Dancing with Deception (16 page)

“I can be patient.”

“Good.” Hoping that was that, Rebecca pulled her wallet out of her purse.

“I’ll get it,” he muttered rising to pull his wallet from his back pocket. “My mother raised me right.” He threw some bills on the table and took her hand again when they left the restaurant.

They walked toward the water, their pace slow and lazy. Rebecca looked down at their joined hands as they walked and sighed. She’d asked him to take it slow. Obviously such a simple gesture as holding her hand wasn’t monumental for him, or the heated looks he occasionally sent her. She loved the way his big hand felt pressed against hers, covering hers with his long, calloused fingers. Strong fingers, she mused. His palms were wide and warm on hers. The friction it caused as they moved sent little licks of heat straight to her belly.

As simple as the gesture was for him, it meant intimacy to her. She couldn’t remember holding a man’s hand before. He could kiss her a thousand times, but it would never be as shattering as holding her hand in his.

The boat sliced through the water on the way to Avery. Rebecca closed her eyes, feeling the warm sun against her lids. She could get used to this, she thought listening to Gideon whistle as he steered the boat. She could get used to leisurely rides with Gideon after lunch. She could definitely get used to being a part of his family.

She’d never loved a family before. The Avery’s made it easy to feel like a part of the group. It was cruel for Fate to put her in the Avery’s path for such short a time. She knew she would miss this family, this man, and this lifestyle. She would never forget how it felt to be a part of it and would even one day find a man who loved her, and she would love him, and they could create a family like this.

And why couldn’t it be Gideon?

The question spun in her mind giving way to a small flicker of hope.

“Man, thank you so much for inviting me.” Colin smothered a whimper as a fiery red-headed beauty pirouetted across the slick, black floor. “I owe you my life.”

Gideon’s eyes were fixed on a tall, dark-haired goddess. He’d seen her in the little pink thing before, he mused. But he hadn’t seen Rebecca in action. It was just his luck she’d asked him to take things slow. Damn her. He hadn’t slept a wink the night before and probably wouldn’t again until he eased this insane lust for her.

The tiny observation room didn’t hold much. There was a black, leather couch on the far wall and a tall, potted plant in the corner. The two-way mirror took up the entire wall where the girls were dancing in front of it.

There were thirteen girls dancing in the show. He’d learned this from Lewis. Nikos’ husband. Obnoxious and skinny, Lewis stood fully clad in tight black. His white-blond hair should have been spooky with his pale complexion and black eyes, but he was too friendly and too cheerful to be frightening. As long as he didn’t hit on Gideon, he didn’t have a problem.

“Oh, this is Miss Rebecca.” Lewis all but pressed his nose to the two-way mirror. “She’s Nikos’ prima ballerina. Oh, look at those lines!”

Remembering her reference to their lines, Gideon smirked. Elegant, he thought. He watched her jump and spin, then land hard on her ass. He was sure they had a name for the sexy little move she did, but he didn’t know it. He saw the Russian, Niko smile at her and clap his hands. She glared at him and he saw her lips move muttering something that sent Nikos’ head back in an explosive laugh.

Rebecca stood gracefully and moved back to repeat the move. He saw her thighs strain as she jumped then Niko moved in and caught her cleanly on the waist. He’d told himself he wouldn’t be jealous. But damn the man, his hands were everywhere!

“I bet she’s going to have a bruise on her—”

“Probably,” Gideon interrupted his brother. He’d brought him along in case the goons decided to try anything. The waiting game was tiring. He had every confidence he, his brother, and father could handle them. But having to wait to get his hands on their sorry asses was just pissing him off. He wanted to make a move.

If he knew where to begin, he would go find them. He owed one of them, the one who snatched his phone. He owed him a couple of bruises for the ones he gave Rebecca. And while he was at it, he’d like to give Austin Channing the beating the bastard deserved. Not only had he abandoned his daughter, he’d basically thrown her to the wolves while his ass was probably living it up on a beach somewhere. Once the danger had passed, he’d come back– if he even came back at all– and uproot Rebecca’s life again.

And that’s what burned him the most. How could anyone care so little for Rebecca? He knew enough by now to know neither one of her parents ever really gave a damn. She lived with her mother, but she didn’t know her. He knew Rebecca worried about both of her parent’s safety more than her own and neither one deserved it.

They’d go pick up Lilah from the airport tomorrow before she had the chance to go home. Rebecca had told him she wouldn’t be happy to learn about Austin’s return and all though she didn’t say much else about it, Gideon sensed the scene would not be a pretty one. He would be there for her and hoped that would be enough.

The red-head Colin had been admiring before sauntered over to the mirror, checking her backside out. She ran her hand down the back of her thigh. Gideon snorted and looked past her. Rebecca was talking to the Russian while the other girls guzzled water or packed up their bags to leave. Colin was saying something about getting Red’s number, but Gideon hardly paid attention. Rebecca’s shoulders were set, the lines she had talked about straighter than an arrow. His mouth watered at the sight of her sweat slickened arms and endless legs.

She smiled at Niko then turned to walk away. She glanced at the mirror then quickly away before disappearing through the side door that led to the dressing rooms. Trying not to picture exactly what was going on in there, Gideon decided a breath of fresh air was called for before he saw her again and walked out the door.

Colin was leaning up against the brick wall outside the ballet studio watching Red walk away. He gave an appreciative sigh before turning to his brother.

“I love ballerinas.”

Gideon snorted. “You like their legs.”

“Legs are good. They’re also flexible.” Colin pulled out a cigarette and lit it up. Blowing smoke lazily, he sighed. “Where’s your ballerina?”

“Changing.”

“So she’ll be a minute?”

“Yeah, what’s on your mind?”

