With the holidays behind us, Gabe is pouring himself into his new job, and I have a full class schedule for spring semester. I was able to secure a part-time internship at a local TV station for the summer here in Orange County. I shared my good news with Janet, but she was less than enthused when she read the job description, none too pleased that I wouldn’t be getting much hands-on experience. I’m pretty sure I’ll be getting coffee and running errands for the length of my internship, but I just can’t imagine leaving Gabe for the summer to take an internship in another state, so a glorified barista I will be.

Gabe’s shifts are forty-eight hours, where he has to stay at the firehouse, and then he has four days off. However, he’s been picking up at least an extra day, sometimes two days a week of overtime on his normally scheduled days off. He loves his job, but I don’t want to lose him to his career like I lost my father. I appreciate that he works hard and loves what he does, so I’ve been tolerant thus far.

Gabe promises me that he’s taking these extra hours to acquaint himself with his new job and gain more experience. This leaves me alone—a lot. I miss him, my dad, and Ava. I miss my best friend, and am looking forward to spending time with her when she’s home for spring break in a few short days.

The weather has been unseasonably warm for early March, so I’ve been sneaking in a run here and there. Between my studies, missing Gabe, and worrying about this summer internship, it’s nice to clear my head, and running does that for me.

Gabe’s shift ends in a few hours, and we’re planning to drive to Santa Barbara this afternoon to get away for the night. He’s been picking up so many extra shifts, that even when he’s home, he’s exhausted, so we stay in most nights. When he suggested a getaway, I jumped at the opportunity.

He wouldn’t tell me where we were staying, or what we were doing, but knowing Gabe, he’ll have me in bed the entire trip, ravishing every inch of me. Tossing a few things in an overnight bag, I zip it up and set it on the floor next to my bed.

My phone pings with a new text message.

Leaving now. See you in ten. Love u.

Just finished packing. XOXO

I quickly make my way to the shower. I want to get in and out before he gets here, or he’ll join me, and we’ll never leave on time. Rushing to finish getting ready, I throw on a pair of dark wash blue jeans, rolled up to my calf, and a fitted black tank top. I transfer my wallet, keys, and make-up from my current purse to a large black leather hobo style purse, and slip on a pair of black Toms.

Lightly drying my hair, I pull it up into a messy bun, and throw on some light eye shadow, finishing off with some mascara and nude lip-gloss. Hearing my front door open, I know its Gabe.

“Babe, I’m in the bathroom. Just finishing up,” I holler.

I can hear his heavy footsteps coming down the hallway. Gathering my hairdryer and brush, I open the bathroom door. He is standing with has back against the wall, in his tight blue Santa Ruiz Fire Department t-shirt and pair of athletic shorts. My heart races, as it always does when I see him. Flashing me a warm smile, he pulls me into a hug and holds me. Pressing his nose into my hair, I can hear him take in the scent of me.

“Coconut. I love when you smell like coconut,” he growls. Pressing his lips to my head, he begins trailing kisses down my face, until he gets to my lips, gently tugging on my bottom lip.

“You need to shower and pack,” I mumble against his mouth.

“I don’t need to do anything, except love you,” he mumbles back. God, he turns me on.

“Let’s continue this in Santa Barbara.” I pull away from his kiss, turning from him as I head to my room.

“I’m already packed. I just need to shower and change.”

“Well, hurry up. I’m ready to go,” I say impatiently as I shove my hairdryer and brush into my bag. Turning around, I find him undressing in the middle of my room. He’s standing there, buck naked, when he catches me looking at him.

“Something catch your eye?” he snickers.

“Get that hot ass of yours in the shower, now!” I point towards the bathroom. He’s trying to weaken me, and it’s working, but I can’t let him know that. I hear him turn the shower on and find myself laughing at his antics. Thirty minutes later we’re on the road headed to Santa Barbara.

“Where are we staying?”

“It’s a surprise,” he says with a grin.

“I don’t like surprises.”

“Well, get used to it. I’m going to surprise you for the rest of your life,” he says, taking his eyes off the road to hold my stare. I have a type A personality. I like to have it all planned out and organized. I’m a control freak. Surprises give me anxiety.

Changing the subject because I’m annoyed, I say, “I can’t wait to see Ava next week.” I turn my head to look out the window, admiring the view on our drive.

“It’ll be good to see her. Just don’t get upset if she spends most of her time with Adrian. You know she’s in love with him.”

I chuckle, thinking of my best friend falling for the guy that we were both just friends with in high school.

“I know. I can’t imagine being away from you. I don’t know how they do it; long distance wouldn’t work for me. It couldn’t work. I need you.” Gabe reaches over and takes my hand in his, giving it a squeeze.

“I need you too.” I love the confidence in his words. He pulls my hand to his mouth and kisses the promise ring he gave me for Christmas. We spend the next few hours getting settled into the most luxurious hotel room I’ve ever seen. It looks out onto the Pacific Ocean. Standing on the balcony, I let the wind blow through my hair while Gabe finishes hanging his clothes. I can smell him before I feel his big arms wrap around my waist, pulling me back into him. I love his light musky scent; I could curl my face into his neck and just drink him in.

Standing behind me, he holds me tightly, while we watch the water, not saying anything to each other, just being together. It’s the most peaceful silence: comfortable and caring. Bending down slightly, he plants a kiss on the space between my neck and shoulder.

“I’ve got dinner reservations for us, but for the next couple of hours we’re going to christen every surface of this room. I’m taking you on the bed, the bathroom counter, up against the wall, and on the desk.”

