Love & Redemption Page 10

  “So your dad heard you were too hot and Tony took you out on the lake. Because of that, he put all the blame for an accident on the shoulders of a seven-year-old child?” Gavin’s hand resting on the table balled into a fist. “I mean, I’m assuming that’s what happened, otherwise why talk about this day.”

  “Yes. That’s what happened.” Shelley didn’t want to remember anymore. She tried to push it away and rush through the story. “We were far out on the lake. I think Tony actually wanted Mom and Dad to get home before us. I think he wanted Dad to know he broke the rules. Everything would have been fine, but a storm came up out of nowhere. It was just a little rowboat. It didn’t stand a chance against the current and the waves.”

  When the boat tipped over, spilling them into the cold water of the lake, Shelley still thought everything would be okay. Tony never let her down before. He’d find a way to save them.

  “The boat tipped, and Tony knew we were in trouble. We didn’t even bring out life jackets.” Different times. These days, everyone knew about simple safety and that would never happen. “Tony discovered a space between the underside of the seats and bottom of the overturned boat that was filled with air. He stuck me in there once he realized I wasn’t strong enough to keep treading water.”

  Shelley shuddered, remembering the hours trapped inside that small space. The cold water lapped at her back and legs, sometimes rising to splash into her mouth and choke her.

  “He said he would swim for help, but never came back. I was so afraid, but didn’t dare get out.”

  “Shit.” Gavin cupped Shelley’s cheeks in his hands and pressed his forehead against hers. “No wonder small spaces scare you.”

  Shelley nodded, choking back a sob. “When Mom and Dad got home and realized the boat was missing, they went to our neighbors’. They had a motor boat and everyone searched for us. They found me at sunset.”

  She plunged her face into the cradle of Gavin’s shoulder and neck, unable to stop her tears. He gently patted her back and made soothing sounds in the back of his throat.

  “Divers found Tony’s body three days later,” she got out through her tears. “He never made it close to shore.”

  Shelley didn’t know how long she sat crying in Gavin’s arms, but he rubbed her back and softly whispered that everything was over and she would be okay. Mr. Darrell came by once and filled their coffee, but left without saying a word.

  She finally pulled herself together and sat up, wiping mascara off her face. “I must look a mess.” She sighed. “I never cry, you know? Never. Now you’ve started the waterworks twice in less than an hour.”

  Gavin wiped her cheek, likely removing some black that she missed. “Maybe you’d feel better if you did it more often.”

  “My head is pounding, I feel foolish, and I must look horrible. I don’t think crying’s the answer.”

  Gavin chuckled. “You could never look less than beautiful, and you have no reason to feel foolish.”

  “You didn’t cry about your mom.” Shelley chewed on her lip, wondering if that was unforgivably rude to say, but just because he was a guy didn’t mean he couldn’t be sad too.

  “I’ve cried over Mom quite a bit. Especially back when I blamed myself for getting caught and not being around to take care of her.” He shrugged. “When I came to terms with the fact that I couldn’t help her and had to take care of myself, I quit crying. I still miss the person she was before Dad died, but she wasn’t really fit to even take care of herself afterward, let alone a son.”

  She nodded. “Fair enough. It wasn’t your fault, so you shouldn’t feel guilty.”

  “Tony’s death wasn’t your fault either.”

  “Even though I said I was too hot, and that’s the reason he thought of the boat, I’m starting to realize that, too. Tony made the decision. I was just a little girl who would do whatever her big brother wanted to do.”

  “Good.” Gavin stretched in the booth beside her. “Now that we have our sad histories out of the way, what’s say we have a little fun?”

  It was a quick change in mood, but exactly what she needed. “What do you have in mind?”

  Gavin looked across to the pool tables. “How about we make a wager on a friendly game of pool?”

  “A wager?” Shelley tucked her hair behind her ear, curious where this was heading. “Neither of us have much money. What are the stakes?”

  “If I win, you have to kiss me.” He smirked, challenge clear in his eyes.

  “I’m pretty good at pool,” she warned. “What if I win?”

