Thanks for the comments man you guys had me smiling widely!

Chapter 12

He'd never seen anything like her in his life. If he could imagine the most beautiful angel, dressed head to toe in gold shimmery material then he might come close to imagining how Gabi looked right now.

Her dark locks were curled softly, pinned up to accentuate the soft curve of her jaw and cheekbones, her dark eyes were highlighted with gold eye shadow and darker liner. Her breasts were showcased perfectly at the deep V and the material; which shone at every move and clung to her rounder hips in a way that mesmerised him.

"I can't take you to meet my family looking like that…" He whispered, his hands not knowing where to touch as he stretched them toward her at her doorway.

"Hi Troy." She smiled knowingly, grabbing her clutch and calling to her mom before she shut the door behind her, crowded in by Troy who hadn't moved.

His eyes seemed to be glued to her chest and he brought his hands up to cup her face, thumbs touching her cheeks.

His kiss was soft but drew her into his body where he carefully glided his fingers down her sides, afraid to touch the amazing creation she was wearing.

"That's a great dress." He complimented with his cheeky smile.

"You look handsome." She stated, fixing his tie, meeting his sky blue gaze that matched his pale blue shirt.

"We should go. Before I change my mind." He grinned.

"My mom said I could stay at yours; because it might finish late." Gabi offered.

"I know she called my mom and sent your stuff over so we could just enjoy ourselves." He commented, taking her hand and leading her towards his truck.

"That's weird. I mean, they hardly let us stay over before." She frowned.

"It's because we're not having sex." He answered honestly.

"How do they know?" She wondered.

"They don't, I guess. We can milk this for months." He beamed, helping her into his truck and getting in to drive them to the restaurant.

"I'm so nervous!" Gabi admitted as she played with her hands in her lap.

He smiled at her. "You really don't need to be. I'm gonna be embarrassed as hell tonight."

"I'm sure you won't be…" She assured as they reached the restaurant and made their way inside where a large group of adults were already seated.

"Hey everyone!" Troy greeted them, still holding Gabi's hand tightly as he hugged his mom and dad.

He went around the table, greeting his family and introducing Gabi proudly to each member.

"Well, I have a seat right here, Gabi…" His grandfather offered, making her giggle.

"Oh, thank you, Burt." She blushed, sliding into the seat, looking up pensively at Troy but he was taken away by one of his aunt's for a moment.

"Don't worry, we don't bite." Burt offered.

Gabi smiled at him, feeling a little nervous in her spangled dress. She didn't want everyone to think she was revealing too much.

"I'm just a little nervous, meeting Troy's family." She admitted.

"You're a beautiful young girl. How did you meet our grandson?" Burt asked.

"Oh, Burt!" Mabel interrupted from beside him, leaning across to touch Gabi's hand which clutched the edge of the table in a death grip. "Don't interrogate the poor girl!" His wife chided.

"We met through a skating competition." She offered. "I was teaching him how to dance." She added.

"Dance?" Mr. Bolton asked across the table, causing Gabi to freeze and panic.

Hadn't Troy mentioned his dad not allowing him to learn to dance? She squeezed her lips together and kept a blank face.

"Just for the moves, for skating." She hastened to add.

"He got some lessons from Mrs. Thorpe as well." Jack Bolton grumbled.

"Well, he'll be whizzing you round the dance floor later then!" Burt chuckled and Gabi only then realised behind them there was a dance floor.

"Save one for the old man, though." Burt asked and Mabel swiped him.

"So, tell us about Troy, Gabi. What do you think of our favourite grandchild?" She broached and Burt laughed. "I thought I wasn't allowed to interrogate!" He objected.

"You're not, I am." Mabel interjected.

Gabi watched them bantering and felt a little tug of affection wash over her. Once upon a time her parents had had that natural relationship and things may have changed between them; but she loved seeing couples who felt comfortable together.

"Troy is amazing." She said then, shyly. "He's great at basketball, I love watching him play…" Her face lit up as she imagined him moving around the court with ease; his hair all messy with sweat and his face so concentrated. "He's a great skater, too. I like that I can talk to him. That he listens." She finished.

Mabel was smiling proudly and Gabi felt a warm hand curl onto her shoulder, looking up to find Troy there.

