My phone buzzed and I let out a yelp.
Charity was up and wiping her face. "Is it him? Is it?"
I pushed her hands away as I fought to get to my phone in my pocket.
Nic's name lit up the screen.
"Oh, my God, it's him!"
"Answer it, Gabi!"
With shaking hands, I slid my finger across my phone. Charity and I stood perfectly still. When she bumped my arm, I remembered to breathe . . . and talk.
"Hello?"
Ugh. I sounded too eager.
"Hey, Gabi. Did I wake you?"
I laughed. "No, I've been up since five. That's sleeping in for me."
"Awe, the whole bakery getting up at the crack of dawn thing."
Smiling, I felt my body warming. Just the sound of Nic's voice did things to me.
"Something like that."
Charity was trying desperately to put her ear to mine to listen in. Pushing her, I walked into the living room.
"So, how do you feel about a hike?"
"In the mountains?"
Nic laughed. "Yeah."
My heart about leapt from my chest with excitement. "I've never been before."
His silence on the other line scared me. "Are you serious? You've never been hiking or up in the mountains?"
"Both."
"Well, this makes me rethink my plans for where I wanted to go. Do you have good shoes you can hike in?"
Smiling, I spun around and looked at Charity. "Yes! Charity actually made me buy some hiking boots a few months ago. We had planned on taking a trip up to Pikes Peak but she keeps backing out on me."
"Well put them on, girl, I've got a day planned for us."
I could hear the smile in his voice. "Should I meet you somewhere?"
"No, I'll pick you up in an hour."
My eyes widened in shock. "An hour?"
"Is that too soon?"
Not wanting Nic to think I was high maintenance, I chuckled but wore a look of horror on my face. "No. That's plenty of time."
Charity clutched her chest then took off running to her room.
"Great, see you then, agapiméni."
Butterflies galore took off in my stomach. I'd never had a man call me sweet names before. So when Nic called me one, and said it in Greek, it pretty much made me weak in the knees. "K. See ya then."
The moment I hit End, Charity was yelling for me to come to her room. "We are at emergency level one! From what I got we have hiking and mountains. Anything else?"
I stared at her with a deer caught in the headlights look on my face. "Um, no that's all he mentioned."
She tapped her chin. "Okay, I can work with this. Hair, clothes, makeup, and keep it natural."
I nodded. "Sounds good."
The clap of her hands scared me. "We need music." Spinning, she rushed over to her iPod and searched frantically. A huge smile spread over her face. "This one! It's perfect!"
When the song started, I groaned. "Seriously, Char? That song? Why that song when I'm going hiking?"
Her hands went to her hips. "It's the words, Gabi. It's perfect!"
Olivia Newton-John started belting out the lyrics to her song "Landslide". It was true though. It felt like I was riding a landslide and I had to confess, the last twenty-four hours was the most fun I'd had in years.
AFTER HITTING END, I stared out the large set of windows in my bedroom that looked out at the mountains.
Goddamn that voice of hers.
What was it about this girl that had my mind spinning and my chest feeling like I was on a freaking roller coaster?
I wasn't sure what in the hell was going on with me, all I knew was I couldn't wait to see Gabi again. After four hours in a standoff with a drugged up nutcase last night, I drove by her place at almost three in the morning. Tempted to call her, but knowing how crazy that would make me.
I couldn't stop thinking about that kiss. Or the way her body shuddered when I touched her. I loved how responsive she was to my touch. I couldn't wait to pick up where I left off last night.
Fuck. I've never in my life longed to see a girl again after a date. Hell, I didn't even do dates. There was something different about Gabi Mandola.
Something very different.
Pulling my jeans on, I got to planning out the day with Gabi. First stop, Woodland Park. I couldn't wait to show Gabi my favorite hiking trails.
My doorbell rang and I froze.
Shit.
Maybe if I stood here and was really quiet.
It rang again and then my phone went off.
Mama: Your truck is here. Wake up!
Groaning, I sliced my fingers through my hair and headed to the door. Opening it, my mother pushed in.
"First you don't come to the family dinner the other night, then you don't answer your phone yesterday or last night."