  “You name the penalty.”

  “If I win. Hmmm...”

  “I could kiss you,” Gavin whispered.

  “No! Then you get what you want either way.” She grinned. “I know. If I win, you owe me a back massage tonight before bed.”

  “Really?” He nodded agreement, and his smirk spread to a full smile. “We’re both winners either way.”

  ***

  That night as Gavin made his bed on the floor, Shelley smiled across the room at him. “I think it’s time for someone to pay up.”

  His head jerked up and he glared at her. “You cheated!”

  Mirth once again overcame her. Spending the day with Gavin had been one of the best she remembered in a long time. Even sharing their sad memories had been nice in a way. Sorrow shared was sorrow halved, or something like that.

  That didn’t mean she’d let him call her a cheater. “Just because I inhaled deeply while you shot for the eight ball doesn’t mean I cheated. I was having a hard time catching my breath.”

  “Your breath is close to what distracted me,” he grumbled, folding the fluffy comforter in half and laying it on the ground. “You stood right in front of the pocket.”

  She shrugged and climbed on top of the bed, laying on her stomach and patting the mattress beside her. “And you scratched, so pay up.”

  Gavin sighed, though Shelley got the impression he wasn’t actually angry as he sat beside her.

  “We really should have bought you new pajamas,” he said.

  Shelley folded her arms together and cradled her head on them. “Why? I have more at home. It would have been a waste of money.”

  “Because that t-shirt doesn’t cover enough of your underwear to keep me from thinking how long it’s been since I’ve enjoyed...fun time with a lady.”

  Part of her loved knowing Gavin responded to her body, which was why she kept flashing her panties at every opportunity, but it was wrong of her to make him so miserable. He was a gentleman, and she knew he’d never demand she take care of his suffering like other men she’d been with.

  “Sorry, Gavin. Force of habit. I like pushing limits, but it’s not fair to you.” She scrambled beneath the sheet and pulled it around her waist. “Now you’re free to massage.”

  “But I can still feel your body this way and imagine those sexy legs and it’s so hard.”

  She laughed. “Yeah. I just bet it is.”

  “We should skip the massage.”

  Cocking her head over her shoulder, she frowned. “Are you really trying to get out of paying your debt? I thought you were such a gentleman.”

  He laughed and shook his head, climbing across her legs and resting his weight against her butt. Even though Gavin was quite a bit heavier than she was and had her trapped, it didn’t frighten her. She felt comforted and safe with him.

  “I don’t squelch on a deal.” His hands started at the small of her back and rubbed up to her shoulders across the top of her shirt. He moved back down, finding the tense muscles in her midback and working them with his nimble fingers.

  Shelley tried to ignore the way Gavin’s crotch rubbed against her when he shifted positions. He hadn’t been entirely kidding about the sight of her body being ‘hard’ on him. What she had first imagined would be a relaxing reward for beating him at pool was quickly turning into an erotic reminder that Gavin was off limits and she was severely sex deprived.

  Part of her wanted t
o tell him to stop, but his hands felt so good across her body. He tickled his way up to her neck, leaning down to press his chest against her back as he rubbed the base of her hairline with his thumbs.

  “You’re so tense.” Instead of rubbing harder, his fingers took on a feather light touch and he caressed her jaw line and his lips brushed against her shoulder. “Is everything okay?”

  He’s purposely trying to turn me on? Two can play at that game.

  Shelley shifted her hips back and forth, rubbing her ass against Gavin’s crotch. “I’m fine. Whatever gave you the idea I was too tense?” Letting out a soft moan for good measure, she tipped her head into his hand. “You feel good.”

  Gavin’s fingers abruptly stopped moving and he jumped off her. “You’re still cheating.”

  Laughing, Shelley kicked off the sheet and sat up. “You were the one cheating that time, and don’t think I couldn’t figure it out.”

  “Not entirely a cheat.” He ventured back over to sit beside her, taking her hand in his. “I do like you.”

