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CHAPTER 10

"It's all gooey…" Troy attempted a different method of eating the failed lemon-cake- by lifting it above his mouth and dropping it in so that the extra drizzle dripped in with it. He still ended up caked in goo.

"That cake is so wrong on so many levels," Gabi pouted at the breakfast bar, although it was evening and she had only just got to his house.

"How's Taylor?" He asked.

"Oh, she's fine. She has tickets for next week, she's going back," Gabi explained.

"Won't you miss her?" He turned and frowned from where he washed his hands at the sink and Gabi poked her creation and sucked her lemon-soaked fingertip.

"Of course." Gabi replied.

"You seem okay with it…" He wondered.

"I am…I mean, she's in love so…I…I can't stop her or anything. I just…I just wish…I just hope she comes back. And that she'll be safe…" She added, airing her concerns.

Troy came back over and planted a gentle hand on her back as he looked into her face.

"She'll come back," he said assuringly.

Gabi lifted one corner of her mouth. "I'm leaving, now."

"What?" He gaped, playing up the moment.

"Every time I come round I'm always in jeans or my work clothes or some other ugly concoction and for once, it'd be nice if we could go out and have a reason to dress up…"

"Right…" He flicked his eyes side to side, suspiciously.

"So how about dinner? Tomorrow night?" Gabi asked.

"Uh…I can't…" He offered lamely.

"You can't?" She repeated, intrigued.

"I…can't," He confirmed.

"Because…" She led, her brows lifted.

"Because I'm having my shots done." He supplied briefly.

"Shots?" She sounded like a parrot she knew, but they guy wasn't giving her much to go on, she argued internally.

"For flu and pneumonia…" He explained.

"Oh…"

"And I hate having the damn things done and it happens every year and…yeah," he trailed off from what he was about to say.

"The shots happen every year?" She slid off her stool to face him, becoming confused.

"I…usually…pass out," he admitted, avoiding her eyes and blushing lightly.

"You what?" She looked astounded and he winced and twisted to walk to the front door.

"I guess you have to be going now, but let's do dinner Wednesday instead," he cleared his throat as he opened the front door and waited for her to exit.

Gabi merely paused by the door. "Do you want me to come with you?" She checked, of his injections.

"No! God, no," he made a 'pfft' noise and rolled his eyes as though she were being silly. "I'll be fine, like I said; I'm kind of used to it…"

"Troy…"

"Really, don't worry about me, babe, just…I'll see you Wednesday."

Gabi nodded faintly. "Right…okay…"

"Hey, love you," he said and leaned down to kiss her lips, as if that would explain everything.

"Goodnight, then," she managed back, cursing herself for not saying the words yet. What was with that anyway? She decided not to think about it anymore.

Homeward bound, then.

/

It took him five seconds to speak.

She saw him swallow, she saw him take a breath in and she saw his eyes travel down her and back up; and when they reached her face, his lips curved-just so.

"Nice dress," he managed.

Gabi herself swallowed nervously and reached forward for his hand. "Thank you."

The black mini was more fitted than anything she had previously worn and well, she could even admit it suited her. A little bit. It showed off her legs that were toned from standing all day; it clung to the curves her big hips and small waist created and the fitted top cupped her small breasts and even made them seem semi-acceptable, she thought.

Troy still wouldn't move.

"We're going to be late," she told him; rubbing her neck where tendrils of hair fell down and tickled her; her curls all captured into a beautiful up-do.

"I…thought we said dinner?" He teased.

"We did, it's seven…" She looked at him like he was losing the plot.

"I mean…do…do women wear stuff like that to dinner?" He asked with a husk in his high voice. "I mean…isn't that a…bedroom dress?"

"A bedroom dress?" She creased her face. "Troy, what are you talking about? This is a dinner dress, now come on."

"I'm pretty sure you should only wear that dress in the bedroom…" He continued as she dragged him down the path.

"Lord above," she sighed and rolled her eyes.

"I think I'm the only one who needs to see that dress," he added in explanation and Gabi paused from their short walk into town.

"Troy. You're being a douche. Get a grip and walk…" Gabi commanded.

"Elle…" He called as she marched off, the dress showcasing her beautiful behind just as smartly as the front showed off her curves.

"We're going to be late, Troy…"

"Hey…" He jogged to catch up, loosening his tie and sucking his lower lip. He cupped his hand around hers.

Gabi shivered and came to a halt.

"I don't wear dresses like this, Troy, because that's exactly the reaction I get when I do…I hate that people suddenly think I'm amazing because I put a dress on…" She sighed, revealing her inner-most thoughts and he opened his mouth, strangled by his inability to find words.

"Everyone just thinks…I'm sweet little innocent Gabriella- baking all day and alone all night. Never had a man…never had fun," she recounted.

