Gabriella flung open the doors of her closet and tore through it looking for something to wear. One by one, she whipped clothes off their hangers, tossing them onto the bed as possible choices and continued searching for something better.
"What are you looking for?" Taylor asked, watching her friend rush around the room like a maniac.
"A dress, or skirt, I don't know something you wear to an engagement party."
"I thought that was next weekend."
"It is, tonight is his dad's engagement party."
Taylor raised a brow. "Right, silly me."
Gabriella trucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I don't know what to wear to a party like this. This isn't some stupid backyard gathering, his family is made of money, I'm sure they have expectations for someone like me."
"Question, are you killing yourself over what to wear because you care or because you're pretending too?"
"What?" Gabriella turned from the mirror where she was modeling a red skirt on tiptoe.
"Just admit that you like him."
"I do not," Gabriella fell back on her heal. "He's nice. That's all."
"So then why does what you wear tonight matter?"
Gabriella groaned, "It just does."
Taylor let out a laugh as fell onto the bed. "Okay, fine. I'll indulge. What about a little black dress?"
Gabriella shifted through her closet and pulled out a floral print chiffon midi tank dress. "Like this?"
"It's casual enough but still very cocktail."
Gabriella held the dress up to her body as she looked in the mirror. "Are you sure? I don't want to look like a chubby baby seal."
"You won't, that dress looks really good on you."
Without argument, Gabriella began switching into her dress. "This whole situation is giving me hives. I hate lying."
"Well, you could just face the alternative," Taylor said as she reached for a half empty bag of chips that were on the nightstand. "Tell your mom. Tell George. Cancel next weekend engagement party and let him go stag tonight.
"I rather die."
Taylor offered the bag of chips in her direction. "Then I guess you better get something for those hives."
Gabriella shook her head. "No, that's okay. I was so hungry earlier, I ate my lipstick off. Now I have to reapply it."
"Those are just your nerves. You should really learn to calm down."
Calm down? Ha! Easy for her to say. She wasn't about to deliver the performance of a lifetime to a room full of strangers. She didn't have to lie to her parents about being happily engaged to a man whose sole purpose was to get her to dump him publicly. All because he feels sorry for her.
Gabriella slid into the dress and waited for her friend's assessment, though she'd already formed her own opinion. "Well?"
Taylor's face broke into a slow grin. "Perfect."
The buzzard echoed through her apartment which had them both racing to the bedroom window overlooking the front of the bakery.
"Crap!" Gabriella said as Troy stood out on the sidewalk in front of black Aston Martin. "He's here early."
He was wearing a suit, relaxed completely cool. He adjusted the collar of his blue button-down shirt and ran his fingers through his golden chestnut hair.
"And hellooo, totally delish!" Taylor exclaimed. "I totally understand your reasons for lying."
Gabriella pulled away from the window and playful nudge Taylor with her elbow. "Shut up."
"The man can make you come just by looking at him."
Gabriella snorted and took another appreciative glance at Troy. Maybe Taylor had a point. Not that it mattered though. Troy was only doing any of this to soothe his conscience and get her out of the jam he put her in, to begin with.
"Don't worry," Taylor said, double-timing it to the stairs leading down to the bakery. "I'll stall him. Just finish getting ready."
"Tay…"
"It's okay. I'll be good, I promise." Taylor winked.
Well, Gabriella could use a few more minutes to get ready. 'Alright, tell him I'll be down in ten."
Taylor started down the stairs, then hesitated and glanced back at Gabriella. "Babe, are you sure this is just you doing him a favor?"
Gabriella nodded, confused as to why her friend was asking such a thing.
"Then do yourself a favor," she said her eyes lowering as if she were deep in thought. "Don't get too attached to Troy. It will only lead to heartbreak." She offered Gabriella a sincere smile then disappeared.
