Summer Lovin'

Chapter Twenty-Three

(May 19th, 2009)

I woke up with my alarm and touched my lips feeling the phantom caress of Gabriel's lips last night.

I fluffed up my pillow and took a lazy moment to relax back, thinking about how perfect yesterday was.

Gabriel had gone out of his way all day to make me fully aware of his feelings. For the first time ever, I had known that my feelings were returned and I was wanted. It was a powerful feeling.

The only complaint that I had from the day was that he had been an absolute gentleman. When he walked me to my door, I might've... most definitely invited him inside.

I smiled and leaned back into my pillow thinking about the groan as he had responded. He had pushed me up against the door and stated, "I want to be clear, I want to say yes so bad."

He had nuzzled my neck and nibbled on my earlobe. It was like he instinctively knew exactly what to do to drive me crazy. Then he whispered in my ear, letting me know " I'm walking you up and making sure you get in safe, but not coming any further. The last time I thought we were on the same page you disappeared for four years. I want you but I don't want you for just one night."

He moved from my ear and rubbed his nose against mine twice before his lips gently touched mine and he pulled back again, his eyes met mine and his sapphire orbs sparkled at me as he explained, "I don't want to mess anything up and so I'm going to leave it as the most perfect day."

Then he rubbed his lips over mine again, and again, each time diving down for longer. When he had finally pulled back he had shaken his head at me. "Get inside before I change my mind."

I again ran my fingers over my still tingling lips, it was as if he had registered, just like I did that the way we felt for each other was incredibly serious, incredibly soon and known that after an entire day of revelling in those feelings, I needed to sit back on them and process.

I looked at the time and realized I'd been daydreaming for longer than I'd thought.

As I got ready for my day, I couldn't hold in the excitement of what this summer had in store. The entire day yesterday had been dream worthy and thinking about seeing him today had me all a flutter. He had made sure that going into today I felt wanted and cared for, it was a heady feeling!

The ringing of the phone ripped me out of the clouds. It was Josie, calling to ask how the date had gone.

I hadn't expected it to go so well and hadn't prepared myself for how to tell her. I took a breath, what if she had reservations because of whatever happened with Lincoln? What if this upset her?

I answered fearing the worst but as soon as I said, "hello" she started rambling excitedly.

She started with, "so did he finally tell you how he feels? Please tell me you guys are together!"

I laughed, releasing any tension.

I should have remembered that regardless of how Lincoln and Josie ended, she would always be in my corner. I shook off the silliness and started sharing, enjoying every sigh, squeal and smile I could hear from her end of the phone.

We hadn't been on long when she said, "I need to get back to work, I just needed to know. I'll call you later and find out what's going on at the bar." She paused and finished, "Hailey, Gabriel has been in love with you forever and you have been with him too, you need to trust that he wouldn't lie to you or leave you. Promise me you'll really dive into this with him this summer. Let yourself be loved okay?"

I smiled at how well she knew me and said, "thanks Josie, I promise to be open to some summer Lovin'!"

Her response was, "good girl! I love you."

As we hung up and I rushed to make up for all the time daydreaming, I realized that for the first time ever I was downright giddy over a man. I couldn't seem to pull my head down from the clouds and I kind of liked it.

A/N- we're going to hear more about Josie's first undercover assignment soon!

Thoughts? As a reader anything you need more of? I know it's kind of fluffy... that okay?

I personally am always a fan of the fluff ? 💕