First a Dream (Dreams Come True #1) (15 page)

“Wow.” Gabriel kissed her on the forehead. “Anyone else would’ve just called him an asshole and been done with it. You.” He squeezed her tightly. “You see to the heart of the matter. I can never lose you. It’s official.”

Isabella stifled a yawn. “You flatter me.”

“Apparently I bore you.” He chuckled.

“So sleepy. Long week.” She could barely finish her thoughts.

“Rest so we can have play on the beach all day tomorrow.” Then he rubbed his hand up and down her arm while she fell asleep.

***

He didn’t exaggerate. The Cape was everything he promised and they stayed outside all day. On their private beach they were able to converse, relax, and spread out. Rather than waste time grocery shopping for the two days they’d be there, they agreed to eat out or order in. Breakfast was a Starbuck’s run while lunch was pizza delivery. By now, everyone had grown used to Isabella and Gabriel’s devotion to each other, but his friends were mostly still amazed. Ben quickly became Isabella’s favorite. They bonded while Gabriel threw a Frisbee with the rest of the group.

“What have you done to our friend?” Ben asked teasingly.

“I’m not sure what you mean.” Isabella’s brow furrowed.

“Well, he used to be a babe magnet, but now that he shows himself to be so obviously taken, no one even looks our way,” Ben explained.

Isabella blushed. “This is how he has always been with me. I’ve never seen him look at another woman, or flirt for that matter.”

“Of course, you would know,” Ben added, “since he never lets you out of his sight.” Isabella blushed. Even now, Gabriel kept looking over at them. She smiled reassuringly in his direction. Ben continued. “I’ve never seen him like this before. Take it as a huge compliment.”

“I would, if I knew what I had done to deserve it. He spoils me, and the kids.”

“Kids?” Ben asked with a raised eyebrow.

***

Gabriel

Before Isabella could go into details, Gabriel had come over and flopped down on the blanket. He saw Ben’s eyebrow raised and suspected what she had said. “Bella,” he said anxiously, “why don’t you comb the beach over there for some souvenirs.”

“Sure.” She stood and grabbed an empty solo cup. “The kids love shells.”

Gabriel winced at this mention of the children, but Isabella didn’t seem to notice. She already had her back turned as she sauntered toward the water. Ben stared at him, waiting for Gabriel to speak.

“She told you she has children, didn’t she?” He glanced in her direction nervously.

“Yes. How come you didn’t tell us?  Were you afraid we wouldn’t accept her?” He looked hurt, as though he believed Gabriel no longer trusted their friendship.

“No, it is nothing like that. It’s just that...well, you can’t tell
anyone
. I just have to make sure
she
doesn’t.”

“Why?” Ben’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“My father,” he responded seriously. And with that, Gabriel stood and walked over to help Isabella.

***

Isabella

“You know I will be moving into my apartment as soon as we get back,” he remarked the next day as they decided to go off by themselves.

“Yes, it looks like I will be available to decorate for you after all, huh?” Isabella joked. She couldn’t believe that she had once been so scared of her future, so scared of Gabriel expecting her to be around. Yet, he still unnerved her in so many ways, as recently as yesterday even when they were sightseeing.

“If you think we can use that in the apartment, then I’ll buy it.” He held her close. “It will be our first art purchase. We could do that. Pick up some work everywhere we go. We’d have the most amazing collection some day, eh?”

Isabella studied him. He spoke as though they were going to be together always, but Isabella couldn’t see that far into the future. She couldn’t even imagine her children all grown up. She certainly couldn’t imagine where she and Gabriel would be thirty years from now or a mere thirty days from now.

“I don’t know.” Then she excused herself to go to the restroom where she stood for several minutes staring at her reflection and focusing on controlling her breathing.

When she met him once again in the lobby, they left to return to the cottage. Gabriel hadn’t addressed the idea of the art purchase again, but on the way out, she noticed the piece was no longer on display.

The next morning hours before they would depart, Isabella woke to an empty bed. She slipped out of bed and threw a robe over her naked form. The trail of rose petals began next to her feet and she giggled. This time they were a pale pink, demonstrative of his innocent love for her. She followed their meandering trail out of the bedroom, across the living room, then onto the balcony. Gabriel sat there, smiling and waiting for her. He set the newspaper down and walked her to her seat where a familiar silver lidded tray awaited her attention.

