A SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE BOXED SET

by Lewis, Laurie

  “Why are you so nervous? Tonight should be a breeze. All you have to do is stand around and look literary.” He gave her a comical squeeze. “But there is a surprise waiting for you there.”

  Every hair on Avery’s body prickled. “Is Gabriel Carson going to be there tonight?”

  Wes noted the nervousness in her voice. “What was going on between you two?”

  Avery immediately regretted raising the subject. “Nothing. Only friendship. We exchanged a few emails and went sailing once. It’s just that . . . well . . . it was so nice to open my emails and have something to look forward to, like when Dad was alive. But our last conversation was awful. I was more than disappointed after thinking we were becoming close.”

  She knew their correspondence had been so much more than a few emails. Forty-three of them, to be exact. The early ones were short and businesslike, but then they became personal, describing their adventures in the other’s world, and exploring Axel’s work . . . her work. And then there was the night by the water.

  Wes shrugged. “I don’t have an answer for you, Mom. Emilia and I haven’t been in contact until a few days ago.”

  Avery nodded and sighed. She and Wes both recognized the distinctive and rapid tap on the door. “Ian,” they said in sync just before Wes opened the door. Ian shook his hand and headed for Avery in a single motion.

  He gazed silently at her for several moments before his head began to shake from side to side. “You’re absolutely breathtaking.” He gave her one of his “Ian hugs” as Wes called them, a dancelike embrace that began with a long approaching strides and a dip that met the huggee with hands upon shoulders and cheek-to-cheek in a five-count hold, then a release, followed by a kiss on either cheek. Avery watched Wes count it out to perfection. She giggled as she remembered what he said the first time he witnessed the move, asking her if the guy graduated from the Arthur Murray School of Romance.

  “I have the limo outside and a table reserved for dinner at Scalini’s. I plan to get you to the gala in time to make an impressive entrance.”

  Dinner passed quickly with nonstop conversations about their next few weeks of travel, and then they arrived at the main Ringling entrance where decorated trams ferried Avery and Ian to the Cà d’Zan. Avery felt like Daisy Buchanan from The Great Gatsby, completely awash in goose bumps as they approached the opulent mansion whose radiant exterior fulfilled Mark’s description that first day. It truly glowed “like a giant golden lantern against the night sky.”

  The inside of the house and the terrace were equally grand, with stacks of the fund-raising cookbook conspicuously placed everywhere. Emilia directed Avery to books awaiting her autograph. Photographers snapped her photo as Ian posed her for the perfect shot. Afterward, he moved her through the crowd of wealthy philanthropists, stunning her with his ability to recall names and faces of people completely unknown to her, while she stole glances at every silver-haired man. She was on full alert for any sign of Gabriel.

  “Are you looking for anyone in particular?” asked Ian. “I could probably point them out to you.”

  Avery blushed. “I’m sorry, Ian. I’m not very good company tonight.”

  Ian slipped his arm around her, drawing her near. “Nonsense. You’re wonderful.”

  Across the room, Wes stood beside Emilia as she finished a conversation with a client. “Do you see the guy drooling over my mother?”

  Emilia stared at him as if he were daft. “Uh, me and every jealous woman in this room.”

  “Ian?” Wes shot her a look of shock. “I guess I never really did know you after all.”

  “All right, all right,” she countered. “I’ll admit he’s a little too slick, and he hovers around her like a sweat bee, but it’s not your call, Wes. She seems to like him.”

  “No, she doesn’t. She’s just too naïve to realize the guy is hitting on her.” He grabbed a cookbook and headed over to his mother, who received him with exaggerated pleasure. “I’m going to borrow her for a moment, Ian,” he said with a sly grin. “Family business.” He and Emilia led her onto the terrace.

  “You owe me one,” he whispered in his mother’s ear.

  “Try again, buster. You just owe me one less.”

  Wes chuckled. “She’s back in the game, folks! So, did you catch the surprise?”

  “I don’t have a clue.”

  “Check out page sixty-seven. I think you’ll be pleased.”

