I am in a trance as pick up the mug and bring it to my lips. Well, that is until its taste hits my mouth and I end up spitting the liquid out.


    "That''s disgusting. How do you even stand it?" I question, wiping my mouth.


    For the first time, I hear Gabrielugh. It''s a deep and sultryugh that does things to my body. The kind ofugh that makes you forget your name. Am I the only one who findsughs attractive? He shrugs his shoulders, "It''s something you acquire a taste for over time. It''s not for everyone."


    It''s like I''ve lost my damn voice, so instead I just nod my head. I''m still stuck on the fact that Gabrielughed. Hisugh then turns into a beautiful genuine smile. One that I have never seen before. It''s captivating and part of me hates that it captivated me.


    "Are you okay?" he pushes himself close. "You look awestruck."


    "You have a beautifulugh and smile"


    The moment those words are out of my mouth, I feel like punching myself. Why would I say that? Why would I let those words slip from my lips? Thest thing I wanted was for him to think that I still had something for him.


    "What?"


    "Nothing" I rush to say, before spinning around and grabbing a kitchen rag to wipe the small droplets that fell on the counter when I spit the coffee out.


    I could feel my cheek burning from embarrassment. I let my head fall, so my hair could hide my ming cheeks.


    Gabriel was different. So fucking


    different from before and it was starting to affect me. Part of me liked this new him, but the other was desperate for the viin he was. That way could continue hating him and keeping my distance.


    "Harper-" he calls my name, but I continue wiping the counter,pletely ignoring him.


    In fact, I am about to escape to my


    room in the next two seconds. I needed to get my head straight. Keep myself focused and my head back in the game. There was no time for old feelings. I couldn''t allow myself to get lost in him like I did years ago.


    Gabriel wasn''t a one-woman kind of


    man. There was also so much


    history between us. So much pain and hate for us to ever work out. Falling for him again would only fead to disaster. Getting involved with him will lead to my heartbreak. I


    couldn''t allow that.


    I couldn''t go back to the girl whose heart hurt and bled day in day out. It would kill me to go through that a second time. I had Lilly to think of, and she deserved a mother who was not nursing a heartbreak. Throwing the rag in the sink, I was about to leave when he grabbed my hand, pulling me to him.


    "Look at me, Harper," hemands.


    When I don''t obey, he ces his finger on my chin before lifting my head. My eyes sh with his intense grey ones. I couldn''t handle the intensity, so I shift my eyes, trying to look at anywhere except at him.


    A gasp leaves my mouth when he runs his finger along my lips. I stare at him only to find his eyes fixed on my lips. There was a need throbbing inside me. Something was pushing me to move closer and seal our lips.


    It seems like he has the same thought because he starts to lean down. I close my eyes, as I feel him close, just a breath away.


    "What are you doing?" Lilly''s voice breaks the spell, making us jump away from each other.


    My heart is beating wildly as I stare at my daughter, not really sure what to tell her... Andpletely horrified that I almost kissed Gabriel.