No, he wouldn't do that. Not Remy. He was one of the good guys. Warm. Funny. Tender. He represented something that seemed miles and miles out of her grasp. Safety. Security. A soft place to fall. She blinked her eyes several times to get rid of the tears that clouded her vision. What good was it anyway to hope for things that might never come to pass? Life had shown her that she could get by with nothing more than herself to lean on. Even though Remy thought everyone needed a helping hand from time to time, she'd learned that going it alone was a lot safer.
*
What had just happened? Open mouth, insert foot. He hadn't meant any harm, but clearly his sage advice to Gabrielle hadn't gone over very well. She couldn't have left the bakery any faster if her feet had been on fire. He slammed his palm against the butcher block table. Talk about tripping all over himself. He'd pushed too hard with Gabrielle, all in the hopes of getting her to lower her defenses and open up to him. Why had he pushed so hard? She reminded him of a fragile bird who'd had its wing broken. One false move from him and Gabrielle would take off like a bird of paradise in flight.
His palms were sweaty and his nerves were on edge. He'd never felt like this before. Normally, he was suave and self assured. He felt anything but steady at the moment. His heart beat a fast rhythm inside his chest each and every time Gabrielle was within a ten foot radius. At first he'd tried to pass it off as nothing more than attraction. But there was so much more than lust lighting a fire within him. What he felt was the stirrings of a man in love. It wasn't trivial and it wasn't temporary.
Shutting his eyes, he prayed for patience. He didn't want his ego or pride to get in the way of what he wanted to build with Gabrielle. And he didn't want to give in to this feeling of frustration threatening to swallow him up whole. Everything else needed to take a back seat to Gabrielle and what was best for her.
Dear Lord, give me the wisdom to understand the path Gabrielle has been walking down so that I can be a part of her life. Grant me the gift of patience and understanding so that I can respect her boundaries. Prayer normally centered him, but this time he was still feeling a bit out of sorts.
His mama had taught him well. A true gentleman wouldn't let a woman walk home in the dark unescorted. He placed the cinnamon buns in a container and made sure the oven was turned off. Grabbing his keys from the counter he pushed his way through the doors, turning around to lock up the bakery. He walked towards his new sports car, admiring the sleek lines and the shiny rims. He wasn't a man of extravagance, although he did appreciate the finer things in life. A robust wine. A trip to Europe. A new set of paints and canvas. And his first new car in eight years. Not to mention a beautiful, soulful woman with eyes the color of a caramel covered apple.
He revved his engine and took off down Main Street, heading in the direction of the apartments on Sea Street. He wasn't sure it was the direction she was headed, but he was acting on a hunch. Within minutes he spotted her walking at a fast clip on Main Street, faintly illuminated by the dim lamp posts in front of the store fronts. He slowed his car and rolled down his window. She darted a nervous glance in his direction. A hint of annoyance flashed across her features.
“Please, get in Gabrielle. Let me take you home.”
She waved her hand in a shooing motion. “It's just a few blocks. The fresh air will do me good...not to mention the exercise.”
“Are you going to make me beg? Or should I pull my car over, park it and walk with you the rest of the way?”
With a loud groan and a fierce glare, Gabrielle walked over to the curb and peered into the car. “I'll get in. On one condition.”
“Name it.” Although Breeze Point was a safe community, there were always random instances of women being harassed or purse snatchings. It was never a good idea to assume your community was innocence and light. No community was bullet proof.
Gabrielle studied him, an irritated look stamped on her face. “The next time someone tells you they're good, please listen. I'm really not the helpless female type.” With a tug on the door handle Gabrielle was inside the car. Even though she was slightly chastising him, his spirits soared by having her in such close confines. Within seconds the entire vibe inside his car changed. The light fragrance she wore—reminiscent of vanilla and roses—permeated the atmosphere. Her arm grazed against him as she put her seat belt on and settled back in her seat. The slight touch served as a jolt to his system. He'd felt an electric charge.
