He took a deep breath and, after a glance at her, he continued.
“I had been raised by grandparents who had faith in God. When I went to live with my father, he and my stepmother never went to church. I slowly began to forget a lot of what I was taught. It might be more accurate to say I chose to forget. It felt fun to live my life without any restrictions. I partied. I drank. I gambled. I did whatever felt right to me. I lived just like everyone else around me. On my grandfather’s death bed, he spoke to me frankly. I had been spending a lot of time with him before he died, and I guess he realized that I had changed from the boy he raised, and not all the changes were good.”
Gabriel glanced at Leiliana and found her eyes shining with tenderness. He felt his heart flip over in his chest because what he was sharing was deeply personal. He had never shared it with a living soul.
“He told me that the most important thing in life wasn’t fortune or fame. It wasn’t a great career or reputation. ‘The most important thing,’ he said ‘is a life spent serving God. Your name doesn’t matter. The only name that matters, in the end, is the name of Jesus Christ.’ I listened, and I felt that I understood. I figured he was telling me to live a good life, and I aimed to do that my way. But honestly, I hadn’t surrendered to Jesus, I was still living life my way, ignoring the parts of the Bible that didn’t suit me, accepting the parts I could live with. But that night after that vision, it suddenly came back to me. All I had been taught as a boy, all my grandfather had told me. I realized I was on a slippery slope. I was heading for certain destruction. This was an opportunity for me to turn my life around.”
“What happened then?” she asked softly.
He took a deep calming breath, smiling as he remembered what happened. “I confessed my sins to God and asked Him to forgive me and to cleanse me. I felt a peace come over me like I had never known. At that moment, I knew, without a doubt what I had to do. I chose not to destroy the evidence.
“Furthermore, I knew God was calling me to no longer be a party to evil. The error of omission was as glaring as the error of commission. I decided to go to the federal government and plead guilty.”
“That was so brave of you,” she said in a throaty whisper.
“I didn’t feel brave. I was scared. I thank God for giving me the strength I needed to do the right thing. But I tell you it was hard. Really hard. I was pretty sure I was going to be sent to prison. I was prepared to accept that. God, in His mercy, didn’t let that happen to me. That’s why I visit prisoners every second Sunday evening of each month, and I also have a program where I hire reformed prisoners to work for Walsh Enterprises. If not for God, that’s where I’d probably be right now. Or a fugitive from the law like my father. I want to share the hope I’ve found with them. Show them that despite their mistakes, God can help them turn their lives around.”
She looked out the window for a while, and when her gaze returned to his, she looked pensive. “That’s really impressive. How do you make the time, Gabriel? I was part of a teen at risk ministry some years ago, but I stopped because of work demands.”
His response came easily. “Because I wasted a lot of my time chasing the wind. When I chose to live for God, I realized there were two things He was calling me to do. Know Him better and make Him known to others. I felt qualified to speak to prisoners because if it weren’t for God, I would probably have ended up behind bars too.”
Soon they pulled up at the restaurant. Leiliana remained quiet as they awaited their meal.
“A penny for your thoughts,” he said softly.
“Why did you and Dot Judd break up?”
Gabriel rubbed his chin. “That is a curiously personal and unprofessional question, Leiliana.”
Her face colored instantly. “I…I’m sorry. I…I didn’t mean…”
He grabbed her hand. “I was joking. I swear that was a joke. I seriously have no objection to telling you.”
“No, you’re right,” she said, tugging away her hand. “I had no business asking you that question. Thank you for reminding me that we’re not here to get personal.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sakes, woman! Will you stop?”
She gaped at him, eyes wide open.
He dragged a hand through his hair. “Can’t you see that this whole ‘let’s keep a professional distance’ thing is folly?” he asked, waving his hands in the air. “I like you. I like you a lot. I mean a lot! And you like me too. I can tell. So let’s just stop this pretense.”
After a while, her shocked expression gave way to laughter. Then she sobered and watched him almost shyly.
He leaned towards her, and his tone softened. “I promise that I will not take advantage of you. I will not deceive you or hoodwink you or anything like that. Will you take me at my word?”
She nodded slowly. “I will. Can you promise me something else?”
“Anything.”
“Don’t let me fall in love with you.”
His adrenaline raced at the look in her eyes when she said this. “Oh, baby. I won’t promise that” he murmured.
She gave a sudden laugh, as though it had been a joke. But he knew it hadn’t been. This woman was afraid of falling in love with him. But he believed he was already in love with her.
