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thwarted. 
     
     
     
    Chapter 4

    August, 2010
    The Past  ~  Gabby
    Gabby couldn’t contain her excitement as her smile stretched across her face the entire time she got ready.  Granted, there was no need to get dolled up, as she had only planned to take Bradley to her favorite restaurant, A.W. Shucks.  She still couldn’t help but notice that she was putting in far more effort than usual to look casual.  No matter what she had done all day, the kiss she had shared with Bradley was not far from the front of her mind.  She kept having to remind herself that they had to walk before they ran and there was no way that they stood a chance if they didn’t take the time to get to know each other first.  But, she still couldn’t push the thoughts and the warm tingling they brought to her body out of her mind for long.  While she was scared, she knew that she had never felt this way before, not even about Ian.  Maybe that was what scared her the most.  She knew the hurt Ian had caused and the feelings were not even as intense with him as they were with Bradley.
    Gabby glanced at the antique alarm clock on her old wooden dresser as the doorbell rang.  Bradley had called her earlier and confirmed he would pick her up at 7pm, and even though he had said he was always late like Gabby, she had not yet experienced his tardiness.  It was 7pm sharp.  She grabbed her things as she smacked her lips together to spread her lip gloss. 
    “Gabby,” Sam hollered as Gabby hurried into the living room. 
    “I’m right here!” Gabby laughed and looked up to see Bradley standing in front of the door. 
    Sam had let him in and he was dressed casually in a white linen button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows showing his tanned muscular forearms.  How could arms be so sexy , she wondered?  They were dusted with black hair.  His shirt was tucked into khaki pants, which were hanging perfectly from his narrow hips.  Gabby took a deep breath trying to contain the blush that was surely washing over at the moment as she drank in his divine existence.  How had she ever gotten so lucky that this man would be standing in her tiny house waiting on her ?  She briefly closed her eyes as he embraced her, softly kissing her cheek.  He handed her more flowers.  This time there were a dozen yellow long stemmed roses. 
    “You look beautiful.  These are for you.  Yellow for friendship, as promised.  You know, we have to walk before we run,” he whispered.
    “They’re beautiful,” she softly spoke as she brought them to her nose to smell.  “I’ll just be a minute, let me put them in some water.”
    “Okay, no hurry.” Turning to her sister, he said, “Sam, good to see you again.  Thanks for sharing her with me again today.” Bradley nodded to her.
    “Bradley.” Sam acknowledged.  “No problem.  She’s the happiest I’ve seen her in some time.” It was clear that there was an underlying implied warning Sam’s comment.
    Gabby walked back into the room smiling at Bradley.  “You ready?”
    “Yep!”  Bradley waved with one arm as he placed his other in the small of Gabby’s back.  “See you later, Sam.”
    “Y’all have a great time,” Sam said as they were walking out the door.
    Gabby turned her head with a huge grin and giggled. “Thank,Sam.”

    “Do you want to sit inside or outside tonight?” Bradley asked as they approached the hostess at A.W. Shucks. 
    “It doesn’t matter to me, either is fine.”
    “Let’s eat inside tonight, then.”
    “Inside it is,” Gabby giggled.
    The blonde teenage hostess smiled as they approached, “Just the two of you tonight?”
    “Yes,” Bradley replied politely.
    “Would you like to be seated inside, outside, or first available?”
    “Inside, please.”
    “It’s going to be around fifteen minutes, is that okay?”
    Bradley looked down to Gabby for her affirmation.
    Gabby nodded her head in agreement. “I’m fine with that, are