Of course, Taylor was right. Maybe if Gabriella reminded herself of that enough, she could keep from growing too fond of Troy. Thought it was probably a little too late for that already. The only way she'd be able to protect herself was by not reading into anything that happened. Pretending to date a guy she already liked wasn't going to be an issue. The problem was knowing he'd never reciprocate those feelings.
Gabriella sighed heavily and slipped on her favorite heels, she was lucky to find anything at all in her closet to wear, most of what she owned was stuff she wore around the bakery. Looking back in the mirror she nodded in approval then looked back at her face and hair. Her curls had fallen just a tad and were now relaxed around her shoulders. Grabbing her pink makeup case, she rummaged through it until she found her lipstick and compact mirror.
Once she was done she stepped back to admire her handiwork as she smacked her lips together. She cleaned up nice, her mother would be so proud to see her all dolled up for a guy. A guy with an Aston Martin. Gabriella went to the window one last time and looked down at the car outside the bakery.
She took a moment and wondered. Wondered if a guy like Troy would ever really fall for a small-town baker like her. She wasn't as beautiful as some of the women she saw at her mother's social elite events. She didn't have the right clothes or know the right things to say. She hoped she didn't embarrass him tonight.
"Let's do this," she said out loud to herself. With a small clutch in hand, Gabriella headed downstairs, rounded the corner, and stopped in her tracks. Taylor leaned lazily against the counter next to the cash register while Troy had his back turned to her, working diligently on an electrical outlet on the opposite wall. That outlet hadn't worked since Gabriella had acquired the place.
He already had the cover off and three wires- a black, a white and a copper one- exposed, hanging loosely from the small square hole in the wall as he set down the broken outlet he picked up another. Where the hell did he get that?
"Well, aren't you just handy," Gabriella said stepping down into the bakery. "Funny, I didn't ask you to fix my broken outlet."
Troy let out a huff as he turned around to see her. "Hello to you too, beautiful," he said with a wink.
Gabriella's gaze shifted to Taylor. Tay was grinning her ass off at the verbal exchange. "What?" Taylor asked.
"Did you ask him to fix it?"
"She didn't have to," he said casually. "I noticed the scorch marks on the outside of the outlet last night so before I left the job site today I remembered to pick up a new plug."
"So you steal too?"
Troy laughed, "Is it stealing when I own the company?" he grasped the white wire and wound it around the end of the screwdriver he held making a loop and connected it to the new outlet. "Besides I'm just trying to keep your bakery from burning down. Isn't that what a doting fiancé would do for his electrically ignorant bride-to-be?"
Taylor belted out a laugh, but Gabriella eyed him suspiciously. "You're looking to get another dessert out of this, aren't you?"
His mouth quirked as he finished screwing the outlet cover back on. "Damn straight."
From head to toe, she looked amazing. Her silky dark hair cascaded down, which suited her best. It was humanly impossible not to image running his fingers through it. The dress, while modest accentuated the curve of her breast. The dip at the neckline went just low enough to hint, but not quite tease, while the fabric clung just right to show off the swing of her hips.
The car ride was quiet. She didn't say anything after leaving the bakery. She seemed deep in thought. Closed off, even, which was good. The more she kept her distance, the easier doing this would be.
He'd almost lost it last night. Even though they were still practically strangers, last night felt comfortable. Like two old friends. Or more accurately, two new lovers who had been friends for years. He wanted to kiss her. Kept itching to touch her even if it was just to pluck some lint from her hair.
"Are you okay?"
"I've never been in a car like this?"
Troy felt his lips pull up into a small grin. Truthful he was showing off just a little bit. He was always more comfortable driving his truck, but for some reason, he wanted to impress her. "I figured we should arrive in style tonight."
She smiled as she fidgeted with the hem of her dress.
"Penny for your thoughts," he said coming to a stop at a red light.
"You're very hard to read. I mean, one minute you're driving a pickup truck, wearing flannel and shoveling five cupcakes into your mouth. Tonight, you're different. You seem very…scary."
He laughed. "I scare you?"