"Hey." He said easily, sitting down and Gabi smirked, wiping lipstick from his cheek.

"Another woman?" She asked teasingly.

He rubbed his face vigorously. "Ugh, aunts!" He complained.

They ate in noisy company, frequent remarks and jokes flying across the table. Some stories of Troy's childhood came out and Gabi relished being privy to this insight of him before she knew him.

There was the time he tried to cycle down the side of a mountain and came careening off; earning his several scars that he pointed out to her; all bar one on his tummy which she had already seen-and kissed.

There was the time he wouldn't be parted from his Action Man doll; even for communion and went up to get confirmed with the doll firmly in his hand.

There was also a time he fell in love with the girl next door and doggedly followed the older girl everywhere, eventually befriending her and she would take him home by the hand, but he never once spoke to her and that made Gabi laugh the hardest. He hadn't been so shy in talking to her.

Meals finished, chatting subsiding, Gabi looked around the table as they wound down.

"Troy, honey…" Mabel called and he leaned back to see her.

"Yes, Grandma?" He asked with a winning smile.

"Why don't you take Gabi for a dance?" She asked with a warm smile.

Troy smiled with one side of his mouth, pushing his seat back to stand. He held out his hand to Gabi.

"Will you dance with me?" He asked dashingly.

"I'd love to." She replied, earning them an 'aw' from Mabel as they walked to the dance floor.

Troy took her into his arms with ease, letting his hand drop low on her hip as he curled his irresistible smile.

"How long do we have to pretend to dance?" He wondered, placing his cheek against her hair as he brought her close, wanting to slow dance even though the music was fast enough to waltz to.

"For at least one song…" She replied drily.

He nodded, moving back, twirling her before him, and enjoying all angles of her shimmered body.

"That is one heck of a dress." He said gently as she moved back in, smiling up at him.

"I got it from Indianapolis. My dad's friend makes them." She explained.

"I'm glad you came tonight. Even though I am still really embarrassed." He blushed.

Gabi felt her stomach curl and felt that little stab of guilt for lying to him about Aidan and the competition.

"You know, last night…" She began, sighing.

"May I cut in?" Came Burt's voice as the song ended and Gabi shot Troy a look, partnering with his granddad for another song as he danced with his mom.

After what felt like forever, she finally made her way back into his arms. He didn't pretend to dance formally; he took her hands and linked them at his neck, resting his fingers into the small of her back.

He leaned down, kissed her lips gently and placed his cheek against her hair as they moved with the music.

Lucy touched her son's shoulder, bringing him from the bliss of dancing with Gabi.

"I'm taking your grandparent's home. I'll see you later." She said and Troy nodded, curling Gabi close to him as she hugged her arms around his neck and fiddled with his hair. She wasn't sure why, but his chest felt harder, his arms stromger at her waist.

"Have you been working out?" She wondered lightly.

"Ah, a bit…" He excused quickly, then changed the subject. "What were you going to tell me about last night?" He wondered, feeling her tense.

"Oh…it was nothing." She lied, biting her lip before she lifted her face to meet his gaze.

"Are you sure? If it's about Chad, I can handle it." He assured.

"I was just going to say sorry for being late." She said gently.

"Okay." He answered, not convinced but not pursuing it.

"I think the birthday boy is owed a kiss…" Gabi smiled slowly, testing their boundaries once again.

He smiled back, equally slowly. "Oh, really?" He lifted his brows.

"Yup." She nodded. "You can't go your whole birthday without a kiss…"

"You know what?" He asked. "I agree." He bent to meet her mouth and found their slow kiss excruciatingly tempting. He pulled away and let out a small sigh.

"Now I know why we don't do that." He mused.

"I had a perfect present for you, too…" She smiled felinely, tipping her head.

"Don't…" He warned quickly. "Don't tell me what you have on under that dress…"

She tiptoed to his ear. "Or what I don't have on…" She whispered, twisting to lead him off the dance floor by his hand, where he followed with an audible groan.

"You just love to tease me, don't you, beautiful?" He asked.

They headed out and climbed into a cab, huddling together in the back seat.

"Happy Birthday, Troyby." She kissed his cheek.

"Thank you for a great night." He commended. "The family nightmare was bearable with you."

"Any day, Wildcat." She assured and cuddled her arms around his middle once more.