“Well, what happened with Dot is really quite simple. When I made the decision to turn myself over to the Feds, it was a few weeks before our wedding day. I knew I owed it to her to advise her what I was going to do. I expected her to be upset at what had happened, but her reaction really shocked me. She begged me not to do it. She argued that I wasn’t to blame for my father’s mistakes. I told her that I had been aware of at least some of what he was doing. Therefore, I was partly to blame for choosing to work for the company. She insisted that it didn’t matter, that I should deny everything, just as my father had done. I hadn’t expected that. To have her say I should cover up my involvement just to avoid social disgrace was unbelievable. I realized that I didn’t really know Dot. I was now seeing her for who she truly was. She seemed to have no concept of right and wrong. Then she told me with cold resignation that if I went to the FBI, she would not marry me. She gave me an ultimatum. I made my choice, she followed through on hers. One week later, she married Dmitri Lebedev. A man who I thought was my friend.”
“Is there any chance of the two of you getting back together?”
He laughed grimly. “After what I just told you? Do you think I would reconcile with her?”
She gave him a skeptical look. “I hear what you’re saying, but let me tell you a story. My brother Liam married young. He married at 23. He and his wife, Nia, had their challenges and became estranged for many years. Still, eventually, they reconciled and are happily married today. Even during their separation, he loved her. I tell you he never even looked at another woman. I’ll also share with you the story of my parents. They met and fell in love in their early twenties. Then they broke up. Even though they had relationships with other people, they found each other twelve years later, and their feelings for each other hadn’t changed. They reunited and are immensely happy together. So, don’t scoff at what I’m saying. It’s not out of the realm of possibility.”
Gabriel thought seriously about what Leiliana had just said. It was true that people reconciled with each other all the time. However, there was a fundamental difference between their situations and his and Dot’s.
He captured her gaze. “I understand your point. Now, let me explain why there is no chance of me becoming romantically intimate with Dot Judd again. When I met her, I wasn’t the man I am now. I’ve said that Dot was superficial and selfish. Well, I probably wasn’t that much better. Her looks attracted me. I was bedazzled by her. All I saw was her beauty and charm. I have matured since then. I see that there is more to a relationship than good looks. First, you must have common ideals and principles, the same values, and perspectives on life. For me, having a woman who shares my faith sincerely and sees that God is the center, and that our highest allegia
nce is to Him, means more than anything else. The point is, Leiliana, that I realize that Dot isn’t the one for me, and I am happy that God shielded me from a marriage with her.”
Leiliana said nothing. But the way her eyes sparkled after that signaled to him that she was pleased with his response.
Chapter 16
M onday morning, when Leiliana arrived at Gabriel’s house, he was busy meeting with an electrician. He told her he would join her soon, but he took a while. She got restless and began to roam the house. She couldn’t help thinking about how much she would love to add some nice furniture and accessories to this stark space.
When he finally concluded his business and came to find her, she was taking some photos of the ocean from the patio.
“You love photography, don’t you?” he asked, drawing alongside her.
She lowered her phone and smiled in assent.
He held out a hand. “May I see?”
As he scrolled through the photos, nodding in admiration, she watched him and thought how incredibly handsome he was.
“What’s this?” he asked softly.
Leiliana looked down at her phone. She gasped and instantly made a motion to snatch it from Gabriel’s hand, but he moved it out of reach. He was looking at photos she had secretly taken of him over the last week.
“You’ve been taking photos of me?”
“That was an accident,” she said feebly.
He swiped photo after photo. “Accident? There are quite a few here. You shouldn’t lie. There’s no shame in admitting that you think I’m hot.”
Now her face was hot. “And conceited too. Give me my phone.”
He handed it over to her with a twinkle in his eyes.
“I’ve got to confess something.”
“What’s that,” she asked, avoiding his gaze.
“I’m thrilled you contacted me about this merger,” he admitted softly.
Her eyes flew to meet his, and she almost turned to jelly at the intensity there. “Me too.”
He paused then turned to lean against the rails, so he was facing her. “Can you see yourself living here?”
She almost went into shock. “Mm…me?”
He poked her on the shoulder. “Yeah, you. Can you see yourself raising children here?”
“I…” Her breathing sped up, and she felt like she would have an asthma attack. She laughed nervously. “I could. Yes, …it’s a really beautiful area…tranquil…raising children here…sure. As long as we have a high wall.” She laughed, then blanched. “I meant if I had to live here...I’d want a high wall.”
He snorted a laugh. “So, ready to get started?”
She nodded as she followed him back into the house. Then she remembered what she had planned to ask him. “Gabriel, would you object to me doing a little decorating?”
He turned to watch her. “A little what?”
“The other day, you said that perhaps your place could use a woman’s touch.”
“While that may be true, the reason it's sparsely decorated is that when I began moving in, I just purchased the essentials. My focus has been on expanding my company, not decorating my house.”
“In that case, I’m sure you wouldn’t object to a little help. I would be honored to help you.”
He stared at her for a moment. “Is it bothering you that much?”
She shrugged. “It’s just that it’s such a fine house, and I think it would be so much more appealing with a few additions.”
