Laughinghe agreed to disagree. Holding the keys in her hand, she looked at the red carin silent disbelief.
Lookingup at him she met his green eyes head on in seriousness. "Why are youbeing so nice to me like this?"
Shiftingon the truck hood Gabriel stood straight, giving her an equally pressing look."I meant what I said about starting over."
Nottrusting herself to look up she stared at her feet. "I do not know how tothank you, Gabriel."
Pinchingher eyes shut with her thumb and finger she turned her head away. "I amsorry, I have turned into such a crier lately." She tried to explain thetears she was fighting back.
Thegrip around her waist shocked her as she felt herself being pulled forward,much like the time he comforted her in the living room. Leaning her foreheadagainst his chest she let out a deep breath as she relaxed in his hold, whilethe heat from his hands on her waist seemed to travel right through her.
"Thankyou again.” She mumbled tiredly.
Pullingher closer into his chest, she felt the rumble of his words vibrate."You're welcome."
Chapter 16
Withthe warm cup of coffee in her hand Salene leaned against the open front doorwatching the two delivery men maneuvering in the rain. The men were pulling aheavily plastic wrapped mattress from the back of their large truck. Gabrielhad told her last night he was expecting the delivery, he said it was the lasttrace of removing Amber completely from his house.
Shewondered, did Amber already sign the divorce papers? Salene was pretty sureGabriel would mention it if she had, but when it came to that man Salene couldnever be sure what to expect. Giving her his car to borrow was something shewould never have dreamt of. The delivery man coming up the porch broke herthoughts as she showed them to the master bedroom.
Aftersetting up the new expensive looking mattress, the men grabbed the old one."Okay that should be it, try to stay dry there is supposed to be one hellof a storm this evening." He said.
Wavinggoodbye she turned back to Bishop, who was sniffing around the couch."Well hopefully it clears up before the picnic this weekend."
Bishopjust gave her a happy stare.
Thesound of the door in the kitchen opening startled her.
Gabrielwalked through the darkened kitchen into the light of the living room, lookingawful. The normally bright green eyes filled with devilish mischief weredarkened with fatigue, while his skin looked pale. Coming closer to him, Salenerealized he was not standing at his full height, rather in somewhat of astooped position.
"Whatis wrong? Are you sick?" Salene had never seen such a pained expression onthe man's face before.
"Ifeel like shit," walking past her, he started to head towards his bedroom."I left work right after my lunch with a client."
Quickeningher step to catch up to him in the hallway she stopped at the entrance of hisroom as he entered.
"Itsounds like food poisoning," Salene offered softly as she watched himslowly get out of his shoes. "Go make yourself throw up to get rid ofwhatever bug you have and I will make you some tea that will settle yourstomach."
Pausinghis actions, he turned his head to look at her, giving her a confounded stare."Fuck that, I am just going to lay down. I should be better bymorning."
DearGod, he was being such a baby.
"Noyou cannot do that, that would mean you will be laying here miserable forhours." Shaking her head, she refused to allow him to even consider thatas a logical plan. "Surely when you were little your mom told you to dothe same thing, right?"
Anunknown emotion shot through his eyes before he turned away to focus on hisother shoe.
"No,she did not," his voice was softer with a note of exhaustion."Because I never had a mom."
Thewords seemed to float in the air between them for what seemed like minutesbefore hitting her in the face like a cold splash of water. Now it all madesense, his weird antiquated thinking, the general mistrust towards females, andthe lack of photos of any other paternal figure other than his dad.
"Isee. Well trust me then," she replied softly as she entered the room.Stopping in front of him she pulled at his shoulders gently, signaling for himto stand. Confused, he complied wordlessly standing to his full height.Carefully, she pulled at the knot in his tie, loosening the black silk aroundhis neck. Catching a glimpse of his widening eyes she ignored him while pushingthe heavy suit jacket off his thick shoulders. "I promise if you follow myinstructions, I will have you feeling better in the next couple of hours."
SurprisinglyGabriel agreed, leaving him in his room Salene went to the kitchen to beginmaking the tea. Sitting in the quiet den Salene sat somewhat sideways on thesofa allowing her to rest her folded arms on the back of the sofa so that shecould stare out the window. The rain was coming down hard. The sound offootsteps behind her alerted her of Gabriel's presence. Somehow the man lookedworse than before and more than a little pissed. Pressing her lips together sheheld back a smile, for some reason it was not that surprising to know that hewould be so dramatic about being sick.
"Ihope you went light on the toothpaste," she patted the sofa next to herurging him to come sit. "I should have warned you that too much toothpastecan sometimes make you nauseous again."
Allshe received was a surly noncommittal grunt in reply.
