Chapter Twenty
“W hat the hell did you say to her?”
Millie Stevens leaned back in her office chair and crossed her long legs, her short skirt riding up so high Gabe imagined a Venus flytrap. Alluring, lovely, but deadly to the unwary.
“Well, good afternoon to you too, Gabe. Lookin’ fine today.”
He didn’t bother looking down. All he had on were jeans and a short-sleeved shirt. He probably even smelled like cow. He looked like shit.
“Not now, Millie. I want to know.”
She shrugged a slim, designer-clad shoulder. “It would help if I knew what you were talking about.”
Gabe leaned down and planted his hands on either side of her small laptop. “You know exactly what I’m talking about. Emma. That night at The Cow. What did you say to her?”
She blinked, the only sign Gabe got he was on to something. He’d known this woman since they were toddlers paddling around in various wading pools together while their mothers visited one another.
“Nothing. I didn’t say anything to her. I don’t know what she told you, but whatever it was is a lie.”
“That’s just the problem, Millie.” He narrowed his eyes and regarded her. “She hasn’t said a single thing. She won’t even talk to me.”
Millie snorted and slapped her hand over her mouth, hiding her grin. She sighed and made a face when Gabe didn’t say anything more.
“Serves you right, you know. All of you mooning over her like that. It’s pathetic. She’s just a chick. She doesn’t have anything different from any other woman around here. It’s embarrassing watching you guys. And Ryan? He’s the worst of all with that ridiculous bet. What did he think would happen? That he’d win and she’d fall into his arms, swooning?”
Millie swung her arms wide in a parody, feigning a love-struck pose. “Is he really that delusional about his own charm? I mean, come on. There’re plenty of decent-looking guys round here.”
Gabe let out a humourless bark of laughter. “You’ve got to be kidding me! You chased him long enough before he caved in. Don’t tell me you’re jealous?”
Millie swung her leg down, her high-heeled shoe thunk ing hard on the wood flooring.
“That was a long time ago. Of course I’m not jealous. What’s to be jealous of? The guy can’t keep it in his pants. That’s not the kind of man I want. She’s welcome to him. Besides, there are far better prospects around here.”
Gabe sighed. This was going nowhere fast. “I’m sorry, Millie. I’m sorry Ryan treated you badly. I’m sorry you feel trapped here in the Crossing. You could always leave, you know, if you’re not happy here.” He held up a hand to stop her interrupting. “And I’m sorry I can’t be what you want me to be. I’ll never be in a position to offer what you’re looking for. You have to give up on this. We’ve been friends since I can remember, but if you can’t get it through your head that we will never happen as a couple, I can’t guarantee we will stay friends. I’m getting damned sick of feeling like I have to fend you off.”
He hunkered down on his haunches and looked up at her. “Please. I like you. A lot. But as friends—nothing else. It will never be anything other than what it is now. This is it. It’s time you accepted it and moved on.”
Millie flattened her lips and looked down at her hands, her eyes glinting in the bright office lights.
“Not me? No, never me. What am I missing? I bet you didn’t say that to Miss Perfect the other night when you ran after her like a lovesick dog. You’re just as pathetic as the rest of them. You’ll see there’s nothing special about her. You and Darby and all the rest of your family, fawning over her like you do. I’m sure you wouldn’t say no to her .”
“Yes, I would. It’s not about that. Why do you insist on being so nasty to her? Why couldn’t you just be nice like everyone else?”
Millie snapped her head up to glare at him, the unshed tears making her eyes shine. “Why? I don’t need a why. I don’t like her. I just don’t care.” Millie stood up and waved at the door. “If you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.” She spun and stalked down the corridor.
Gabe stood and took a couple of steps after her. “Millie!”
She stopped and half turned. “What?”
“Please tell me what you said that upset her so much. For me, if nothing else.”
Her head tilted the slightest toward him. “I already told you. I didn’t say a thing to her.”