Read Gabe (Men of Clifton Montana Book 2) for Free Online Page B

I want it too, Jake.” Then he strode from the barn, hopped in his truck,
and tore out of the driveway.
    Jake was
wrong. Gabe wanted a family. He hadn’t actually realized it until now. The
question was did he want it with Emma Conner? He was
still angry as he drove toward town. He had errands to run but now he wasn’t
even able to think of what they were. Maybe he should’ve agreed to stay for
dinner. He wondered what the discussion was at that dinner table. Would Jake lecture Emma on him? Warn her to stay
away from him? Should he stay away from Emma? He knew Jake was right about her
wanting a family. Emma Conner was the kind of woman who dreamed of white picket
fences, and a house filled with children . When he
reached a crossroad, he turned the truck around and headed back. The only thing
he needed to do right now was go home, grab a beer, and do some serious
thinking.

 
    * * * *

 
    The next
day, Emma sat at the front desk watching the kids run in and out with a smile on her face. Olivia sat beside her and
growled. “Could they just stay in or out?”
    Emma
couldn’t resist chuckling at Olivia’s annoyance. “They’re kids, Liv. Don’t you
remember what it was like being that little?”
    Olivia
glanced away from her. “ No. I didn’t have that kind
of childhood, Emma. My childhood consisted of moving from foster home to foster
home, and pissing off the people who took me in.” She shrugged, dropping her
gaze to the register on the desk.
    Emma put
her arm around her. “I’m so sorry. I know you had a
rough time but you’ve never told me how rough.”
    Olivia
moved away from her. “I’ll tell you someday, just not today.” She gave her a
sad smile and disappeared into the kitchen. Emma felt horrible reminding Olivia
of her bad childhood. She didn’t know the entire story but from what she’d
gathered, it hadn ’t been a good one until she’d met Becca and her parents. Emma had heard
Olivia say Becca had saved her. She hoped one day
Olivia would tell her so she might understand her friend better.
    She
redirected her attention toward the door with a smile on her lip s until she saw Gabe enter. The smile immediately left her
face. Her gaze ran over that tall frame, and then she looked around for a place
to hide. Too late, he’d already seen her. Why did he keep showing up? Biting
back a sigh, she sat up straighter and w aited for him
to get to the desk. He sauntered up, leaned his hip against the counter, and
smiled at her. He nodded his chin toward the kids running in and out. “I wish I
had half their energy.” He chuckled.
    Emma
smiled but didn’t say anything. She kept he r face
down, pretending to look at the reservation book. Out of the corner of her eye,
she saw Gabe rest his elbows on the desk. “Are you going to continue to ignore
me, Emma?” The timbre of his voice slid over her like warm honey making her
want to melt i nto his arms. She gazed up at him and
just as fast, wished she hadn’t. Her heart hit her stomach like a rock.
    “I’m not
ignoring you, Gabe. Why would I do that?”
    He
raised an eyebrow. “I have no idea, but you seem to be doing just that.”
    Emma
sighed in frus tration. “Why are you here? Did you
need something?” She watched as he straightened up, and walked around the desk
to her. She backed up as he moved toward her.
    “Yes, I
do need something. Do you want to know what it is?” When she shook her head to
indicate no, he chuckled. “Too bad.” He cupped her face in his hands
and leaned his face down to hers. “I need this,” he whispered before pressing
his lips to hers. She moaned in response. “Open your mouth for me, darlin’.”
When she did, he groaned low in his thro at as he
wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him. Her hands moved up his
chest to his neck and wrapped around his shoulders. Gabe pushed his arousal
against her.
    Good
Lord! She needed this. She needed Gabe. He pulled back from her and looked down into her