  Avery flipped to the page and her lip began to quiver.

  “Emilia did it! She got the idea at George’s funeral and called her boss. I knew you’d love the idea.”

  Avery’s fingers scanned the photo and read the recipe title: Peanut Butter Balls by George O’Hara, Jockey. She looked at Emilia and in a moment of emotion, she hugged the girl close. “Thank you, Emilia. It’s perfect.”

  Emilia looked slightly contrite when the embrace ended. “I wish I could say it was completely altruistic, but the truth is, once I saw how famous he was, I knew my boss would love it.”

  Wes offered Emilia a disenchanted frown, but Avery just smiled. “Either way, George would be flattered.” She clutched the book to herself and patted it lovingly. “I couldn’t have had a nicer surprise. On that note, Wes, would you get Ian? I think I’m ready to leave now.”

  Wes nodded and left with Emilia close on his heels, leaving Avery alone on the terrace amid a cadre of Ringling benefactors. As bone tired as she was, she dreaded leaving, and she strolled toward the balustrades for one final glance across the gorgeous bay.

  “I hope that wasn’t true.”

  Avery heard a voice that seemed so unlikely she dismissed it as folly.

  “That you couldn’t have had a nicer surprise. I hope this will be even nicer.”

  She listened, faltered, then began walking again, unsure the words were meant for her.

  “Hello, Avery.”

  She knew the voice, but the timbre was oddly tentative. When she turned around, he was standing there, looking so stunning in his tuxedo that she nearly melted. “Gabriel.” She gasped. “I was surprised when I didn’t see you.” She swallowed and drew in a breath to get control of her racing heart and frazzled nerves. In a voice more controlled she said, “I expected you’d come, since it’s Emilia’s big night.”

  He smiled and nodded. “I’ve spent two days making the floral arrangements for this event. Emilia wanted everything ‘to pop.’” He laughed softly and looked at the ground. “As instructed, I arrived at three to handle the decorating. Then I slipped home to shower and change.”

  Avery blushed. “Of course she’d turn to you to make her evening perfect. And she’s done a wonderful job. You can be very proud of her.”

  “I am.” His answer was succinct and sincere. “And you know about Gina and Mark? They’re expecting a son in a few weeks.”

  “Yes. Wes told me. That’s wonderful, Gabriel. You’re going to love being a grandpa, and I’m sure you’ll be great at it. I highly recommend grandchildren.”

  “That’s right! You’re a grandma already! Jamie and Brady had a little girl, didn’t they?”

  “They did.” Avery was impressed that he knew. “They named her Marissa, and I can’t get enough of holding her.”

  Gabriel smiled. “Do you know you get a certain twinkle in your eye every time you mention a member of your family?”

  She felt him trying to close the emotional distance between them, but the hurt he caused her during their last and final meeting was still very real and raw. She withdrew a step and said, “At least we have that in common. We both love our families.”

  Gabriel’s face reflected the momentary sting. “What’s Luke up to?”

  Avery turned and beamed. “He’s on a mission in Africa! He’s so happy.”

  “That’s great. Everyone is back on track again. It all worked out exactly as you hoped. I’m happy for you, Avery—for all of you.”

  Avery thought she detected a note of sadness in his voice as they clipped through the polite ban
ter. “And for you and your family as well. It appears everything has worked out as it should.” She tried to hide the emptiness she felt as she considered what they each felt that night on the beach.

  “Especially Gina and Mark,” Gabriel said with wonder. “After all they’ve been through, they’re truly happy. I’ve never seen two people more in love. I just pray that they’ll always feel this way.”

  Avery pushed a small pebble with her toe. “‘Pray’ is a funny term for an agnostic to use.”

  A sad smile tugged at the side of his mouth. “Touché,” Gabriel replied as Avery started for the balustrades again. He sidled up beside her. “I asked you to see a sunset from here before you went home. I’m glad you finally did. It’s magical, isn’t it?”

  She reached the terra-cotta rail and leaned against it as the water lapped along the tiled dock where the Zalophus once moored. “The people with whom you share a moment make the memory wonderful. I would have loved to have seen it with you last year.”

