This Old Heart of Mine Page 9

  “I love it. Thank you so much.”

  “He might just cancel the restaurant and go straight back to his apartment when he sees you,” she says, waggling her eyebrows.

  At Gia’s words, jitters make a reappearance. “This is a date, right? You don’t think I’ve misunderstood?”

  “Unless he’s an idiot, it’s a date. Any man would be lucky to eat dinner with you.”

  “Even if I eat garlic and have sauce all around my face?”

  “Even then. But please don’t do that. Barbeque sauce and spaghetti stains do not go with this outfit.”

  “I’m making no promises.”

  She tries to scowl, but fails. “I’m happy for you, Bambi. You deserve this.”

  “Thank you. I can’t believe I’m going on my first proper date at twenty-three.”

  She fiddles with my hair, adjusting the bobby pins. “I hope it means you’ve skipped dating frogs and have gone straight for your prince.”

  Not wanting to get my hopes up, I shrug. “Maybe.”

  “Just relax. I know I freaked you out earlier, but ignore everything I said. Don’t overthink it. He’s obviously already interested in you, so just keep doing what you’re doing and be yourself. And don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

  “That doesn’t leave much.”

  “Exactly.”

  My laughter loosens the knot in my stomach by a fraction.

  “There’s that beautiful smile. He’s not going to know what hit him.”

  “It’s not like I’m trying to impress him or anything. This may not even be a date.”

  “Mmhmm. Whatever you say. Don’t forget to call me if you need to leave. I’m more than happy to be your excuse. Do we need to run through our story again?”

  “No, I think I’ve got it. Best friend fallen ill, needs me to take care of her.”

  “Perfect. Ugh, I feel like my little girl is all grown up. It’s like it’s prom and I should be taking pictures. Wait there.”

  “You’re ridiculous.”

  Humoring her, I stand and smile while Gia snaps several photos of me on her phone, before I convince her to take some of the two of us.

  We both jump when the buzzer to the apartment sounds. Creeping over to my bedroom door, we watch as Finn answers the intercom and invites Gabriel up.

  “He’s here,” he calls out.

  Straightening, I take a deep breath and open the door. Finn’s eyebrows fly up and he wolf whistles. “Looking good, Ave.”

  “Thanks.” I smooth my sweaty palms down my dress. Gia shoots me a knowing look as she stands by Finn.

  “Is it too late to cancel?”

  The knock on the door answers for me. Looking back at my friends, who are watching on like proud parents, I walk to the front door and open it. Confidence and feminine satisfaction surge through me when I register Gabriel’s reaction. His eyes widen at the same time his lips part. I smile at his sharp intake of breath.

  “Hi.”

  “Hi. You look beautiful.”

  “Thank you. I hope I’m not overdressed for whatever you have planned?”

  “No. You look perfect.” He clears his throat. The few awkward seconds of silence that follow give me a chance to take in his outfit. I’m relieved to see we’re evenly matched. His dark grey shirt looks smart and relaxed, the open top button hinting at the dusting of chest hair beneath. Color rises to my cheeks when I realize I’ve been caught staring.

  “Come in. I’ll just grab my coat. Gabriel, you’ve already met Finn on the phone,” I say as the two men shake hands, sizing each other up. I’d love to know what each of them are thinking right now. “And this is Gia.”

  Gabriel’s face is much friendlier as he turns to my other best friend. Smiling, he takes her hand in between both of his. “Nice to meet you.”

  She grins, tracing his body with her eyes. “You, too.”

  Reaching for my coat, I’m startled when Gabriel’s fingers brush against mine as he takes it from me and helps me into it. I look over my shoulder at him, blushing.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” His hands linger on my lapels. Finn coughs, breaking up the moment. “Shall we go?”

  “Sure. I’ll see you guys later,” I say to my friends.

  I look back at them after Gabriel has said good-bye and headed to the door. I almost laugh out loud when I see Gia fanning herself with one hand and giving me the thumbs up with the other. Finn rolls his eyes at her antics before looking at me. Without words, he lets me know he’s happy for me, and I promise to be safe and call him if I get into any trouble. Blowing them both a kiss, I turn around and walk over to Gabriel who is holding the door open for me.