"I mean, on a personal level? No. But in the sense that you could probably make me disappear without a trace if you wanted to? Yeah, a little. Rich people are dangerous. They're basically unstoppable."
Troy laughed again. "That's just ridiculous."
"No, it's not. It happens. People go missing all the time."
"You're a little crazy, you know that don't you? Beautiful but crazy."
Gabriella placed her hands on her lap, visibly relaxing. "You dress up nice yourself." She was grinning, but there was a genuine appreciation behind her voice.
"Thanks."
When they got there Troy handed his keys to the valet and paced a hand gently on the small of Gabriella's back for guidance. It was a pretty nice venue. Nothing special, but he could tell from Gabriella's expression that she'd never dreamed of setting foot in a place like this. It positively dripped wealth and excess, without being outright tacky. Almost just like Marissa herself.
They breezed through introductions predictably. No sign of the couple in question just yet but he immediately noticed Christian running around one of the fountains.
"Everyone's staring at me," she murmured, as they made their way around the room.
"Because you're gorgeous."
She laughed softly. "I'm sure that's not why. They think I'm a gold-digger."
Troy hand wrapped around her waist a little more and he pulled her closer. "They're not thinking about anything except the way you look in that dress,' he said heatedly. "Trust me."
Her little giggle warmed something inside his chest. "Even the women?"
"Jealous." He said glancing down at her lips. He wanted to kiss her. A moment later, he realized he could. Should, even.
But he couldn't bring himself to do it.
"There's my best man!" His father's voice boomed through the crowd and like a parting of the sea he emerged with his arms extended.
"Hey dad," Troy said greeting his father with a hug.
"Who is this delightful woman?" His father turned his attention to Gabriella. "You're not introducing me to wife number seven already, are you?"
A pinch of jealous wormed its way into Troy's chest as he watched Gabriella's cheeks blush red. "This one belongs to me, old man. Her name is Gabriella, she owners a bakery in town. She's my date. Gabriella this is my father, Jack."
"A baker huh?" His father rubbed his stomach a little as she pondered. "Tell me dear, do you make wedding cakes?"
Gabriella's eyes widen before darting over to Troy as if seeking approval.
"She makes the best wedding cakes," Troy winked. "I'm sure if you ask her nicely she'll set up a tasting for you and Marissa later this week."
"That would be delightful, plus it would really get her off my back. She thinks I haven't been doing my fair share of the planning."
"I would love to design your wedding cake, Mr. Bolton."
"Oh please, call me Jack. You're practically family. Tell me sweetheart, is my son being good to you?"
"Yes…Jack, your son's been a gentleman." Gabriella nodded her eyes darted over towards Troy and he smiled in gratitude.
"Good to hear," Jack reach over a hand and clapped Troy on the back. "See, didn't I tell you the company of a woman would lift your spirits."
"Yup," Troy hated his that his father was right. Being around Gabriella lately had made a difference in his mood. He needed someone like her in his life. The perfect balance to his other side. The side that wanted to get his hands dirty, work with the crew instead of behind his desk, the side that loved his beat-up pickup truck more than his Aston.
She'd be the kind of woman he could see himself spending long weekends with, coming home to after those long evenings in the office. Someone who would be satisfied with coffee and pancakes in bed. Naked, of course, because there was no way he'd ever let her sleep with clothes on.
He shook his head. He couldn't keep thinking like that. The last thing he needed was to trade his obsession with Sharpay for a new obsession with a woman he would likely never see again after all of this was done.
But why wouldn't he? He liked her.
Like a boot, to the ass, his memory rushed back. Because her family going to hate your guts when he was through. Because on some sadistic impulse he told everyone they were engaged and he needed to get her out of this crazy situation.
He instantly hated the idea of never seeing her again.
God damn it, Troy. Get a grip.
"Are you alright?" Gabriella asked placing a hand on his chest tenderly as she stepped closer to him. His father had walked off raising his hands in welcome of another guest who had attended this evening. He had barely noticed the last few moments pass.
