Gabi had been dating Cooper and Josh thought he had accepted it and moved on. Then he heard Caroline got engaged and went to see her to offer his Congratulations and they ended up sleeping together.
He was disappointed in himself and decided to take some time to reflect inwardly to figure out what was going on with him, why he kept having meaningless hookups.
This led him to realize that he still had feelings for Gabi and decided he needed to tell her.
He blurted out to her that he loves her one day when she brought him his lunch.
She was completely caught off guard and didn't know what to say. Before she could really process it she heard herself telling him that she loves Cooper.
Once she had time to think about it she realized that she did still have feelings for him, that she always had. But she was conflicted because of Cooper.
Alan told her she would find the answer in the kiss. Easy enough to kiss Cooper but what about Josh?
She went back to Josh's and ambushed him with a kiss. It was brief but electric, she looked into his eyes as she pulled away, before hurrying out the door.
After Josh got over the shock of it, he caught up with her waiting for the elevator and pushed her up against the wall, kissing her again. This kiss was pure heat and she grasped his arms for support. They locked eyes again before he turned and went back into his penthouse. Gabi stumbled back into the elevator smiling all the way. Josh closed the door and leaned back against it "Whoa" he grinned happily, knowing it was impossible she didn't feel that kiss in her toes like he had.
That second kiss consumed Gabi's every thought. Alan had been right, the kiss sealed it for Gabi and she knew she wanted to be with Josh, wanted nothing more than to feel his mouth back on hers.
When Cooper found out, he told her about how Josh had thought he had feelings for her when he called off the wedding and everyone had lied to her to cover it up. She was pissed at everyone and in her anger decided she didn't want to be with either of them.
The next day when she had calmed down enough to hear it, Josh explained the reason he didn't tell her was that he saw her with Cooper. She understood his reasoning and forgave him. She told him that while there is obviously something between them, it is complicated and messy.
He stopped her before she could talk herself out of giving them a chance. Josh asked Gabi to just go on a date with him because after everything that had gone on between them they had never had the chance to go on a real date. He told her he thought they should have a second chance before writing the possibility of being together off . She told him she would think about it. They were going to Elliott and Alan's engagement party that night and he was hoping to take her out afterward.
At the bar Josh kept glancing toward the entrance, looking for her.
Yolanda laughed "She'll be here baby, calm down. I've never seen you like this, it looks good on you" she smiled tenderly, patting his shoulder.
"It's Gabi" he smiled brightly, unable to control his excitement.
Shortly after, Gabi and Sofia entered and Josh couldn't take his eyes off of her. She was wearing a blue romper with her hair swept up delicately on the side. He crossed the room to meet her in the middle. Sofia winked at Josh and continued on to the bar.
"You look beautiful" he smiled.
"Thank you" she smiled, a little shyly, and looked him up and down.
"You look especially handsome yourself" she complimented.
They had champagne and visited with everyone and watched some interesting karaoke performances.
Josh desperately wanted to ask her to leave with him, but he resisted, not wanting to make her feel pressured and spook her.
"Why don't you stop torturing the man and go tell him you're ready to go, he's been antsy ever since you walked in" Sofia told her.
"I'm going on a date with Josh" she grinned excitedly.
"Finally, my God," Sofia sighed "I mean have fun" she smiled.
She walked over to Josh "So somebody offered me a date this evening" she said playfully.
"Lucky guy" he grinned.
"Maybe, we'll see how the date goes" she smiled playfully "if it ever gets started" she said pointedly.
"Well far be it from me to keep the lady waiting" he said, offering her his arm and they walked out together.
Gabi looked back to see Sofia and Yolanda smiling happily at them. She smiled back and gave them a little wave
When they got to his car, he opened the door for her.
"Such a gentleman" she smiled teasingly.
"Was there ever any doubt?" he scoffed.
After he got into the other side, he reached into the back and produced a bouquet of roses.
"For you" he smiled adoringly.
"Wow, flowers too? Pulling out all the moves" she teased.
He shook his head "These aren't moves, its how you deserve to be treated"
"Besides, you never got the last roses I got for you" he told her, making a pouty face, making her laugh.
"But here we are now, with roses" she smiled.
"Here we are" he repeated, happily.
He took her to a nice restaurant and they had a great dinner and wine. They had a great time talking and laughing, just being themselves. It wasn't strained or awkward in the least.
