“Morning,” she said against my back.
My body became warm at her complete ease with hugging me. Not in a sexual way, but because I knew with absolute certainty that everything I’d ever hoped and imagined life with Gaby could be like, was true. I’d never felt so whole and completely at ease with myself than I did in this moment.
I turned in her arms and held her tightly, breathing in the sweet fragrance of her, my heart beating happily in my chest.
After a few minutes, she pulled back and I offered her the cup of coffee. She took it with a sweet smile, bringing it to her nose to inhale briefly, as if the caffeine could hit her bloodstream through smell alone.
I took her hand and led her outside, where I’d set up a bench that normally sat under a big tree in front of the lake with a large soft blanket for us to cuddle under as we watched the sky light up with the morning light.
When we were all settled in, blanket around our shoulders, coffee cup in one hand, Gaby’s soft delicate hand in the other, I looked down into her beautiful face. “Thank you.”
She looked up at me, nose wrinkled in confusion. “For what?”
“For giving me a chance,” I said truthfully.
“Scott,” Gaby’s eyes were wide and glittery, “I had a crush on you long before that fateful junior year. Obviously we went to school together for a long time, and I always noticed you around school. Until Cal and Shelly started dating, we never hung out in the same circles, but I remember sitting three seats behind you in science class when we were in junior high, and I thought you were the most beautiful boy I’d ever seen. You were always quiet, focused on track and hanging out with Cal … then TJ, and you were never without a girl on your arm. But I have to admit, I always wished it was me there next to you … I’m happy to be here now.”
The last bit of fear and uncertainty flipped out of me at her words.
“Gabs,” I said as I released a deep breath. There was nothing I could say to that, so I leaned down to capture her lips and relay what her words meant to me through a tender kiss.
“I’m happy you’re here too,” I said when I pulled my lips from hers.
She leaned her head on my shoulder and snuggled in as we both looked up at the sky. When the sun broke, and the sky began to fill with orange and yellow lights, I asked her, “I have to go to a charity event for Brandt on Friday, black tie … Would you come with me?”
“I’d like that,” Gaby replied. I swore I could hear the smile in her voice and I smiled in response.
I wanted Gaby to see how she would fit into my life in every aspect, and attending one of Brandt’s events was a perfect opportunity. I was expected to attend all events, and he had them quite often.
We sat in silence, our gazes to the sky, until the sun was up and our coffee was gone.
“You hungry?” Gaby asked after a while.
“Yeah, you?” I responded.
“Yes,” she replied, letting the blanket fall from her shoulders as she stood up. “I’ll make breakfast, since you made coffee … and lunch yesterday.”
“Sounds good,” I said as I took her hand in mine and led her back to the house.
I sat at the counter as Gaby got out the makings for French toast. When she pulled out the cream cheese and strawberries, I asked what she was doing with them and she replied, “Stuffed French Toast. With bacon, of course.”
I was seriously going to marry this woman.
While she worked, Gaby entertained me with stories from the bakery.
“She grabbed the wrong dye from the store, and ended up with purple fingers.” Gaby was in the middle of telling me about her co-worker Suzy’s first time being responsible for buying ingredients for a last-minute cake order, and getting it all wrong. “She couldn’t get it off for three weeks! I thought she’d quit after that, but she stuck with it. I’m happy she did. She’s a hard worker.”
She put the plate in front of me. There was French toast stuffed with strawberries and cream cheese, topped with powdered sugar with syrup on the side, and crispy bacon. She finished it off with a fresh cup of coffee and a glass of orange juice.
“You’re going to spoil me,” I said with a grin as I picked up my utensils, eager to dig in.
“It’ll be my pleasure,” Gaby said sincerely, her eyes on mine.
I looked back at her, put my silverware back down, and stood up, pushing my chair back and rounding the counter to take her in my arms. I brought my hand up to the back of her head and fisted her hair, tugging it lightly to bring her head back, then took her lips with mine. The kiss was hard and deep, then softened as the taste of her filled me. Her arms came around my waist and brought me closer to her, and she matched my intensity.
I was just about to say to hell with it and pick her up when a low voice came from behind us, “I guess I should have called first.”
I broke from Gaby and turned, wincing when I saw Brock standing in the entryway. He looked rumpled and tired, like he’d gotten up before the crack of dawn to drive out.