Carly Phillips - Lucky Charm

She inclined her head, and the ends of her hair brushed at her shoulders, reminding him of the times he’d kissed her bare skin. Their encounters had usually been rushed, due to their inexperience and the fear of getting caught. If Derek had his way with her now, two adults with plenty of time on their hands, he’d take things slowly, savoring every sensual touch and taste…

“Derek? Did you hear me?” Gabrielle’s voice along with her hand on his shoulder brought him out of his daydream.

He shook his head. “Sorry,” he muttered, embarrassed.

“That’s okay. As I was saying, I drove in today to visit with Sharon. I’m giving a lecture at the local library tonight as a favor.”

“I heard about your talk.”

“Really? People are discussing it?” she asked hopefully.

“You could say that,” Derek said.

“My grandpa pulled out his old shotgun!” Holly joined in on the conversation again with exactly the point Derek had been hoping to avoid.

Gabrielle’s cheeks flushed red. “He what?”

“He wouldn’t really use it,” Holly said. “At least, I don’t think he would.” She wrinkled her nose in thought. “Dad?”

Derek groaned. “Why don’t you start moving all this stuff up to the register,” he said, pointing to the far wall where there was a small line.

It would take Holly a couple of trips, giving him a few minutes to talk to Gabrielle alone.

“Okay. I can take a hint. Just don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” She winked at him.

It was his turn to flush. “Hey! Just how old are you, anyway?”

“I’ve been around Mom and John long enough to learn a few things”

He waved his hand toward the register. “Go! If you behave, I’ll take you for lunch afterward.”

“Okay. Can Gabrielle come with us? Please?”

His daughter’s request took him off guard. It was one thing to see Gabrielle again, to realize she still had that punch-in-the-gut impact on him. It was another to get to know her. To let his daughter get to know her.

To hear Gabrielle laugh and let the old feelings and yearnings resurface…knowing he’d have to let her go again.

DEREK LOOKED AT HIS daughter’s pleading expression and cleared his throat. “I’m sure Gabrielle has to get ready for her talk tonight,” he said to Holly. “She probably doesn’t have time for lunch.”

Gabrielle met his gaze and folded her arms across her chest. “Actually I’m well prepared.”

He shoved his hands into the front pocket of his jeans, hoping his discomfort wasn’t obvious. “But you can’t very well leave your friend stranded.” He knew he was grasping at straws, but he really didn’t want to navigate a three-way lunch that included his daughter. Holly was obviously smitten with Gabrielle.

Not that he blamed her. She’d been surrounded by men the past few weeks and Gabrielle’s warmth was contagious.

Even Derek was finding Gabrielle hard to resist. Though he knew all the reasons he shouldn’t get involved, he felt drawn to her. As if he were seventeen all over again.

“Right?” he asked, seeking confirmation that Gabrielle knew better than to accept the invitation.

But instead of agreeing, Gabrielle straightened her shoulders and frowned.

Uh-oh. Derek recognized that stubborn look and immediately realized his error. The girl he’d known didn’t take well to being told what to do.

Gabrielle shook her hair, let it sway in defiance. “Actually, Sharon’s having lunch with her fiancé. She won’t mind if I don’t join them. Besides, since I’ll be around for a while, she and I can catch up anytime.” Gabrielle’s fiery gaze met his, as if daring him to come up with another reason she should opt out.

He swallowed hard. “Then I’m guessing you’re free for lunch?”

“I’d love to join you,” she said, speaking past him to his daughter.

“Excellent!” Now certain she wasn’t going to lose out on time with her new idol, Holly turned her attention to the packages of sheets and pillows, grabbed as many as she could carry and headed for the register.

Derek turned to face Gabrielle, but before he could think of what to say now that they were alone, she spoke.

“You don’t want me to come for lunch.” Her glossed lips turned downward in a luscious pout.

“I’m not sure it’s such a good idea,” he admitted.

She stepped closer. A sensual whiff of what smelled like chocolate assaulted his senses, giving him a craving for so much more than food.

“Is there something wrong with two old friends catching up?” Her mouth hovered close to his cheek.

He clenched his hands into tight fists. “Is that all we are?” he asked her, his body stiff from her nearness, his defenses against her nonexistent.

“Isn’t that what you told Holly?”

“What did you want me to tell her?” he asked, his jaw tight. “That we were lovers?” The word, the thought, the reminder set him on fire.