"I'm great," he said taking her hand from his chest and placing a reassuring kiss on the back of it for measure.
Dear God, she even smelled like a freshly baked vanilla cupcake.
"Your father seems really nice," Gabriella smiled as she politely removed her hands from his. "I like him."
"Be careful," Troy said playfully with an arched brow. "I know five other women who liked him and thought he seemed nice."
"Well, the old theory was to marry an older man because they're more mature. But the new theory is: men don't mature. Marry younger, the sex is better."
His dick twitched. Damn it. "Where have you been all my life?" Troy chuckled.
"Around," she smiled with a playful shrug.
Troy wet his suddenly dry lips. Chemistry. It's purely elemental, something that just happens. You can't fake it, can't force it, can't do anything except stand back and watch. They had it.
"Troy!" another voice sounded and he shifted gears pulling Gabriella closer and introducing her to the next party guest.
Oddly enough, Gabriella didn't stay glued to his side the entire night. She started talking to people, and at times, they drifted far enough apart that he lost track of her. Leaving him vulnerable to the possibility of running into her.
"Hey," the familiar voice said from behind him. His eyes shut immediately as his entire body went ridged.
Shit.
"Hello Sharpay," he turned around to face her. She looked stunning. That was no surprise, really, Sharpay never let herself look anything but stunning. But this was different. Now she'd gained confidence, she truly looked like someone who belonged in this world. Happy too.
And that hurt.
"I was surprised to get an invite," she said with a small smile, her hazel eyes assessing, penetrating, curious and hating, not necessarily in that order. If he had a talent for photography, he would capture a close-up of those eyes. They looked like a NASA picture of a nebula that exploded millions of years ago.
"You're family. That's never going to change." Of course, she got an invite. She'd been one of Marissa's closes friends before the divorce.
"I saw the building on 59th street, it's gorgeous."
"Thank you," he lifted the drink in his hand for a long sip.
"Is that your date?" she said with curiosity as she motioned behind him.
Troy followed her gaze. Landing on Gabriella as she stood within a group of older women. She was listening to one of them intently, her smile growing. She shifted her weight and Troy eyes shifted downwards to her legs. She had a great pair of legs. Her concern about her weight was ridiculous. Yes, she had curves but that didn't mean she was overweight. He would love the opportunity to show her just how delicious he thought she was.
"She must be something special," Sharpay chuckled.
"Yes," Troy said tearing his eyes away.
"She's cute," Sharpay said with a smirk. "Your father must adore her."
Troy smiled. "He liked you too."
At that she laughed, "please, he hated me."
Troy shrugged. She was right after all. For whatever reason, the two didn't mix well. She thought his father was a male whore and he thought she had a stick up her ass. To be fair, neither was exactly wrong about the other. "Hopefully your soon to be in-laws adore you."
"They do." She said standing a little straighter. "What about you? Meet the parents yet?"
"Next weekend actually."
"Smart move," Sharpay crossed her arms over her chest. "Wooing her with your family first. Classic Bolton power move."
"It's not a move, she wanted to come tonight."
"Oh, I'm sure."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Sharpay shifted her shoulder in a half shrug. "Old habits die hard."
He hated her condensing tone. Hated that she blamed him for throwing his power around. It was a reminder. He didn't care about her anymore. The Sharpay he loved as a concept was long gone, and he knew that. He was finished mourning her. It led nowhere and accomplished nothing. Why bother? Why waste the energy? It was like loving a ghost.
"Well good luck next weekend. Who knows, maybe she'll still be around for the wedding." Sharpay let out a satisfied sigh as she disappeared into the crowd.
She hadn't even noticed him when he came up from behind her. "Maybe we should go out on the dance floor and show them how it's done." His voices whispered into her ear. And his whisper made her shutter.