  “And now?”

  She didn’t reply, and his expression grew serious. “You know, I didn’t get my ticket for this party from Emilia, Avery. I bought it as soon as I read about the gala in the literary section. I’ve waited ten months to see you again, so I could explain things.”

  “You say that now? After I’ve spent months wondering why you were so cruel to me?”

  She walked away and Gabriel didn’t follow her. He simply raised his voice and called out across the busy porch. “I scour the literary section every day because I miss someone, a dear friend. You see, she’s a wonderful author.”

  Avery stopped in her tracks. She looked back at Gabriel and found his face etched with sadness. Her own eyes burned, and then she heard the rapid sound of feet approaching from the right. Ian glared at Gabriel as he spoke to Avery.

  “Wes told me you’re ready to leave, darling.”

  Avery didn’t answer immediately, and apparently Gabriel was emboldened by her silence.

  “She doesn’t need her publicist right now.”

  “I’m her escort,” Ian snarled.

  “We’d like a minute.”

  Ian’s hands clamped territorially over Avery’s shoulders as he looked to her for confirmation. When she nodded, he glared a warning in Gabriel’s direction. Pressing his cheek to hers, he whispered loudly enough for Gabriel to hear, “I’ll get your things, darling, and then I’ll be right back.”

  “You just do that,” Gabriel muttered as Ian left.

  “He’s only doing his job,” said Avery.

  “Oh, he’s doing a job all right. Can’t you see it? That guy’s not here because he’s your publicist. Can’t you tell when someone’s in love with you?”

  She whirled angrily to face him. “Please! No more of your dazzling amateur analysis. I had enough of that last summer, thank you.” Her voice broke, adding to her embarrassed fury. “Why did you single me out tonight? What do you want from me?” It took all her strength to keep her voice strong, and then, noticing heads turning in her direction, she groaned.

  Gabriel approached her slowly and offered his hand. “There are things I need to apologize for—things I need you to understand. Will you come with me so we can be alone for a minute?”

  She let him take her hand and lead her down the marble steps, beyond the view of curious onlookers, to the lavish floating dock set on the dark water of Sarasota Bay. She went to the railing to steady herself, not so much from the motion of the dock as from the unreliability of her own legs. She heard Gabriel approach her and stop, then draw a slow, heavy breath that caused her to tremble over what he would say.

  “My mother was very religious, Avery. You remind me of her in that way. She was a sweet-innocent-no-drinking-no-smoking-go-to-church-every-Sunday Mormon coed who came down here for spring break with some college friends. Then she met my father. It was a whirlwind romance, like a James Dean movie. An innocent from Idaho, who wanted to get out of the cold for a week, was swept off her feet by a rebellious beach bum with muscles and a good line. She got pregnant. Most of what I remember about my early childhood is the sound of her bemoaning what she threw away because she rebelled against her faith. You can imagine what my home life was like. She tried to bend us one way—to ‘save’ us, and he bent us just as hard the other. They tore each other apart until all we kids wanted was to run away.”

  He bit his upper lip and turned to face Avery. “When I married Lucia, neither of us cared about religion, but that changed as soon as Gina was born.” He inhaled slowly and sighed, revisiting the memory. “What is it about motherhood that makes women see God in everything?”

  Prickles rose on Avery’s skin over the tender observation.

  Gabriel went on. “Lucia’s Catholic family pressed the religion issue too. I could feel tension growing in my own home over the question of faith and I—I panicked.” His hands flew forward as he fought to describe his feelings. “I tried doing the Sunday thing for a while, but I felt forced and angry, and, in the end, I chose to simply opt out. After Lucia died, I pushed religion and most of her religious family away altogether. I did it to my girls, thinking I was protecting them, and I did it to Mark when Father Alexi came by. And then one day I realized I’d made my daughters’ world too small. They became rigid and entitled. One was afraid of marriage, and one was in a failing one, mostly because I gave and gave to compensate for shutting out family and faith.”

