by Faith Gibson
Rebekah had lost her heart the first time over thirty years ago, and no man had been able to retrieve it in all that time. She’d tried. Heaven knows she had tried to forget Gabriel, but her one and only love was always there, right at the surface. Rebekah had been brokenhearted when Gabriel turned her away. She had stuck around for a while, keeping in contact with his mother, but eventually Gabriel disappeared.
He had been different the last time she’d seen him. Quiet. Withdrawn. Whatever happened to change his appearance also changed Gabriel on the inside. Gone was the effervescent man she fell in love with. In his place was someone she didn’t recognize. Rebekah remained for a couple years, hoping and praying Gabriel would reach out to her. He never did, so she moved out west, hoping to put Gabriel behind her with the distance between them.
It didn’t work.
Trying to move on with her life, Rebekah threw herself into her profession and studies. She became a psychologist in the hopes that if she ever found Gabriel again, she could at least understand whatever he’d gone through. She wanted to help him, but if she never saw him again, at least she could help others. She had met Jacob at the clinic where she worked. He had first been her boss and mentor, then her friend and husband. His daily presence was a comfort until she lost him too. Now she was content with her tabby, Esmeralda.
Speaking of the feline, Esmeralda greeted her at the door, winding through Rebekah’s legs as she tried to navigate through to the kitchen without falling.
“Esme, one of these days, you’re going to make me fall, and then who’s going to feed you? Hmm?”
Esmeralda responded with a long “mrawr.”
Rebekah set her purse on the counter, then bent to pick up the menace. Rubbing at the M on Esme’s forehead, Rebekah carried her pet into the living room and sat down on the sofa. Esme nudged Rebekah’s hand for more loving. Toeing off her shoes, Rebekah relaxed, letting the cat’s purring do its job of soothing Rebekah’s soul. She closed her eyes as she stroked Esme, thinking about Christopher’s request for dinner with colleagues. The last time she had dined out in a group had been with Jacob before the heart attack took him suddenly. Rebekah used to love going to restaurants, meeting up with friends. If Christopher’s coworkers were anything like him, Friday wouldn’t be a hardship. It was the wives she was leery of. Still, she could hold her own for one evening.
Friday rolled around, and Rebekah was nervous. She dabbed concealer under her eyes, doing her best to cover the purple skin. It wasn’t like she was trying too hard to impress Christopher. Her makeup was subtle. Always had been. When satisfied with her face, she brushed her dark hair now interspersed with gray. She rummaged through her closet to find the perfect outfit. The Bowery was an upscale place, so she opted for one of her more stylish dresses, then added simple pearl earrings instead of her preferred diamonds. She didn’t want to come across as the wealthy woman she was. Not that she thought Christopher was after her for her money. Then again, she didn’t know him well enough to say that for sure. She wasn’t one to flaunt her wealth. Yes, she lived on the estate she’d shared with Jacob, but Rebekah had always been a simple woman. She spent her money on things that made her happy. Books. Artwork. Giving to charities.
When Jacob passed, Rebekah had been lost, and she retired from her position as head psychologist at the local hospital. She spent the next two years traveling. Revisiting the places Jacob had taken her on vacation. Tuscany had been their favorite. Rebekah stayed two months in a villa in the central Italian countryside. Those two months helped heal her heart enough she was able to return home. The estate was too large for one person, but it became her haven. Her refuge. Instead of losing herself in the large home with Esme, she found new hobbies, and she volunteered.
With one last glance in the mirror, Rebekah grabbed her purse and keys. The drive to the restaurant took less than twenty minutes. Christopher was waiting by the front door. His smile was genuine when he saw her, but Rebekah didn’t feel anything for the man other than kind affection. She’d lost her heart twice, and there was nothing left for her to give someone else other than friendship.
“Hello, Gorgeous.” Christopher leaned down and kissed her cheek. He placed his hand on her back as he held the door for Rebekah, and once inside, he led her to a large table where three couples were seated. The men stood when the two of them approached. Christopher said, “This is Rebekah Collins.” When she was seated, the men returned to their seats, and each one introduced themselves and their wives.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Rebekah sipped the water already waiting for her.