  And then we’re alone. As we walk out of the apartment, Gabriel shows me to his car, a sleek black Jaguar. It suits him.

  “I hope you don’t mind driving tonight. I know you like to walk, but the restaurant is far from here.”

  “I don’t mind at all.”

  “Good.”

  Ever the gentleman, he helps me in. I’m not sure if it’s his hand or mine that’s clammy, but I get some comfort from the idea that he might be nervous, too.

  After buckling our seatbelts, Gabriel starts the car and drives me away from my security blanket into the great unknown.

  Watching Gabriel drive is an unexpected treat. Until now, I’ve been fighting my attraction to him. It’s impossible to deny his rugged good looks, but I’ve downplayed how they make me feel.

  He’s rolled up his shirtsleeve so that his strong forearms are visible as they grip the wheel. The windows are lowered, allowing the cool breeze to ripple through his wavy locks. Perhaps sensing my gaze on his profile, he turns to me with a knowing smile.

  “Enjoying the view?”

  I’m grateful he can’t see my red cheeks in the dark car. “Absolutely. I was just thinking how pretty the sidewalks look tonight.”

  A deep rumble rises from his throat, sending shivers down my spine. The streets outside are cloaked in darkness, so he knows I’m lying. “Yes, I’ve never seen them look more beautiful,” he says, glancing at me with a smile before looking back at the road. “Would you like some music?”

  “Sure.”

  He presses a button, bringing the infectious beats of a well-known Latin band to life.

  “Oh, I love this song. Please don’t change it.”

  His finger halts over the stereo button. “You do?”

  “Yes. Something about world music speaks to me. It sounds crazy, but I always feel a deep sense of pride and nostalgia, even if I’m not from the place.”

  Placing his hand back on the wheel, he flicks his eyes to me. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, like whenever I hear an Irish song, I always feel connected to the country and the history. It makes me think of my heritage.”

  He nods. “It’s the same for me with Spanish music.”

  “Right, but I also get a similar feeling whenever I listen to African music, or Scottish music, or whatever it is. Even if it’s in a different language, I feel nostalgia for places I’ve never been, countries I have no connection to.”

  “Ah, now I understand. You are not crazy. That’s the power of world music, as you call it. It transports you to another time and place. Your blood may not be connected to the land, but your soul is connected to the world. That is what you are feeling.”

  “Seriously, how do you come up with these things, just like that? It’s not fair on us awkward, mumbling mortals.”

  That delicious rumble sounds again. “It’s inside everyone. But most people don’t want to dig that deep. It scares them. They’re not sure what they will find.”

  “Well, I don’t know about other people, but you need to have someone following you around with a voice recorder. Even your most boring words sound like an inspirational internet quote.”

  “Like the grocery list.”

  I laugh. “Exactly.”

  Leaning back against the seat, I let the music wash ove
r me. The song has changed to a calmer, slower melody. A man sings over it in rapid Spanish, pain cracking his deep voice.

  “What’s he saying?” I ask Gabriel, realizing I have a rare opportunity for translation.

  His smile drops. “He’s singing to a woman, begging her not to leave him because he will be nothing but a shell.”

  “That’s sad. Does she come back to him in the end?” I ask as the haunting violin strings come to a close.

  “No.” He turns off the CD and switches on the radio instead, changing it from a classical music station to one playing the latest Top 40 hits. Gabriel winces but leaves it on there, turning the volume right down.

  “Are you a big music fan?”

  “Yes, I love all kinds of music, as long as it makes you feel something.”

  “And what is this song making you feel?” I ask, referring to the auto-tuned teen starlet warbling about her “cookies.”

  “Nauseous.”

  I giggle. “Me, too. Not a fan of cookies?”

  Gabriel’s head rests back against the seat as he laughs. His eyes leave the road for a second to look at me. “No. I prefer other kinds of dessert.”