He turned toward her, deliberately keeping his voice light. It was clear to him now that he had to watch what he said to her, since their previous discussion had ended so badly. “This has nothing to do with being helpless. It has everything to do with the way my parents raised me. My brothers and I were always taught to make sure a lady was safe and sound. That's all this is.”
“Okay,” Gabrielle murmured. “I can respect that. And knowing your parents, I imagine they raised you and your brothers very well. The way they've taken me under their wing is unbelievable.”
“I've got no complaints,” he answered with a grin. “The foster-care system is full of kids who never have the opportunity to get adopted by families like mine. It's a reminder of how fortunate we've all been.”
Gabrielle looked around the interior of his car. “This is the nicest car I've ever ridden in. It looks brand new.”
Remy detected a slight tone in Gabrielle's voice. Was she judging him for his brand new ride? Making assumptions about him? Or was he merely feeling guilty about spending so much money on a material possession?
A feeling of annoyance with himself began to build inside him for his earlier comments at the bakery. Perhaps she'd felt judged by his well meaning words about seeing her family more often. He of all people should be sensitive to fractured family dynamics considering the origins of all his adopted brothers. They'd come from places of serious dysfunction and neglect. Although that might not be the case for Gabrielle, there was clearly more to the story about her family than she'd been willing to share. And that was okay. Little by little, if he earned her trust, perhaps she'd feel more comfortable telling him about her past.
“It's the first brand new car I've ever owned,” he said, detecting a note of defensiveness in his tone. “I sold a lot of paintings to be in a position to buy it.”
“I wasn't knocking you,” Gabrielle said. “I've never owned a car, new or otherwise. Sounds like you worked hard to get it.”
Something tugged hard at his insides at the notion that Gabrielle was going without a lot of things in her life. No family nearby. No means of transportation. Moving from place to place like a nomad. Where was her stability? What did she hold on to when the storms raged around her? Did she have a soft place to fall when life became tumultuous? He'd learned in his life to cleave to his family and close friends when the hard times rose up to greet him. For him, it was the only thing that worked.
“Keep driving down Main Street, then make a left on Sea Crest. My apartment building is one block down on the right.”
Remy was familiar with the Sea Crest apartments. They were small, functional units within walking distance to St. Mary's church, Breeze Point Hospital and the shops on Main Street. While they were far from fancy, they were comfortable and close to town. Within minutes they'd arrived at their destination. Gabrielle quickly unbuckled and turned towards him with a sheepish expression. “Thanks for the ride, even though I gave you a hard time about it.”
Her words, tantamount to an apology, made him smile. “Let me walk you to the door,” he suggested, jumping out of his seat and pulling her door open so she could exit.
“That's not necessary,” she said softly as she exited the car. “This wasn't a date or anything.”
He made an exaggerated expression of dismay. “It wasn't? Seriously? I wouldn't have taught you how to make the famous Donahue Cinnamon rolls if I didn't think we were on a date.”
Gabrielle stopped in her tracks and gawked at him. “You're kidding, right?”
He chuckled. “You're right. I'm kidding.�
�� He held up his hands. “Sorry, I couldn't resist.”
“A real comedian, aren't you?” she cracked, the corners of her mouth twitching with amusement.
Score! He'd gotten a smile out of her after all. At least she was slightly amused by his jokes rather than being horrified. In his mind, that was progress.
“But, I really would like to take you out sometime, Gabrielle.” He threw it out there nice and easy so she wouldn't be too overwhelmed by the invitation. The last thing he wanted was for her to scamper away from him. She still seemed a little skittish.
“On a date?” she squeaked, her big eyes looking even bigger in her heart-shaped face.
Remy raised an eyebrow. “Is that so out of the question?”
“You're the son of my employers,” Gabrielle said with a shake of her head. “I don't think it's a good idea to muddy those waters.”
