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always tied back in a ponytail or braided. He suddenly wondered
what it would feel like loose and flowing down around them both as she rode
him.
    “Fuck!”
Gabe muttered as he caught himself. Why did random thoughts like that keep
popping into his head? He sucked down the rest of the water and headed to the
shower. He had some amends to make today and after that he was going to stay as
far away from Riley Sinclair as he could.
     
    ***
    Riley
checked her watch as she left the bathroom and went to the kitchen to grab her
keys and purse. The bar would be opening soon and she was hoping to catch Mac
before any customers got there. She swiped up her keys and swung her purse over
her shoulder before rushing out the door. In the hallway, she locked her door
and then searched through her purse for her mace. After Gabe’s rant last night
about what could happen to her walking the streets at night by herself, she’d
decided that it would be safer to drive to work going forward. She’d have to
leave a bit earlier to try and find parking but Gabe had been right that she’d
been putting her safety at risk. But it was the middle of the day and she could
use the exercise. She would just make sure to keep the mace within easy reach
in her pocket.
    As
she searched the contents of her bag, her fingers brushed against something
unfamiliar. A business card. But it was unlike any business card she’d ever
seen before. The front just said “Shane” in plain black, bold print. Shane had
gotten her purse for her last night – he must have put the card in it before
giving it back to her.
    She
flipped the card over and saw there was a single phone number and email address
on the back. But it was the handwritten note that immediately caught her
attention. It looked hastily scrawled and said ‘ Don’t give up on him .’ What did that mean? Was he talking about
Gabe? Give up on him? How could she give up on someone that wasn’t even a part
of her life? Confused, she studied the card for a few more seconds and then
shoved it back in her purse. What kind of work did Shane do that warranted a
card with just his first name on the front and a phone number and email on the
back?
    She
shook her head and put it out of her mind as her fingers closed around the
mace. At the same time she heard the door behind her swing open and she spun
around to see Gabe watching her. His gaze fell to the mace in her hand and she
didn’t miss the twitch in his jaw as he realized what it meant. Gabe pulled the
door closed behind him but didn’t move any further. Riley turned back to her
own door, confirmed it was locked, and then headed for the stairs.
    “Riley.”
    “Don’t
start with me Gabe.” She trotted down the stairs but didn’t slow when she heard
him behind her.
    “I
wanted to apologize,” he started but she ignored him and kept walking. She
heard his footsteps stop and she sighed in relief.
    “Please.”
    Riley
stopped when she heard the longing in his voice. She guessed that he wasn’t the
type of man to ever ask for anything and “please” probably wasn’t a word he
used often. She remembered Shane’s note. Stopping at the end of the walkway,
she debated for a moment and then finally turned to face him. He seemed
relieved and it only took him a few long strides to close the distance between
them.
    “Last
night…” he began and then seemed to consider his words for a moment. “I can’t
say I’m sorry for what happened in the bar.”
    When
she started to turn away from him he moved so that he blocked her path. “But I
am sorry for making you leave…I should have asked you if that was what you
wanted.” She had relaxed her stance somewhat so he continued. “And after, in
the alley, I shouldn’t have done that. I was trying to make a point and I went
too far. I’m sorry.”
    Riley
studied him for a moment and then finally nodded. He seemed sincere. “Let’s
just forget it, okay?” She started to walk again.
    “I
was wondering if