by Siera London
“Enough said.”
“Are you going to invite me inside?” This was her first man-fast challenge.
“Nope,” came her high-pitched, quick reply. He smiled, those perfectly straight teeth with that come hither grin.
“You are serious about leaving me outside in a Hades heat wave?”
“I’ll meet you at your car.”
“Guess you like your men sweaty.” She sucked in a breath. Your men? What did he mean by that? Was that a general statement, men in the vicinity of her person? Men in her life? Didn’t matter. Twenty-nine days of fasting. No men-period.
“You’re used to it, Marine.”
“I promise to be a good boy, no touching.” Too late on both counts. His voice was lapping at her senses like ocean waves caressing the shore. Touching all her neglected places. Everything about him was naughty, she liked it.
“I didn’t bump my head when I left my wallet. We barely know one another. You want me to let you in my house while I’m in a state of undress?” Mock outrage apparent in her tone.
“I’ve kissed you once. Where I come from we’re practically engaged.” Her lips parted, and a sigh escaped. Just like that she was swept back into their kiss all those months ago. The weight of his lips pressed to hers. The warmth of his hand around her waist. His long fingers curled in a gentle hold around her nape.
“Oh,” She was tempted to ask where he was from, but that would unlock Pandora’s Box on her detoxification plan. Sensual heat warmed the front of her body, he had closed the distance between them. A growl filled the air, but she wasn’t sure if it came from her mouth or her stomach.
“You’re hungry.” He had no idea how true a statement that was. “We can get to know one another starting tonight. Invite me in.”
“I want to, but.” Honesty hadn’t got her far with men, but she couldn’t change who she was. What you see, is what you get.
“Do it, Lina.” He was the only man that had this effect on her. Lina James didn’t suffer indecision. Just tell him you’re on a man-fast and he can’t come in… because he was in danger of her riding him like a rhinestone cowboy. The moment was too intense.
“Why do I get the sense we are talking about more than you entering my house?”
“We are.” His matter of fact tone, surprised her.
“That sounds ominous.”
“Not at all. I want a chance to win you.” Her stomach dipped, flipped, and tripped.
“I’m not a game to be played with.”
“No, you are a prize. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to bring you home.” Everything she wanted to hear. Her soul cried out that he was the one for her. The man she’d longed for all her life. To man-fast, or not to man-fast, that was the question. Her next action would seal their fate.
“Give me my wallet. I’ll meet you at the car in fifteen minutes.” She plucked the precious from his extended hand before he reneged. She closed the door on an open mouthed Gideon. Man-fast, man-fast, how was she going to last?
Lina stood him up. Bold move considering he parked in the lot underneath her building. She would have to look him in the eye if she wanted out. Didn’t mean he would give her a get out of dinner free card.
He delivered a single thud to the wooden frame.
“Lina, open the door.” Thirty-five minutes and two trips around the parking lot to keep the air conditioning humming and she still hadn’t exited her condo. He heard the click of the door lock. She must have been immediately on the other side, because the door opened and he was so confused he forgot to be annoyed.
“Why the heck are you wearing that god awful house dress?” Small metal snaps started under her chin and converged down to the floor where small clusters of butterflies became a winged swarm pooled over her feet. Unbelievable. Uncle Fester looked more attractive.
“I can’t have dinner with you. I have a scratchy throat…cough thingy.” She conjured up a feeble cough to support a lame, blind, and crippled excuse. He aimed a narrowed stare at her.
“I’ll tell you what I think. You are trying to back out on me with a psychiatric patient cough routine. It’s not happening.” Her chin rose in defiance.
“You’re entitled to think whatever you will.” He raked his hands through his hair. Shaking his head to ward off the impending headache. All this to avoid sharing a meal with him. Would he ever be worthy? They could eat at her front door for all he cared, but he was not leaving.
“I’m not good enough for you to sit down and eat a plate of food with?” He pushed his words out through a clenched jaw.