Disappointment flooded him. All he wanted was to spend some alone time with Gabrielle to get to know her better. Working side by side with her at Sweet Treats wasn't affording him the opportunity to break down her walls and establish any kind of rapport between them. With all the customers coming in and out, along with his mother being there some days and Vince always in the kitchen, it wasn't exactly an atmosphere ripe for romance. He wanted to see her relaxed and out of her bakery uniform. Maybe wearing a cute little dress or jeans and a top. He couldn't seem to rid his mind of the notion of making her smile again or laugh like crazy at one of his corny jokes. And maybe if he was lucky, he'd get the chance to place a tender kiss on her perfectly shaped lips.
“Is that the only reason?” he blurted out.
She fidgeted for a moment, fumbling with her purse and its contents. Her keys were resting in the palm of her hand. Finally, she dragged her eyes upwards so that their gazes locked. What he saw there gave him a grain of hope. A look of regret shimmered in her eyes. “Yes,” she said. “No,” she quickly added.
He braced himself for what she was going to say. Maybe she didn't find him attractive. Or perhaps there was someone else in her life who'd already claimed her heart. Just the thought of it had him praying it wasn't so. There was a quiet desperation to his prayer. These feelings rumbling around inside him were begging to be unleashed. It would hurt badly if she was in love with someone else.
“Can you tell me why?”
She let out a ragged sigh. “Remy, I don't date much. I-I am pretty much of a loner. In the last eight years I've lived in seven states.” She shrugged. “Just as I get to know people it's time to move on. It's just the way it is.” He reached for her hand, feeling a bit surprised when she didn't pull away from him. He caressed her palm with his thumb in a gesture meant to soothe her troubled soul.
“I just want to take you out on a date, Gabrielle. I don't expect anything. No strings attached. It doesn't have to mean anything, not if you don't want it to.”
“Why me?” she asked, surprise radiating in her tone. “You could go out on a date with anyone you wanted to, I imagine. From what I've heard, you're this incredibly talented and successful painter. I'm just an employee at your family's bakery. Nothing special.”
He gently placed his finger over her lips. “Shh. Don't ever talk about yourself that way. We're all special, don't you know that? What we do as a profession isn't the thing that makes us special. God doesn't love you any less than he loves me. And from where I'm standing, you are incredibly special. I've watched the way you treat the customers at Sweet Treats. You light up from the inside whenever a little kid comes in or someone places a special order. That's a rare talent. And my parents wouldn't just hire anyone. They picked you for a reason.” Remy let out a laugh. “I don't know if I should say this out loud, or if it's going to send you running in the other direction...I can't stop thinking about you, Gabrielle Turner. From the moment I first laid eyes on you, I wanted to know more about you. I've thought of little else in the last few weeks, even though getting you to even talk to me has been a bit like pulling teeth.”
Gabrielle's face flushed pink. “I'm shy. Sometimes I don't know what to say.”
He carefully studied her expression. “Just with me?”
They locked gazes again, and for the first time he felt a kernel of hope based on what was reflected in her eyes. All he needed was a glimmer of something. “More with you than with anyone else,” she confessed.
He couldn't stop himself from grinning. He could feel the corners of his mouth lifting and stretching into an out of this world type of sappy grin. She liked him! He could feel it. Otherwise, she wouldn't have just said he made her self conscious. If he didn't even register on her radar, she'd feel nothing at all. Was it possible she felt a pull in his direction similar to the way he felt about her?
“Phew. That's a relief. I thought you didn't like me very much.”
“That's not true,” she said, the words tumbling out of her mouth.
“Prove it then,” he challenged her.
“How can I prove something like that?”
“By coming out with me. Dinner. Bowling. Go kart racing. Something fun.”
She shifted from one foot to the other and fiddled with the strap of her purse.
She chewed on her lip thoughtfully. “One date, huh?”
He held one finger up. “One date,” he replied, his insides flip flopping at the sight of her wavering.
“Okay, Remy. If it means that much to you, we can go out on a date.”
Yes! She said yes! A feeling of joy washed over him. He had to remind himself not to jump in the air with his fist extended in triumph. Keep it cool, Remy.
“Of course if you want to change that one date to two or three, I'm very open to all the possibilities,” he drawled.