"So how's this gonna work?" she asked, swishing her wine around in the glass.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Well we obviously enjoy each others company and have fun together, but how are we going to transition into romance? What's your move?" she asked gazing at him
"I'm not going to tell you my move, you're just going to have to wait for it" he told her playfully .
"Oh, how many more months do you think that'll be?" she teased.
"I'm honestly just winging it, my go to is usually going back to the penthouse, impressing em' with the view and wine" he shrugged, paying the bill so they could leave.
"Ah, well it is tried and true, worked for me I guess, that's how we spent that night" she said recalling the details leading up to them sleeping together her first night working for him as they walked back to the car.
Again he opened the door for her and deposited her inside.
Once he joined her in the car he turned slightly toward her "About that, You know that next day when we said we didn't mean for it to happen and that we wished it hadnt happened?" Josh asked.
"Yeah" she acknowledged, watching him.
"I lied" he grinned
She turned toward him, mouth hanging open. "What? Our whole relationship is a lie!"
He chuckled "I definitely wanted it to happen, and I didn't regret it, other than possibly putting you in an uncomfortable position" he admitted.
"Oh I don't remember there being any uncomfortable positions" she said teasingly, making him laugh, and blush a little.
"Since we're confessing things, I never regretted it either. In fact, I often fantasized about it happening again, even when you were with Caroline" she admitted pursing her lips.
"Wow, ok, so the lesson here is maybe we shouldn't keep things to ourselves "he said intertwining his fingers with hers.
"I can think of something I don't want you to keep to yourself anymore" she said suggestively, removing her hand from his to set it on his thigh.
He looked down at it and grinned, before holding it again.
"Are you sure? I'm totally fine taking things slow" he told her.
"You can take it slow all you want, all night" she grinned mischievously.
His eyes got wide in surprise "Okay so my place it is" he said with a whistle.
When they parked, he came around to open her door and took her hand to help her out.
Once she was out and the door was closed behind her, he leaned in and kissed her. He held her at the small of her back and she put her arms around his shoulders as he parted her lips to taste her, vaguely recognizing the taste of his own wine.
In the elevator, she friskily pulled him to her by his belt at the front of his waist and reclaimed his mouth, making out the whole way up to the penthouse.
"Hold that thought" he breathed as he fumbled with his key in the door.
"Oh my God, look at this place…and this view" she said dramatically, mocking his "move".
He poured them another glass of wine and turned on the terrace lights. He turned on the speaker and reached for her hand. She gave it to him and let him pull her in. He hit play as he wrapped his other arm around her waist and she placed her hand on his shoulder.
She giggled as she heard their song, Closer, fill the penthouse.
"That's a really good move!" she complimented, causing him to grin shyly, like he had that first night.
They danced in contented silence, Gabi slid her hand under his to grip the back of his shoulder so her body was against his. He leaned down to hold her closer.
"This night is perfect" she said softly, meeting his eyes.
"Shall we continue it upstairs?" he asked, feeling emboldened.
"Hell yeah" she said enthusiastically.
"Give me a minute" he said.
She made a face "Hope that's the only time you're going to say that tonight"
He dropped his head and laughed heartily.
"Don't you worry about that, I aim to please" he half whispered into her ear, his warm breath on her skin sending a shiver down her spine.
He turned and dashed up the stairs. Upon entering his bedroom he flung his suit jacket off then his tie.
He dimmed the lights and lit candles to set the mood and turned down the bed and closed the curtains.
"Are you ready for me?" she asked, from the doorway, having grown impatient at waiting downstairs by herself.
He turned to see her standing there in a black lacy bra and panties.
"Wow" he said as his eyes roamed appreciatively all over her body.
"You are gorgeous" he said.
"Thank you. And you are much too clothed" she said sultrily, desire evident in her eyes as she immediately untucked his shirt as their lips crashed into each others.
As promised, the night faded slowly into exploration of each other and so much pleasure. Skin tingling when touched by warm wet tongues. The breathy sound of their names panted out in passion. Her moans, sometimes soft and feminine and sometimes loud, echoing in his ear, driving him deeper, harder as her fingernails lightly dug into his lower back. His deep resonant growls, her legs trembling around him, him pulsing within her, her body clenching around him. Holding onto each other so tightly as they easily found their way, tumbling over the edge together