Brent arched an eyebrow, giving Gabriel the same look Darius had moments ago, and folded his arms. “Check on things? Because? I mean, with all the technology,” he said, waving a hand toward the elaborate computer setup, “I can see why that would be necessary.”

Darius let out a short bark of laughter. “Yeah, that’s the same thing I said. I think Gabe is falling for a small-town girl and is trying to run away.”

Gabriel really wanted to punch his friend. Darius had always been able to read him—and everyone else—and he hated it. His friend was dead-on, but Gabriel wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing that. No, he’d cling to his story, no matter how weak it sounded. “There’s no need to run from something that hasn’t happened.” He spun his chair back toward the computer. “If the two of you are done, I have work to do.” When neither commented, Gabriel glanced their way. Both Brent and Darius sat staring at him with goofy smiles on their faces. “What?”

“If you want to continue to live in denial-land, that’s fine.” Brent shrugged. “Since you’re here, I’m sure you want to see a little nightlife, so we can meet up at our usual place tonight.”

Gabriel agreed readily. “I’m down. It’ll be nice to hear something other than the crickets at sunset.” And the bar and grill always had a packed house and live music. The perfect thing to keep his mind off Serenity.

That evening Gabriel found out he’d been wrong. Nothing had been able to erase his thoughts of her—not even the laughter, a great band, and delicious food. At one point, a sexy woman strolled over to their table, slipped him her phone number, and leaned down to whisper an offer that left nothing to his imagination. A decade ago he might have taken her up on a night of uninhibited passion, but not tonight. He compared the woman to Serenity and found her lacking in every way. Gabriel didn’t mind an assertive woman and one confident about her sexuality, but pressing her body against his and trying to touch him before asking his name turned him off. Completely.

Brent and Darius broke out in laughter as soon as the woman left the table. Brent said, “Man, clearly she was ready to do anything. Back in the day, you wouldn’t have hesitated. Hell, I might not have, either,” he added, his gaze following the woman as she sashayed across the room.

Gabriel saluted Brent with his drink. “Key phrase is back in the day. I’m way past jumping into bed with women I don’t know.” Not that he’d ever made it a practice of having one-night stands. He considered himself to be pretty discriminating when it came to who he allowed in his bed.

“What about with one you do know?” Darius asked pointedly.