“So, Rebekah. What is it you do for a living?” Constance Alder asked from her right.
“I’m a psychologist, though I retired a couple years back.”
“I thought you looked familiar. You’re Rebekah Nieman.”
Rebekah tried not to cringe at the use of her married name, but she wasn’t going to lie. “Yes. How did you know?”
“I’m a nurse in the OR at the hospital. Several patients were referred to you when they were brought in for overdoses.”
Rebekah should have known someone would recognize her name if not her face. She smiled at Constance, and the two of them chatted about other employees they both knew. When their food arrived, Rebekah turned back in her seat to find Christopher staring at her. She raised her eyebrows, and he shook his head. Rebekah would eventually have to address the fact that she’d not shared her married name with him. Dinner was enjoyable for the most part. Rebekah had missed being out with friends. And although she’d just met the three couples, she found herself intrigued by each of the women. The men had been talking about an investment they were partnering on, and Rebekah found it interesting, until Dan Sykes turned his attention to her.
“We could use a fifth partner.”
Rebekah took a sip of wine, giving herself time to tamp down her frustration. “I appreciate the offer, but it’s not something I’d be interested in.”
“Please think about it. It’s a solid investment. We’ve worked out the logistics, and the building will be perfect for what we have in mind.”
“I’m sure you’ve done your due diligence, but like I said, it’s not something I want to invest in.”
“Rebekah—”
“If you’ll excuse me.” Rebekah stood and grabbed her purse. “It was a pleasure meeting you all, but I think I’m going to head on home.”
Constance gave her a sad smile and handed Rebekah a folded piece of paper. “It was a pleasure to see you. If you ever want to get coffee, please give me a call.”
“Thank you. I might take you up on that.” Rebekah turned to her date. “Thank you for a lovely evening,” she lied.
“I’ll walk you out.” Christopher gestured for Rebekah to proceed in front of him. When they reached the sidewalk, he grabbed her hand. “Why did you lie to me about who you really are?”
Rebekah pulled away. “I didn’t lie. I simply chose not to offer my married name because of what just happened in there. Whenever someone finds out who I am, they think they can hold out their hand, and I’ll drop a donation or get involved in their investments.”
“I apologize for Dan, and I promise I didn’t know your real identity. Please don’t let this tarnish our relationship.”
“We don’t have a relationship. We had a tentative friendship, but I think it’s best if we part ways now. Take care of yourself, Christopher.” Rebekah turned to walk to her car, but Christopher grabbed her arm.
“Don’t walk away from me.” His grip wasn’t as harsh as his words.
“Take your hands off her,” a female voice demanded.
Rebekah turned to see a stunning redhead standing there, her face a mask of fury. He dropped his hand. “I was just—”
“Leaving. You were just leaving.” The woman took a step toward Christopher who raised his hands.
“Fine. Rebekah, I’ll call you.” Christopher strode back into the restaurant.
“Are you okay?”
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Rebekah nodded. “Yes, thank you.”
“No problem.” The redhead didn’t hang around. She strode in the opposite direction, meeting up with a handsome man who held his hand out. The woman looked back at Rebekah one more time before clasping her partner’s hand and walking away.
Rebekah made her way to her car and headed home, thinking about the woman who’d come to her rescue.
Chapter Two
“At least we know they aren’t together.” Tessa adjusted the vent on the dash as Gregor followed Rebekah away from the restaurant. They had been sitting in the Bowery enjoying dinner when Rebekah walked in with her date. Tessa had wanted to introduce herself, but before she got the chance, Rebekah had made her exit. When Tessa saw Christopher grab Rebekah’s arm, it was all she could do to keep her Gargoyle at bay.
“Truth, Red. But we also know Rebekah was married.”
“She’s not now, so she won’t have any reason not to come back to New Atlanta.”
