Snippet Saturday ~ Living Spaces

Welcome to another Snippet Saturday. Today's theme is Living Spaces. Check out my excerpt and then blog hop to the links below!

Something's hot in Seattle, and it's not just the espresso.

The Seattle Steam Series

Madison's needs are simple. All she wants are two things: Make Ooo La Latté the newest trend in espresso, and seduce the sexiest cop in Seattle. But things aren't going exactly as planned.

First, Gabe's a little hung up on the fact that she's his best friend's little sister, and he's determined to keep his hands off. Second, her shop gets robbed by the increasingly violent Espresso Bandit, and now she's the only one who can identify him.

Gabe whisks her into hiding for her own protection, but soon finds his heart is under assault by the luscious—and persistent—Madison. But no matter where they hide, danger follows.

On such dangerous grounds, the trick will be to live long enough to keep the flame alive.

EXCERPT

When they reached her apartment, he took the keys from Madison's hand and unlocked the door, gesturing for her to keep silent and wait while he stepped inside. He doubted that the robber would be so brazen as to show up right away, but he wasn't taking any chances.

While she waited in the entryway, he walked around her apartment, his expression growing grimmer by the minute.

"Okay, if you think I'm going to just sit here—" Madison announced, coming up behind him. "What's wrong? You look upset."

"He was here."

"Oh, no…" She looked around her apartment and frowned at him. "How can you tell?"

Gabe turned to her in disbelief. It couldn't be possible. It could not be possible that someone would choose to live like this.

"It looks like a tornado touched down in your bedroom," he stated. "Are you telling me that this was your doing?"

Madison's eyes flashed as she folded her arms across her chest. "I was looking for my black pants."

"Well, I hope you found them," he drawled. "I need to use your restroom. Pack a bag and we'll get out of here."

"Fine." She hesitated. "I have some bras and panties hanging in the bathroom—just push them aside or ignore them."

Gabe gave an inward groan. God, does that mean the bathroom is as much of a disaster as the rest of her house?

It was, he realized a moment later, as he waded through pieces of hanging black lace.

If she'd clean up the apartment a little, one could almost see how much the place must be worth. It was a spacious apartment with a view of the Seattle waterfront.

He glanced back at the bra, his lips curving. Even while telling himself not to do it, he leaned forward to check the tag on the bra.

Victoria's Secret. Nice. Thirty-four D. Very nice. His fingers glided over the lace before he let the bra fall back against the door. Great, more fuel for his forbidden fantasies.

This would be hell, having her stay with him. To be sleeping a room away from her. He'd already been praying that his self-restraint would be on par with Maddie's bad intentions.

Eric had been right about one thing, though. She would be safe with him. And until the Espresso Bandit was caught, he didn't want anyone to have to worry about her safety.

Gabe dried his hands on a pink towel and glanced in the mirror. For a minute he fantasized about the idea of him being the one to arrest the Espresso Bandit. Get him alone and show the asshole what it felt like to get the shit kicked out of him.

He finished in the bathroom and went to sit on the plush couch in Maddie's living room. She still appeared to be packing. He could hear her singing an off-key rendition of a Madonna song. He winced. Very off-key. Good thing she hadn't attempted a career in music.

"I'm almost done, Gabe," she called from her room. "Feel free to help yourself to anything in the fridge. I think I have some leftover Pad Thai with tofu."

"Thanks, but you lost me at tofu."

She emerged from the bedroom carrying a suitcase three times the size she should've needed.

He plucked it from her grasp, aware that she was struggling. "You ready?"

"Almost," she answered, pulling a rubber band off her wrist and fixing her hair into a ponytail. The band snapped off her fingers and flew across the room.

"Damn." She hurried over to where it landed, bending over to retrieve it.

For the briefest moment she gave him the most tantalizing view of her tight ass. He stifled a groan, wanting to pull down her jeans and panties and fuck her from behind.

She straightened and finished pulling her hair back. "I'm hungry. Can we go grab dinner somewhere?"

Gabe went from having kinky thoughts to getting seriously annoyed. Where did her budget end? Did she eat every meal out?

"I've got food at my house." He ushered her out the door and locked it behind them. "I'll cook you something."

She gave him a dubious look. "You cook?"

"It comes out edible. So try not to complain too much while I'm stuck babysitting you," he replied, further annoyed by her skepticism.

Her eyes widened and he saw a flash of hurt in them. Shit. That had been below the belt. This situation hadn't been her choice.

They took the elevator downstairs and walked out to his vintage Chevelle. He unlocked the trunk and heard the tiny gasp that came from Maddie. Her face was pale when he glanced at her; her head turned at an awkward angle, like she was trying not to look in the trunk.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Her tone grew tight. "It's just…nothing."

He slammed the trunk, watching as the tension in her body visibly eased. Hmm. That was odd. He thought about pressing the issue, but decided against it.

"I'm sorry, Maddie. About what I said upstairs. I didn't mean it," he said instead, gentling his tone and holding the passenger door open for her.

She blinked at him, looking stunned. Then she shook her head as she climbed into the seat and shut the door.

Why did she look so shocked? Gabe gave her another glance and climbed into the driver's side of the car. He almost asked what he'd said, and then stopped himself. Some things were better left alone.

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