I PUSHED AWAY the notion I had that Gabi was hiding something from me. I didn’t have to know every single thing about her past, just like she didn’t have to know everything about mine.
“I’m starving!” she gasped as we made it back down to where we first started.
“There’s a great place to eat in Woodland Park.”
The drive into town was comfortable and easy. Like always. There was never a moment of awkwardness between the two of us. The only time Gabi wandered away from the conversation was if it had to do with her past. Anything that had happened the last four years was open game, before that, forget it.
“This is it. Joanie’s. Best damn place in town.”
Gabi chuckled. “What no Greek?”
I rolled my eyes. “Let me get your door.”
Jumping out of my truck, I jogged around to the passenger side and opened her door.
“Such a gentleman.”
She wouldn’t be saying that if she knew the things I was thinking about doing to her right now.
The place was packed like always. When it was finally our turn to order, Gabi got a Chicken Pesto Melt and I got the Reuben.
Gabi snagged a table outside while I grabbed our drinks.
“Their desserts looked heavenly,” she said as I set her Diet Coke in front of her.
“I have an in with a bakery in Old Colorado. She makes the best panna cotta this side of the Mississippi.”
She cleared her throat and raised an eyebrow so I added, “In the whole country, honestly.”
“I have a confession.”
The waitress brought out our two sandwiches. “Anything else?”
We both said no.
I took a bite of my Reuben and asked, “What’s your confession?”
That sweet face of hers turned a shade pinker. “I made you something last night. I couldn’t sleep after . . . well . . . after you left.”
There was no way I could stop the wide grin from moving over my face. I knew I left her horny as hell, but the idea of her finishing herself off without me pissed me off. “I’m sorry about that, agapiméni.”
Her eyes lit up. “What does that mean?”
“Sweetheart.”
She pulled the corner of her lip in between her teeth. “I like that.”
“You’ll like it even more when I whisper it in your ear while making love to you.”
Her mouth formed a small “O” as she stared at me with a dreamy face. She whispered, “What are you doing to me?” Our gaze was locked on one another as we sat for a moment in silence.
Reaching across the table, I took her hand in mine and lightly placed a kiss on the back of it. “I could ask the same thing of you. Because I don’t make love, Gabi.”
Her brow lifted. “You don’t?”
Slowly shaking my head, I replied, “I fuck. Hard and fast. But with you, I want so much more.”
She softly whispered my name. “Nic.”
My chest ached. “I want to kiss you so badly right now.”
Her face blushed, and she took a quick look around.
“My brother Thano’s house isn’t too far from here. Feel like meeting some family?”
Her mouth dropped open. “Ah, um, o-okay.”
Laughing, I took another bite of my sandwich. “I needed to move us in another direction or we were about to have public sex.”
Gabi laughed.
“They won’t bite, I swear. You’ll love Kilyn and she is going to love you.”
She worried her lower lip and I could see the sheer fear in her eyes.
“I haven’t seen my niece Kira in a few weeks. I promised Thano I’d stop by and visit with her and we’re so close.”
Gabi grinned. “Sounds like fun.”
“Yeah?”
Nodding, she replied with a giggle, “Yeah.”
Gabi rubbed her hands over her pants and took in a deep breath.
“If you don’t want to go, we don’t have to stop.”
Turning to me, she smiled. “No. It’s just . . . you know.”
“Family on the second date?”
“Yes!”
Laughing, I ran my finger along her jawline. She was so beautiful. And the way her body shook with my touch was a fucking turn on if ever there was one.
“We won’t stay long. I promise.”
“I’m enjoying myself and I’m sure I’m going to enjoy meeting your brother and his family.”
I leaned over and kissed her cheek quickly before jumping out and jogging over to her side. The moment she stepped out of the truck, I laced her fingers with mine. If I knew Kilyn, she was already watching everything.
Heading to the front door, it flew open before we reached it.
I knew it.
Kilyn’s face was lit up like the fourth of July. “Oh. My. God. The heavens did answer my cries of mercy!”
Gabi’s smile faded a bit before she plastered it back on.
“Forewarning, Kilyn may be a little excited to meet you.”
“Um, why?”
“Oh, you’ll find out in about five seconds.”
And right on cue, Kilyn rushed out and took Gabi into her arms. “You are an angel sent straight from God.” Pushing her out at arm’s length, she looked her over. “You’re not Greek.”
Gabi laughed. “Nope.”
Kilyn looked up at the sky and mouthed, thank you. Focusing back on Gabi, she nonchalantly shook her head. “I’ve finally got another normal person on my side.”
“Um . . . yay?”
Kilyn hooked her arm with Gabi and lead her into the house. “I know I sound crazy, but give me thirty minutes and I’ll have you all caught up on the crazy. Also known as, the Drivas family.”
Gabi looked back at me with wide eyes. “Better you know now than after we have sex and you fall in love with me.”
She snarled her lip at me while Kilyn dragged her off.
“So, she’s pretty,” Thano said as he walked in as the girls walked out of the room.
Turning to Thano, I smiled. “She’s fucking beautiful.”
He laughed. “Are you trying to scare her off?”
“No, why?” I asked giving him a confused look.
“Kilyn is going to fill her in on everything. Mom. Dad. The family.”
I waved him off. “Nah, Gabi won’t be scared off. Besides, I don’t plan on the family meeting her any time soon.”
Thano laughed. “Yeah, good luck with that. Mom has some weird sense for these things. I’m telling you, she’ll find out and when she does, all hell’s gonna break loose.”
“She likes Kilyn.”
Handing me a beer, Thano nodded. “She does. But do you remember that shirt dad used to wear all the time?”
“Which one? He has a ton of them.”
“The one that said Italian food is just like Greek food . . . except with less flavor.”
I laughed. “Oh yeah.”
“You know how Mom and Dad feel about Italians after that whole incident with Thad. Add in the fact that Gabi owns a bakery and I’m guessing she likes to cook.”
My beer stopped at my lips. “Fuck. I forgot Thad dated an Italian girl.”
“Whose mother tried to steal away Mom’s middle son.”
“The shit’s gonna hit the fan.”
“Yep,” Thano said before taking a long drink.
“Gabi’s different. She has no parents, and she’s a simple girl. Mom will love her.”
My brother raised a brow and said, “You keep telling yourself that. All I know is that if things work out with you and this girl, my wife is getting a major break from Mom.”
I chuckled. “Then let’s toast to things working out.”
“Hell yeah.”
Our beers clinked together. “Nic, I’m glad to see you dating someone. You deserve to find love.”
“Don’t get all emotional on me, little brother. We’re having fun, that’s all.”
He stared at me for a few seconds before smiling. I knew he could see right through me. I didn’t have fun by dating one single girl. I had fun by fucking a different girl every other week. Here I was sitting in his house with the girl I’d only been on two dates with chatting it up with his wife.
I tried like hell to ignore the feeling deep within my chest. The one I’d never experienced before, but grew more and more with each passing moment I spent with Gabi.
“I’m not looking for love, Thano.”
He nodded and lifted his hands up. “If you say so.”
I downed my beer. “I say so. Now where’s my niece?”