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Gabi drove the three-hour drive home while Antonio stared silently out the window. He had been in the hospital for 5 days since the accident and hadn’t recovered one piece of his memory. The doctor assured Gabi that time and patience were the best medicine and as far as the tests were concerned, Antonio should have no permanent damage and, eventually, make a full recovery. They would monitor his progress and retest him as necessary. Gabi knew he was angry and frustrated and did her best to put him at ease. The doctor advised the whole family to let him remember on his own…so as not to force the issue and further complicate his recovery.
Maria and Carmen spent only a few days with him before returning to Sunset Beach. Ricardo had stayed longer, but needed to get back to work. Gabi and Ricardo decided that she and Antonio would live at the loft for the time being since Antonio didn’t exactly have a home anywhere. Ricardo would fill in the necessary people back in Sunset Beach: Vanessa, Michael, Casey and so on. Ricardo would be taking a room at Surf Central and had arranged to pick up Antonio’s belongings from the Mission and Gabi’s things from the hotel and move them to the loft. Gabi couldn’t thank Ricardo enough for his understanding and help with Antonio’s situation. Ricardo told her that he would do anything she needed to help get back his little brother. They were thinking positively, but inside, both of them were having serious doubts about his recovery. Gabi glanced over to find Antonio still watching the road go by. He had fastened his seat belt the minute they got in the car and his hand rested over the lock as if to assure it wouldn’t open during the drive. "Antonio?" Gabi spoke softly. "We should be back to Sunset Beach soon. Are you feeling alright?" "Mmhmm," he mumbled without turning from the window. Gabi reached over and touched his hand causing him to turn his attention to her. "I’m sorry, I was just thinking." He smiled at her. "About what?" She turned back to the road and Antonio stared at her intently. "About what it would be like if I never got my memory back," he said sadly. "If I had to start my life over." "Oh, Antonio," Gabi sighed. "It’s only been a week…the doctor said you have to give it time." "I know, I know." Antonio leaned his arm against the window and tilted his head against his hand. "What’s going to happen when we get back? What about my job? I don’t even know where we live…" "Don’t worry about anything, Antonio," Gabi reassured him. "All you have to worry about now is getting better." Antonio lightly touched the gauze bandage that covered his most serious wound. When the windshield shattered, a large piece of glass pierced his forehead just at his hairline requiring 15 stitches to close it. His hair would cover the scar, but it would serve as a constant and permanent reminder of almost losing his life. Tears filled his eyes as he thought about how close he had come and how his brother had saved him. How would he ever show Ricardo how truly thankful he was? "Antonio," Gabi’s voice brought him back from his thoughts. "It’s going to be okay…I’ll take care of you." The sincerity in her voice almost broke him. This woman loved him so deeply and yet, he didn’t recall a thing about her or their life together. He assumed that he must love her with the same intensity but knew nothing of it. Did he even know how to love someone? The thoughts so overwhelmed him that he laid his head back and closed his eyes trying to stop his fear of what the future might hold. It tore Gabi’s heart to see Antonio so upset. She reached her hand over and touched his arm. He lifted his hand and placed it over hers bring them both to his lap. He gripped her fingers in his and felt a small sense of peace knowing that this wonderful woman would be by his side to help him with whatever may come. They drove the rest of the way in silence. THE LOFT Antonio stepped from the car and looked carefully around the neighborhood for something, anything that would spark some memory. Gabi closed the door and waited for him to come around the front of the car. "Well, here it is," she forced the lie. "Are you ready to go inside?" Antonio nodded as he climbed the stairs slowly. His body was just beginning to feel less stiff and sore. He took the stairs easily as Gabi followed him up. He stood at the top and looked out across the beach at the ocean. Surely he would remember having such a beautiful view of the water and the sand? Gabi unlocked the door and started inside. "Antonio?" Spinning around quickly, he followed her in. The loft was cleaned up since the last night Gabi and Antonio were there – the night they made love. Maria had helped Ricardo remove all of his belongings and move in Antonio and Gabi. They had stocked the refrigerator and a fresh vase of flowers sat in the middle of the table. Antonio walked slowly around the room taking in every aspect of his home. Gabi watched him from the entrance as she gently closed the door. Antonio stood in the middle of the loft as his head began to swirl. He felt suddenly weak and light-headed. Gabi saw the color draining from his face and ran to his side. "Whoa." She grabbed onto his arm tightly and helped him over to the bed. "Sit down." She sat down next to him and leaned in front of him. "Are you okay? What happened?" "I…I’m not sure," he said as he held his head. "I just started to feel kind of dizzy and…" Antonio’s words trailed off as the dizziness returned. His eyes fluttered and his body swayed slightly. "Here, lay back," Gabi instructed him as she helped him back to the pillows. "Let me get you some water." Antonio