"Elle, no-one thinks that…" He interceded and her brown eyes flicked to his, silencing him.

"I want to look nice, sometimes okay? And I'm really flattered you think the dress suits me, but the freaking out is not helping…"

"I'm not freaking out," he blew out an amused, bravado-filled breath.

Her look told him she thought otherwise.

"I don't dress up in the bedroom and I'm not into anything 'kinky', she explained. "I don't want…I don't want you to think that I can do that, because I can't…"

"Elle, I never asked you to, what are you-"

"Save the dress for the bedroom?" She accused.

"Oh." Troy pursed his lips and nodded, once. "Well, that came out wrong…I just meant-"

She swallowed. "Are you sure I'm who you want to be with?"

"Look," he lifted his brows and took both her hands. "When I said keep it for the bedroom, I meant I didn't want other guys seeing you looking this amazingly sexy," he began.

She opened her mouth but he put a finger against her lips.

"And, Jesus, Elle, you ought to know exactly how sexy I think you are without the damn clothes," he teased, removing his finger and taking her hand again.

"I already told you how I feel. I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable. I like you in that dress, in your jeans, in a blanket and I especially like you in nothing," he twinkled, making her smile.

"But-"

"But if you continue to turn me on before we get to the restaurant, the blame is entirely on you if we end up missing dessert," he teased, finally lifting her hand to kiss her knuckles.

She stared, dumbfounded, unable to speak. If she wasn't so stunned, she might jump him in the street, she considered. No maybe not, she corrected. The pavement was filthy…

"Why are you always this insecure?" He asked boldly.

She shrugged. "Just…I just like being hidden away you know? And I've never been one of those exciting girls, I've always wanted to be…and I guess I feel like I'm not good enough sometimes. And then I put on a nice dress and people suddenly think I am one of those girls…but I'm not, it's just a dress…it's just-"

She didn't get to finish her thoughts, because Troy was kissing her. Again. She vaguely thought it was a good job she put on 12-hour lipstick and then effortlessly gave into the kiss as her body melded against his and his arms wound around her waist.

"Let's go before we miss starters and mains, too," he pressed his forehead to hers.

/

"So, how did the shots go?" Gabi began conversation on a lighter note as they enjoyed potato skins at the diner in town.

Troy pushed out his lower lip and considered his answer. "Hurt a little…"

"Show me?" She asked and he tilted his head.

"They're on my arm," he cupped the injury site. "Unless I undress right here then it'll have to wait till later."

Her lips twitched. "I'm not averse to you undressing here…"

He looked up, his eyes ignited with amusement and something else. Something that caught her breath.

"You wanting to leave before you get your mains?" He enquired, picking up on his joke from earlier.

"No," she relaxed into a smile. "I can handle seeing a little…male flesh without the need to…say…jump your bones," she whispered the last part and he chuckled.

"Fine," he called her bluff and slipped off his jacket, flicking his eyes to hers.

She cupped her chin in her hand and rested her elbow on the table, lifting her brows to challenge him.

He started to whistle as he unbuttoned his shirt and she watched with keen eyes as each button came out of its assigned hole, leaving just the thin layer of his vest.

Wordlessly, she slipped into the booth next to him and dragged his shirt down to survey the damage.

"Ouch," she winced of the two dot-holes and redness surrounding them. She leaned down to kiss there and he took a quick breath in.

"Elle, I'm not healed yet," he warned.

She smiled softly and kissed beside his wounds; covering up his bicep again and reaching over to button up his shirt.

"Nice arms," she allowed with a flirty smile as she rose and slipped back into her own seat, just in time to receive their mains.

/

Maybe tonight would be the night, she wondered, as they walked home and she lay her head against his strong arm; their hands twined and his fingers tightening around hers protectively.

"Are you…going home?" He enquired lightly as they walked.

"Mm-mm," she agreed with a nod.

"Are you…going home…alone?" He checked next, fishing for an overnight stay.

She smiled, but he didn't see because her head was tipped down.

"I hope not."

He let out a relieved breath.

"Anyone in mind that you wanted to spend the night with?" He wondered, looking up to the stars and thanking them because they surely must be lucky for him.

"Hm, I'm really not sure…"

"I can make a recommendation…" Troy inserted.

"Oh?" She squinted at him.

"Well, can I just say, I am a great choice. I'm house-trained, I make breakfast, I cuddle- without sex, too-" He boasted.

"You make breakfast you say?" Gabi milked his little game.

"I'm also very good at kissing..."

She made a face. "How am I meant to sleep if you kiss all night long?"

"I didn't say all night," he smiled lop-sidedly.

"Hm," she tilted her head to look at him. "You're kinda tall, though."

