Summer Lovin'

Chapter Twenty

(May 18th, 2009)

"Do you know how gorgeous you are?"

Holy shit, I felt the flush creep up my neck and into my cheeks and swallowed hard trying to tame the butterflies. If he continued this sweetness, my internal monologue was going to have to be on point today.

I closed my eyes for a second and told myself, friends tell each other they're gorgeous all the time Hailey! Stop building everything up.

Then my eyes opened and I met his and I wasn't sure if it was my awkwardness that made him smile. All I knew was that he was blinding me with white teeth, dimples and his glimmering blues. I had missed that sparkle that shone out his eyes, making everyone want to get in on the joke.

I realized he was talking and shook my head to focus. "We should probably get out to Murphy, he's been wanting to meet you!"

I looked at him confused, "who is Murphy?"

He laughed and reached out to take my coffee cup, "were you not listening to anything I just said? My dog. He'll come paddle boarding with us."

F balls, how long had I been staring at him and not listening. We were going paddle boarding? I laughed and responded,"sorry, I must have been daydreaming. I love paddle boarding!"

I left out the part where I couldn't seem to focus on what he was saying because his beauty was blinding and I could feel his smile in my vagina. Scratch that my inner monologue was going to have to shut the fuck up today.

He gave me a wink, as if he knew what I was thinking... I really hoped he couldn't read my mind right now and then he linked our hands together, pulling me towards the door.

I was so overwhelmed with the fact that he was still holding my hand that we got out to his truck without me being aware that we'd really moved.

My window was down and the most beautiful German Shepard had his head hanging out. Gabriel opened my door and inclined his head, "Hailey, meet Murphy... Murphy, this is Hailey, the woman I've been telling you about."

He reached out a paw for a shake like he understood exactly what was happening and I couldn't help but giggle at the absurdity that Gabriel had been talking about me to his dog. Or that his dog apparently knew how to introduce himself to people.

Was I still asleep?

I climbed up and he immediately cuddled into my chest and I looked back to see Gabriel frozen on the spot with a goofy, loving look on his face.

He gave me a little grin and said, "he doesn't usually take so fast to other people."

The door was still open and he surprised me by reaching in and buckling me up. He leaned in for a second to give Murphy a pet and then backed up and closed the door. Leaving a pleasing scent of lemons and pine, a tingling sensation anywhere he had just touched and my heart beating incredibly fast.

What was with the way he was looking at me today? What had I signed up for? More importantly, where was the fear that helped keep my heart safe? The only thing racing through my mind and body was an excitement to spend the day with this beautiful man and his dog.

Murphy, as if sensing my emotions, fully laid down in the middle seat and put his head in my lap.

Gabriel walked around to get in the drivers side and again stopped for a second, he started to grumble something, I could have sworn he said something about "my goddamned woman" but as the truck turned on it drowned him out and I knew that couldn't have been it.

I was surprised as he pulled out because when he turned he went towards the end of our street rather than towards town. My Dad's place was one of the first on a long cottage lane that was a dead end.