A phone call from a frantic teenaged babysitter meant she was going to have to leave before giving Gabriel the once-over. Sadly, he couldn’t compete with a puking six-year old who’d also had gum cut out of his hair by an older brother. It was difficult to tell which incident was the more upsetting. I’d just finished balancing the cash drawer when the sound of tapping on the door made me look up. The sun had already dipped below the horizon, and it was that beautiful time of day when it’s no longer daylight, but still not quite night. Gabriel cast a huge shadow standing in the doorway. I unlocked the door and let him in. “I just need to get my purse,” I said, relocking the door behind him. He caught my arm and pulled me close, leaning down so he could kiss me. His mouth felt wonderful on mine, and I relished the feel of his tongue as it sweetly invaded my mouth. My internal flame ignited. Naturally. “I need to . . . go get . . .” I was dangerously close to babbling when he finally let me go.
