend.
Paige gave Nikki a tight smile. "They never do."
She'd prefer to believe Gabe only meant to distract Nikki and protect his image in front of Luke and his patients, than to think he was oblivious to what happened between them last weekend.
"That's because men are clueless to everything that's important to women," Luke said as he set up the weight machine for Paige's next series of exercises.
Paige tuned out Luke and Nikki as they argued about whether men should naturally know that women liked romantic gestures like flowers and chocolate.
She focused on a quote on the wall above Gabe and Sam. Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn. She frowned as a sinking sensation hit her stomach.
She'd read all the quotes in this office multiple times, but today, she couldn't help wondering if she was in for another learning experience. A heart-breaking one. Because her heart had apparently missed the memo that she was taking a hiatus from men.
Forty minutes later, Gabe was in the process of rubbing out Nikki's hamstring on the table next to Paige when she propped up on her elbows. "So, Paige, tell me about Gabe's mom."
Gabe's expression instantly turned into a scowl. His posture stiffened as he gave Paige a look that was a mixture of warning and pleading.
"Did she totally give you the third degree?" Nikki pressed.
Paige shrugged. "She asked me a lot of questions about myself to get to know me.
" Gabe struggled to talk about his mom's diagnosis, so Paige figured it was best to divert Nikki's attention.
She shot Gabe an apologetic look before continuing.
"His sister, on the other hand, was a different story.
She totally gave me the third degree and threatened me with a knife. "
"A knife?" Gabe's head popped up. "You didn't tell me that."
"Seriously?" Nikki's mouth dropped open.
"Well, she didn't actually threaten me with the knife, but she was holding one and pointing it in my direction when she warned me…" Paige paused to choose her words carefully. "Not to take advantage of Gabe."
"Awe that's sweet, but also kind of terrifying." Nikki grimaced. "Is she older or younger than Gabe?"
A crease formed between Gabe's brows as he watched Paige, making her wish she could read his mind.
"Younger by…three years?" She looked to Gabe for confirmation.
He nodded. "Almost four."
"Why does she feel the need to protect Gabe?
And how brave is that? I'd never dare give my brother's girlfriend the third degree, especially not while holding a knife.
Mostly because if it ever got back to him, he'd kill me.
" Then she launched into a story of how her brother mixed peroxide into her shampoo to get back at her for telling their parents he'd sneaked out one night.
Thankfully, Paige didn't have to answer any more questions.
Eventually, it was her turn to have Gabe work on her.
While she lay on her stomach with his hands on her low back, she couldn't help remembering how those hands had held her while he kissed her senseless.
This was probably all clinical to him, but after the intimate moments they'd shared, she had a hard time not reacting to his touch.
It was a good thing he talked football with Luke and Travis, who arrived ten minutes ago, because she couldn't think of a single thing to say that wouldn't give away how often she'd replayed Saturday evening's events in her mind. Especially that kiss.
It wasn't until after he'd rubbed her back and hip, and she now sat up for him to work on her shoulder that he turned his full attention on her. "Thanks for shutting Nikki down. I'm sorry Grace gave you such a hard time."
Paige shrugged. "She was convinced I was after you for your money."
"What money?" Gabe snorted. "Student loans, remember?"
"Grace made it a point to point out that physical therapists don't make as much money as medical doctors. So, she wanted to know what my angle was."
"Your angle?" Gabe smirked as he sat on the edge of her table to scrape her shoulder.
Paige's breath caught when his thigh pressed against hers, proving an effective distraction from the discomfort of the scraping. She'd seen him sit on Gladys’ table when they were deep in conversation while he rolled out her leg. But he'd never sat beside her while working on her. Until now.
Was it a familiarity thing? Did that mean he was comfortable with her?
She forced herself to focus on the conversation. "Grace couldn't figure out why I agreed to go along with your hair-brained scheme."
He glanced briefly at her face then returned his gaze to her shoulder. "Did you tell her?"
"I told her I was returning a favor. So naturally, she wanted to know what kind of favor, and I had to admit you bailed me out when my ex showed up.
" Paige realized the faster she talked the louder her voice became.
She glanced across the room to where Luke and Travis now discussed colleges, before lowering her voice.
"After she realized I didn't have a hidden agenda, her attitude changed. "
"I'm glad. Thanks again for going with me last weekend." He gave her a hesitant look. "Will you come again this weekend? My mom wants to get to know you better."
A knot formed in Paige's stomach. It was only a matter of time until Marisol figured out Gabe and Paige were lying. She hated the idea of hurting that sweet woman, especially considering what she was going through. She also dreaded having to lie to her parents again.
Despite her trepidation, she nodded. "When?"
"I'll see what Mom and Grace have planned and let you know." He ducked his head and lowered his voice. "I'm not supposed to use information from your file to contact you for personal reasons, but is it okay if I text you?"
Just another reminder that they shouldn't be doing what they were doing.
Trying to ignore the knot growing in her stomach, she nodded again.
"I've been thinking…" Gabe cleared his throat but kept his voice low. "Considering what almost happened a couple of weeks ago at the pool…I think it best if we stop doing aqua therapy. Especially since you're fully weight bearing and mobile now."
Disappointment hit Paige, swift and sharp. Initially, she'd been self-conscious under Gabe's close tutelage, but now, she loved the one-on-one time with him. Was he canceling their aqua therapy sessions because he could tell Paige was falling for him?
Taking a page from his playbook, she kept a straight face as she feigned ignorance. "What do you mean? What almost happened at the pool a couple weeks ago?"
"You know very well what I mean." He cast a quick glance over his shoulder at Luke and Travis before his gaze met hers, his stare intense. "The same thing that actually happened in front of my mom's house. Against my car."
His voice was low before, but that was nothing compared to the raw huskiness of it now. The deep, sexy tone sent shivers of awareness coursing down Paige's spine. A flush of warmth surged through her body, gathering in her chest, where it ignited a spark.
"I can't lie and pretend both incidents didn't faze me." Gabe's fingers stilled on her shoulder.
The spark flamed, sending a thrill of excitement shooting through Paige. What did that mean for them?
"So…" She chose her words carefully, considering their setting and the other occupants in the room. "Does that change anything?" When his brow creased, she rushed to add, "I mean in our…fake relationship?"
"No." His answer was so quick it doused the fire in her chest. "It can't. My job is on the line here.
" He gave what looked like a frustrated shake of his head.
"Besides, I don't have the time or energy for a real relationship right now.
Outside of work, my mom is my only focus until…
" He stopped talking, and despite it being inappropriate, Paige put her hand on Gabe's knee next to her thigh.
"I need you, Paige." His voice was gruff. "I mean, I need your help convincing my mother I’m in a happy relationship. But other than backing you up where Phillip is concerned, I can't promise you anything."
Message received.
Her spirits sank. She wasted eight months on her last relationship that failed miserably.
Even if she waited until after Gabe's mother passed—Paige's heart hurt at the thought—he'd need time to grieve, and there was no timeline for that.
There was no guarantee he would still want a relationship with her down the road.
She understood where Gabe was coming from, but she hated to admit how much his words saddened her. She patted his knee before withdrawing her hand. "I understand."