Tucking her chair in for her, he said, “I hope you don’t mind. I know we have been eating all of our meals together as a group, but this morning I wanted to keep you all to myself. So I sent the guys out for breakfast.”

“Of course I don’t mind,” Isabella scoffed.

Then Gabriel lifted the lid to the tray and revealed strawberry crepes, and a black velvet box propped against a pink long stemmed rose. Isabella gazed at it, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. She opened the lid, knowing Gabriel expected her to do so. Inside, the most exquisite diamond and platinum bracelet she’d ever seen, rested upon the velvet. The date had been engraved on the heart dangling near the latch.

Isabella’s hand shook as she removed it from the box. She looked to him for assistance, knowing she wouldn’t be able to hook it on her own. Gabriel walked swiftly around the table and latched the bracelet around her delicate wrist. He caressed the tender skin for a moment, then brought her hand to his lips and said earnestly, “I love you, Bella.”

Isabella smiled lovingly at him. “I love you too.” Her stomach quivered as she thought about this generous man who claimed her heart. “Thank you so much for the bracelet.”

“You’re more than welcome, my love. Let’s eat before it’s too cold to enjoy.” He laid a linen napkin across his lap.

After doing the same, Isabella picked up a strawberry and gazed at him a moment before eating it. This man scared her. She loved him more than she ever expected to love any man. She couldn’t imagine life without him and feared the loss of him. Even more important than the gifts of jewelry, clothes, and perfume, he gave her his time, made her heart race, and awakened a need in her she never expected to feel since it had eluded her the first twenty-four years of her life. With a smile, she bit into her first piece of crepe.

Chapter Twelve

Isabella

So, a new routine evolved. They spoke on the phone every night, with Gabriel calling to tuck her in before bed, always saying he wished he were there. At last Isabella was beginning to believe him. He was always so attentive on their trips that she missed his presence. They spent every weekend together, whether in New York or Montreal.

Isabella grew to know Mr. Charmant better, but still had yet to meet his mother. She would have commented on that, but the opportunity never presented itself, since so much living was packed into such a short period of time.

By now, Isabella felt as though she could make this trip in her sleep. Today she did. “Wake up, darling,” Gabriel murmured quietly into her ear.

Stretching, she asked, “Why didn’t you wake me?  I was terrible company this trip.”

“I love watching you sleep. You are going to need it. We have a big weekend planned,” he commented mysteriously.

“Oh no. Nothing wildly extravagant, I hope.” She frowned.

“Not even close,” he answered with a smile. “This weekend, you get to meet my mother.”

Gabriel’s parents, though both in Montreal, lived worlds apart. As elegant and spacious as the Charmant Estate was, his mother’s place was equally as small and dingy. He must have sensed what her reaction would be since, on the drive over the next afternoon, he began telling his mother’s story.

“After my parents divorced, my mother was given a very beautiful apartment in a fine neighborhood. As part of the settlement, my father paid all the bills. The arrangement was to continue as long as my mother remained single. Once she remarried, she was on her own. He took a breath before continuing.

“Well, I’m certain she was very lonely. My father was granted custody of me. She had infrequent visitation. We talked on the phone much more than we ever saw each other. One day she met a man, a very suave man, who no doubt saw the way she lived and believed her to be well off. He courted her feverishly. She grew afraid of losing him. We no longer spoke. She didn’t call me, and never accepted my calls. Instead of having visits at her place, we would meet on occasion after school at a coffee shop for an hour or so.” At this point, Gabriel stopped talking and looked out the window. This period in his life obviously affected him very deeply.

“Okay, so anyway, my father read the paper one morning at breakfast and stormed out of the room, leaving the paper on the table. I could hear him on the phone in the study. He was furious with someone. He was screaming, “You are cut off. Do you hear me?  I’m calling my lawyer, so you best figure out how to pay for all of that yourself. Understand?” I walked over to his place setting, and there it was, a wedding announcement. My mother looked so happy. She had run off and gotten married, had been for over three months by now, during which time my father was still taking care of her bills. I wasn’t even invited to the wedding.