  The look in his eyes causes hunger to unfurl deep within me. One that has nothing to do with food.

  After talking and laughing for half an hour, we pull up in front of a beautiful restaurant near the ocean. From the outside, it seems I may have been right. It doesn’t seem too pretentious, and I won’t look out of place. Gabriel helps me out of the car and hands the key over to the valet.

  “This looks lovely.”

  “It’s one of my favorite restaurants in San Francisco. I hope you enjoy it.”

  “What kind of food is it?” I ask, looking at the title of the restaurant, which reveals nothing.

  “It’s a fusion of Brazilian and Japanese.”

  My eyebrows raise. “That’s an interesting mix.”

  “It’s unusual but it works. The food is incredible.”

  “I can’t wait to try it.”

  He stops walking and looks down at me, his face serious and searching. “We can always go somewhere else. Perhaps I should have checked what kind of food you like first.”

  Without thinking, I reach for his hand and clasp it. His eyes jump to mine. I squeeze his warm palm, ignoring how good it feels against mine. It’s strange that my own nerves seem to calm at the contact.

  “Why would I want to go somewhere else? It sounds great. I’m all about having new experiences and trying everything, remember?” I smile thinking about my conversation with Gia earlier. Something tells me there won’t be any French fries on the menu here.

  Gabriel’s smile wraps around my heart. His thumb strokes my palm, sending a jolt of electricity through my veins. “How could I forget? My courageous mariposa.”

  His grey gaze holds me captive. I find myself leaning into him before I even realize what I’m doing. When our faces are just inches from each other, I rejoin reality and step back. “Right now your mariposa is a very hungry caterpillar,” I joke.

  Gabriel keeps watching me for several seconds before he blinks and a slow smile spreads across his face. “Come, let’s feed you.”

  Our hands stay connected as we walk into the restaurant. I can’t stop the shy smile that grows with every step. Peeking up at Gabriel, I see him looking straight ahead. The rapid pulse in his wrist as it rubs against mine betrays him, though.

  I miss the contact as soon as he release me to open the door. Walking toward the hostess table, I jump when his hand slips back into mine. Or rather, swallows it whole since his is much bigger. Our eyes meet for just a second, but it’s enough for us to acknowledge that things are changing between us. For better, or worse.

  Dinner was a memory in the making. The beautiful location of the restaurant, which overlooks the ocean, provided the perfect backdrop to our meal. Looking out of the window to see lights glittering on the surface of the water only added to the magic in the air. The whole place feels like it’s floating. And right now, so do I.

  My taste buds are still tingling from the explosions they experienced tonight. Gabriel wasn’t lying. The food here is incredible. I’ve never eaten anything like it, but I can’t wait to do it again. Plus, I managed not to spread sauce around my mouth, so Gia will be proud.

  “Thank you for bringing me here. I’ve had such a lovely time.”

  Swallowing the last of his red wine, Gabriel smiles. I have the sudden urge to lick the crimson stain off his lips. I reach for my virgin mojito and gulp it down. What is wrong with me tonight? In the same way I seem to bring out a more fun and relaxed Gabriel, he brings out a different side of me, one I haven’t discovered before. With a lingering stare or accidental touch of his hands, a sensual woman awakens from deep within. It’s unfamiliar, but I like it.

  “I’m glad. I’ve had a good time, too. Did you enjoy the food?”

  “Weren’t my moans enough of a clue? It was amazing.”

  Gabriel moves in his seat. “Ah, yes. I won’t be forgetting those noises any time soon.”

  His flustered expression brings a matching one to my face. I realize how my delight might have sounded to male ears.

  “Oops.”

  “Don’t apologize. I enjoyed them.”

  We both laugh when I give him a playful push. “Behave.” He catches my hand and links it with his on the table.

  I feel like Gabriel’s puzzle pieces are clicking into place. When he’s not being mysterious and brooding, he’s actually a relaxed, funny guy.

  The idea that I might be the one helping him to open up causes a pleasant sensation to bloom in my chest. I can’t shake the feeling that this evening has been a turning point. The two people who entered this restaurant are not the same two people who will be leaving it.