Troy looked affronted. "You want some short-ass?" He accused, then plastered on his charming smile as she frowned at him. "I mean, my height is another plus…"

"How d'you figure that?" She wondered.

"I can…you know…protect you and stuff." He swallowed with a blush.

"Crush me, more like," she reminded him of their last night together.

His grin curled. "Oh, yeah, that was fun," he mused, then sobered again. "But not to be re-lived…"

"Well, I think I've made my choice," Gabi mentioned airily as they stopped outside her house.

Troy stood 'to attention' with a salute thrown in for good measure, to which she giggled and took a breath.

"Uh…Sergeant Bolton?" She guessed.

"Colonel," he coughed and she rolled her eyes.

"Colonel Bolton?" She tried again.

"Yes, ma'am," he dropped his salute and let out a boyish smile.

"Would you like to accompany me to my chambers?"

His grin said it all.

/

The soft gurgling sound was familiar.

Gabi considered that she may have spent so long in her bathroom getting 'ready for bed' that poor Troy had lost the will to stay awake and had crashed out from his long day.

She smiled softly, climbing into her bed beside him in her pajamas, laying on her back with a sigh.

So, tonight wasn't the night, she mused.

She reached up and turned off the light.

There was always tomorrow…

/

"I bet you can't wait to get out there and see him again," Troy said to Taylor as they sat at the breakfast table and shared over coffee while Gabi slept on.

"I can't," Taylor admitted with a smile. "But I'm going to miss Gabi…"

Troy nodded. "She's gonna miss you too."

"I'm glad that she met you," Taylor added. "At least she has someone to take care of her when I'm gone."

"Do you think you should be leaving me with that responsibility?" He teased and she laughed.

"Yes." She assured. "You pretend not to, but I know you'd do anything to protect her…"

Troy sipped his coffee and flicked his lashes down. "And how do you know that, Miss McKessie?" His amused eyes rose.

She shrugged a little. "Because…"

He nodded. "A woman's intuition…"

"Has she told you yet?" She asked and Troy pursed his lips.

"Told me what?" He feigned.

"How she feels…" Taylor lifted her brows slowly.

Troy tilted his head and smiled easily. "She doesn't need to." Was all he said in return.

Taylor blinked and sipped her own drink. "So are you making breakfast, Romeo?"

She changed the subject and he smiled with a blush.

"I did promise…"

"Well, if you look in the fridge there's a batter already made up for pancakes and there's some fresh strawberries in there, too…" Taylor stood from the table.

"You're a life-saver," he stood and she came round the table to hug him.

"Thanks for everything," Taylor told her new friend.

"Ditto," he murmured back.

"Are you stealing my man?" Gabi's voice jump-started them both apart.

Taylor smiled slowly and went over to hug her friend. "No, just borrowing him."

Gabi hugged her back with a happy grin. "That's okay then."

Taylor turned and looked at Troy. "He wouldn't have anyone but you, anyway," she accused and he arched his brow in return.

"She's right," he acknowledged with a sweet smile.

Gabi giggled and went over to hug Troy while her friend went out to work.

"Morning," she wrapped her arms around his waist and lifted her chin up.

Troy dutifully leaned down to plant a kiss on her mouth. "Morning, shortie."

"Remind me why I like you?" Gabi trekked over to the coffee machine and poured a cup.

"Because I'm making pancakes?" He offered.

She looked up. "Okay, you may be forgiven."

"Hey, I'm sorry I fell asleep last night," he watched as she took a perch on the counter behind him. "Tell me you didn't wear that to bed…"

She looked down on the white shirt of his she had commandeered with her vest-top and shorts to cover her cold arms when she woke.

"No…"

"Good, or I never would have slept…"

"Troy!" She giggled and he came over and placed his gentle hands on her knees and made way for his body between her thighs. Gabi grasped onto the coffee cup that was her last saviour between her and Troy and he lifted it from her sleeve-drowned hands and laid it aside.

He grasped her hair in his fingers and ran his hand up to cup her neck, angling for a kiss that was slow and melting and… had no right to be melting, she concluded as her eyes fluttered shut and she tilted her head to deepen the kiss.

Melting. That's what she was doing right now, she was sure.

"Want sugar on your pancakes?"

His voice sounded so far away and when she blinked three times and orientated herself, she realized he had peeled himself away to serve up the first batch of pancakes- all while kissing her into a silly puddle of goo. How did he do that?! She wished she had some of his cool control. Why didn't her kisses melt him into uselessness, she wondered?

"Sugar?" He turned with her plate and asked again.

She licked her lips and bit into the bottom one, hoping to get a little of her own back but he just raised his brows, waiting for her answer.

"No, thank you," she answered flatly and took her plate to the table.