"I'm not really a great dancer," Gabriella said staring out at all the couples already on the dance floor. "I'd probably make a fool of us."
He came to her side and offered his hand. "If you can walk, then you can two-step. I'll teach you," he said coaxing her out to the floor.
Reluctantly Gabriella took his hand and let him pull her onto the crowded dance floor. He settled her left hand on his right shoulder and wrapped his free hand around her waist.
She stiffened.
"Relax," he said offering her a comforting smile. "This is supposed to be fun."
Gabriella nodded hesitantly, and when he moved towards her, she danced backward to the beat of the music. At first, she stumbled to keep up. She bit her bottom lip and tried to concentrate intently on her foot placement.
He pulled her closer, forcing her to look over his shoulder instead of down at her feet. Then he lowered his mouth to her ear and whispered, "Quick, quick, slow. Slow."
She improved instantly, and her movements lined up with his, matching the pace he'd set to the music as they glided across the dance floor.
"And you told me you weren't a good dancer," he said quietly.
Gabriella shifted so she was looking up at him. "I'm not."
Troy placed a hand on her hip and pushed her out, spun her around twice, and pulled her back to him in one smooth motion. "Looks like you're doing an outstanding job to me."
"It's you," she said, looking him square in the eyes. He was watching her with a heavy-lidded gaze that stole her breath. "Y-you make me look good."
"I don't know about that," he said, his eyes dropped lower. "Do you know that you smell like a vanilla cupcake?"
She felt a small blush on her cheeks. "I dab a little vanilla extract behind my ears. The smell keeps me grounded. Like I'm always near my kitchen not far from taking a fresh batch out of the oven."
He groaned and pulled her closer leaning down he pressed his lips firmly against hers and kissed her.
She stiffened instantly, her hand clutched at his shoulder. But as his mouth moved against hers, inviting her to participate, she relaxed her grip and allowed the tension in her body to melt away. The moment his tongue touched hers, desire blazed through her, and a soft moan sounded from her throat. The man tasted as hot as whiskey and sweet like a drop of honey with cinnamon. She would never get enough of him.
His arms banded tighter around her, pulling her closer as they fed this insatiable craving they had for each other. The warmth of his hot body permeated her clothes, seared her skin, and heated her blood. A pleasurable ache hit her low and deep.
Whoa! What the hell are you doing? This isn't real.
But she ignored the nagging voice inside her head. She wanted Troy. Badly. Probably more than anything she'd ever wanted in her life. And she wasn't about to put a stop to anything involving his lips on hers.
He pulled away slowly, inhaling a deep breath as he went. "See, that wasn't so bad, was it?"
She felt her cheeks begin to glow a vibrant shade of red. Her eyes did a quick sweep of the room. "That was…subtle."
"Got to make it look convincing." He cleared his throat, pulling her a little more off to the side so that they could speak privately. "Are you tired of all these people yet?"
"No," she insisted, taking the opportunity to draw little circles on the palm of his hand with her finger. "But I could stand to go home, though."
"That's probably for the best." He said a little out of breath, "Are you hungry?"
"I could eat," she said quietly. She also didn't want the night to end just yet either.
"How does a pizza sound? Your place this time?"
"My place," her eyes widen a bit.
"Yes," he said with a small smile. "I want to see your place."
Gabriella opened the door to her apartment over the bakery. Her hand flipping the lights on to reveal her studio apartment. "Remember I told you it was small."
She rushed towards the bathroom door where her bras hung from the doorknob. She quickly plucked them free and tossed them into her shower pulling the curtain closed.
Troy let out a laugh as he followed her inside. "It's perfectly fine," he said closing the door behind them. "I really don't mind."
Gabriella felt another blush. She blushed around him all the time. She couldn't help it. "Well," she said coming to stand in the middle of the room. "There's the kitchen, over there is the bathroom, this," she motioned to a small table with two chairs. "is where I brave most of my bills, taxes and tv dinners."
