Convincing Lina: A Bachelor of Shell Cove Novel (The Bachelors of Shell Cove Romance Book 2) (5 page)

Lina’s hasty retreat to the safety of her man-fast bat cave came at a high cost. Her wallet with all her cash and one credit card was missing in action. It would either be on the clinic floor in the morning or one of the evening shift housekeepers would deliver it to lost and found. Either way she was screwed. Her gas tank was a hair’s breath from empty and a jar of mustard was the only edible thing in the house. The confrontation between Jace and Gideon had her mind reeling. After the way Gideon stepped up to Jace, it’s a wonder she hadn’t left her panties and her wallet. Gideon was pure sex on a jumbo peppermint stick. One hundred percentage edible. She had never seen the two men standing together. Gideon was about nine inches taller than Jace. He had an additional forty pounds of solid muscle attached to his frame in all the right places. Jace was fit. Next to Gideon, he looked like Steve Rogers, before the Captain America transformation. Gideon was masculine perfection. But right now, she really did need that sandwich she mentioned earlier.

Usually Estrella had a dish ready on the stove, but when Lina knocked on the neighboring door it went unanswered. Who could she call to remedy her temporary hobo status? Her mother was in the midst of a major audit at work. Glancing down at her watch, Lina groaned, it would be another couple of hours before her mom was home. How much mustard could she eat before she got sick? Who else could she call?

Lina padded back to her condo. Entering her unit she collapsed on the couch, hugging herself as a feeling of isolation washed over her. There was no one she could call to help her. Lina turned a longing gaze at the kitchen, then an option occurred to her. She could call Janna.

Navy Nurse Corps officer, Lieutenant Janna Williamson was the third link in the dynamic trio. She’d flown into Shell Cove from Okinawa, Japan to help with Ava’s engagement party. And Janna was scheduled to pick up Ava and Logan’s engagement party favors from the engravers at six. If she called now, Janna could bring a gas can and take out dinner before her appointment. An independent woman creates opportunities for herself. She grabbed the phone from the cocktail table and dialed.
 

Lina jumped when the musical chime of the doorbell rang out. If Jace had followed her home, she was going to take a bite out of him. She’d left a message on Janna’s cell before disconnecting the call. Placing the cordless phone back in the cradle she glanced at BETAS, before opening the door. Lina was not prepared for the man that greeted her.

“Hey, I thought you might need this.” Gideon’s powerful body filled her doorway and his long fingers had her wallet ensnared in his grip. Stay calm. Because of that dratted wallet, temptation had followed her home. His dark mane seemed to harness the sunlight. He looked like a fire god with sun rays silhouetting his body. Full lips and a chiseled jaw covered in a five o’clock shadow that softened the sharp lines of his goatee made her heart thud. His six foot five frame was clad in charcoal gray slacks with a light blue dress shirt hugging his broad shoulders. Perfect door ornament. She shook her head. Friends don’t stare at friends’ expansive chests. Her fingers tightened on the door knob. She forced herself to meet his eyes.
 

“Gideon, you brought my wallet.” She smiled tentatively hoping he hadn’t noticed her slow perusal of him.

“I didn’t want to leave your identification and credit cards in the office overnight.” She reached for it, only to have him pull it back.

“You gonna give it to me,” she joked with him. Poor word choice.

“I wanted to take you to dinner first,” he grinned showing pearl white teeth.

“You are funny, but I just ate some…” Her stomach growled so loud it rivaled a freight train leaving the tracks. Busted.

“I made reservations at Drury’s. Do you want to change?” Of course, he chose her favorite restaurant and piano bar. The place was owned by Rourke and Gage Alexander. Two brothers, smooth as gourmet chocolate and just as sinful. Drury’s boasted an open air terrace overlooking the northern coast of the city, which meant it was a hit with locals and tourists.
 

“Presumptuous much?”

“I’m rarely this close to the beach and I’m hungry. It’s a win-win.” He took a detour for her?

“I parked underneath the building, next to you. How long before you are ready to leave?” Her Camaro was three months new, how did he know what she drove?
 

“How do you know my car?”

“Are you serious? It’s a purple Camaro and the tags say DIVA904.” Should have seen that one coming.
 

“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.”