She laughed, and it rumbled through my body again. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."
Scooping up the last bite, I put it in my mouth and moaned. Gabi's mouth opened slightly, and I swore her eyes turned dark with desire. I might have been jumping the gun, but I didn't care. There was something about that woman I needed to learn more about. She had an air of mystery surrounding her. I'd never been so drawn to anyone before in my entire life.
Reaching down, she took my plate. "Best you've ever had?"
"If I say yes, will you let me take you to dinner sometime?"
Her eyes lit up and my chest squeezed in a delicious way. "No. But, how about if you let me cook you dinner? That's if you like Italian food?"
Holy fuck. Even better.
"Like it? I love it."
Her smile grew wider as I handed her my card. "Send me a text so I can get your number and we'll plan it."
She nodded as I stood. Staring at her perfect lips, I added, "Now, Gabi. Send me a text now so I know you're not blowing me off for Cole now that you know he's SWAT."
The giggle that came from her mouth had my dick growing painfully hard again. Grabbing her phone from her back pocket, she typed in the number on the card and ten seconds later my phone beeped.
Desire raced through my veins like I'd never experienced before. The possessive way I had told her to text me shocked me but hadn't seemed to phase her at all. I bet she'd respond to a bossy lover in bed. I was dying to find out.
A loose strand of her blonde hair dangled in front of her eye. Reaching my hand up, I ran it through my fingers before tucking it behind her ear. Her breath caught as I traced my finger along her jawline.
"When can I see you again?" The need to feel this woman against me grew by the second.
Her tongue darted out and ran over her lips quickly while she nibbled on it a few seconds. She was deciding on what to say next. "Are you free tonight? I have tomorrow off, so I can stay up late."
My brows lifted and her cheeks immediately blushed. "That's not what I meant!" she said while pushing my shoulder back. The zip of energy from her touch made my knees weak.
"I only meant I wouldn't have to be going to bed at seven!"
"Tell me what time and I'll be here." Please don't let me get called in tonight. Please.
Glancing at her phone, she peered back up at me. "Seven too early?"
The urge to lean down and kiss those perfectly plump lips was hard to ignore.
"Seven's perfect."
A sweet, shy smile played across her face. "Just ring the bell at the side of the bakery at the door. I'll buzz you up."
With a grin, I leaned down and kissed her cheek lightly as I whispered, "See you then."
The pounding of my heart in my ears was all I could hear as I retreated out of the bakery. Each breath was labored as I walked away.
Gabi Mandola had just turned my life upside down. My head was spinning as I headed down the street to where I parked my truck. I rubbed my hand over my chest, trying to get rid of the feeling that had settled in there the moment she smiled at me and those blue eyes met my gaze.
My brother Thano's words swirled around in my head.
"The moment you meet her, Nic, you'll know. Your breath will catch, your chest tightens like a vice clamped down on it, but it's a feeling so good you want it to last forever. Your world will feel like it's been turned inside out. She'll affect you like no woman has ever done before and you can't help but count down the minutes until you see her again."
I didn't do relationships. I fucked. And boy did I want to sink myself deep into Gabi and forget everything else in this shitty world. There was something very different about this woman and I couldn't wait to figure out what it was.
The vibration of my phone in my pocket pulled me from my dirty thoughts. Cole's name scrolled across it and I instantly laughed at the beginning of his message.
Cole: Please tell me you didn't get a date with her!
Me: Dinner tonight at her place.
Cole: I hate you. Greek bastard.
Me: That's what you get for hiding that bakery from me asshole.
Cole: I hope your dick breaks out in some weird rash.
Me: You still have hope with the other hot chick that works there.
Cole: That's true. I still hope your dick breaks out in a rash.
Laughing, I didn't respond as I got in my truck and started it up. Before pulling out, I glanced at the clock.
Six hours until I could see those beautiful eyes again.
THE SMELL OF basil filled the kitchen as I got out my great-grandmother's recipe for chicken parmigiana. I found myself singing "Tied Up" along with Olivia Newton-John and Charity. The song was blaring from her room. Her obsession with Olivia had caused me concern when we first moved in as roommates. After countless hours of hearing her songs, going to two concerts in Vegas, and repeated viewings of her movies, I was a bit of a fan myself. Nothing like Charity though.