Troy smiled, his presence in her apartment growing by the second. She watched as he took it all in. A boy like smile coming over his features. "When do we order pizza? My treat."
"I'll order it now," she said walking towards her small refrigerator and plucking a menu from underneath a magnet. "What do you like on yours?"
"Anything. Well, except pineapples and anchovies. And olives."
Gabriella cracked a smile. "Do you have anything against sausage and bell peppers?"
"Nope." He walked over to her bed. He stood there looking at her rumbled sheet before letting his eyes wander to the explosion of her closet.
"Shit." Gabriella quickly ran over shoving her clothes into the closet with her feet and then pulling the sliding door shut. Hiding her earlier wardrobe situation behind her. "Sorry about that."
Troy laughed, "You're messy. It's endearing."
"That's not how my mother tells it," Gabriella dialed the number to the restaurant and placed the order. Suddenly very aware of his eyes she shifted uncomfortably as she rattled off her address. When she finished she hung up and placed her phone on the table.
She watched as Troy removed his jacket and tossed it to the side, letting it rest on her bed. What an image, a man's dress jacket lying on her rumpled green bedsheets. If her mother knew she let him see her apartment like this, she'd likely have a heart attack.
They stared at each other in silence, as if measuring each other's comfort level.
"Tell me," he said beginning to roll up the sleeves of his dress shirt and expose his forearms. "What do you do in your downtime?"
Watching his arms flex beneath the fabric of his shirt was giving her other ideas for downtime. Seriously the man could end wars simply by adjusting his sleeves. At least the wars between women.
"I read," she motioned to a small stack of books piled in the corner of her apartment. She read trashy romance novels about men like him. Men who were entitled, successful and good looking. Men who made women like her fall in love with them.
Troy nodded as he glanced around her tiny apartment. Usually, the place felt cozy, something about his particular presence made the room feel crowded. After a moment of repeated silence, he let out a sigh. "Come here," he held out his hand to her.
Gabriella felt the cold sweat of panic break out all over her body. He was inviting her to him. For what? Hesitantly she stepped forward, closing the space between them. Her hand slipped into his with ease and he tugged her gently to him.
She felt the sudden warmth of him invade her bones. How could he do that, even with their clothes between them? How could he scorch her skin by barely touching it? Was this always there? That day at the coffee shop? Had her fingers flinched from the spark when she handed him his coffee?
She couldn't remember.
Her heart beat triple time as Troy leaned even closer, eyes on her. She jerked slightly at the feel of his hand on her jaw. She struggled for breath as it slid to her cheek, fingers finally coming to rest at the base of her neck. Ducking, he placed a lingering kiss on the spot right below her ear. The move made her hand shoot out to grip his shirt. Troy laughed silently, little puffs of air hitting her neck as she shivered.
"You know, Gabriella, you can't jump every time I touch you. What will people think?" She could hear the grin in his voice.
"I'm sorry," she said a little breathless.
Troy let out a sigh as he pulled away "We'll just have to work on that."
Wait. What?
"Do you know that song Dust to Dust by The Civil Wars?"
"I don't think so," she shook her head.
"Kick your shoes off." He bent down coming to his knees on the floor and then shifting so he was sitting down comfortably. He motioned for her to join him as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
The muted glow of nearby streetlight filtered through her cream-colored curtains, the evening breeze came in from the street and she physically told herself to relax. If only it were that easy. She shifted from side to side to remove her shoes tossing them off to the side before sinking down onto her beat up hardwood floors.
"Give me your foot," he said putting his phone down between them and reaching for her. She didn't protest as his big warm hands wrapped around her foot. His touch stirring things inside her as his hands begun to work out her muscles.
Another breeze from the window and she felt herself relax. Her shoulders loosened as rolled her neck. Honestly, what did she think was going to happen between them. Her eyes fluttered shut as she leaned back on the palms of her hands. "A girl could get used to this."
"I'm counting on it."
