"Shouldn'twe hide in the tub, I read an article…"
"Sit,"he commanded. She feared he was losing his patience with her fear but when shelooked up at his face, he gave her a half smile. Complying with his orders shelowered herself back onto the soft cushions, Bishop was immediately by her sidefor consolation.
"Tellyou what, I will close this door on the patio sliding doors." Walking tothe large bank of windows that took up nearly one wall in the den thatoverlooked the patio and pool Gabriel grabbed the door handle. "For somereason, the previous owner thought it was a good idea to install a roll-downmetal security door here to cover this section of windows. I thought aboutremoving it actually."
Salenecould tell he was being a bit more talkative for her sake. Pulling the slidingdoor open the strong wind rushed in around him into the house. Fearful he wouldget blown away Salene held her breath in terror as Gabriel quickly grabbed thehidden metal roll door and pulled it down. Ducking underneath he came back inlatching, it shut. Ensconced in darkness, she heard the muffled click of thepatio door closing shut behind the protective metal door, sealing them safelyinside. Now with absolutely no light coming from anywhere Salene had no choicebut to stare off blankly in the dark as the sounds of the violent wind mixedwith the creeks of the house created a terrifying orchestra around them.
Bluelight suddenly illuminated the room in a soft dim light giving her eyes justenough light to make out shapes in the dark room. Gabriel carried the campinglantern around the sofa and set it on the table in front of them.
"Comehere," his deep voice seemed to reverberate in the silent room, as hehooked his arm around her waist much like earlier, scooting her down the couchclosing the gap between them.
Ifit was any other situation Salene might have pulled away or at the very leastquestioned the intimate contact, but not today. Today, right now Salene neededthe contact, she desperately needed the solid sureness of his strong armsaround her shaking body. Seeing that she had no intention to protest hisactions he pulled her snugly against him just as the house groaned in protestat the harsh winds.
"You'rereally scared aren't you?" The astonished words were more of a remarkrather than a question.
Couldhe feel her heart beating like mad against her chest? Since she was pressedagainst the side of his chest with his arm draped over her shoulder he hadperfect access to feel the wild thumping through her breast. Leaning backagainst the corner of the sofa Gabriel tugged her down with him forcing her topractically lay on his side with her own feet on the sofa as well. In reflex,she stiffened as her mind caught up with the sudden movement.
Sensingher hesitation Gabriel's hand began to massage the base of her neck through herloose curls. "Relax it will be over soon, let me comfort you like youcomforted me."
Thoughshe could barely make out his face in the dim light, Salene clung to thestrength and confidence in his voice. A loud crashing sound from outside madeher body jump in fear. Never in her life has she ever experienced something soout of her control, something that made her feel so small and all alone. Allshe wanted to do was go back to Florida where nothing this terrible everhappened. But she couldn't, and all she had in this moment was Gabriel.Shutting her eyes, she wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her faceinto his side. Shifting slightly, he maneuvered her until she was sandwichedfirmly between his solid frame and the back of the couch. The encompassingfeeling his hold on her allowed her to slowly take steadying breaths to calmher racing heart.
Asthe wild beating in her own chest worked to subside Salene began to focus onthe sturdy, strong beats pressed against her ear. Slow and steady as if so sureeverything would be fine.
Lulledby the unwavering rhythms, Salene nuzzled deeper into Gabriel's shirt lettingsleep take her away from the chaos around them.
Chapter 17
Ithad been nearly a week since the storm, and the dynamics between them hadchanged.
Grabbingthe brown paper wrapped package from his room, Gabriel took the opportunitywhile Salene was getting ready to go to the living room. Today was the day ofthe picnic and Gabriel could not fucking wait for it to be over and done with.Grant it, it hadn't been all bad Gabriel smirked as he tore off the thickpaper, grabbing the edges of the gold frame he lifted the mirror onto the hook,securing it back to its original position. Stepping back Gabriel looked over therepaired mirror, hopefully Salene would like it.
Sincethe night of the storm there seemed to be a sense of awareness that settledover both of them. It was like a whirlpool of colliding emotions around themwhen they were together. For the past few days, they had been hustling to getthings ready. Building furniture until late at night, placing furniture thenext day, and tons of cooking. All the while looks were passed, and gazes wereaverted. On one hand, she seemed more open and happier in his presence,something that made Gabriel immensely pleased considering where they came from.However, on the other hand, she could be downright skittish when she caught hisgaze, and that right there opened up a whole new level to the game—a levelGabriel only fantasized about.