They had listened in on the conversation happening a few tables over. After her identity had come to light, it didn’t take long for Tessa and Gregor to figure out Rebekah had money. It also didn’t take long for one of the men to ask her to join their endeavor. It was then Rebekah had made a hasty retreat from the restaurant. Tessa and Gregor had decided to dine separately from Dante and Isabelle, giving them better odds of seeing Rebekah while out. Tessa paced the hotel suite waiting for Isabelle and Dante to return. She had called her cousin while following Rebekah home and told Isabelle they had seen the female.
The door opened, and Isabelle grabbed Tessa’s arm. “Tell me everything.”
Tessa recapped what happened, then explained where Rebekah lived. “It’s a large estate surrounded by a fence and iron gate. I did a little research when we got back. Her husband passed away a couple years ago.”
“That’s good. Not that he’s dead. That’s not what I meant. It’s good that she’s free to come back with us if she wants. I’m not sure about showing up at her house though.”
Tessa sat down next to Gregor on one of the sofas in the common area of their suite. “I still think The Gardens is our best bet. Connor drew it for a reason. It must mean something to her.”
“So we just show up there every day waiting for her?”
Dante put his arms around Isabelle from behind. “There are worse places to wait. The photos on the website are stunning. I say we look for her there. If for some reason she doesn’t show up after a few days, then we’ll try her home.”
“Okay. We’ll give it two days, and if she doesn’t show up, then we’ll go to her home. Now that we know she’s here, I’m ready to get this over with and get back to Connor.”
Tessa leaned against Gregor, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “I’ve already bought tickets for tomorrow. We’ll be there when the doors open.”
Isabelle and Dante said goodnight, then retreated to their bedroom. Tessa turned to her mate. “You ready for bed, Stone?”
“With you? Always.” Gregor stood and lifted Tessa from the sofa as if she weighed nothing. Tessa kissed Gregor’s neck as he carried her to their room. For months, she had worried about not being able to give him babies. They talked about it, and Gregor assured her they would adopt if they needed to, but Tessa wanted to have their kids.
Gregor placed her in the middle of the bed, and Tessa propped up on her elbows. “I want to go away.”
“What? Red—”
“I want us to go away. Once we talk to Rebekah and get back home, I want the two of us to go somewhere like Acapulco. Somewhere warm where it’s just the two of us. Deacon has the Pen under control, and I’d just like to get away from New Atlanta for a while.”
“Whatever you want.” Gregor unbuttoned his shirt, and Tessa licked her lips when his defined chest came into view. It was a sight she never tired of.
“I want you.” Tessa slid from the bed, and they undressed each other, taking their time. Lately, Tessa had been so focused on getting pregnant she hadn’t allowed herself to enjoy the act. Tonight, she vowed to lavish her mate with all the attention he deserved.
Rebekah took a sip of her coffee and grimaced. It had gone cold as she sat and stared out the back door. Sleep had been a long time coming the night before as she went over what happened at the restaurant. It didn’t surprise her that Dan Sykes had asked her to partner in their investment. What she had trouble with was whether or not Christopher had known who she was beforehand. Regardless, she didn’t want to see him anymore. That didn’t bother her. A weekly coffee date was all they had. And while those meetings were mostly pleasant, she wouldn’t miss them. Maybe it was time to do some more traveling. Other than her cat and The Gardens, there really was nothing keeping Rebekah in New Portland.
Speaking of The Gardens, Saturday was her day to volunteer, so she rose from the table and dumped her cold coffee in the sink. Rebekah prayed Christopher wouldn’t show up and sabotage her day. She needed the peacefulness to wipe away the previous night. After giving Esmeralda lots of loving, Rebekah showered and dressed. The drive to The Gardens wasn’t long enough for Rebekah to do a lot of thinking. She didn’t want to think, so she turned on what she called her guilty pleasure playlist. It was full of pop songs that were upbeat, and Rebekah sang along with each one.
