Rush

put the plate on the coffee
     table. “I guess I don’t understand what you’re so pissed about. So I had a little
     to drink. I’m sure you’ve done the same a time or two.”
    He put his own plate down and then sat forward so he could stare into her face. “You
     think that’s what I’m pissed about?”
    She shrugged. “Either that or because I went out to the club with my friends. Either
     way, your reaction seems extreme.”
    “Extreme.” He sucked in his breath, simmering with anger. He shoved a hand through
     his hair and shook his head. “You have no clue, do you?”
    “Enlighten me then because I’m lost.”
    “I knew you were going out, Mia. Why you couldn’t have just told me the truth to begin
     with I’m not sure. Did you think I wouldn’t allow you to go? I know you have friends.”
    “Is that why you’re angry? I don’t know why I didn’t just sayexactly what I was doing, Gabe. Maybe I did worry you wouldn’t want me to go.”
    “Hell no that isn’t why I’m furious,” he bit out. “I get a call from my driver because
     he was never called to pick you up. Nothing. You weren’t at your apartment so I could
     only think you’d taken a cab. You and your friends, out to a club. No protection.
     Getting into some cab with God knows who and then coming home drunk off your ass,
     alone, in a cab, at two o’clock in the damn morning.”
    She blinked in complete surprise. That wasn’t at all what she thought he’d say.
    “This isn’t about me controlling you or you needing my permission to go out, Mia.
     It’s about you being careful. It’s about me being worried out of my mind because I
     had no idea where you were, if you were safe. You weren’t answering my calls or texts
     so I couldn’t even send the driver to where you were to wait on you. Hell, since you
     weren’t answering my calls or my texts, I was imagining you dead in a dumpster somewhere!”
    Guilt hit her hard. Damn it, he was right. He’d been worried—really worried about
     her—and she’d been out drinking and having a good time while he worried about her
     being hurt—or dead.
Ugh.
    “I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I didn’t think. I mean, it didn’t even occur to me.”
    He frowned. “And you came home by yourself. What if I hadn’t been there, Mia? Would
     you have even made it to your apartment or would you have fallen and passed out on
     the sidewalk?”
    “Caroline went home with someone else,” she said quietly. “He got me the cab.”
    “Well at least he did that much,” Gabe said in disgust. “You should have called me,
     Mia. I would have come to get you no matter how late it was.”
    Warmth filled her heart. There was genuine worry in his eyes along with the anger
     and frustration. He’d been worried about her. She leaned forward putting her hands
     to his face. Then she kissed him.
    “I’m sorry,” she said again. “It was thoughtless of me.”
    He slid his hands up her neck and into her hair, holding her there just inches from
     his mouth. “Just don’t let it happen again. I assigned a driver to you for a reason,
     Mia. It doesn’t mean he just takes you to work and back when you aren’t with me. If
     you need to go somewhere—anywhere—you call him. Understand? If you ever find yourself
     in a situation like that again, you call me. I don’t give a fuck what time it is,
     you call me. If you can’t reach me then you goddamn better well call your brother
     or Ash. You understand?”
    She nodded.
    “We both need a nap,” he said, stroking her face with his hands. “You didn’t sleep
     well and I didn’t sleep. Right now I want to take you to bed and hold you while we
     rest. When you’re feeling better I’ll redden that pretty ass for worrying the hell
     out of me.”

chapter twenty-seven
    Mia sat cross-legged on Gabe’s bed, devouring the pizza he’d had delivered. It was
     oh-my-God good just the way she liked it. Extra cheese, light sauce and thick crust.
    He watched her in amusement as she licked her fingers clean before sinking back against
     the pillows with a sigh.
    “That was wonderful,” she said. “You’re spoiling me, Gabe. There’s no other word for
     it.”
    His eyes gleamed devilishly. “I’d wait until later before you start saying how much
     I spoil you.”
    Her body did an instant clench as heat surged through her veins. Try as she might,
     she couldn’t muster any dread of the coming spanking he’d promised her. If