  “I like you too, Gavin. As much as I hate Terrance and Stephen being after me again and missing the opera and my vacation, I’m kind of glad you picked my opera box to crash.” She lifted his hand to her mouth and kissed his fingers softly. “We would have never met, otherwise. That would have been a shame.”

  Gavin’s free hand hooked around her neck, sending shivers down her spine as he stared deep into her eyes. “It would have been a travesty.”

  He pulled her close slowly, tilting his head to the side and closing his eyes as her mouth neared his. Shelley appreciated that he gave her time to put a stop to the situation—she knew that’s why he went so slowly—but she didn’t want to stop him.

  Gavin held still, his lips nearly touching hers, not moving another muscle, though need radiated off him like a beacon calling her.

  Shelley closed the distance. An electric bolt of joy flooded across her senses when their lips met, and she wrapped her arms around him, wanting him closer, wanting him to become a part of her.

  She opened her lips at the gentle prodding of Gavin’s tongue and sucked him inside, reveling in the minty taste of their cheap toothpaste. He took his tongue back, instead nibbling on her lower lip as he ran his hands through her hair.

  A deep groan came from his throat, and all Shelley wanted to do was whip away his pants and ride him until she fully sated her burning passion. She raked her fingers down his back and fiddled with the hem of his t-shirt, pushing it out of her way so she could get her fingers against his skin.

  He broke off the kiss and pressed his forehead against hers, breathing quickly. “Wait, Shell. Let’s think for a minute.”

  “I don’t want to think.” She continued tugging on his shirt, but Gavin reached behind his back and stopped her movements.

  He pulled her hands between them, bringing them to his face to kiss the backs of both. “We have to.”

  She took some deep, ragged breaths of her own, trying to slow her racing heart. “I sure hope you aren’t rejecting me, because if so, I’m awfully confused.”

  He smiled, calming her fears. “I want you very bad, but not like this. Not in a mad rush, in your parents house. Not because you feel vulnerable after sharing your life with me today.” He shook his head. “You said something about waiting for true love, didn’t you?”

  Shelley nodded slowly, not sure she wanted to wait any more.

  “Let’s get out of this current situation alive and then date each other.” He closed in for another kiss, but broke it off before passion carried them away. “True love is worth waiting extra time for. Let’s see if we have anything worth the wait.”

  Though her body shuddered with want and need, Shelley nodded. “Get your ass on the floor then, dear husband.” She pointed to his pile of blankets and quickly climbed under the sheet when he stood.

  “No more back massage?” A grin quirked up his mouth, showing off his deep dimple.

  “Hell no. Any more touching, and I won’t care about true love.”

  Gavin turned off the light and rustling noises sounded as he settled onto the floor.

  Shelley propped herself onto one elbow, staring down at the dark mass. He was hard to make out in the darkness. “Thanks, by the way. Not just for right now, but for the entire day.”

  She rolled over and cradled her hands beneath her cheek, taking deep breaths and willing the sexual tension to drain from her body. As frustrated as she was in some ways, she also couldn’t be happier. She’d been ready to throw her goals out the window and have sex with him, ready to waste her three months of celibacy because Gavin was truly a nice guy and she wanted him.

  Instead, he’d been strong enough for both of them. And did it in a way that hadn’t left her feeling as if he didn’t desire her. That was the best part. He wanted to date her. He wanted to court her. Never in her life had a man done that.

  “You’re welcome, dear wife,” came softly out of the darkness. He chuckled. “I’ll count the seconds until I wake up and see your face in the morning light. And I’m only partially joking. Goodnight, Shell.”

  Cheesy, but also romantic. Just want she always wanted.

  Tony would definitely approve.

  Chapter Thirteen

  By Thursday morning, Gavin had to admit he felt restless. Rick started dropping hints Tuesday night they were overstaying their welcome, and even Janet asked after supper last night when they thought they would head back to the city. It was a good thing this tiny town didn’t boast a hotel, or they might have suggested by now that Shelley and Gavin stay at it. How would he then explain to her parents that their rich son-in-law couldn’t afford it?

