I purse my lips.
“Tell me or I can’t promise this towel won’t just fall off right here.”
My face burns hotly, and I swallow thickly.
“Fine,” I mutter. “You want to know what I think?”
“I’m all ears.”
“I think you’re a phony,” I snap. “I think you’re putting on an act for the people of this town to take their hard-earned money, and I think that’s one of the most evil, disgusting things I’ve ever heard of!”
The words just tumble out of me, and I gasp before I bring a hand to my mouth. But Gabriel just arches a brow and grins slowly at me.
“Wow,” he breathes.
“I—I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”
“No, you did,” he purrs. “Life lesson for you. When you take a stand or commit to words, commit to them. When you go back on them, people won’t ever believe you.”
I smile dryly. “Scamming one-oh-one?”
“More like grifting one-oh-one.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m leaving.”
I turn, but suddenly, his big hand is gripping my arm firmly—not aggressively firmly, but tight enough to make me gasp and send a shiver down my spine. I slowly turn to him.
“What—”
“I’m curious,” he growls lowly. His eyes burn into me, sizzling over my skin as they slide from my face down over every inch of me and then back up. My pulse races, and I take a shaky, gasping breath.
“Why does a good little churchly girl like yourself bring a ‘phony’ con man like myself dinner?”
I purse my lips. “I told you, my mother wanted me to.” I blush. “And I didn’t mean those things I said.”
He grins. “Yes, you did,” he purrs. “You think I’m a sinner, don’t you?”
“As I said, Gabriel, it’s not for me to judge—”
“Just answer the question, Delilah.”
I chew on my bottom lip, looking at his bare feet because I don’t trust myself to look into his devilish, soul-stealing, body-bewitching eyes.
“Yes,” I breath.
“You think I’m a wicked, ungodly, bad, bad man.”
I swallow thickly, and almost so gently that it’s not even there, I nod.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” he growls. “Which means I just have one last question for you.”
“Fine,” I whisper.
“I need you to look at me, though.”
I shiver, and I shake my head.
Gabriel chuckles darkly. “And why not?”