Defiant chin now on her chest, she shook her head in denial, but he didn’t believe her.
“Gideon that’s not true. You can’t believe that I would treat you that way.” She reached for his hand, but he jerked away.
“Try me,” he muttered. “Your stomach sounds like you’re giving birth to a foal, but you feed me this brush off line.” When would he accept his fate in life? Not today. Not with this woman.
“I don’t think I can do it, Gideon.” She looked down, but her expressive face looked grave. Why was she sad? He was the one being ditched.
“Unless I need to drive you to the emergency room, go grab your stuff. We can pick up cough drops on the way to dinner.”
“Gideon…please.”
Here comes the hard ball.
“I never took you for a coward, Lina.” Her intake of breath was so sharp it singed his ears. Her spine stiffened. He leaned against the doorjamb, goading her.
“I’m not a coward.”
“A shy, wallflower, then?”
“I’m not one of those either.”
Gotcha.
A slow smile spread across his face. She handed him the advantage he sought.
“I dare you.”
He saw the thrill of a challenge flash in her eyes, before she straightened to her full height meeting him eye to eye.
She curled each hand around the center closure of that hideous contraption and yanked the coat thing open. If it wasn’t for the doorjamb he would be at her feet.
She wore a baby blue wrap dress trimmed in a thick band of bone white. And he noticed that her almond shaped eyes were rimmed in a cobalt blue that was purposefully smudged at the corners. Her hair was still perched high on her head, but the luxuriant strands hung loose, from a jeweled hair accessory.
“You look radiant, Lina.” She hid behind pants and a lab coat at work. But this was the woman, not the nurse. A glow lit her cheeks. A subtle smile graced the lips that invaded his dreams.
“Thank you, Gideon.” The soft, breathy quality of her words gave him the impression compliments were rare. Good heavens, the woman smelled of warm sunshine and a cool breeze. High heeled sandals with blue and white pearls were attached to the sexiest pair of legs he’d ever seen. He couldn’t pull his eyes away from her. “And my face is up here.”
He dragged his gaze up her full silhouette. “And what a pretty face it is.” He gave her a wink. “Let’s go.”
Her face blanked and she gave him a stiff nod. She turned to walk away, but he grabbed her hand.
“What made you change your mind?”
“You issued a challenge. I never walk away from a fight.”
“No, the first time. You are all dolled up for dinner, but you greet me with a Madea special on your back.”
“Madea?” She was obviously surprised he knew of the grandmotherly movie character, that was in reality, an African-American man in a wig.
“When you’re on deployment you watch what’s available, when you have a free moment.” The perplexed look she gave him was too adorable.
“For your information, that house dress was a gift from Jace.” Why would a man buy his lady the ugliest garb he could find?
“And this has the sounds of an epic tale. We are both hungry, let’s talk in the car.”
“Let me grab my purse and a lozenge from the counter.” He suppressed a laugh when she pushed out another pathetic cough. She relea
sed the door handle, which she gripped like the last life preserver, leaving it ajar as she moved through an elegant great room decorated in shades of purple and gray.
“You do that.” He watched as she approached a bar height counter. She returned without incident.
“Your legs are gorgeous. Why do you hide them in pants?” She looked stunning, but her legs were game changers. They were just as curvy as the rest of her. She had curvy, full legs with feminine ankles slimmer than her calves. Lina was blessed with Betty Grable or Tina Turner one million dollar insurance policy legs.
“You’re spreading it on kind of thick, Gideon.” She tossed a smirk in his direction.
“Hey, whatever it takes,” he grinned. “It’s worth it for dinner with a beautiful lady.”
“Whatever,” her voice shook.
“You are nervous and there’s no reason to be.”
“Speak for yourself.” She pulled the door closed, and moved toward the steps without a glance in his direction. She was feisty. Perfect.
