Gabe exhaled, and Ivy couldn’t help but laugh. He was too caveman predictable sometimes.
“You must be wiped out. What time were you in this morning?”
“Seven-thirty. I’m at the hotel bar, again. I just needed some quiet. I’m going to have to look for a place here.”
“I know.” Gabe’s voice sounded so far away, and Ivy bit her lip. “I’ve been thinking about that, too. It’s time to move on.”
“I loved that condo.” She fanned herself, suddenly warm from the overwhelming feelings she had.
“Yeah. We had a lot of happy memories there.”
“I wish you were here,” Ivy blurted it out. She had been trying so hard to only talk about the present moment, to stay in the conversation. That meant no talking about their past issues. No talking about where they were going with their future. She was torn between keeping their peace of the present and bringing up their future. Gabe had seemed so levelled; she didn’t want to bring up the future to upset him. She bit the inside of her lip, knowing that wasn’t right either. He wouldn’t want her to avoid talking to him.
“I’m happy you said that.” The phone muffled for a moment. “Because you’re the prettiest woman in the place, and there is an empty seat across from you.”
Her hands shook as she scanned the restaurant. Over there by the door, his long frame, wide shoulders, his hair just above his collar because he was tired of regulation, and about two days’ growth on his face, for the same reason. Her heart thundered. A flush crept up her neck. She smiled, watching as he looped over to her table.
“Hi,” she squealed
He leaned down and kissed her, his tongue teasing hers, her hand came up to cup his familiar face. He deepened the kiss as if he couldn’t stop kissing her. She tapped his arms, suddenly aware they were in the restaurant. He broke off the kiss, and she licked her swollen lip.
“Hey.” He put his duffel bag on the floor, sat on the chair across from her, and took her hands in his.
For a few moments, they just stared at each other, not speaking. Ivy took in the tightness of his jaw and knew he was stressed.
“You’rehere.”
“I had to come. I couldn’t go another day without seeing you.”
His sultry tone made her blush.
“Can I get you anything?” A server interrupted their gazing.
Gabe inclined his head to Ivy.
“Actually, I’ll skip dinner here tonight and call for room service later.”
“Much later,” Gabe said.
The server grinned and walked away.
“Let’s go.”
Ivy got up from the table so fast that the glass shook. He took her arm, holding her close as he walked through the restaurant, into the lobby, to the elevator. With her every step, Ivy couldn’t believe this was real.
“What floor?”
“Like you don’t know?” Ivy grinned.
Gabe pressed the button for the 7thfloor. “You know my tricks.”
“Most of them.”
As soon as the doors opened, his lips crashed into hers, and Ivy moaned, inhaling his sharp, familiar scent, basking in the familiarity of his solidness. Ivy’s hands went under his jacket, feeling his tight abs, his strong shoulders.
“Missed you so much.” Gabe grabbed her hand in his as the door pinged.
Six doors down, Ivy took out the key card. It flashed green. Gabe hit the lights, hung his jacket up in the closet, and kicked off his shoes as she flung off her heels.
