Mending (22 page)

Bradley

“Where are you taking us?” Gabby asked.

“It’s called
One
.  It’s a really cool place.” He glanced over to her.  She was seated beside him and Sam was in the backseat.  They had driven
Gabby’s
car because his car was a two
seater
.  He smiled, “The foods excellent.  I thought you two would enjoy the menu.”
As he spoke the last sentence, he looked in the rear view mirror and smiled at Sam. 

Gabby was turned around bracing the side of the seat as she and Sam spoke about Atlanta.  Gabby would point and show her different places Bradley had taken her.  Bradley just smiled and would glance back and forth between the two of them as he drove them to dinner. 

He had planned the entire weekend out for them.  He was very excited.  Not just because he had been dying to set Sam up with Ryan since he had really gotten to know her on the phone in August, but because this was the weekend he’d introduce Gabby to his family.  He’d never really brought a girl home since high school.  He knew it was a necessary next step in the relationship.  He had fallen in love with Gabby and he needed for Sam and Gabby to see that this relation
ship was important to him. 

“This used to be an old warehouse.  They turned it into a chic and beautiful restaurant.” He parked the car and cut the ignition.  He stroked the side of
Gabby’s
face with the pad of his thumb thinking how beautiful she looked tonight as the lights from
One
reflected off her delicate skin.  She was glowing. “I hope you’ll like it.” He whispered.

She reached up and stilled his hand smiling, “I’m sure we’ll love it.”
As she nodded back to Sam.
  “Let’s try not to totally gross her out tonight.” Gabby giggled.

“Hey, I am in the car and yeah – stop with all the lovey
dovey
stuff.”  She giggled back.

He went to
Gabby’s
side, helping her out of the car and then helping Sam climb from the back.  He put his hand in the small of
Gabby’s
back as they walked inside.  He had already made reservations and it wasn’t like the staff didn’t already know him.  This was one of his favorite restaurants in Atlanta.  He knew Sam would really like the décor, so he had saved bringing Gabby until a weekend Sam could come along with her. 

As soon as he walked in he saw his buddy, Dave.  He had called him earlier to arrange for the reservations.  He was a little shorter than Bradley, very attractive, with dark hair and dark eyes.    Occasionally, he would work out with Bradley and Joe. He was wearing a black button up shirt with One embroidered on the left corner pocket and black slacks.  He caught Sam blushing.  He would have to remind her that he would not be a good fit for her.  There was a reason he, Dave, and Joe had all been such good friends.  He personified the bad boy stereotype, even though he had his act together professionally. “Hey Bradley, we have your table waiting.  Good to see you, man.” He leaned in and gave him a quick pat on the back as they shook hands.

“Thanks, good to see you, too.” 

“Who are these two lovely ladies you have with you tonight?”

Bradley put his arm around
Gabby’s
waist pulling her close. “This is my girlfriend, Gabby.” He motioned to Sam, “And her sister, Sam.”

“Girlfriend, huh?”

Bradley gave Dave a condescending smile,
“Yep, girlfriend.” Bradley was rubbing
Gabby’s
back trying to help her relax.  He could sense her tensing up over the awkward situation.

When they reached their table, Bradley pulled the chair out for Sam and he and Gabby scooted into the booth on the other side of the table.  After Dave had walked away, Bradley shrugged, “He’s really a nice guy.”

Sam and Gabby looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders, too. 
“Whatever you say.”
Gabby fired back sarcastically.

He turned to her and pulled her face close to his resting his forehead on hers, “Okay, he’s an ass.  Forget about him and don’t let it ruin our night, please.”  He could feel and see
Gabby’s
body relax as she smiled. 

Gabby playfully whispered,
“I love you.”

He brushed her nose with his finger
smiling a wry smile
, “Love you, too,
my
Gabby Girl.”

“Hey, there is another person with y’all tonight.
” Sam shook her head rolling her eyes.  “
Could you really try to refrain until we get home and you’re tucked away in your room?”

Gabby and Bradley smiled and both took a deep breath. 
It was going to be hell and torture for him to try to contain his affection for her all night.  He hadn’t seen her in days and he had barely been able to touch or kiss her since they got there.  He wondered if it was killing her the way it was him. 
He put his hand on her thigh
and squeezed.  He smiled as
she placed her hand on his.
They looked up into each other’s eyes, the chemistry was nearly palpable. 
“We’ll try.”
They conceded.