Chapter 5
Dinner with Gideon was a mistake of epic proportions. A secluded table for two with candlelight and soft jazz was detrimental to the man detoxification plan. Why couldn’t he be a lactose intolerant ogre who belched green gas that cleared a room? Instead, he was attentive and listened when she spoke. It was the best date of her life. An emergency man repellent plan was in order. Gideon was on the terrace taking a call from the hospital. Think. Hard muscles and smoke gray eyes wouldn’t topple her man-fast resolve.
“The lovely Lina James graces us with her presence.” Gage Alexander’s husky voice resonated in the private alcove. Lina jumped to her feet and walked into his open arms.
“Hmm…it’s wonderful to see you.” She squeezed him tight. Rourke stood less than a foot behind his brother grinning like a loon. Both men were tall, with hulking shoulders, and clean shaven heads. Mischief sparkled in Gage’s nut-brown eyes. Rourke the more watchful of the two, had eyes that rivaled the black diamond stud in his right ear lobe.
“Save some for me, Lina.” She waved a dismissive hand over Gage’s shoulder.
“There’s plenty of me to go around.”
“Not if my big brother has his wicked way with you.”
“Both of you are terrible flirts,” releasing Gage she moved past him to hug Rourke.
“Come here, you,” he said pulling her in a grizzly bear hug. “You disappeared on us for months and all I get is a hug?”
She laughed but the sad truth of it was, she had stopped coming to Drury’s. She had invited Jace to brunch in the early stages of their relationship, only to discover he hated jazz. He had looked uncomfortable for most of the performance. His lukewarm response eventually led to choosing more of what he referred to as mainstream entertainment. Mainstream translated into museums, live theater, and water sports, though he knew a boulder swam better than her. After their break-up it was all too clear he had issues. Drury’s was another small piece of herself forsaken for a relationship with Jace.
“So true.” She placed a chaste kiss on his cheek. “Is my debt paid in full?”
“We’re in the black,” Rourke teased her.
“Hey, I didn’t get a kiss and I own the place.”
“And you won’t.” Lina felt a band of steel around her waist before Gideon hauled her up close to him. He pressed her back in tighter to his solid wall of chest muscle as she stared up at him.
“What the flagnoid?” She tried to free herself, but wiggling would cause a scene. Plus it was impossible. His arm kept her welded to his body. This was ridiculous.
She twisted her neck to see Gideon glaring over her head at one of the brothers. He looked like a pale Godzilla preparing to terrorize small villages and the Upper West Side.
“Lina darling, who’s your humanoid companion?” Gage wore an arrogant smile. Startled by the growl at her ear, she took a cautious glance over her shoulder. Gideon’s handsome looks were replaced by a bull about to burst through the confines of its pen.
“Don’t flirt with her.” Gideon’s voice was filled with gravel.
“Oh my goosebumps, play nice in the sandbox Gideon, please.” She rubbed his arm anchored around her waist. All three men were locked in a Wild West standoff.
“Gage and Rourke are my friends,” she whispered. Even with her feet on the ground, she felt as if Gideon was moments from carrying her off to his cave.
“I don’t care if they are your priest. No one hits on my…you.”
“Darling, this patient field trip was a bad idea.” Gage was waving the proverbial red cape at the bull.
“Gideon is not my patient, Gage. Please be nice to my friend.”
“That depends.”
“On what, pray tell?”
“Did this guy eat the previous one?” Rourke joked.
Never one to back away from a difficult task, Lina raised her chin and answered the question. “The other one liked the packaging, but the flavor was too intense for public consumption. Catch my meaning?” Gage and Rourke regarded her with stony expressions. Both men treated her with sisterly respect. Admitting what had happened between her and Jace was difficult.
“And this one?” Rourke angled his head at Gideon.
“This one has an affinity for chocolate. Anymore questions, Rourke?” Menace laced Gideon’s words. She had to add an estrogen burst in this sea of testosterone.
“Guys, Gideon is my new boss. It’s not what you think.”
