Page 14
CHAPTER SEVEN
ALICE
I wake up the next morning with the world’s most ridiculous smile on my face. This is not normal for me. Mornings just aren’t my thing. I still feel the ghost of his lips on mine.
I roll over and check my phone, hoping to find a message from him, but my lock screen is blank. No new notifications. Darn. The spark of disappointment running through me tells me my heart is already getting involved here.
I stumble into the shower, letting the hot water do its job. Then I dress in a pair of black leggings and a slouchy pink cardigan that matches my favorite lipstick. Hair up, but a little messy. My signature Saturday morning chores outfit.
I’m debating whether to make a cup of plain old coffee or head down to the lobby to get a Caramel Macchiato from Gobble Me Up when there’s a knock at my front door.
I peer through the peephole, and my heart pounds away in my chest as I lay eyes on Gabe. Taking a deep breath, I open the door. “Good morning,” I say while my heart jackhammers away at a solid 170 bpm.
“Good morning, coffee girl.” He holds out a cardboard drink tray and a brown paper bag. “I thought your favorite beverage from Gobble Me Up would be a good way to start the day.”
My eyes eat him up. He’s wearing dark jeans and a gray Henley that fits like a glove over every sculpted inch of his body, and his hair is still damp. Damn, he looks so freaking amazing. “How do you know what my favorite drink is?”
“A little birdy told me.” He grins, but it’s not the predatory CEO smile I’m used to. It’s softer, almost sheepish. “You said I had to work for it.”
“Great opening shot,” I tell him as he follows me into the room.
His eyes scan me from top to bottom, and I feel the pink rising in my cheeks. “You look incredible,” he says, handing me the drink tray. “Caramel Macchiato with no whip and an extra shot.”
I take the tray, trying not to swoon. “Your little birdy really knows their stuff.”
He shrugs, and his lips twitch as he lifts the bag. “Also, there are two chocolate cream donuts, a bacon cheddar kolache, and a lemon scone.”
I try to process all of this, but my brain short-circuits. I can’t believe he went to all this trouble to find out what I like. “Thank you,” I say, “for the early morning treats.”
He laughs, low and easy. “You’re welcome, coffee girl.”
He sits, and I set the bag and drinks on the coffee table. I fold myself onto the opposite end and reach for one of the chocolate cream donuts.
“So,” I say, voice way too bright. “Are we going to make this an everyday thing?”
He looks at me for a long, terrifying moment, and I expect him to drop some life-altering bombshell, but instead he says, “God. I hope so. Last night was the best night I’ve had in years.” He lifts the kolache, splits it in half, and offers me half.
“Me too,” I admit as we eat, which is to say, I demolish half the food, and he watches me with a kind of fascinated reverence. I am acutely aware of every bite, every crumb that falls onto my leggings. When I reach for a napkin, he grabs it first and dabs the corner of my mouth.
“You missed a spot,” he says, his thumb lingering on my lip.
My mouth goes dry. “Thanks.”
There’s a weird, electric silence filling the room. I’m actually a little startled when Gabe leans back and smiles. “There’s an art festival downtown today,” he says. “A bunch of galleries are doing pop-up exhibits, and there’s a live mural competition. I thought it might be fun to check it out. If you want.”
I blink at him. “You want to go to a public event with me. In the daylight. Where people can see us.”
“I don’t give a fuck who sees us.” He scoots closer to me. “I just want to spend the day with you.
Wow. Just wow
“I’d love to,” I say, because apparently I can’t say no to him.
We take the elevator down to the lobby. Gabe’s hand finds mine, warm and strong, and it just feels right.
He leads me toward a waiting car, but not a limo this time—just two sleek, black SUVs with tinted windows idling at the curb.
I glance over my shoulder and notice two giant men in matching sunglasses trailing us. “Friends of yours?”