“Her new husband knew nothing about me or her financial situation. As soon as he found out about both, he left her high and dry. She expected my father would start taking care of her again, but obviously, legally, he didn’t have to. She had never really worked, had no skills. Her jobs in the past were more of a hobby than a means for support. So here we are.” Those words not only signaled the end of his story, but their arrival at his mother’s meager dwelling.

“Call her Ava,” he whispered in Isabella’s ear as they climbed the rickety porch to her front door.

His mother seemed to have been expecting them. She shuffled to the door as she heard the steps creak. On first glance, Isabella was surprised to see Ava seemed as weathered as the apartment she lived in, and in almost as much disrepair. Her clothes were shabby and outdated. She stood slightly hunched over, too thin and frail looking for Isabella’s liking, with a head of dull blonde hair, collected in a mass on the top of her head.

As soon as the door opened, Gabriel hugged his mother to his chest warmly. Then he introduced them. “Ava, this is Isabella.” Turning to Isabella he completed the introductions. “Bella, my mother.”

Isabella shook her hand firmly. It was apparent from her wrinkled face and tired eyes, Ava had lived a difficult life. It was also just as apparent she adored her only son as much as Mr. Charmant did.

“Gabriel.” Ava quietly demanded his attention. “I wanted to serve the two of you some tea and pastries. Could you...?”

“Yes, Ava,” he said. “Darling, do you mind?  I’ll only be a minute.” While he hugged her on his way out, he whispered in her ear. “I think she wants to talk to you alone.” Smiling, he vacated the apartment. Now alone, Isabella faced his mother.

“There,” Ava murmured, sitting down in a threadbare Queen Ann chair. “Won’t you have a seat?” She motioned to the sun-faded sofa opposite her.

Isabella sat, but felt as though her every move was being studied. If she didn’t know better, she’d think Ava was part gypsy.

“I don’t read minds,” Ava began slowly, “but I wouldn’t have to in order to see my son is incredibly taken with you.” She looked Isabella over. “I can see why. You are quite attractive.”

Isabella’s brow furrowed as she tried to follow the discussion.

“You are the first woman my son has ever introduced me to.” As soon as Ava spoke the words, she watched Isabella for a reaction.

Isabella leaned back, surprised. Normally, she would try to join in the conversation, but could tell the time for that hadn’t arrived yet. She waited quietly while Ava spoke her mind.

“So, he must want my opinion on something, my insight into this matter of you two. Does he seek my blessing?” Ava tapped her chin with one finger while she considered the question she’d posed. “What do you do, Isabella?  How is it you earn a living?”

“I’m a photographer in the States,” Isabella answered simply.

“Ahh. An honest day’s work. An artist. Of course, my son would expect no less than a creative spirit. I believe he needs that, since business can be so dull. Maybe you are good for him?”

Isabella smiled and let Ava draw her own conclusions.

“So tell me how you met.” Ava leaned forward and propped her chin on her fist while she waited.

“Well, we first ran into each other in the hall at college. It was comical and fun, the way he twirled me around.” Her eyes glazed over as recalled that magical day. “Then that night, I was having dinner and a drink with my best friend. All of a sudden, he was there. We talked and danced. It was absolutely perfect.” She inhaled, letting the feelings wash over her again, remembering the constant butterflies and giddiness she’d experienced back then.

Ava instantly snapped her out of her reverie with a fresh onslaught of questions. “How long have you been together?” “How do you spend your time together?” Isabella held her cool through all of them, until the last hit a nerve. “Have you had sex with my son?”

“Ava!” Isabella exploded sharply. “I refuse to discuss our sex life. You’ll have to trust I’m not trying to trap him with a pregnancy. As a matter of fact, I can take care of my children and myself. I don’t need your son financially. I simply want him to be a part of my life. He treats me extremely well and behaves as though my children are his own.” Ava blinked a few times to hide her surprise while Isabella continued. “I wasn’t looking for him, but I’m overjoyed we’ve found each other. What happens between us, in and out of the bedroom, is our business.” Her rampage finished, she looked Ava directly in the eye, daring her to say something equally offensive.

“Well done, my dear.” Ava clapped while she spoke. “You are patient as well. I have been baiting you for quite some time, but you held your own. Oh, and that assertiveness, able to stick up for yourself. You will need it when dealing with my ex.” She reached down and poured two cups of tea from the chipped teapot on the coffee table.

