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She hadn’t had many opportunities to watch Gabriel interact with children She never accompanied him on his volunteer work at the Italian Home for Children She’d seen him interact with Quinn, of course, but only on a few occasions

Seeing how Gabriel was protective and sith Maria tugged at her heart

The Professor was inti He had his moments when he could be cold and prim Certainly, there were ti on the balcony in Uentleness hich he treated children made her wonder what he would be like with their child He’d ruffle their son’s hair and talk about Superhter in his ar and chattering to the silent child, Julia realized that what Ta out a special side of a good ive Gabriel that opportunity

So day, Julia sat with Gabriel on the terrace of their favorite room at the Gallery Hotel Art The terrace and the room itself held so iven hiinity, and the place he returned to when he felt hi to his addictions after their separation

He was lying on the banquette, hands behind his head, looking up at the star-studded sky She was next to hirino

“You could have wine,” he said, pointing to her glass

“I’m fine ater, Super conversation I’ve been called a lot of things in my life But no one has ever called ers up and down his arot the nerve I rather like the idea of you being the handsohtly nerdy professor by day, and the sexy Man of Steel by night”

“What did I say about callingher so she was lying half on hilass, so he took it froether

“I can show you so on it,” she whispered

“I never thought of you as Lois Lane before But there’s a remarkable likeness”

Julia rolled her eyes heavenward “All this tiht you were in love with Beatrice, when really, it was Lois Lane I need to switch literary genres”

“Hardly But a little role-playing , Miss Lane”

“We’ll have to have a Halloween party so we can dress up”

Gabriel traced the line of her jaith his finger

“We don’t have to wait until Halloween”

A thrill coursed up her spine at his tone

“I look forward to that Did you have a good tiaze returning to the stars

She sighed, picking up her glass again She sipped the water as she conte happened today, didn’t it?”

“Yes”

She waited for him to comment further, but he didn’t

She put her drink on the table and went to hi her arm atop his abdomen

“Do you want to talk about it?”

He shook his head

Her heart sank “The list of things you won’t share with er”