by Kadi Dillon
He seemed hard, she thought staring at the family portrait over the fireplace. He was similar in looks to both the Avery sons but was bigger than Gideon. His eyes—Rebecca shivered—were dark and intense. His sharp features were handsome and there was something about the way he stood that shouted: danger!
Colin’s laughter startled her out of her trance and she looked over to see him watching a show that consisted of various people home videoing their mishaps and accidents. She watched a man jump on a trampoline then fall though. Colin laughed again and Rebecca smiled more because of his reaction to it then the poor man lying limp on the ground.
She felt Gideon’s gaze on her and turned her head to meet it. He didn’t seem happy, but that wasn’t anything new. The only time he seemed to tolerate her was when he was kissing her. The thought had heat burning her cheeks and she looked away quickly, but not before she saw a smirk form on his lips. Damn, she though taking a chair in front of the television, she needed to get off this island and away from him.
Rose looked up from the puzzle she and Rebecca had been working and grinned. “He’s home,” she said before dashing out of the room.
“We’ll give them a minute,” Jess said breaking the silence. “They get mushy when they’ve spent a night or two apart.”
“It’s disgusting,” Colin claimed.
“It’s romantic.”
Rebecca smiled. From the little time she had spent with Jess since she’d arrived she sensed a deep hurt in her. It was in her eyes and in her voice but Rebecca couldn’t begin to guess what had happen. She’d shied away from discussing a popular male singer that afternoon when Rebecca had commented on his looks. Rebecca had even noticed there were no magazines in her room, no posters, or even romance novels that were popular right now.
Jess’s room was neat and organized and held books on accounting, world history, and the arts. There had been more but nothing Rebecca would have in her own room and nothing a young woman would normally own. But hearing Jess speak of romance lifted the worry Rebecca had been feeling. It was clear that a man had broken her heart.
Rose came back into the room moments later followed by Charles Avery and a large golden dog. Rebecca could only stare in wide eyed wonder at the man who looked more like Gideon and Colin’s brother than their father. Handsome didn’t begin to cover his devastatingly good looks.
The photo hadn’t done him justice, Rebecca thought. Or rather, it hadn’t displayed the strong sense of man he omitted. He filled the room with his intensity and Rebecca saw with an inward sigh the pink color on Rose’s cheeks.
“Hi, Daddy.” Jess ran into her father’s open arms and held on. “I missed you.”
“Missed you, baby girl.”
His voice was deep and rough but Rebecca heard the affection in it. Envy curled in her stomach along with happiness for Jess for having such a loving father. Her father had never hugged her or if he did, she hadn’t remembered it.
Rebecca watched in amazement as Gideon and Colin each embraced their father. There was no embarrassment, no casual affection; only love.
“Well, now. Who’s this?”
Rebecca realized he was talking about her. Nerves threatened again when she remembered he didn’t yet know about what was going on. Would he be angry that she threatened the safety of his family? Would he insist Gideon take her back home? But that’s what she wanted, she told herself. However, the thought of leaving this family was depressing.
“Dad, this is Rebecca.” Gideon made the introductions and Rebecca found her small, delicate hand engulfed in a big, hard one. His pressure was gentle but firm and she watched him as he took in the bruises on her face. Even though the marks on her neck were almost invisible, she was glad her hair was down so he couldn’t see him.
She saw fury light in his eyes, but his voice was calm and quiet. “What happened to your face?”
She was a little surprised he would just ask. Rose had waited until she had left the room and hammered Gideon, but not Charles. “It’s a long story.” She shot a look at Gideon clearly letting him know he could get on with it anytime now.
“This is Zoey.” Gideon petted the beautiful dog who immediately abandoned dignity and rolled over, belly up. Gideon laughed and the sound was new and pleasant to Rebecca. He was usually snapping or yelling at her, she mused.
“She’s beautiful.” Rebecca rubbed the dog’s fur, wishing she could have had a pet growing up.
“I’d like to know what’s going on.” Charles’ voice broke her moment long reprieve.
