Chapter Three
Blair
His scent. It’s everywhere.
The moment I breach the threshold, something rich and musky wraps around me and steals my sanity. It’s strong, more pronounced here than it was in the rest of the house. I’m so transfixed on the sight of the king-sized bed sitting in front of me that it takes me a few seconds to realize I’m in his room.
His. Bedroom.
Where he sleeps.
“What do you mean?” I ask, slowly turning and finding Gabe standing in the doorway. His hands are stuffed in the pockets of his joggers, his long-sleeved T-shirt tight around the upper arms in the most delicious way. I’ve never been an arm girl before, but…holy hell.
He shrugs and leans against the doorjamb. “I only have one room finished, so I’ll take the couch for the night.”
Well, that doesn’t sit well with me. “What? No.”
“It’s fine, Blair. Really, I only have the one bathroom completed, so it makes sense to have you here.”
“No, I can’t take your bed,” I insist, ignoring the way my heart seemed to beat a little harder when he referred to me being here.
“Listen, we could argue about this all night, but it won’t do you any good. I don’t mind the couch. It’s a sectional, and to be honest, I’ve fallen asleep on it many nights.” He chuckles, and there’s something so magnificent about that sound.
“I don’t feel right about it,” I whisper, downright hating the fact I’m kicking the man out of his own bed for the night.
“Stop, Blair. Take the bed. Unless you want me to run you back to your car? I’m sure you’ll have plenty of room in the back of that Kia,” he teases, his mouth turning upward in a slow grin.
Be still my heart.
His smile is breathtaking.
“Okay,” I whisper, turning away from his mouth before I do something drastic like kiss it.
“Great. Come on,” he says, removing his hands from his pockets and heading for the empty doorway. “Bathroom is in here.”
Following, I join him into the most luxurious bathroom I’ve ever seen. “Holy shit.”
Gabe chuckles. “Uhh, thanks.”
The gorgeous tile shower and floor, the dark stained cabinetry, and the rich dark blue accents, it’s like my dream bathroom come to life. “Oh my God, is that a whirlpool tub?” I ask, moving to where the tub is sunken into the floor.
“It is. Feel free to use whichever you want to help you warm up. There might even be some bath salts in the linen closet,” he says, pointing to the closed door.
I don’t ask why there would be salts in the closet, but perhaps I should. I don’t recall Hallie mentioning her brother getting married, but that doesn’t mean he’s not in a relationship. Realization hits me like a sledgehammer to the chest. Not only have I been lusting over a taken man, but I could be kicking her out of her own bed.
Nice, Blair. Real nice.
“I’m sorry, but do you live alone?” I blurt out, catching him off guard.
His eyebrows draw together as he replies, “Yes.”
“But is there…well, is your girlfriend okay with me crashing in your bed?”
He gives me a blank look for a moment. “I don’t have a girlfriend.”
“You don’t?”
“No.”