Getting Gabriel Read Online Free PDF

shouted. "We’ve got sitcoms, news, the weather channel! Yippie! You must have been doing something right up there!"
    A thud echoed through the roof, then Gabriel’s legs, jeans torn and splattered with what seemed like at least three colors of paint, appeared just outside the window. Then he fell down, landing with an "oof". She leaned out the window to find him sitting in the grass just outside, rubbing his knee and looking dirty, sweaty, disgruntled and irresistible.
    She hated it when he looked irresistible.
    She grinned at him. "Hey there. Ever heard of this nifty little invention called a ladder?"
    "Yep. I used one to get up, but the toolbox knocked it down when it fell."
    "I see. I guess we’re lucky you didn’t fall yourself and land with the toolkit on your head. But hey – we’ve got a working television! Maybe there is hope for you yet."
    He glared at her. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."
    "Mmmm," Alice said. "Nice t-shirt. Are the rips home-made or designed?"
    "Why would I buy a ripped shirt?"
    "You know, you should get women friends of yours to help you out with the house repairs. Guaranteed to get you lucky."
    Why was she saying this? Did she want women plastered all over Gabriel?
    Other women?
    "There’s something so sexy about a man holding a hammer," she prattled on. "I edited a terrific article on it last week – ‘Hardware, Hormones and Hotties.’"
    "Fascinating. Remind me not to read it."
    She leaned on her elbows out the window, rested her chin on her hands and grinned down at him. Lord, he was cute when he was scowling. "Surly and grumpy. You haven’t changed much since you were sixteen, have you?"
    Gabriel got to his feet and brushed loose dirt of his pants. It didn’t help a lot. "Are you here for a reason, or did you just need someone to bug?"
    Alice shook her head. "Sometimes it’s hard to believe you’re your father’s son. I saw him on television last evening. He certainly charmed the brain out of that reporter. You must have charm hidden away somewhere in your genes."
    Gabriel motioned her to step back away from the window, grabbed the edges and climbed in. He leaned against the windowsill and held out his hands, inspecting the grimy palms. "Charm is overrated. So is my father." He tucked his fists in his armpits and looked her over. "Want something to drink?"
    Alice cheered. "Manners! Perhaps your father did teach you something after all."
    "Right." Gabriel headed into the kitchen and Alice trailed after him, taking care not to trip over all the junk lying everywhere. He reached inside the fridge and tossed her a can of lemonade and got a beer for himself. "I don’t have a lot to choose from and I don’t suppose you’ll want a beer. Lemonade okay?"
    "Thanks. Have your parents been to visit yet?"
    "Nope."
    "This was your aunt’s house, wasn’t it? It’s still a total dump. You aren’t serious about living here, are you?"
    "Yes, it’s my aunt’s house, and yes, I’m serious about living here. Anything else you need to know?"
    Alice made repeated attempts to lift herself up to jump on the counter to sit there. It didn’t quite work. Gabriel put his can down and crossed over to her. He grabbed her around the waist and lifted her up on the counter.
    "Uh, thanks," she said, fighting back a sudden blush and distracting herself by squirming into position, her feet dangling down. "You’re strong."
    "Nah." Gabriel leaned against the fridge and looked her up and down. "You’re just tiny."
    "I know," she sighed. "I blame my mother. She smoked during my pregnancy, dooming me to a life of stepladders and pats on the head. I’d probably be at least two inches taller if it weren’t for the curse of tobacco."
    "Don’t worry. Tiny is irresistible. Makes men fall all over themselves wanting to protect you."
    "Really?" Alice perked up. "Men find that attractive? I thought they all wanted long legs and someone they don’t have to put up on a pedestal to get them within kissing