Why hello my little cherubs. All good? I would like to thank KnightAngel13 and Guest for the fabulous reviews. You guys are awesome. I would also like to thank hose of you who have favoured and followed this story since my last update.
So here we are: date night, or non-date night, depending who you talk to me thinks. Enjoy, this is a really long one.
Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural.
Gabriel spent the next day watching the clock on the wall of his bakery. In fact he was watching it so much that a couple of times he had to take it off the wall to make sure it was still working because it seemed as if no time had passed since he had last looked. But finally, finally it was time to close up and get ready to go collect his Kali.
Kali had had a very frustrating day. She didn't seem able to concentrate on anything but her non-date with Gabriel that evening. At least she didn't have to think too hard about what she wanted to wear. As soon as she had come to the realisation that she would eventually give in she had decided that it was time to turn the tables on one Gabriel Novak. With that in mind she had gone out shopping and purchased a new, extremely tight fitting and short, sexy red dress to wear that evening. Pairing it with her Jimmy Choos she knew she was dressed to kill. And kill Gabriel she would. She would have him eating out of the palm of her hand as soon as he saw her. (Umm, I'm pretty sure you could be wearing a bin bag and he would still do that hon.)
This of course was a great plan in theory but she knew that if she was going to make Gabriel do as she wished and give her time to trust him again she was going to have to try and keep the upper hand that evening. And with that man that was something extremely hard to accomplish. But she could do it, the question was would she? (We'll have to see won't we?)
At 10 to 7 Kali was standing at her mirror checking out her reflection. Yes she would do. With a nod of her head she gathered her coat and bag and went out the door. There was no way she was waiting for Gabriel up here. No she would meet him outside the building, less likely that he would be able to persuade her to let him in that way. (You really don't trust him do you?)
Gabriel pulled up outside the apartment building at 5 to 7 seven. He was just taking a deep breath psyching himself up to go get the woman he loved when there was a tap on the passenger window, frowning he lowered it.
"Were you planning on getting out of the car to meet me or not?" Kali asked with a smirk as she opened the passenger door and climbed into the car.
"What are you doing out here? It might not be safe." Gabriel replied frowning at her. She should be up in her apartment waiting for him there, not on the sidewalk like some hook- no he wasn't going to think that. (Good plan.)
"Please, it's perfectly safe as you well know so quit complaining and drive. I would like a drink, even if I do have to put up with your company to get it." Kali replied with a roll of her eyes as she put on her seatbelt, though inside she was smirking. She had already succeeded in putting Gabriel off his stride, now all she had to do was keep him that way for the rest of the evening. Hmm, this could actually be rather fun. (So very true my dear.)
"Wow really feeling the love here Kali." Gabriel said sarcastically as he put the car into drive, though he was smirking inside. If Kali wanted to play it this way this evening he was more than willing. He loved pitting his wits against the woman he loved, she was one of the few people he knew who could match him. (God they're made for each other aren't they?)
"I told you, this isn't a date Gabriel." Kali replied innocently batting her eyelashes at him.
"Fine you win." Gabriel responded with a small smile in her direction before he returned his eyes to the road.
"Good so where are we going?" Kali asked also turning to look out of the front window. She didn't want to be caught staring at him after all. It would completely undermine her game plan.
"The Wine Bar. Been there yet?" Gabriel asked with a smirk when he noticed how diligently she was not looking at him.
"No." Kali said with a shake of her head.
"Good." Came Gabriel's smug reply causing Kali to roll her eyes.
Once they got to their destination Gabriel jumped out the car with the aim of helping Kali out the other side, but by the time he got there she had beaten him to it so instead he offered her his arm which just caused her to raise her eyebrow at him and cross her arms without saying word.
"Fine, bloody stubborn woman." Gabriel muttered as he led the way inside and to a table at the back. Once there he turned to take Kali's coat only to find she had beaten him once again, it was then he noticed what she was wearing and all thoughts left his head. She looked amazing, stunning, sexy and gorgeous, his mouth just dropped open and he stood there staring at her.
Kali watched Gabriel's reaction with a pleased smile on her face. Good it looked like her plan was working. After he had stood there just staring at her for a minute she decided that they should probably move this along, people were starting to stare. Though whether that was at Gabriel or herself was debatable. (Yes I can imagine it was.)
"Are you going to sit down or just stand there and stare for the rest of the evening?" She asked sweetly shaking Gabriel out of his rather x rated thoughts about what he would really like to do with her right now, in that dress, out of that dress...
"Sitting, I'm sitting." He nodded and did just that. He needed to get his head back in the game. He couldn't let Kali throw him off his plan of sweeping her off her feet. With that thought he turned to her with his most charming smile. "What would you like to drink?"
"I'll take a glass of the Pinot Noir please." She replied with an equally charming smile back at him.
With that Gabriel turned and clicked his fingers at one of the waiters with a smirk on his face. Oh she was good at this, but he, he was better. Oh yes, let the games begin. (Oh god help us all.)
With the drinks ordered Kali and Gabriel started their dance of flirting and charming the other for all they were worth. Neither willing to give an inch to the other. By the time they had finished their first drink they were evenly matched and having a whale of a time. Therefore it was with no thought that Gabriel ordered another round. By the end of these drinks they still weren't done so Gabriel just decided to order a bottle so they could continue.