A slow smile spread across her face. “She’s too young for the truth. I just wanted to see if you remembered,” she said in a husky voice.

His heart slammed harder inside his chest. “I never forgot.”

She inclined her head, a pleased expression on her face. “That’s all I needed to know. I really should get back to Sharon and tell her about the change of plans. Where and when should I meet you for lunch?”

He felt as if he’d been sucker-punched by the past. By her. He needed time to regroup before seeing her again. He glanced at his watch. “There’s a restaurant upstairs. How about we meet there at noon. Does that give you enough time?”

She nodded. “That’s perfect. But I’m afraid I’ll need a ride back. I left my car at Sharon’s place.”

“Not a problem. I’ll drive you wherever you have to go when we’re finished.”

“Thank you.”

Holly ran between them. “The lady started to ring up my things. I just have to grab these, too.” She swept the rest of the pile into her arms. “Are you coming, Dad?”

“In two seconds.”

“Okay. See you at lunch, right?” Holly asked Gabrielle.

“I wouldn’t miss it,” she assured his daughter, her gaze warm and friendly.

Holly darted back toward the cash register and Gabrielle laughed. “She’s a whirlwind.”

“That she is,” he said proudly.

Derek had never envisioned these two females meeting face-to-face, but now that they had, he should be amazed at the instant connection between them. But Holly was his daughter and his connection with Gabrielle had also been instant and intense.

After their breakup, he’d moved on with his life, one day at a time. He’d had no choice. But now that he was with Gabrielle again, his throat grew full with emotions too complex to separate, though he recognized a mix of desire, regrets and hope.

He took the moment to study her. From the tips of those high-heeled shoes his daughter loved, up her long, lean legs, over her hips and waist, she was really something. His gaze lingered on the cleavage peaking above her lacey, sexy top. She was better than the chocolate she’d always loved, he thought.

He reached out and touched her cheek. “You look good, Gabby.”

A visible tremor rippled through her at his touch. “You do, too,” she said.

“Dad! I need money,” Holly called to him.

“You should go to her. I need to tell Sharon about my lunch plans.”

He nodded. “I’ll see you in about an hour.”

She inclined her head and turned to walk away, then pivoted back. “Derek?”

“Yes?”

“You owe me a proper hello,” she said, then turned, her high heels clicking as she walked.

He closed his eyes and exhaled hard, trying to let himself think. But only short spurts of thought penetrated the haze of surprise and desire clouding his head.

Gabrielle was back.

And she definitely wasn’t ready to leave the past where it belonged.

GABRIELLE CAUGHT UP WITH Sharon, who had cornered a salesman into demonstrating various coffeemakers. She found Gabrielle and quickly turned back to the salesman. “I’ll take that one,” she said.

“Are you sure?”

Sharon nodded.

“I’ll go get it from the back,” the man said.

“Thank you,” she said, then whirled on Gabrielle. “Well?”

“Well.” Usually not at a loss for words, Gabrielle splayed her hands in front of her, unable to express what had just occurred. She needed time to digest it herself.

“Are you okay?” Sharon asked, her voice filled with concern.

“He called me Gabby,” she said, admitting what had sent her into an emotional tailspin.

Nobody but Derek had ever shortened her name. Hearing it again on his lips had brought back a flood of memories, some good, some bad. Like the late-night phone calls, whispering so she wouldn’t wake her parents, and the long nights tossing and turning afterward, fighting the urge to call him just to hear his voice or the sound of his breathing while she fell asleep.

Whenever she had good news, Derek was the first person she’d tell. And when something went wrong in her life, he was the one she’d turn to for a shoulder to cry on. She didn’t always do as he suggested, and she recalled his frequent frustration at her single-minded determination to do what she wanted. But he’d always supported her.

She’d loved him for that.

She’d loved him. Period.

Sharon placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’m here if you want to talk.”

Gabrielle smiled. “And I appreciate that so much. Listen, they invited me to stay and have lunch with them. Derek said he’d drive me back later to pick up my car.”

The salesman strode through a set of double doors with a large box in his hands.

“Did you pick that one in a rush? Because I don’t want you to have to come back and return it later,” Gabrielle said.

Sharon unzipped her purse and pulled out her wallet. “I was killing time waiting for you, so I made him earn his commission,” she whispered.