Sheer perfection. Gabe's kiss was what she’d been missing all her life. Here in his arms was where she belonged. Even the birds singing in the trees above her seemed to agree. She would never tire of kissing Gabriel Rivera.
He let out a small moan as the kiss became more urgent and exploratory. She eagerly melted into him, silently giving him her heart and soul. He might regret this later, but she never could.
She enjoyed every stroke of his lips against hers and brush of his fingertips against her scalp. She'd ride this wave for all it was worth, knowing it would come crashing down on the shore all too soon.
She kissed him for several long delicious moments before pulling her lips from his. He held her close in the circle of his arms, where she was content to stay until she'd caught her breath.
"Happy birthday, Gabe," she whispered.
"Mmm… All other gifts will pale in comparison to that."
They locked gazes. A myriad of emotion flitted through his eyes. She struggled to interpret them, but she was certain she saw contentment and desire in the depths of his gorgeous brown irises.
Marisol and Grace's voices drew closer, and disappointment settled over her. Especially when Gabe released her and took her hand.
"Thank you for spending the day with me and my family," he said as they started walking again.
"It's my pleasure. Seriously. I love your mom and sister."
And I'm head over heels in love with you.
If she voiced the words out loud, Paige feared he'd back off,distancing himself from her like he did last week. She couldn't pressure him. But she could pray he would see they were meant to be together.
"They like you too." The contemplative look he gave her before his lips turned up in a smile seemed to hold a promise.
Of what, she wasn't sure, but she'd take whatever he offered.
CHAPTER 23
"Happy Birthday to you!"
Gabe's gaze darted around the table as his mom, Grace, and Paige sang to him. His attention was torn between his mom and Paige. This could be the last time he heard his mother sing Happy Birthday, so he wanted to savor that, but he was distracted by the sweet soprano of Paige's voice. He had no idea she could sing so well. There were so many things he wanted to know about her.
"Okay, make a wish," Grace said when the song ended, "then blow out the candles."
Gabe stopped making birthday wishes after his father walked out on them, but he’d humor Grace. He looked at the expectant faces surrounding him, his gaze jumped between his mom and Paige again.
Too bad he couldn'twishhis mom back to health. Turning to the Lord in prayer and supplication was more effective than hoping for a birthday wish to come true. Even if his prayers weren't answered the way he wanted.
His gaze shifted back to Paige. Warmth filled his chest as he watched the way the candlelight danced in her blue eyes.
With his mom and sister sitting in the backseat on the drive to Yakima, he felt like he should hold Paige's hand. That contact hadcemented his decision to make their relationship real despite the risks. He didn’t know how things would play out, but he’d do whatever was necessary to keep Paige in his life.
"Come on." Grace poked his shoulder. "It's not that hard. Just wish for a kiss from Paige and blow out the candles already. They're dripping on the cake."
He closed his eyes and made his wish which turned out to be more of a prayer. Something he had been doing a lot lately.
Please, God, let me find a way to make this real.
Keeping his eyes on Paige, he blew out the candles on the tres leches cake Grace had made that morning. All thirty-one of them. Paige’s smile lit up the room much brighter than the bonfire of candles.
Mom and Grace's cheers pulled his gaze from Paige. Grace wore a knowing, I-told-you-so grin, and the twinkle in Mom's eyes looked like she had a secret she was dying to share.
They chatted as they dug into the cake then moved to the family room, where his sister insisted he open the presents that sat on the coffee table. He made short work of the gifts from Grace; two t-shirts. One said, "The World's Best Big Brother." The other read, "I have the Best Sister in the World. She's also CRAZY and scares me."
Gabe burst out laughing. "So true."
"I want to see you wear it every week," Grace insisted.
