Gabriel sat in front of his computer Saturday morning working on his app. It was only eleven, but he’d been up since six. A week had passed since the trip to Napa, and to distance himself from his growing feelings for Serenity, he’d gone back to his twelve- and fourteen-hour workdays. Outside of a phone call and a couple of texts, he and Serenity hadn’t talked. Yet each night, he went to bed with a hard-on and woke up the same way every morning. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t stop thinking about her or the passion they had shared. Typically, his relationships, if they could be termed as such, never lasted past one or two dates, and he preferred it that way because no one got hurt. He tried to apply the same approach to his relationship with Serenity, but this time he had difficulty maintaining the distance he usually craved. He shook himself and turned his attention back to the screen.

A few minutes later, his concentration slipped again. Leaning back in the chair, he dragged a hand down his face. Visions of her riding him in the Jacuzzi flashed in his mind, and his hand stilled on the keyboard. His eyes slid closed as he recalled every sensual moment of that encounter. She had treated him to the most passionate night of his life and given herself completely. But Gabriel couldn’t say the same for himself. As much as he’d enjoyed the sex, he could not bring himself to surrender his emotions totally and open the places inside him he’d purposely locked away to protect his heart. He couldn’t risk it. However, he wouldn’t mind having a repeat of the night. Gabriel pushed the thought away and went back to his work.

He managed to maintain his focus for another two hours before deciding to take a break for lunch. He rummaged through the refrigerator, but nothing jumped out at him. After a short debate with himself, he got in his car and drove over to Ms. Ida’s for some barbecue ribs. The restaurant was crowded, as usual, but it took less than fifteen minutes for him to be seated and place his order. While waiting for his food, he sent an email to Darius to give an update on his progress.

“How’s it going, Gabe?”

Gabriel glanced up from his phone to see Jon standing next to him. “Hey, Jon. It’s going. You picking up something for you and Terri?”

“No. I just stopped in for a quick bite before I head back to the office. I have to prepare for a couple of cases going to court.”

Gabriel gestured to the chair across from him. “You’re welcome to join me, if you’re eating in.”