  “Are you ready to go?”

  I sigh, resenting my job for the first time. “Yes. I wish I didn’t have work tomorrow.”

  “We’ll just have to come back again on a Saturday.”

  My emotions fizz like champagne. Nodding, I try to stop them bubbling over. “I’d like that.”

  After a small argument over who would pay the bill, Gabriel wins. He helps me out of my chair and into my coat, before leading us out into the cool night air.

  The faint smell of the sea carries on the breeze. I close my eyes for a second, allowing it to wash over me. When I open them, Gabriel is watching me with an unreadable expression on his face. He reaches out and brushes his knuckles down my cheek. The touch is gentle, but the impact is electric. My blood heats as the current flows through me, sparking my skin.

  “Cold?” he asks, when I shiver. Before I realize I’m doing it, I shake my head. He smiles and caresses my cheek again, creating the same effect. “I know you have work tomorrow, but would you like to take a quick walk along the beach?”

  His suggestion surprises me. “I’d love to.”

  Weaving his fingers through mine, we begin to stroll along the boardwalk. At this time of the evening, the streets are still littered with people spilling out of restaurants and bars.

  That comfortable and familiar silence settles over us. I’m content just to soak up the sounds of the street and sea.

  “Thanks again for tonight. I haven’t laughed that much in a long time.”

  Gabriel is quiet for several moments before he speaks. I lean closer to hear him over the waves crashing against the shore. “Me, neither. I’m the one that should be thanking you. Tonight meant a lot to me.”

  My smile is brighter than the street lamps above us. “Same.”

  He squeezes my hand but says no more. We keep walking for several minutes. It might just be my imagination, but all of a sudden, the sea sounds sad. The rhythm of the waves slows to a gentle lament. It reminds me of the violin strings in the sad Spanish song. The crescent moon shines down on us, empty and incomplete.

  I look up at Gabriel, who seems lost in thought. I stop walking and touch his arm.

  Coming to a halt, he frown
s. “Are you okay?”

  “Are you?” I repeat his question back to him.

  “I…” He looks down, shoulders deflating, and shrugs.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Closing the gap between us, I reach up and run my fingers through his hair, trying to offer him comfort. He leans into my touch, kissing the pulse point on my wrist. Staring into each other’s eyes, the air changes once more. It warms and crackles with energy and emotion.

  My body blazes to life. I gasp just before Gabriel’s mouth crashes down against mine, a broken moan spilling from his lips. Our mouths fuse together, causing our teeth to clash for a second, but Gabriel keeps going, undeterred. His arms surround me, one hand gripping my waist, the other cupping my head.

  Despite the wildfire of unfamiliar emotions raging through me, I feel safe and protected. Gabriel is the storm, but he’s also shielding me from it. In his arms, with his kiss, I am both shipwrecked and saved. Our hands search each other’s skin like survivors in the dark.

  It’s right that this kiss, my first proper kiss, takes place by the sea. I’m drowning in emotion and sensation, being pulled under by Gabriel’s powerful force.

  But just as fast as the storm arrives, it passes. Gabriel wrenches free of my mouth, casting me adrift. It takes me a few seconds to return to land. And to reality. Gabriel watches me with wild eyes, panting.

  “Wow,” I murmur, unable to put whatever that was into words. I blink, still disorientated. “Is kissing always like that?” I ask, not meaning to speak out loud.

  At my unguarded words, the drawbridge comes up over Gabriel’s face once more. Where just a minute ago, he was drawing me in, now he’s shutting me out. “No,” is all he says, sounding almost angry.

  “Oh.” I slide my arms around myself and look out toward the darkness.

  “It’s late. We should head back.” His voice has softened by a fraction.

  Avoiding his eyes, I nod and turn to start walking. I startle when Gabriel appears next to me.

  We don’t say anything else on the walk back to the car. Or on the drive home.

  Silence has never sounded so loud.

  When we arrive back at my apartment, I reach for the car door handle.