Kali new she was playing a dangerous game with Gabriel, but she was having so much fun. (Yes I bet you are.) It had been a long time since she had met a man who could match her wits, in truth Gabriel was the only one who had ever come close. But she knew that if they continued drinking and playing as they were she would be in a very real danger of losing this round to Gabriel Novak. And that was not something she was prepared to do. So feeling slightly tipsy from the wine she turned to him and asked completely seriously "why are you not taking over the business from my father?" it was something she had wondered when her father had told her his plan but that Gabriel had said no. (Shiva having not divulged the rest of that conversation to his daughter. He had decided that would be up to Gabriel to share.)
"Because it's not mine to take over. It's yours." Gabriel replied in an equally serious tone. He would tell Kali anything she wished. He wouldn't lie to her.
"So you would prefer for me to hire you to run it instead?" She asked with the raise of an eye brow as she distractedly swirled the wine around in her glass.
"Honestly? I was kinda under the impression that you wouldn't want me anywhere near you. And as such the business." Gabriel replied with a shrug and a challenging look.
"Don't be an idiot Gabriel. Whatever does or does not happen between us, you are the right person for the job. You always have been." Kali replied with a roll of her eyes as she leaned forwards to place her glass on the table. She then looked up at Gabriel through her lashes as she continued with a sexy smile on her lips. "Plus you can't very well win me back stuck in this backwater town when I live in New York can you?"
"So your saying when we get back together I'll be moving back to New York?" Gabriel asked in a low voice, mirror her smile and a smouldering look in his eyes.
"I can't run my business from here Gabriel. And you can't follow your dreams. So yes. If we get back together we will be living in New York. Would that be a problem for you?" Kali asked in an innocent tone but her eyes said something very different. They held a challenge.
"For me? No. for Michael? Maybe." Gabriel replied looking down at the wine in his glass and then taking a large gulp of it.
"Screw Michael." Was Kali's response with a wave of her hand dismissing Gabriel's pain in the ass big brother. Maybe she had had a bit too much to drink but she needed to get this through Gabriel's thick head.
"Yeah I'd rather not." Gabriel replied with a smirk making Kali once again roll her eyes. Could Gabriel never be serious? (Oh he can, on occasion, just not often.)
"He has no bearing on anything we do Gabriel. You cannot spend your life living in fear of him. He can't hurt me, he can't hurt Castiel and he certainly can't hurt you. Not now." Kali said vehemently to him staring into his eyes trying to get her message across to the man she still loved.
"You truly believe that?" Gabriel asked in a whisper not removing his eyes from hers. How could she be so sure? (Because she's awesome.)
"I know it. If he try's, he'll have to deal with me. And the things I could tell you about Michael Novak would make your hair curl." Kali replied seriously.
"I can well imagine. He's a dick." Gabriel muttered finishing his glass of wine as he thought over her words. He was no longer a stupid 22 year old. He knew that now he could take on his brother and win. Especially if he had the right people beside and behind him. (And you will.)
"Yes well so are you." Kali muttered back bringing him out of his ponderings with a spluttered laugh before he replied.
"True, but an adorable one." At that Kali laughed though inside she was agreeing with every word.
At the end of the evening Gabriel had had far too much to drink to drive Kali home and as such he called her a cab getting in beside her.
"Gabriel you live like a block away." Kali argued as he did up the seatbelt of the seat right next to hers.
"I know, I'm taking the scenic route home." Gabriel smirked at her.
"What via my place?" Kali asked raising her eyebrows.
"Well since you asked…" Gabriel replied in a cheeky tone though it was laced with desire. (You are terrible.)
"No. you're not coming inside. This was not a date." Kali reiterated for what felt like the thousandth time that evening. Through whether she was reminding Gabriel or herself was becoming something of a question. (Yes I'm sure it is my dear.)
"You keep saying that, I'm still not convinced myself." Gabriel said taking her hand and resting it in his lap, entwining his fingers with hers and stroking the back with his thumb.
"You should be." Kali huffed but she didn't remove her hand from his, instead she wrapped her fingers around his and turned away to look out of the night dark window smiling in pleasure at the feel of Gabriel's hand in hers. (Aw, so sweet.)
Once they got to her apartment Gabriel asked the cabdriver to wait as he followed her out and up to the outer door.
"I had a great night Kali." He said once they reached it and she turned to talk to him.
"I suppose it wasn't all bad." She replied leaning back against the wall next to the door and looking up at him through half lidded eyes. God she looked so beautiful like that.
"No not all of it." Gabriel whispered his gaze travelling down to her lips and lingering there before returning to her eyes.
"No Gabriel. This isn't a date. No kissing." Kali smirked up at him.
"then I best make sure that next time you know full well it is a date then hadn't I?" he smirked back.
"Next time?" she asked in a sultry voice.
"Yeah next time." With that Gabriel leaned forward brushing her hair away from her ear to whisper. "I'll call you." before kissing her swiftly on the neck and turning to leave. He knew if he didn't he would do something that Kali would most definitely regret in the morning. And then she would never forgive him.
Kali let out the breath she had been holding as Gabriel walked away. Thank god he hadn't tried anything else, because she knew if he had she would have let him. And that was something she wasn't ready for, not yet at any rate.