  At least since their talk Monday Shelley remained calmer around her parents. She no longer seemed so on edge when Rick opened his mouth. For Gavin’s part, he had an easier time keeping his own trap shut whenever Rick ordered his wife around or made a snide comment to his daughter.

  “Help has to come soon, doesn’t it?” he asked Shelley while helping her put the comforter back on the bed.

  “Tired of the floor?”

  He kissed her cheek, but then shook his head. “You know it’s more than that. Your parents are starting to wonder if we’ll ever leave. Janet cornered me last night while you were in the bathroom. I didn’t know what to say. I ended up telling her we planned to visit the whole week, just to give Nick more time.”

  Shelley tucked the blankets beneath the mattress. “Honestly, I’m starting to worry.” She paced the small confines of the guest room, chewing her bottom lip. “What if something happened to Carlie, and that’s why Nick hasn’t sent help yet?”

  Over the last few days, Shelley had shared how important her relationship with Carlie was; how Carlie was the closest thing to family she’d experienced in a long time. She also shared why she got shot a few months earlier, trying to correct the horrible mistake she’d made by turning Carlie over to Paul Billings and the other S.A.T.O. agents, thinking they worked for the government.

  “Carlie’s surgery went fine,” Gavin hurried to assure her. “You said Nick paid extra to schedule it when the office was usually closed, and he hired the top surgeons available. They took great care of her.”

  “Stephen burned her in that building, and I could have stopped it.” Shelley ran her hand over the top of her head and rubbed her neck. “She wouldn’t need surgery if I’d just warned her.”

  So much for Shelley staying calm. Worry for her friend had totally undone all the progress Gavin thought she’d made. He grabbed her in a tight hug.

  “You thought she was a terrorist because Paul Billings lied to you. We aren’t living in the past anymore, remember?”

  She nodded and took some deep breaths. “I know you’re right. Carlie always says the same thing, but she’s a very forgiving sort of person.”

  “Then follow her lead. Forgive yourself.” Gavin released her, and she promptly resumed pacing. “I’m sure there’s some other reason Nick hasn’t contacted
us, but I’m starting to think we should have your dad drive us to Essex so we can call your friend at the FBI.”

  “My dad will ask questions about driving us to make a call. He wants us to catch a train home when we go into town. Besides, I hate making too many calls.” Shelley’s voice was low. “No one knows about my parents. Grandma’s name stayed on everything as my legal guardian, and people assume my parents are deceased. I’ve never corrected the impression. As much as Rick pisses me off, I don’t want to lead S.A.T.O. agents to him and Mom.”

  That made sense. Gavin didn’t want to lead killers to Shelley’s parents either. “How much money do you have left?”

  “Around eighty bucks.”

  “Not enough for train tickets.”

  She shook her head. “Nope.”

  “Well, if Nick hasn’t come through by tomorrow, we’re going to have to come up with plan B. We can’t stay here much longer.”

  Shelley looked at their suitcase in the corner. “We could pawn a couple diamonds to get money. I don’t know how happy Nick would be about it, but at least they wouldn’t be in Paul’s filthy hands.”

  A pawnshop wouldn’t give them nearly what they were worth, but Gavin didn’t think he could find any connections out here to pay a fair price. Besides, if they sold the entire bag intact, that left opportunity for Paul to retrieve them and carry out his plan. It was better to unload a few at a time and break up the set.

  “Okay,” he agreed. “Let’s give Nick one more day.”

  ***

  The knock they’d waited for finally came after dinner that night. Shelley had curled up in Gavin’s lap while they watched a Bruce Willis movie with Rick for the fourth night in a row. Gavin wondered if he watched the same movie every night to encourage his unwanted guests to leave.

  Janet answered the door and a gruff voice said, “Delivery for Petunia Golden.”

  “I’m sorry,” Janet faltered, glancing around the living room as though to search out Petunia before turning back to the man. “You have the wrong—”

  “It’s me!” Shelley leapt from Gavin’s lap and ran for the door. “I’m Petunia.” She patted her mother’s arm while simultaneously pushing her out of the way.