They had spent all of dinner talking about Ryan, Joe, and Bradley told stories about his family in preparation for their big day on Saturday.  He had planned for the four of them: him, Ryan, Gabby, and Sam, to go play putt
putt
.  He knew Gabby would think it was silly, but he thought it would be a lot of fun.  It had been ages since he’d played and that would be something that would allow Sam and Ryan to flirt, but not be too uncomfortable if things didn’t go the way he thought they would.  He grinned when he thought about how he had dreamed for a week about getting to watch Gabby leaning over putting for eighteen holes. 

The ride back to his place had been quiet.  The girls were stuffed and tired from their long days.  Bradley had his hand around the back of
Gabby’s
neck thumbing through her hair.  She loved it when he did that.  She would wiggle her head around with her eyes closed moaning, which of course
inadvertently
turned him on. 

When they made it back into the apartment Sam gave Gabby a hug, “I need to study a little bit and then I’m off to bed.”
Waving to Bradley, “Thank you dinner.”

“Night Sam, you’re welcome.” Bradley grinned at her.  He was thankful she was there, but her words were music to his ear.  All he wanted to do was
get
his girl to his room and worship her body until he could no longer keep his eyes open. 

“Night, Sam.” Gabby smiled.

They stood and watched her walk and close the door to her room.  As soon as she was gone, Gabby turned and held her wrists around his neck on her tippy toes, “So, what are we doing tomorrow?”

He crushed his lips to hers, possessing her mouth.  He didn’t want to talk about tomorrow’s plans.  He wanted to finish tonight’s first.

She moaned as his hands wandered to her rear, he pulled her leg up to his hips.  “Hop
on,
we’ll talk about tomorrow, later.”

Gabby giggled and jumped into his arms, throwing her legs around both of his hips.  “Okay.”

Gabby

Gabby woke up to soft kisses on her arms, then her neck, and then to her mouth. 
“Rise and shine, beautiful.”

She grumpily groaned as she turned towards him. “You’re such a perky morning person.”

 
“I am an especially…” He chuckled as he pushed his growing erection to her.  “Perky morning person when I wake up next to you, love.”

Gabby moved her hand down, “Oh, yes.  Most definitely the perkiest morning person I’ve ever met.” She giggled.
  “I can’t seem to keep you satisfied.”

He brushed her hair back, “I don’t know that I will ever be able to get enough of you.” He kissed her softly and slowly.  “You’re beautiful in the morning.”

Gabby rolled her eyes, “Whatever.”

“No, you are.”

“Well, I guess you’re the only one that needs to think that.  So, if you do, then I guess I’m good.”

He raised that one sexy eye brow, which almost always made her melt, “Damn straight.” He climbed on top of her and kissed her deeply this time, full of passion. 
“Oh, Gabby.
  You do realize I’ve got it bad for you, don’t you?”

She rubbed her hands up and down his toned back, “Good.”

He moved his kisses to her ear lobe and flicked it with his tongue causing her to wiggle.  She could feel his smile on her skin.  She closed her eyes and moved her hands to his hair.  Oh how she loved his messy wavy hair in the morning. 

“Bradley.” She tilted her hips up to his.

He continued down her torso, planting kisses. 
“Yeah?”

“We need to hurry up.  I bet Sam is already awake.”

“Okay.
Now
Shh
.
”
He placed his finger on her lips and she grabbed it between her teeth smiling. 

Bradley

Bradley had arranged for Ryan to meet them at the apartment.  Ryan had a Land Cruiser, so they h
ad all loaded into
his veh
icle. Bradley and Ryan were in the front and the girls were in the back chatting.  He and Ryan were having a casual conversation, although Bradley was pretty distracted. 

They
had just finished a quick
lunch at Olive Garden
and now
they were headed to
Captain’s Cove to play putt
putt
.  After putt
putt
was finished,
Ryan would take them home to get ready for the evening festivities. 
Bradley had made reservations at the
Waterside Restaurant at Stone Mountain.  This is where Gabby and Sam would meet his crazy family. 

He was glad they had a busy day planned
and for the conversation.  He was trying so hard to
keep his mind off of the anxiety he had about introducing Gabby to his father. 

If Gabby thought meeting Dave had been uncomfortable, he could only imagine how badly tonight could go.  His mother had a tendency of turning a blind eye on his father’s indiscretions.  She loved him.  She had taken vows to be faithful to him, to love him for eternity and that was what she fully intended to do.  His father was a local politician and attorney.  Now that Bradley had Gabby in his life, he realized how screwed up and dysfunctional the relationship between his parents really was.  He had always know it was wrong, but his father had engrained into him that it was okay for me to behave in such a way, especially men of power.  He had always looked up to his father and he had a good time looking at women when he was with him.