Gabriella opened her eyes and watched his hands as they magically eased the entire day from her feet. "How are we going to tell my parents we met?"
Troy shrugged, "The truth. You thought I was your blind date." Leaning forward, he looked at her searchingly. "Whatever happened to that guy?"
Gabriella tossed her hair back. "He was nothing like what I expected."
"And what were you expecting?" Troy asked.
You. The answer surfaced quietly. For a moment, she wasn't sure if she had spoken it or not. When she glanced back at Troy, he was still waiting for a response. "I expected someone more romantic, someone kind and generous, someone, who would…I don't know I just wanted someone who could sweep me off my feet."
"I meant it when I said you were interesting and beautiful."
Gabriella rolled her eyes. "Liars can't be trusted."
Troy smiled, "Okay so maybe I didn't give you the best first impression."
"Or a second."
Troy raised an eyebrow. "Third times are supposed to be the charm."
She let out a soft, playful laugh, "Who are you?"
Troy smiled, "Your fiancé actually."
Gabriella pulled her foot away. "Because you lied." She smiled.
This time Troy rolled his eyes. "Now you're just dwelling on the details."
Gabriella chuckled to herself as he pulled her foot back into his lap. They were quiet again as they listened to the music streaming from his phone.
"What kind of music do you like?" he asked quietly.
"I'm a sucker for the eighties," she grinned. "I like listening to the classics you know, Amy Grant, Paula Abdul, Bruce Springsteen, Starship."
Troy shifted as he made himself more comfortable his hands inching up a little and messaging her lower calf. "Somehow, I didn't expect that."
Gabriella let out a huff, "and what did you expect?"
His hand wrapped around her foot again, his grip gently tightening and rotating. "I'm not sure, but not that."
Gabriella let out a soft moan, "you're really good at that."
"Thank you. It's the least I can do after tonight."
"Oh please, your family isn't exactly horrible. And the appetizers were delicious." Gabriella shrugged her shoulders, "In fact, meeting my family is going to be a lot more excruciating after having experienced all your family bliss."
"Ha," he spit out. "My family is crazy."
"Everyone says that," Gabriella countered. "I think your family seems really nice."
"Yeah, that's what they want you to think," Troy paused for a moment picking up his phone and swiping a few times. "My family can be secretly intimidating before you even know what you're doing, you're trapped."
"Really, I hadn't noticed?" she said with a small smirk.
At that, his hands stopped and his blue eyes shifted from his phone to her. "Funny." He went back to the task at hand, putting on a slow 80's song.
"I mean, I haven't met your mom yet, but the men in your family certainly have a way about them."
"Is that right?"
"Yes," Gabriella playfully pretended to think. "The term caveman comes to mind."
Instantly she was yanked towards him, her bottom gliding across the hardwood floor and bringing her closer to him. Without a word, he came forward, his body hovering over hers. Then he kissed her. "Like that?"
Gabriella laughed against his lips as they brushed against hers. "Yeah, like that."
"Good." Then he kissed her again. This time, his tongue dipped inside, making a shallow sweep of her mouth. When her tongue met his head on, he groaned and pulled her tighter against him. What started out as a simple kiss quickly changed into a passionate tangling of tongues.
Her dress was shifting higher and higher into her lap and one of his hands rested on her bare thigh. There was a warmth inside her that was beginning to burn hot. Her pulse raced as her heart pounded against her lungs, beating the breath right out of them.
Troy stiffened, then tore himself away from her. Damn it.
"Wha-"
"Pizza," he grunted pointing across the room.
Gabriella followed his finger to find her phone vibrating on the table. "Shit," she raced to her feet and scrambled to answer it. "Hello, Yes, yes we ordered a pizza…Okay, we'll be right down."
"I'll get it," Troy murmured as he made his way to the door.
Gabriella hung up the phone and nodded, watching as he disappeared down the stairs leading to the bakery. Her hands flew up into her hair as she let out a long breath. Shit.