closed his eyes tightly and prayed for the room to stop spinning. Gabi returned with the water and a pain pill and sat on the bed facing him. "Why don’t you take one of these and try to get some rest?" Antonio gratefully accepted the medication and swallowed the water. Gabi smiled as he handed the glass back to her and she set it on the nightstand. "Good," she said. "Do you need anything else?" "Just to remember who I am," he joked. ‘I’m sorry. I’m trying to be patient, but it’s so…so hard." "I know, Antonio. You just have to be patient." Gabi stroked his cheek sweetly sending a shudder through his body. Her touch had an undeniable effect on him – a very welcome and pleasant effect. Their eyes locked and Antonio studied her face, feature by feature trying to retrieve her from the depths of his mind. Gabi’s hand caressed his handsome face tenderly as she allowed him to study her. His lips parted slightly and she felt his warm breath fanning her face. Slowly, he lifted his sturdy hand and with a feather-light touch, outlined her visage as if somehow, handling her would make her real to him. Antonio’s thumb outlined her lips as she tilted her head slightly against his palm. Gabi’s eyes closed softly as she indulged herself in his touch. After a moment, she forced her eyelids to open finding Antonio’s dark eyes calling her. Her gaze dropped to his finely chiseled mouth as she lifted her hand and trailed her finger sensually across his bottom lip. Antonio drew an unsteady breath as Gabi lifted her eyes to his. His eyes filled with longing and desire, his voice husky and tender. "I’d like to kiss you." Gabi’s entire body trembled as his lips began descending to hers. He raised his eyes for an instant before their lips met with a wild, indescribable sweetness. Antonio felt desire pulsing in his veins as his tongue traced a wet line between her lips. Gabi’s soft lips parted willingly and his tongue plunged delicately into her mouth. She surrendered to the splendor of his kiss as her hands slid over his muscular chest and shoulders. He began kissing her with unleashed passion, his tongue tangling with hers, plunging and retreating in a wild rhythm that made Gabi’s blood roar. Feeling himself losing control, Antonio gently pulled his mouth from her, their breaths coming in mingled gasps. "I’m…sorry," he dropped his eyes. "I…got a little carried away." Antonio felt strange being intimate with a woman he didn’t even know. As ridiculous as it seemed, to him she was a complete stranger. "It’s okay," Gabi replied, utterly breathless. "I…" she swallowed hard as her pulse began to settle. "Why don’t you try to get some sleep?" Reluctantly, she stood from the bed, her legs feeling like jelly from the intensity of their kiss. "I’ll be right back." Gabi turned and managed to walk into the bathroom. Closing the door behind her, she leaned against the wall for support. Antonio’s kiss had taken her into a dark abyss of desire that she would have willingly remained in forever. She closed her eyes and prayed for strength to resist the demanding temptation he presented. She knew it would be difficult but she wanted to take things at his pace and, for now, his pace was much slower than hers. Antonio closed his eyes as his heart pounded in his chest. Gabi had ignited an uncontrollable surge of pure lust in him with just one kiss. Surely what they had with each other was pure and deep as was evident by the way his entire body responded to her. He was committed to understanding and respecting that before he allowed himself to surrender to the urgent, desperate desire he felt to make love to her. Feeling the effects of the pill he had taken, he relinquished himself reluctantly to mere dreams of the passion they so obviously possessed for each other. Gabi emerged from the bathroom to find Antonio sleeping peacefully. She took a deep breath, her body still tingling from their encounter. Exhausted herself, she climbed quietly into bed beside him and settled against the pillow. Maybe it was the raging hormones in her body that caused such a reaction to his touch or the sheer joy she felt that he was alive and back home with her. Whatever it was, she hoped she felt it again…very soon. She fell asleep with a smile. Antonio moved fitfully, thrashing his arms and legs. Gabi stirred from the commotion as she forced her eyes to open. Antonio was moaning deeply and seemed to be struggling with something in his sleep. She wanted to wake him, but was afraid she would frighten him with her touch. Leaning over him gently, she whispered to get his attention. "Antonio," she called out. "Antonio." His voice deepened and he began to yell. His body stiffened and he sat up forcefully as he roused from his nightmare. Sweating and shaking, his wide eyes scanned the room in confusion. "You were dreaming, Antonio." Gabi placed her hand gently against his arm. "You were having a bad dream." Antonio fixed his eyes on her face and struggled to control his breathing. "Do you know what you were dreaming?" Catching his breath, he spoke haltingly. "I was in a dark place…I wasn’t alone." He wiped the sweat from his chin. "I was afraid and I felt like I couldn’t breathe, but then something happened…I…I don’t remember." Antonio lay back against the pillow and closed his eyes tightly. Gabi thought for a minute that he might have been remembering when they were trapped in the cave-in. She wanted to describe the event, but recalled the doctor’s request that he remember on his own. Gabi felt a glimmer of hope that maybe he was coming back to her. She reclined to the bed and draped her hand over his arm. They fell asleep together.
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