“Dad, have you eaten?”
“Yes.”
“All right, let’s all sit down. We have some things to go over and I need your help.”
In short order, they were all sitting in front of the blank screen of the television. Rebecca had chosen a chair a little away from everyone because she couldn’t bring herself to sit by any of them. The guilt was coming back and coming hard. She had no idea what was going to happen now and all she could do was wait.
Gideon told the family every detail. He’d told Colin everything before, but hadn’t gone into detail with the rest of them. He left nothing out now. Rebecca lowered her head as he told them about her sneaking out of the motel room. Jess gave her a sympathetic glace and Rebecca’s mouth curved slightly. At least someone understood.
Zoey sat her bulk down in front of Rebecca’s chair and looked at her expectantly. With an inward smile, Rebecca complied and scratched her ears.
When Gideon stopped talking, the room was filled with an uncomfortable silence. At least for Rebecca, it was painfully awkward. Everyone else seemed unbothered. Gideon’s gaze caught hers and he winked at her then turned his attention back to his father.
Rebecca was taken aback by his uncharacteristic notion. He was reassuring her everything would be all right. She didn’t know why she felt tears sting her eyes.
“What I’d like to know,” Charles said calmly, “is how they got your name and cell phone number so quickly.”
“Not sure.” Gideon leaned back on the couch. “My phone is upstairs, but I turned it off and took the battery out. I don’t think we’re dealing with professionals really. I thought so at first, but it doesn’t make much sense. They couldn’t get a shot at Rebecca, and she managed to escape from the trunk of a car.”
“No, they don’t sound like they know what they’re doing really. But they could be working for someone who does.”
Gideon looked over at Colin. “What are you saying?”
“Henry Jefferson couldn’t wait for a damn boat and wanted to meet as soon as he possibly could.” Colin picked up the remote control but only twirled it in his hands. “But he never showed up.”
Rebecca’s stomach dropped. “You think that was a set up?”
Everyone looked at her and she involuntarily shrunk back in the chair. “Yeah,” Colin said then turned to his brother. “I think it was a set up to get you to some place where he could follow you back to the island. Back to her.” He nodded his head to Rebecca.
“Makes sense,” Gideon said slowly. “I didn’t notice anyone following me. Could they have put a tracking device or something on the speedboat?”
“Could have,” Charles mused. “We’ll have to check. Boys, get a flash light.”
Rebecca stood up abruptly. “If they did that, or followed you back here it wouldn’t matter if you took it off now. They already know where I am and they’ll come here soon. I have to get away from here, away from all of you.” Rebecca spoke in a rush, voicing the very opinions she’d hoped Charles wouldn’t feel. “One of you could be hurt.”
“You’re not going anywhere,” Gideon said hunting up a flashlight out of the closet.
“Where’s the painting now?”
Gideon handed a flashlight to Charles. “In my room.”
“All right, go get it. We’ll put it in the safe at the boatyard. Then we’re going to do a little checking on this Henry Jefferson on Monday.”
They waited for Gideon to
return with the wrapped up painting. Charles kissed Rose on the cheek. “Be right back.”
“You boys be careful,” Rose ordered softly and closed the door behind them.
Rebecca waited for someone to say something. There was a storm going on inside her that was threatening to unleash. Why wasn’t anyone raging at her? She was the cause of all this. There was a pressure on her chest that was almost unbearable. She wondered how she could even breathe through it.
Jess looked at her and her eyebrows came together in a frown. “Rebecca, what’s wrong?”
Rebecca looked her, then at Rose. “I think it’d be best if I went home.” Her voice sounded strong. She held on to that.
“Oh, honey. You’re going to be just fine.” Rose came forward and wound her arms around Rebecca’s stiff form.
“No.” The last strings of control were breaking. She struggled to hold on in fear that once she lost it, she wouldn’t be able to get it back. “No, it’s not me. You guys didn’t do anything. You don’t deserve this.”