Checkinghis watch Gabriel began closing all the doors to the rooms they wanted offlimits for the party. Stopping in the den, Gabriel let his eyes drift towardsthe large sectional sofa replaying memories of that night. Gabriel could stillfeel the rapid thumping of her heart against his as he held her close thatnight while the clean and slightly sweet smell of her soft curls brushedagainst his nose. Everything in him reacted as he held her that night, Gabrielcouldn't suppress it any longer—he wanted her.
Thiswas not going to be an easy task however, Gabriel mentally groaned as hethought of how he practically shot himself in the foot with Salene. Afternearly a month of fighting back and forth, Gabriel would not be surprised ifSalene wanted nothing to do with him anymore. As much as the thought irritatedhim, Gabriel suspected he wouldn't have an impossible battle to fight. It wasthe little clues here and there he was banking on. The averted gazes when theireyes met, the deep blush that covered her face when she untangled her arms andlegs around him that next morning. Yes, those signs at least told him she wasreceptive of the growing desire between them and receptive was at least astart. Gabriel had a feeling he was going to have to take it slow with her,much like stalking one's pray in a slow but steady pursuit. Eventually, hewould have her cornered until she realized the inevitable.
Glancingat herself one last time in the mirror Salene smiled, she felt pretty andconfident with her outfit. Today she wore a red lace cover-up flare dress overher simple black bikini. The contrast of colors gave her a nice if not rathersexy outline under the sheer cover up. With her long brown curls brushed outand loose past her shoulders she topped off the entire look with cute goldjewelry.
Sittingon the edge of her bed Salene pulled on the gold flip-flops as Bishop satacross the room watching her intently. Letting her gaze drift out the windowSalene thought of the other member of the household that had been watching herjust as intense lately. For the past week since the terrifying storm her andGabriel's relationship seemed to evolve. It was like waking up to find that theseedling planted the night before had already grown into a young green sprout.When she opened her eyes the next morning, she had felt the gentle movements ofthe couch dip around her as the warm weight that was with her through the nightdisappeared. Standing next to the couch Gabriel lifted his arms in a stretchcausing his T-shirt to lift slightly giving her a peak at the toned V-likemuscle on his pelvis. The sight immediately brought a heat to her cheeks as heturned and caught her gaze.
Somethingwas different between them since then. Salene found herself dancing a dangerousdance of subdued flirtation. Everything in her told her to stop it in itstracks, to not go any further. What could come of this game? The relationshipbetween her and Gabriel has been tumultuous at best, adding anything more wouldspell disaster surely. Yet, she found her blood racing at his glances, or herbody reacting to the smallest touch. The night spent wrapped in his arms wassensual torture. How can she go from loathing the man one week and wanting toopen herself to him in the most biblical way the next? It just wouldn't do,this is Gabriel Breslin for God sake, her best friend's soon-to-be ex-husband.Well ex-best friend actually, but dammit it still felt wrong.
"Ugggjust stop thinking about it," she whispered to herself as she headedtowards the hallway. "Just focus on the picnic today."
Steppingout into the living room Salene spotted Gabriel balling up a large piece ofbrown paper. Looking up at the wall her eyes caught the gold shell shapedmirror—fully repaired. Salene's breath caught in her throat as her heartthudded loudly, she tried to immediately justify why he could have done this asshe approached. He probably just wanted the house to look perfect for hiscoworkers she thought pragmatically.
"Igot it repaired," Gabriel said quietly as she stepped closer and stopped.
Theroom was so quiet only the slight jingle of Bishop's collar rang in the air ashe entered the room.
"Iknow how much you liked it." He continued, his green eyes searching hersfor approval. At that point, Salene knew immediately he repaired the mirrorjust for her sake.
Noddingher head, she smiled and prepared to thank him when she noticed his eyesvisibly scanning her body up and down with a growing frown.
"What?"She questioned, feeling instantly self-conscious at his heavy scrutiny.
"No,"shaking his head and motioning to her outfit. "Not going to happen."
