Chapter 7

Clockwork Armageddon

Gabriel couldn't sleep. He could have blamed it on Lillian's phone call or his worries about the Catalyst Code, but he knew what the problem was, Riley Neal. He had done a pretty good job over the years of pushing her out of his mind, but there was no avoiding his thoughts when she was right here strutting around in a sexy pirate outfit. It was enough to drive any man crazy. Mac had stared at her breasts so much during dinner that it made him want to punch him in the nose.

Why was he feeling like this? He was over her. Wasn't he?

He was in a bad mood and the last thing he wanted to do right now was go to New York. Shouldn't he be more worried about who had broken or stolen his code than he was about an old girlfriend who had dumped him? Enough of this! He was getting up.

He got out of bed and padded down the hall to the kitchen in his pajama bottoms and bare feet. He'd had too much bourbon after Lillian's phone call. Instead of calming him down, it had made him more hyped up, and now he couldn't sleep. Maybe a glass of milk and something to eat would do the trick.

He reaches the kitchen. The light above the sink is on. It looks like someone else is up. As he rounds the corner he sees who it is.

Riley Neal is trying to reach a box of cocoa on the top shelf of his mother's kitchen while leaning on her cane. She is wearing his T-shirt and very little else as far as he can tell from the way her lovely bottom is hanging out beneath it.

Like a big cat he moves silently up behind her until he is almost touching her and says, "Can I help …oomph!

She elbows him in the stomach but he catches her by the shoulders before she can fall off her cane.

"You shouldn't sneak up on me like that. I was just going to make some cocoa," she says not turning around.

He lifts her hair up off one shoulder and gently puts his lips on the spot where her neck and shoulder meet. She moans softly and he feels her lean into him ever so slightly. She turns in his arms to face him with a protest on her lips, but he captures her lips with his own, thrusting his tongue deep into her mouth. At first she is shocked into stillness, but then she begins to kiss him back. Encouraged, he puts his hands around her waist lifting her up until she's sitting on the kitchen counter. He slips his hands down to her hips and pulls her into him. He feels a rush of lust and presses his lips harder into hers, but then her hands are pushing against his chest.

He ignores her willing her to give in. It almost works. She begins to kiss him back, but then he feels her hands pushing against his chest again and she starts moving her head from side to side trying to avoid his kiss. Reluctantly, he raises his head and looks down at her with smoldering eyes.

"Let's take this to my bedroom," he says huskily.

She looks up at him for a long moment and he stares right into her big brown eyes willing her to say yes.

"Gabriel, I'm sorry. I can't. I didn't mean to … Please, let me go," she says her voice breaking.

"You make it sound like I was trying to rape you. I thought you wanted this … wanted me," he says.

"I'm sorry. I did, but I just can't. Please …" she lets her words trail off and looks away.

"You know, if it's the machine thing, I'm not asking you to marry me. I just want to ..." he stops himself when he sees the look on her face.

"Fine," he says curtly, lifting her down from the counter and moving to one side. He doesn't feel like a machine now. In fact, he's never felt more human. Why did she have to come back into his life now?

Changing the subject, she asks, "Were you having trouble sleeping too?"

"Yeah, I had too many bourbons and I kept thinking about you in your pirate outfit," he says.

"Would you like me to make us some cocoa?" she asks, "It always used to help you sleep."

"To be honest, I have other plans for you," he says.

"If you'll get the cocoa down for me, I'll put it in the milk I've heated," she says.

Grudgingly, he retrieves the cocoa and sits it next to her on the counter.

"And could you get me the sugar and a half cup measure as well," she asks.

He complies sitting them next to the stove and goes to sit at the stool across the counter from her. Her face is flushed as she stirs the sugar into the heating milk. He almost groans aloud when he notices that her nipples are hard beneath his T-shirt.

"I was looking through the things your friend left in the closet, and I didn't notice much for a warm climate," she says stirring in the cocoa.

"Write down your sizes. I'll give them to my assistant and she can get my people to buy you and Michael what you need. There should be a closet full of beach wear waiting for both of you on the island by the time you get there. All you have to worry about is what to wear on the plane tomorrow," he says.

"Wow, I was just going to ask you if I could pick us up a few things from Wal-Mart. I can't get used to Gabriel the rich man. Since when did you ever know about clothes?" she asks still stirring.

"Oh I still don't know about clothes, but I know how to hire someone who does. Things have changed since I was living on a civil servant salary," he says.

"It wasn't all bad. Remember some of those cheap joints you used to take me to?" she asks.

"Like that pancake joint with the Mexican name, what was it?" he asks.

"Chico's maybe, I can't remember, but those were good pancakes," she says getting down two coffee cups and pouring cocoa into them from the pan, "Here you go," she says placing the cup in front of him.

"I missed your cocoa," he says picking up the cup and sipping his, "nobody makes it like you."

"Sure they do, but thanks, Gabriel," she says as she picks up her cup and blows on the hot cocoa, "I can't thank you enough for what you've done for me and Michael. I know you've put yourself and your family at risk to help us, and I just want you to know how much I appreciate it. You're a good friend Gabriel, even when I don't deserve it."

"No matter what happens between us, Riley, I'll always be there when you need me," Gabriel says.

"Gabriel, there's something I should tell you …" she begins.

He looks warily into her big brown eyes.

"Never mind. It will keep. I'm going to bed and this time I can do it all by myself," she says picking up her cocoa and heading for the door, "See you in the morning."

He lets her go because he knows he can't stand at her bedroom door again without coming inside. He grinds his teeth in frustration and sips his cocoa. He'll never get to sleep now. Might as well go get some work done.