Rose ran her hand up and down Rebecca’s back soothingly. It was a motherly gesture that came so simple from her. Tears stung in Rebecca’s eyes because she wasn’t used to this. Her mother didn’t give comfort; Lilah received comfort.
She’d called her ‘honey’ again, Rebecca thought as she let herself lean into Rose and her wonderful comfort. No one in her life had ever called her ‘honey’ until she came here. As much as she wanted to stay to get to know this beautiful family, the thought of risking their safety made her sick to her stomach.
“Everything will be fine,” Rose assured her.
Rebecca felt Jess’s hand on her forearm and she glanced over to her. “Everything will be fine, Rebecca. You don’t know my dad.” She leaned over to whisper in Rebecca’s ear. “He’s twice as bad as Gideon.”
Rebecca forced her lips to curve. Rose chuckled. “It’s no secret. Those men are the most stubborn, hard headed men I know. And I love them for it.” She patted Rebecca’s back and pulled back. “Don’t worry, Rebecca. They know what they’re doing.”
“I just feel so bad for dragging you all into this. I should have never jumped on his boat. I wish I could—”
“Hush.” Rose took hold of her arms again. “What’s done is done. No one’s hurt or upset. Everything will be just fine.”
Rebecca nodded. She could almost believe it but a part of her was so smothered in her own guilt that she didn’t dare hope that they would help her. Or maybe, she thought as Rose made her way to the window, she felt guilty because she wanted their help. They hadn’t said anything about helping her. They could still send her back.
“It’s raining,” Jess commented from beside her mother at the window.
“Here they come.” Rose went to the door and opened it. The three men walked in and Gideon put their flashlights up. “Did you find anything?”
“Nope.” Charles drew his wife into his arms. “They must have followed him to see where he’d gone. Keep your phone off, Gid.”
“Yep.”
“And Colin should sleep here tonight,” Rose insisted.
Colin snorted. “Pass up my warm, comfy bed for the couch? Get real.”
“But I’ll worry about you.”
“I’ll take Zoey-girl with me.” Hearing her name, Zoey bounded toward Colin. He hunkered down and accepted her wet kisses. “That’s my girl,” he murmured rubbing her.
They all seemed so normal, Rebecca thought. Charles was murmuring something into his wife’s hair as he held her. Colin was playing on the floor with the dog. Jess was laughing at them and trying to talk her brother into staying over—Colin snorted again. And Gideon—
Her gaze met his and their eyes locked. He’d been watching her, she realized, feeling her cheeks heat. He always seemed to be watching her when she wasn’t aware. She turned her attention back to Gideon’s parents. There was so much love and affection, she realized. It would make anyone envious. She felt petty for the little bit of jealousy she was feeling. But she also couldn’t help the lovely warm glow she felt for them.
She went to bed that night dreaming of her own happy ever after. If she were to have one, she wanted a man as strong as the Avery men. She would take one as handsome, too. Rose was a very lucky woman but then again she completely deserved her good fortune.
She sighed and shifted in her bed as she listened to the downpour outside her window. Even the rain sounded different on the island. It sounded magical and went a long way to calming the fears and doubts still lurking in her mind.
The painting was locked away in a safe where even she didn’t know where it was. She was keeping it hidden and keeping her promise to her father. So, why should she feel so uneasy? Rose was completely right, she mused. The Avery men did know exactly what they were doing. It was a different feeling, this confidence in another person.
She trusted Gideon to see this thing through even if she didn’t quite understand his motives. Jess had told her a story of an injured bird once. Gideon had been twelve years old and brought the robin home to his mother who patched it up the best she could. They’d taken it to an animal shelter at Gideon’s insistence. He was a nurturer, she mused and smiled in the darkness.
Finally, sleep found her. She dreamed of a dance. Gold and red lights lit the floor as she whirled into strong and capable arms and laughed, feeling it from the bottom of her soul. She hadn’t laughed like that in so long. The music changed, became slower and more seductive. Her partner twirled her around so that she was snug against him.