My head snaps around to meet his eyes. He’s serious. Holy shit. Just hearing him say that has me worked up, and the heat within me is rising. Pulling me inside from the balcony, he lifts my tank top, pulling it off over my head. Kicking my shoes off, I reach for the button on his jeans. It’s a flurry of clothes flying all over the room until we’re standing naked in front of each other.

“God you’re beautiful.” He brushes his hand over my shoulder and down to my breast.

“Mmm,” I moan as his hands explore me.

Living up to his promise, he takes me on the bathroom counter, up against the wall, on the desk, and then he makes the sweetest, softest love to me on the bed. Laying here with my sweet man napping, I reflect on the past year. I truly feel like my life has settled, and it’s all because of Gabe. While he sleeps, I gently kiss his cheek, whispering to him as I do every night when he’s home with me. “I’ll never love anyone as much as I love you.”

I’m glad I packed a change of clothes as we walk into an exclusive restaurant on the property. Even in a dress and heels, I feel underdressed. Everything here is exquisite from the paintings on the walls to the linens on the table.

Our server brings the glass of sparkling water I ordered and Gabe’s Vodka tonic. We order the same meal: pecan crusted sea bass.

“This place is beautiful,” I say, taking a sip of my water.

“You’re beautiful.”

I can feel my cheeks blush at his compliments.

“Thanks.”

“It’s amazing how much has changed in the last year.” He says, sipping his drink. “I’ve got a new job, you’re in college and almost done.” He winks at me, knowing how much this topic of my accelerated college career bothers me.

“I was thinking the same thing this afternoon. It doesn’t seem that long ago when we were just kids playing at the park and going to Disneyland.” I smile at the memories.

“Speaking of Disneyland,” he says, his voice more animated. “Remember when you got lost and we spent an hour looking for you?”

“I was not lost for an hour,” I correct him.

“You were too. I think you were maybe five-years-old.”

“I remember. You found me in the line to meet Cinderella.” Both of us start laughing.

“I was thinking about that the other day.” He pauses, running his finger around the rim of his glass. “I think that is when I first fell in love with you.”

“What? Really? You were nine-years-old.”

“I know. But the feeling of losing you, not knowing where you were, if you were okay, or hurt, scared me. I’ll never forget that feeling.” Holding his gaze, I can’t help but feel a sense of comfort in his words.

“You know, I’ve never been back to Disneyland since that trip. I never did get my picture taken with Cinderella. Maybe we should do that with Ava next week,” I say excitedly. “She can bring Adrian, so all four of us can go, a double date.” He laughs lightly as he runs his finger around the rim of his glass.

“That would be fun,” he smiles at me.

“I’m getting my picture taken with Cinderella this time!” We raise our glasses and tap them together, as he shakes his head and laughs at me.

“Now if our food would hurry up, I have other plans for you tonight.” He mumbles and looks for our server.

Back in the room, I see Gabe rummaging through his bag, pulling out a full plastic grocery bag. I kick my heels off and remove my dress, hanging it up in the closet.

“What’s in the bag?” I ask.

“Grab your jeans and a sweatshirt.”

“Why? I thought we we’re going to bed.” I smirk at him. “I’m ready for round four,” I tease.

“We’ll get to round four, five, and six in a little bit. I have something else I want to do first.”

“This better be good,” I mumble, pulling my jeans and my sweatshirt out of my overnight bag. Once we’re finished dressing, he grabs the bag and the keycard for our hotel room.

“Ready?” he asks, taking my hand and pulling me out of the room and into the hallway. Waiting for the elevator, I ask him again, “So are you going to tell me what’s in the bag?”

“Maybe.” He smiles and leans in to kiss me.

Crossing though the lobby, we take the back doors out to the beautiful outside patio that leads to the resort pool and beach. Walking down the stone steps, we finally hit the sand. He leads me across the private beach until we come to a bonfire pit.

Setting the bag down on the sand, all the supplies are waiting and ready to start a bonfire. The wood is already in the pit, and there is a starter log waiting along with a multi-purpose lighter.

“Need some help?” I joke with him.

“I can do it.”

“You may be a fire fighter, but you’re not very good at starting them.”

He laughs at my joke as he looks up at me, still fighting to keep the lighter lit against the wind. Finally getting the starter log going, the rest of the wood quickly ignites. Sitting down in the sand, he grabs the bag and some long sticks and plants himself next to me.

“Dessert,” he says proudly, pulling out a bag of marshmallows, chocolate bars, and graham crackers.

“I love s’mores.” I beam, opening the package of marshmallows. Gabe slides them onto the sticks while I get the remaining chocolates and graham crackers ready.

“Did you think of this all by yourself?”

“Are you doubting my romantic skills?” he says through his laughs.

“No, I just would never have thought of this.”

I slide the soft, golden brown marshmallow off the stick and onto the graham cracker, assembling the first s’more.

“I saw it in the brochure.” He laughs, and I smack his arm.

“Well, regardless, I love it. This is better than any dessert in that stuffy restaurant.”

“This is dessert part one, part two is going to happen upstairs in just a little bit.” He wags his eyebrows at me.

Reaching out, I offer him a bite of my s’more. Noticing some marshmallow on his bottom lip, I reach out and wipe it off. Catching my hand, he pulls my finger into his mouth, sucking the sweet marshmallow off of my finger. The movement of his tongue around my finger sets my body on fire.

“Let’s go,” I whisper.

“Mmm hmm,” he responds.