Colin pushed off the wall and stuffed his free hand in his pocket. “I’m leaving in six weeks. I’m flying to California then sailing to Kauai. I’ve already made arrangements to ship June.”

“For how long?”

He lifted his shoulder. “Not sure about that part yet. It’s a one way plane ticket.”

“You are coming back, right?”

“Yeah. I just need to get away for a while. I’ve been here for four years. I just feel like I’m going crazy.” He crushed his cigarette and leaned back against the wall.

Gideon nodded. He knew the feeling all too well. In West Virginia, they’d had the whole ocean to sail if they had wanted. Lake Erie just didn’t compare. “You told Mom?”

“We’ve talked about it. She’s supportive but I just wonder how Jess will take it.”

“She’ll blame herself.”

“Yes,” Colin murmured. “I bought the island for her. I’ve stayed for me. I
t isn’t her fault that bastard—”
He cut himself off, Gideon knew, because it was a losing battle. There was nothing they could do, nothing they could say to fix it. “I still blame myself.”

“If you’re to blame, then so am I.” The old anger simmered but didn’t boil as it used to. Years had passed. Whether Jess was healed or not, she was happy where she was. She was safe and
content
on the island.

“I’m the oldest. I should have looked out for her better.”

It was the main reason Colin had bought the island. He had felt responsible for what happened to their sister and had shipped his whole family off to Avery.

“Yeah,” Gideon said
,
struggling to relieve some of the pain and tension, “well, I’m the smartest, so I should have looked out for her better too.”

Colin smiled
,
but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I just need some time alone.”

“Hey, I understand. I was thinking about taking a little time myself.”

Before Colin could comment, the front doors swung open and the women poured out of the building. Gideon watched for Rebecca
,
but she didn’t come out with them. He walked into the studio with Colin following him and stopped in the doorway of the dance room.

Rebecca stood in the middle of the room with her back to them. A skinny blond with pale, ringlet curls stood in front of her, her lips twisted in amusement. Rebecca’s back was rigid then she shrugged—a jerky movement that showed both attitude and distress. The blond walked away—she more like bounced away—and Rebecca stayed rooted in the same spot.

Blondie stopped abruptly and smiled when she spotted the two men.

“Hi.” She tipped her head to the side like an empty-headed dog.

Her voice was even annoying, Gideon thought as he walked past her. Rebecca spun around with tears in her eyes and met his gaze. “Are you okay?”

“Oh, she’s fine.” The blond gave up on trying to charm Colin, who had turned into a stone wall upon seeing Rebecca’s face. She walked over to where G
ideon and Rebecca were standing. T
he sound of her heels
tapping echoed in the quiet room.
“She just had a reality check, is all. Right, Rebecca?”

“Get fucked, Hallow wits.”

Gideon jolted at the heat in Rebecca’s voice. Anger shot in the blonds’ eyes, then she shrugged. “I do. Regularly.” With that, she sauntered to the door. She paused long enough to sneer at Rebecca again. “You should try it. It’ll loosen you up a little.”

Chapter Nine

I just might
, Rebecca thought while rage rushed through her veins like liquid fire. It was a relief to feel anger instead of hurt. But she knew better. The hurt would come later when she was alone. She wanted to laugh at Molly’s bouncy exit but was afraid it would come out as a sob.

Keeping her eyes away from Gideon’s probing gaze, Rebecca went to retrieve her bag then started out the door. She tensed when Gideon took her arm and turned her. She couldn’t stop shaking and hoped he wouldn’t notice.

“What was that about?”

“Nothing, really. She just has a way of pissing me off. Happens all the time.” She shrugged out of his hold and continued to the door. Colin pushed off the wall and pulled the door open for her. “Thanks.”

She waited for them to catch up.

“We’ll talk on the boat.” Gideon took her arm again and led her down the street.

Rebecca didn’t comment. It took all her energy to keep from letting the tears fall freely. She’d have felt better, but she had cried too much already. For her pride’s sake, it had to stop.

Colin jumped onto the boat first and reached back for her hand. Gideon took her elbow to help her up before leaping up behind them. The speedboat didn’t have a cabin so Rebecca knew Gideon meant for her to tell them both what happened. It wasn’t their business, she thought. Then immediately she knew she was wrong. It was very much their business, or most of it.

Gideon waited until they were about a mile away from Cleveland before sitting down beside her on the bench. Colin sat at the helm facing the front but she wasn’t fooled. If he was as obnoxious as his brother, she knew he was listening intently.

“Tell me,” Gideon demanded quietly.

Rebecca sank her teeth into her bottom lip and shrugged. “My father gave Molly a message for me.”

“What was the message?”

“Look inside.”

“What the hell does that mean?” Colin asked.

“I have no idea.” She didn’t like the way Gideon was looking at her. It took all she had not to squirm under his scrutinizing gaze. “That’s all he told her to tell me.”

“That’s not why you were upset.”

“No,” she agreed slowly, hating the fact that he always saw more than she wanted him to see. “But that’s all that pertains to this situation. Like I said before, Molly Hallowitz just loves to piss all of us off. That’s why we call her Hallow Wits.”

Gideon cursed so violently she jumped. He pushed off the seat and strode to the other side of the cruising boat. “You don’t want to talk about it, fine. But don’t lie to me.”

Rebecca threw her chin up. “I didn’t lie. I said that was all that pertained to this situation. And she
does
piss us off.”

He growled and shot a look at Colin. “Give me a damn cigarette.”

“No.”

“Damn it, Colin.”

“
Damn it, Colin
,” he mocked. “What crawled up your ass?”

“Give. Me. A. Cigarette.”

Colin leaned forward until he was eye to eye with his brother. “No.” He drew out the
o
and made it just insulting enough. A growl erupted in Gideon’s throat and he swung his balled fist at Colin’s head.