So familiar, it was to be held in those strong arms, so comfortable and safe. Rebecca closed her eyes and let him lead her where he would. Her trust was so complete, she didn’t hesitate. The last thing she remembered before the dream faded into the night was looking up into a pair of stormy eyes and feeling content and completely happy.
Chapter Seven
Zoey watched her family passing dishes of food across the table with big, brown eyes. Her tongue shot out in all its pink, wet glory, and caught a piece of ham. Rebecca lifted her gaze from the dog to see who her champion was.
Gideon winked at her from across the table. She couldn’t hide the smile that tugged at her lips, just like she couldn’t fight the pull on her heart whenever he showed his playful side.
“Stop feeding the dog your dinner, Gideon.”
As soon as the words left Rose’s mouth, another piece of meat soared across the table and into the retrievers awaiting mouth. Rebecca smothered a chuckle as she watched Charles’ face turn ruddy.
“She’s hungry, too,” he muttered into his glass of tea.
“And she has a perfectly good bowl of kibble in the mudroom.”
Jess nudged her. “They do this a lot. While Mom and Dad are arguing about it, Colin will have already fed her all his vegetables. See?”
Rebecca looked up. Colin’s plate was nearly void of all green. He looked serious enough munching on his ham and potatoes, but she watched in amusement as he nudged a piece of steamed broccoli with his pinky finger. It toppled over the plate and disappeared beneath the table. A quiet slurping sound came next.
Rebecca shook her head and speared a carrot.
“I think they have it all planned out.” Jess sipped her tea and shook her head at Colin. “The big, bad sailor man is afraid of a few veggies.”
“Watch your mouth,” was Colin’s reply.
“Would you like more vegetables, Colin?” Rose passed him the bowl.
Jess smirked. It was all Rebecca could do not to burst out in laughter. This was something so foreign to her. Before meeting the Avery’s, dinner was something of a tense affair. Rebecca remembered boring conversation and stiff manners. Her mother would faint if she witnessed a dog being fed at the kitchen table.
They didn’t even have a kitchen table. They had a formal dining room at the Channing house. And she hated it.
“Will you pass the salt?”
Since Gideon had just used it, it was in between him and Rebecca. She
reached for it automatically and felt his fingers enclose hers. She froze, unable to jerk her hand away and the room seemed to hush to a humming silence. His hand was warm on hers, the contact sending little tingles of awareness to her belly.
Was it inappropriate to be fantasizing about his hands on other parts of her body at the dinner table? Probably, but it didn’t matter. Her imagination was running wild.
Without meeting his gaze, she pulled the salt away and passed it to Jess. She met Jess’s curious stare and wondered if her face was as red as she thought it was.
After clearing her throat, she applied herself to her meal.
The noise level rose in the room again and her heart stopped doing a tap dance in her chest. Everything was normal, she told herself sternly. Everything was fine.
By the middle of the week, Rebecca had fallen into the Avery’s comfortable routine. She slept in until her internal clock woke her, ate breakfast, ran breakfast off for three miles or so with Zoey, ate lunch, spent time with Jess, ate dinner, spent time with the family, and went to sleep. Gideon would join her sometimes on her run and to her delight, was just as competitive and strong willed as Colin.
She and Jess had spent a lot of time together and talked about a lot of things. Rebecca had casually asked her if she had any boyfriends but Jess had firmly denied that. Curious and still worried about Jess, she made a mental note to talk to Gideon about her concerns. Jess didn’t leave the island and had let it slip that she didn’t like being around people.
Since Rebecca had come to Avery, the only person Jess had any contact with besides her family was Critter Rivera. Critter worked part time in the boatyard and had since they had opened the business. Short, skinny, and obnoxiously cocky, Critter was both harmless and irresistible. Rebecca smothered the urge to rub his cute little head every time she saw him. He made Jess laugh, which was good and hit on Rose despite Charles’ threats to use him as fish bait. He teased Rebecca from the moment he met her and made her feel as comfortable as the Avery family had.