Her job as a volunteer varied each week. Sometimes she helped in the gift shop, but more often than not, she was stationed at the concierge desk for the first three hours it was open. Afterward, she was free to roam. Since she hadn’t seen Christopher come through, she was fairly certain he was going to leave her alone, at least for today. So once she was relieved, Rebekah stopped off at the café for some tea, then made her way around the pathway by the Flat Garden, passed underneath the Wisteria Arbor, then turned right toward the Moon Bridge. A couple was standing at the railing. Rebekah turned toward the opposite railing, but the woman stepped toward her.
“Rebekah? It’s me. Isabelle Montague.”
Rebekah gasped. “Izzy?” Talk about a blast from the past. Rebekah hadn’t seen Gabriel’s sister since she was a toddler. “Is it really you?”
Isabelle nodded. “Yes. It’s me. I’m so glad I found you.”
“Found me?” Rebekah took a step back. Why would she be looking for Rebekah unless she wanted something? The woman was dressed in nice clothes, and the man with her was dressed even more sharply.
“Yes. I have so much to tell you, and afterward, I was hoping you’d come back to New Atlanta for a visit.”
“But why? Wait, is this about Gabriel? Did you find him? Did he come home? Is he okay?” Rebekah’s heart was trying to beat out of her chest.
Isabelle smiled. “It’s a long story. One best not told out in the open. Is there somewhere we can go to talk?”
Rebekah looked at the man who was standing stoically behind Isabelle.
“I apologize. Rebekah, this is my husband, Dante Di Pietro. He’s New Atlanta’s Chief Medical Examiner.” Dante stepped forward and held out his hand.
Rebekah switched her tea from her right hand to her left so she could shake. “It’s a pleasure, Dr. Di Pietro.”
“Please, call me Dante.”
“If you’d like, you’re welcome to come to our hotel suite,” Isabelle said just as another couple walked toward the bridge. It was the same redhead from the night before.
“Hello again,” the woman said, stepping right next to Isabelle.
“Hello. Uh, do you two know each other?” Rebekah was getting worried about this being a trap. But why would Isabelle want to trap her?
“Yes, I’m Tessa, Isabelle’s cousin. This is my husband, Gregor Stone.”
“Stone? As in the Stones who rebuilt New Atlanta?”
Gregor inclined his head. “Yes, ma’am.”
Rebekah turned back to Tessa. “Did you know who I was last night? What’s going on here?”
“I did know, but it was pure luck we ran into you at the restaurant.”
Isabelle leaned back agai
nst her husband’s chest, and he slid a hand around her stomach protectively. “Like I was saying, I have so much to tell you, and yes, it’s about Gabriel. He’s back in New Atlanta.”
“Then why didn’t he come with you? Is he okay?” Rebekah wanted to leave right then and go to him. Or did she? He disappeared without a word to her. Broke her heart. She didn’t know if she could go through that again.
“He’s been through a lot. It’s one of the things I wanted to speak to you about, but not here.”
“Then let’s go to my home. We’ll have plenty of privacy there.”
“We’ll follow you,” Isabelle said, gesturing toward the pathway.
Rebekah probably should have gone to their hotel instead of allowing them into her sanctuary, but she had a feeling she would need the comfort of being in her own space. She would listen to what they had to say, and then she’d decide where to go from there.
Thirty minutes later, Rebekah pulled into the driveway with their rental car following. Instead of pulling into the garage, she parked out front. After unlocking the door, Rebekah turned off the alarm. Esmeralda took one look at the newcomers, hissed, then took off running down the hallway. That was strange. She was usually a social cat.
“Please make yourselves at home. Can I get you something to drink?”
“No, thank you,” all four said in unison. Isabelle and Dante sat next to each other on the sofa, while Tessa and Gregor took the love seat. Rebekah sat on the edge of the chair opposite Isabelle.
Isabelle laced her fingers with Dante’s. “Instead of making small talk, I’m going to come right out and tell you everything. What I’m going to say is going to be hard to believe, so please keep an open mind.” When Rebekah promised she would, Isabelle continued. “The first thing you need to know is like the four of us, Gabriel is special. Have you ever read a fantasy book about shapeshifters?”
“You mean like werewolves?”
“Yes. Where people can change into something other than human.”