“Says the woman with her feet barely touching the ground. Is your head in the sky, too?” Rourke had a valid point. Why didn’t she think of that? Smiling at the men in front of her, she tried to still her lips as she spoke.
“Let me go,” she murmured. His hold tightened. Warm lips touched her ear and she felt the caress of his breath. The mint on his breath tickled her nose.
“If you flirt with them, I’ll toss you over my shoulder and walk out the door.” She hoped that was a joke. Their gazes locked, and she recognized his determination to follow through on his threat. He eased her feet to the ground, but kept a hand at her waist.
“Gideon, you have a last name?” Gage was equally determined.
“Gideon Rice, and you are?”
“Last name is Alexander. My brother and I own the place.”
“Is there a new hospital policy that every nurse receives this level of professional attention?” Gage eyed Gideon with suspicion.
“My concern is Lina. Only Lina.” She couldn’t contain her nervous laugh. Gideon was going all alpha male over her. Where was a news camera or the paparazzi when they were needed?
“It was wonderful to chat with you both. Gideon and I should finish our meal. We have an early day tomorrow.” She moved to hug them both. Gideon bent over her left shoulder and spoke in a tone only she could hear.
“Fireman’s hold, your choice.” She halted in her tracks.
“I’ll come by with Janna later this week,” she said.
Gideon grunted behind her. She gave him a light elbow to the gut and whispered, “Keep it together, Rambo. Where did my high polished psychiatrist disappear to?” She reached behind her, a light stroke to the area she’d delivered the mock jab. The muscles of his abdomen tightened under her touch.
“Rambo was in the Army,” came his husky reply at her ear. She shivered. She heard his low chuckle as desire snaked down her spine. A sexy Neanderthal.
“Tell G.I.Janna she owes me a re-match at the bowling lanes before she leaves town. Gage pulled my man card after she unleashed that fast ball on me.”
“Goodnight, guys.”
“Bye, lil sis,” came Rourke’s base. “And Gideon?”
“Yeah?” Gideon was taut at her back.
“Make sure you take care of her better than the last one.”
“I have Lina.” Was there some male transfer of ownership process that she missed? She turned around and looked up at him.
Gideon extended his hand to Rourke.
“Nice place, you hav
e here.” Both Rourke and Gage came forward shaking his hand before they departed.
“What was that?”
“Man speak. Nothing for you to worry about.” Man speak regarding her? She had reason to worry.
First Jace. Then the Alexander brothers. A face off with three men in the span of three hours. Lina attracted men like a moth to a flame. Gideon envied that talent. He had always been more controlled in his interactions with people. It had taken years for him to master the art of conversation. At this rate, Gideon had to be war ready to keep Lina at his side. After his run-in with the male models masquerading as restaurant owners, Lina suggested they eat on the terrace. Their conversation continued with a comfortable exchange of impersonal information. Had he overreacted when he discovered Lina surrounded by two men? Unequivocally no.
Half measure didn’t exist in her vocabulary. Everything about her was pure pleasure to watch. The way she savored her appetizer and the way her body moved to the beat had him enthralled before their entrees arrived. Feminine poetry in motion. Their conversation remained superficial, but not for lack of him trying.
Gideon looked at her quizzically.
“Why did you stop coming to Drury’s?” The conversation came to a halt.
“Jace, that is, we decided to focus our energies on activities we both enjoyed.” A waitress with a sleek, spiked hair do arrived with their entrees just as the northwesterly winds ushered in a mist of sea spray across the restaurant terrace. The waitress suggested they move to an inside table, but Lina had declined. Her countenance relaxed with each kiss of the salty breeze against her now dewy, chocolate dipped skin. He was sure she would have just as much fun if he was not there. The thought was less than reassuring.
“I take it, he didn’t have an appreciation for jazz?”
“Among other things,” she said through pursed lips. “The wild mushroom ravioli in white wine sauce is a great choice. It is one of my favorites.”
Clearly, he needed a safer topic of conversation.
“I’m glad you approve. Have you prepared it at home?”