“Oh, it’s a fine house, is it? That is certainly a big improvement over an ugly house.”
“I said afterward that I really like it. You’re never going to let me live that down, will you?”
He grinned at her.
“So, will you let me decorate?” she persisted.
“I don’t mind a little color, but I hate clutter,” he muttered.
“So do I,” she hastened to assure him. “I would never clutter your house. I just think a few nice pieces of furniture and a little artwork would enhance things.”
He studied her for a while. “When would you find the time? We’ve only got one more week, and we need to finish this up before you leave.”
Leiliana didn’t like how he said that so casually as though it wasn’t bothering him that their time together would soon come to an end. It was certainly bothering her. Nonetheless, she tried to focus on the issue at hand.
“I was thinking we can start working two hours earlier than we normally do, then go shopping in the afternoon.”
He still looked skeptical. “I don’t know. I wouldn’t feel right you taking your valuable time to decorate my house.”
She thought a moment, and then an idea occurred to her. “Actually, it can be quid pro quo. You can repay me by teaching me those boxing self-defense moves you promised. A few evenings this week, you can teach me to box as repayment. How’s that?”
He nodded after a while. “I can live with that. By the way. How’s Wednesday for the trip?”
“Which trip?”
“The wind farm, remember you wanted to go see it?”
“Oh, right. Yes, Wednesday’s fine.”
“We’ll have to go by plane and stay overnight.”
She shrugged. “I don’t mind.”
~*~*~*~
“Where are you taking those?” Gabriel asked suspiciously as Leiliana made her way into his house, holding a vase of fresh flowers.
She turned around and watched him, perplexed. “I brought them to brighten up your kitchen.”
He shook his head. “I don’t like real flowers.”
“You’ve got to be kidding. Who doesn’t like real flowers?”
“Me.”
She cradled her vase of yellow flowers like she was protecting them from him. “Are you allergic or something?”
He closed the door and walked towards her. “Nothing like that. I just think they are a waste. They dry up and die. To me, the whole business of plucking a flower from its vine to stick it in a pot, watch it die, and then throw it into the dustbin is just wrong.”
She pushed out her bottom lip as though he had really crushed her spirit. “But they’re pretty. They add beauty to the environment.”
He shrugged helplessly. “Listen, if it means that much to you, then, by all means, go ahead and set them down in the kitchen or wherever.” He was now walking towards the kitchen and looking back at her. “It’s okay.”
She followed him hesitantly. “But I don’t want you to feel like I forced you to put something in your house that you don’t want. It’s defeating the whole purpose. I thought you would like them.”
“Did you honestly think that? Do you see a single flower around here?”
“I assumed you didn’t have the time to decorate or plant flowers. I never dreamed you were a flower hater.”
The way she said it made him laugh. They were now in the kitchen. She was still standing there, hugging the vase.
“Look, I think this is a wonderful, sweet thing you did. Put the vase wherever you like, and I promise you I will love them. But in the future, I would be happier about dried flowers or waxed flowers or anything besides real ones.”
“Wow! Fake flowers. Who would have thought?”
But she seemed to have forgiven him. She set down her vase of flowers on a corner of the bar and stood back to happily survey her handiwork.
He went to stand beside her and took in the whole scene. After a short while, he rubbed his chin. “You know, the kitchen really does look better now.”
She jerked back her head and watched him out of narrowed eyes.
“I’m serious. They do brighten the kitchen, even if they’re real.”
She broke out in a smile, and her amber eyes lit up. “See, I told you I know what I’m doing.”
“Yes, you do have a great eye. I’m a fortunate fella. I’ve got Leiliana Lamport decorating my house. This is one of those moments in life that you almost don’t want to say out loud for fear of jinxing it.”
She laughed. “You probably feel like I did the night you bought me that dress. I couldn’t believe that the CEO of Walsh Enterprises was out shopping for me.”
He grinned at her. She was so cute.
She turned and pointed to the opposite wall. “I was thinking about putting a clock right here to brighten up this sterile white wall.”
He nodded. “You can’t go wrong with a clock. It tells you the time and everything.”
“A bright, stylish clock,” she continued, ignoring his teasing comment.
“No clocks shaped like food, though! Those are the worst.”
She stuck her hand on one hip and gave him a look that asked clearly who he took her for. “By the way, we’re going into town to shop for furniture today. And now that I know you prefer living plants we’re going to purchase some potted house plants and flowers. How’s that?”
He almost broke out in cold sweats. “Who’s going to water them?”
“Why Mrs. O’Connor, of course.”
Olive O’Connor was the middle-aged lady who cleaned for Gabriel a couple of times a week. She could be a bit of a dragon lady, but she had taken a shine to Leiliana. “You can perhaps direct her on that. She’s coming over tomorrow.”
Falling For You Page 17