Gaby slammed the door. No. Bliss couldn’t possibly know that.
Time stood still while she struggled to reconcile the impossible with a dream.
Luther touched her back. “Take a breath, honey.”
“You!” Gaby turned on him. “Are you out of your fucking mind?”
“Probably, but it doesn’t change anything.”
It hurt. More than anything ever had, it hurt. Gaby shook her head.
“I know you care about me. By now you have to know that I care about you. And Gaby? Nothing else matters.”
He caught her when she would have turned away. Jerking her into his chest, he reiterated, “Nothing.”
“That’s because you don’t know.”
He went solemn, serious. “I know I didn’t kill Oren or his relatives. I know you protected me. And I know I’m glad to be alive.”
Gaby’s brain went blank. How could he . . . ?
He swayed her from side to side. “I know that Bliss confirmed what I’d already suspected.”
“Oh God, Luther, you should stop now, while you can.” If he didn’t stop, she might be convinced, and then they could both be doomed.
“I can’t. We’re an item, Gaby, now and forever.” He kissed the top of her head. “It’s meant to be.”
Desperation clawed at her heart. “Because Bliss said so? You don’t even believe in that stuff!” He didn’t believe in her.
But . . . he hadn’t turned her out for lying about Oren. In fact, he’d almost sounded grateful.
“What can I say, Gaby? You’ve made a believer of me.” Luther set her away from him. “Now, much as I realize you’re pretty superhuman—”
Her mind stalled on that description. Not a freak, but . . . superhuman.
“—I’m still just a man, and I’d prefer we ease into the physical part of this relationship little by little. Perhaps tomorrow works for you? I can get out of the station early. What do you say?”
Her brain was still contemplating the odd compliment he’d given. “What are you talking about?”
“I need to make love with you, Gaby.” His gaze skimmed down her body, and came back to her face. He inhaled. “But I’m throwing a lot at you all at once, so I’m trying to be noble. I want to give you time. I want you with me every step of the way.”
Oh, when it came to the sexual side of their relationship, she was with him. “How much time?”
He smiled. “Tomorrow sounds good to me, after we’ve had a chance to talk things out, figure out how we’re going to do this. But for right now . . . Being this close to you with you dressed like that and a bed right there is testing my control.”
The shock of Luther’s proposition wore off, and the possibility of acceptance presented itself. Gaby looked at her bed. Did she dare?
Luther took her hand. “What do you say, Gaby? Want to go out to dinner with our friends?”
Their friends.
Just like a normal couple.
Gaby turned her back on Luther, desperate for a clear thought. But from the first, he’d kept her thoughts jumbled and skewed her perspective.
And maybe . . . just maybe, that had been God’s plan all along. Was it possible she needed to learn acceptance? And in acceptance, could she have it all?
It was worth the risk. It had to be.
Keeping her back to him, but unable to keep her heart any longer, Gaby nodded. “Okay, Luther. I’d like that.”