Chapter 7: Morning Beautiful

Lucy POV

Lucy's heart skipped a beat and her breathing was hitched. She hiccupped, her head slightly spinning. She took another sip of her drink as she texted back and forth with Gabriel, discussing their early morning hike. He had let her decide when she'd like to contact him next, a gesture that she really appreciated. It showed that he respected her enough to give her time to decide. She smiled reading his text.

'Hey gorgeous, that sounds wonderful. We must also both be early birds?

She texted back. 'Must be.'

Gertrude shot up from the couch that she had been zonked out on. "Huh? What?" She gasped, sleepily rubbing her eyes.

"Auntie, hey you doing all right?" Lucy asked worriedly as she sat upright on the couch watching her aunt.

"Whew, I'm just super tired, Lucy. I'm making my way to bed. I'll see you in the morning pumpkin." Gertrude stretched and walked over to the stairs.

The two of them had made a pitcher full of a mixed strawberry margarita drink and had been happily chowing down on junk food and laughing at a romantic comedy movie all night. Her phone vibrated again letting her know someone had texted her, and she picked it up still slightly buzzed.

Gabriel had texted her. 'Sweet dreams, don't forget to get plenty of rest for our hike!'

She smiled sleepily and tidied up the living room before she went to bed, hoping she could sleep without being too excited about the hike tomorrow.

*****

Lucy winced and groaned in pain as she stumbled around in the dark. She despised having to turn a light on this early in the morning and was reconsidering that after stubbing her toe.

She felt her phone buzz with a text. As she pulled her shirt over her shoulders, she looked at her phone. Gabriel had texted.

'Hey, you up? I was wondering how you felt about riding motorbikes?'

'Never tried,' she texted back nervously biting her nail. Why was he asking that?

'If you are up for trying, I'd love to show you the ropes,' he texted back. Lucy took a deep breath thinking it made sense to try riding a motorcycle just once in her life.

'Okay. I am nervous by the way,' she replied.

'Don't worry I got you, and I am heading out soon… your aunt's place isn't far from mine. Meet you in ten minutes.'

Oh, sh*t! She hustled into her leggings and grabbed her shoes roughly. He must have been up earlier than she was!

She heard her aunt still snoring down the hall, and she jumped across the rug lining the hallway to avoid the creaks in the floor. After brushing her hair into a ponytail and brushing her teeth, she bolted down the stairs to let Frank out to pee.

Frank sniffed almost every corner taking a few moments before he finally went to the bathroom. Lucy slapped her thighs impatiently knowing Gabriel would be here shortly. As Frank came back to the screen door, Lucy could hear a motor slowing down on the road and pulling into their driveway.

She had to give Gabriel credit. He seemed like an honest guy, and what he said he meant. If he said he was an early bird, he was. If he said he'd see her bright and early, he would be there bright and early. So, he now is claiming he's got her when it comes to riding his motorbike. Lucy hopes he means that too.

She grabbed her water bottle as she calmed her nervous morning jitters and rushed out the door. It was still on the darker side since the sun hadn't officially peaked over the horizon, and Lucy had to blink a few times as she walked toward Gabriel parked in the middle of the driveway.

"Hey, morning beautiful." He smiled sweetly with an extra helmet in his hands as he passed it to her.

"Hey… good morning to you as well... handsome…" She paused hesitantly, saying her words cautiously. He smiled over at her, which made her feel more at ease.

"Are you always this chirpy in the morning?" she asked, placing the helmet on her head and struggling with the straps.

"Always." He grinned. "Can I help with those?"

"Sure," she laughed and looked around bashfully as he came closer to her and snapped the helmet straps and buckles into place. She noticed a few freckles on his nose and cheeks, and couldn't help but check out his other features.

"All right, we are ready to go. I know of a really nice trail not too far from here with gorgeous scenes at sunrise and sunset," Gabriel said as he swung one leg over his bike and patted the seat behind him.

Her heart suddenly jumped into her throat, beating too fast. Oof… was she really ready for this? Not only trying something new but being extremely close to a male again didn't make her feel the most comfortable.