“Night, Remy,” she said, her expression one of bemusement.
“Night, chere,” he said as he watched her safely enter her apartment building.
For a moment he just stood on the steps and basked in the knowledge that Gabrielle had agreed to go out on a date with him. A warm feeling settled around him. He knew from Gabrielle's hesitant demeanor that he had miles to go in order to show her that they were meant to be together. He was crazy about her and he intended to show her in every way possible. Their first date would be baby steps on a journey that he hoped would stretch out for the rest of their lives.
“Falling in love with your mother was easy. Getting her to fall in love with me was the hard part.”
Alec Donahue
Chapter Three
Chere. Remy had called her chere. With that one endearment, tender memories had come crashing over her with the force of a tsunami. Eating beignets with her grandfather at Cafe Du Monde. The way he would tuck her wayward curls behind her ear and say, “Eat up, chere. They taste best when they're piping hot.” Long walks along the river walk listening to the sounds of jazz bands performing for the crowd. Having her grandfather tuck a dollar in her hands so she could place a tip in their hat on the pavement. Watching as her grandmother danced along to the pulsating rhythms as she clapped along with the beat. Attending service at St. Louis cathedral. Throwing beads to the crowd at Mardi Gras from her uncle's balcony.
Somehow, inexplicably, the memories didn't hurt as much as they used to. And for some reason she didn't mind Remy calling her chere. It made her pulse quicken and her stomach flutter with butterflies. She was going out on a date with Remy Donahue. It was probably the bravest thing she'd dared to do in a very long time.
Remy was interested in her. She'd seen it today in the way he smiled at her, and this evening when he'd walked her to her door. His eyes had been alive with interest. It was a foreign feeling. She didn't usually allow men to get close to her. Her icy demeanor usually served as a buffer to anyone who tried. The thought of allowing people into her life was frightening. For so long now she'd lived under the belief that she was better off alone. But lately, the loneliness had gnawed at her, bit by bit. Working at Sweet Treats and surrounding herself with genuine, loving people had created a yearning inside her. W
hat would it feel like to have a family of her own some day? To cradle a baby on her lap and to feel the warm embrace of the man who loved her.
Love. She'd never been in love before. She'd had crushes when she was a teenager, but everything had come to a grinding halt after her family left New Orleans. After their lives were ripped apart by the storm. She'd been sixteen years old at the time, on the cusp of young womanhood. Her family had splintered like all the ruined houses in the city. No amount of rebuilding could restore what they'd lost as a family. And now, after all these years, she was still searching for that feeling of contentment that had been ripped away from her. She longed to lay her head down at night and not be troubled by the past.
Gabrielle shook her head as thoughts of Remy flashed before her. What would it be like to be loved and adored by a man like Remy Donahue? To be a part of his large, amazing family? As quickly as the thought came, she discarded it. In a few month's time she'd pack up and leave Breeze Point, the same way she'd done a half dozen times before. Planting roots in this town was an impossible dream, one she was way too savvy to invest in. She'd already had her heart shattered into a million pieces years ago. She wasn't sure if she would make it through another heartache. Something told her it would be impossible to forget a man like Remy. Falling in love with him wasn't an option.
*
Gabrielle bit back her disappointment as the work day flew by without a single Remy sighting. Where was he? Perhaps today he was painting or sketching. He'd mentioned buying a gallery space. Perhaps he was setting it up or having the walls painted in preparation for its opening. Curiosity consumed her as she imagined Remy in his element. Were his works of art like the man himself? Striking and bold? Thoughtful and expressive?
Whereas before she'd almost dreaded having Remy show up at Sweet Treats, now she looked forward to it. After hiding in the shadows for so long, she was stepping out a bit. Remy made her feel alive. Noticed. Valued. It was somewhat ironic considering she'd almost gone out of her way not to attract too much attention to herself over the last few years. Although it scared her to feel so attracted to Remy, it also made her feel like a regular, twenty-six-year-old woman. It made her feel normal.
Until You Loved Me (Seven Brides, Seven Brothers Book 3) Page 4