Triple Time Read Online Free PDF Page A

three. For the thousandth time, she mentally rehearsed her speech.
    Hey, Gabe. Thanks for rescuing me in the park last week. Even though I really didn’t need rescuing. Can I ask you for one more teeny, tiny favor? Help find my brother who got separated from me in foster care when I was thirteen.
    Ugh. It didn’t sound any better in her head than it had in the living/bedroom of her tiny studio apartment. But she was running out of options.
    Devin groaned. She hated, hated, hated asking for help. Especially when she didn’t have anything to offer in return. Well, nothing a guy like Gabe would want, anyway.
    She ran through a few more variations of her speech but wasn’t any closer to knowing what she would say when the doors opened.
    â€œCan I help you?” A pretty, way-too-pert receptionist greeted Devin when she stepped off the elevator.
    â€œI’m here to see Gabe Nelson.”
    â€œDo you have an appointment?” She clicked a few buttons on her desktop computer. “I don’t see anything on his schedule until after lunch.”
    â€œUm, no. Not exactly.” Devin tugged self-consciously on her T-shirt. “I’m a friend of the family.”
    A scowl creased the receptionist’s forehead. “Let me see what I can do. Who should I tell him is here?”
    â€œDevin.”
    â€œJust Devin?” She raised a skeptical eyebrow.
    Devin hitched her bag up on her shoulder and crossed her arms. “He’ll know who it is.”
    The receptionist waved her over to a line of chairs against the wall, and Devin sat while the woman spoke in low tones into the telephone. A few minutes later, Gabe rounded the corner, the confused expression on his face not detracting one damned bit from his hotness. In a charcoal-gray suit, pale blue dress shirt and burgundy tie, his dark-framed glasses made him look like a grown up, uber-sexy Harry Potter.
    â€œDevin. What brings you here? Everything okay?”
    She stood and wiped her damp hands on her cargo pants. “Can we talk in private?” The last thing she needed was the entire office hearing her sob story. Bad enough she had to tell Gabe.
    â€œSure.” He led her past the receptionist and down a narrow corridor to his office. It was Spartan but functional. Government-issue desk. Two guest chairs. Filing cabinets along the walls with an array of photos. She spotted Holly, Gabe’s parents, his younger sister, Noelle, and what she assumed was Ivy, his twin, a fashion photographer who was always off on some shoot or another. One big, smiling, happy family. Something she sure as hell never had.
    He crossed to a minifridge in the corner, opened it and held up a plastic bottle. “Want a water? Or I can have Stephanie get you some coffee?”
    â€œWater’s fine, thanks,” she croaked. Nerves were strange things. Moistening her palms. Drying her throat.
    He handed her the bottle, took one for himself and sat behind the desk, motioning for her to do the same in one of the guest chairs opposite him. “I take it this isn’t a social call.”
    He cracked open his water bottle, tipped his head back and took a long chug. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and she crossed her legs to control the tingling at her core.
    Fan-fucking-tastic.
First chest hair. Now this. What would set her off next? His toenails?
    â€œI brought you something.” She dug into her handbag. Starting with a little bribe couldn’t hurt. “To say thanks. For the other night.”
    Gabe tilted his head and gave her a cocky smile.
    â€œThe cab ride. Freak.” She plunked a Tupperware container onto the desk. “Arroz con pollo. It’s homemade.”
    â€œYou cook?”
    She shrugged. “I didn’t say whose home.”
    He laughed, a low, smoky sound that made her insides flutter. “You came all the way downtown to bring me food?”
    â€œYou looked a little peaked.” She twisted off the cap of