  He stood at the rail beside Avery, staring out at the distant lights across the bay on Longboat Key, while she stared down into the inky blackness.

  “I had you pegged the day we met. The open Bible on your end table was a pretty good clue, and I recognized the religious art in the condo.”

  “Then why—”

  “Why did I get involved with you?” He stared back at the sea. “Because something about you and your condo made me feel like I was home. I hadn’t felt that way since Lucia died.”

  “But you . . .” Avery’s throat grew tight, “you said you hated your home.”

  “I hated the fighting, but my best memories of home involved Mother’s faith and the stories about her pioneer ancestors. I knew she didn’t love my father. Her infatuation faded as the reality of their differences set in, but she believed in family, and she wanted her children to know God loved them. As hard as I tried to push those teachings away, I discovered that they are in me, and, in some convoluted way, I wanted to pass them along to my girls, only I didn’t say or do the right things because I was too proud to admit that maybe, just maybe, I’d been wrong.” He turned to Avery and moved a step closer. “I felt drawn to you from the first day, Avery. I knew you would be good for my family, but what I finally came to admit was that I loved how you made me feel.”

  “You loved how I made you feel?” Avery mumbled as the very thought sent a chill down her back and into her quivering knees. Then she recalled the argument. “Then why were you so horrible to me that day? You hurt me, Gabriel.”

  He placed his hands on the backs of her arms, and as they slid to her elbows, she thought she would faint against him.

  “I know. I’m so sorry. All those old fears rushed back in when I saw the rift occurring between Gina and Mark. I never should have come by to talk to you that day. I was awful to you, but even when I was at my worst, you tried to calm me and give me hope. I knew then that I wanted to tell you everything, but once again, my pride and fear got in the way, and I left, but no more. I’m not running away, Avery. This time, I’m running to something good. Something wonderful. I want all those promises. All those things you believe so passionately about for your family—I want them for me and my girls.”

  Avery stepped back and forced a smile, unsure of what he wanted from her. A spiritual mentor or more? They were back where they were last summer. “That’s wonderful, Gabriel. I’m so happy for all of you.” She suddenly needed to withdraw from this man, not merely step away, but emotionally withdraw, to end the roller coaster ride before the next painful plunge.

/>   “I thought you’d be so pleased,” Gabriel countered.

  “I am. There’s hardly anything you could have told me tonight that would have made me happier than this. Really.”

  “Hardly anything?” Gabriel pulled softly on her, and she did not resist.

  As she fell against him, the smell of his cologne filled her head. She heard his every breath, felt the rise and fall of his chest, saw the expectation on his face. Her senses were on overload.

  A husky want tinged his voice as he asked, “Then why are you saying good-bye?”

  “I am happy for you, Gabriel. I just . . . I just need to go.” She pushed free and gathered up her dress. As she headed for the stairs she heard him call out to her.

  “I miss you, Axel.”

  She stopped in her tracks and turned. “Why are you calling me that?”

  “I feel I know you better as Axel than I do as Avery.”

  She turned on him, fearful the whole scene had been a ruse. “That’s no secret anymore. Axel’s identity was revealed to the press this morning.”

  “I know. I was there.”

  She remembered the man under the banyan tree.

  “But I’ve always known—at least I always hoped it was you. Then I saw the dedication in the third book: ‘To Xandra’s Grandfather, Alexander Dearborn.’ He was your mother’s father, right? And Axel stands for Avery Xandra Elkins, right? I assumed the Hunter part was to signify your spiritual quest.”

  Though still dubious, she remained to hear his explanation.

  “I would never have known by comparing Axel’s work with Avery’s, but the truth was obvious when I compared Axel’s work to Avery herself.”

  He stepped closer, and when she didn’t retreat, he drew her close, brushing his lips along her brow and over her ear until every muscle in her body tensed and then melted.

  “Your heart wrote those stories, Avery. Your worries, your hopes, your dreams. They’re all in there,” he whispered. He pulled away and studied her face, where traces of uncertainty still remained.