"I got you, you are safe with me." Gabriel nodded, stretching his hand out to her. Lucy bit her lip and she could have sworn she heard Gabriel moan.

She didn't answer but she decided to take his hand gingerly and swung her own leg over the bike as Gabriel just had. She sat there for a second unsure of what to do with her hands… she blushed realizing she probably would have to hold onto Gabriel.

"Okay Lucy, when we go around a bend instead of leaning against the turn lean into the turn with me. I know it's the opposite of what you would think when riding a bike, but just trust me. I've been doing this for a while. You are going to have to hold on tight to my waist," Gabriel instructed before he turned the key in his motorbike.

He hollered over his shoulder, "Any questions?"

"No… just how long is the drive?" she asked, a worried tone in her voice.

"Just five minutes." He nodded and reached behind himself to confidently grab her arms to help her position them around his waist.

Lucy was just glad he couldn't see how red she was! He seemed like such a macho, comfortable, and confident man. She couldn't imagine someone like him putting up with her anxieties for very long. Then suddenly, with a rev to the engine they were off.

She was pushed forward by momentum into Gabriel's back and felt her face blush harder.

Gabriel definitely knew his way around on the motorbike, and he confidently and carefully carried them toward their morning hike. As they neared some parking spots signaling the beginning of the trail, Gabriel started to slow down. He expertly parked and turned off the engine.

"That was amazing! It was so exhilarating feeling all of the air rushing around me as we drove!" Lucy chattered after they parked. She seemed thrilled to have tried something new.

Gabriel smiled at her and took her helmet from her, placing both helmets on the seat. "Riding a motorbike has often been an escape for me. It really can be enjoyable as long as there are not too many jerks driving on the road." Gabriel handed over her water bottle from the storage container in the back.

"Thanks," Lucy said, feeling the rush of adrenaline still pumping through her veins. She was grateful for Gabriel showing her not only a new trailhead not far from her home but the freedom of driving on the back of a motorbike too.

They started their hike as the sun started to peak over the horizon, speaking about their favorite kinds of food, music, and hobbies. They did have a good deal in common.

"So, you are definitely a car and motorcycle guy?" Lucy said as she climbed a narrow and steep rocky part of the hike.

"Oh yeah," Gabriel said, his tone sounding a bit hitched. Were they going too fast?

Suddenly Lucy felt her foot slip as she lost her footing on the rocks and skidded down toward Gabriel in a whirlwind of rocks and sand. She shouted in fear, but he caught her by wrapping his hands around her waist and set her down on the ground next to him.

"Are you okay?" He breathed deeply, seeming worried that she had slipped.

"Oh jeez, yeah …" She said, sucking in her breath and looking down at her leg. "Ooooh, I banged up my leg on those rocks pretty good though." One side of her leg was completely scratched up as it had been dragged down against the rocks.

With one motion he grabbed the backpack he was carrying on his back. It had been holding both their water bottles and a first aid kit.

"Here, sit on the ledge and give me your leg," he ordered confidently and got to work cleaning the blood on her knee and leg.

Lucy blinked in slight shock as she sat down and allowed him to touch her leg. She wasn't as nervous as she thought she would have been with such a hunk of a man touching her leg. He didn't make her recoil in fear; he made her feel safe.

She felt strangely calm as he wiped down her leg and bandaged her cuts. He was definitely in the medical field as he did an expert job of cleaning her wounds.

"Done! You should probably rebandage your cuts every few hours to make sure your wounds don't get infected. You'll be all right though," he said, patting her leg that was currently stretched across his lap.

"Thank you, Gabriel," she whispered quietly. "How embarrassing! Our first hike together and I slip and get banged up. I'm sorry the early morning hike is ruined…"

"Hey it's not ruined, we had a great time. I personally like feeling needed. I also enjoyed being able to take care of you," Gabriel winked over at her, risking being too forward.

"Oh," she hummed, giggling at his bluntness as she playfully patted his arm. Her silver bracelet moved slightly and touched his skin.

Gabriel flinched in pain and hissed, taking a deep breath which alarmed Lucy. She had just barely touched him.

"What happened? Are you all right?"