“So, does Mr. Charmant approve of the kids?” The question hung between them, awaiting a response while the door creaked open.

Before Isabella could answer Ava’s question Gabriel walked in. She couldn’t be sure he had heard any of their conversation, but his stark white face spoke volumes. His enormous eyes were set on Ava, whose jaw immediately snapped shut.

When they rose to leave a short time later, Ava hugged Isabella close. “If it was my blessing he sought by introduction,” she whispered, “he has it.”

Gabriel opened her car door for her, but as she climbed in he said, “I just want to say goodbye to Ava, okay?” Isabella nodded and he strode back to the porch.

The two of them appeared serious for a moment. Ava shook her head continuously. She seemed to be pleading with him. From the distance, Isabella only caught one phrase of the conversation Ava wailed again and again. “Gabriel, don’t repeat my mistakes. Please, don’t repeat my mistakes.”

Isabella had an irrepressible urge to ask what Ava meant, but as they drove away, Gabriel seemed to be brooding over something. Now would obviously not be a good time to bring the subject up. Instead, she concentrated on lifting his foul mood.

“You know how we spent that first night in Florida?” She willed him to recall that night.

“Yes.” Gabriel’s face scrunched up in confusion.

“Well, I’m going to draw us a bath
before
dinner. We can’t have you out of sorts in front of this evening’s guests, whoever they may be.” She leaned over to whisper in his ear. “I’ll even scrub your back.” She winked and was pleased to see his eyes widen. Apparently he remembered Aruba too.

They snuck back into the estate and went directly to Gabriel’s room. He tugged at his goatee and laid back on the bed while Isabella locked the door. Soon enough, she returned to lay beside him and hug him to her chest.

***

Gabriel

Swallowing, he clung to her. Gabriel always knew what to do. In business he was known for being decisive, and those choices he made were rarely wrong. Now, he didn’t know what to do. Ava was right. He was making a huge mistake, taking a great risk, but he didn’t want to give her up. His throat ached and he sniffled his nose. Frustration and fear consumed him. How was he going to fix this without hurting…the people he loved?

“I thought Ava liked me.” Isabella spoke quietly, trying not to intrude on his thoughts. “I didn’t mean to disappoint you so.”

His head whipped around as he looked at her in amazement. “Disappoint me?  You could never disappoint me. Why do you think that?” His hand was around her waist, pulling her closer.

“Well, I heard her say not to make the same mistake she did. I thought she meant in being with me.” She studied his face for a reaction.

“Oh, no,” Gabriel said weakly. “She likes you very much. She says we are beshert. Isn’t that a lovely way to put it?”

Finally, Gabriel brightened. “You know…I put in an offer on a place during the week. This could very well be our last weekend at my father’s house.” His eyes took on a devious look. “What if we skip dinner?  No one even knows we’re here. We can sneak down to the kitchen after.” He nuzzled her neck to help persuade her.

“After what?” She panted distractedly.

“After I show you one of those glorious stages that comes before the big show, as you so delicately put it.” Gabriel pulled his head out of her neck long enough to make eye contact and wink at her. Slowly his hand rubbed up her side until it reached her bra, then he cupped her breast, enjoying the feel of the weight of it in his hand. She still hadn’t responded to his generous offer, so he thought he’d sweeten the pot.

With one hard tug, Gabriel popped the buttons on her shirt, yanked her bra out of the way and leaned down to capture her nipple with his teeth. Careful to apply just the right amount of pressure to excite and not injure, he was pleased to note how her back arched in response.

“You ripped my shirt.” A smiled played at the corner of Isabella’s lips.

He threw his head back and laughed. “Well, you should know, I plan to tear the rest of your clothes off you now too.” He stared at her hard. “Do you have a problem with that?”

Biting her lip, she shook her head. “You did buy me this outfit. I guess you can do with it what you will.” She grinned.

“I’ll buy it again. Hell, I may buy ten of them so if I want to get passionate, I can do it worry-free.” Gabriel was rewarded with a giggle for his audacious claims. He buried his head between her breasts. He grabbed the sides of her bra.

“Wait. You’re not going to destroy the bra, are you?”

Her eyes were narrowed and honed in on his when he glanced up. Gabriel folded his hands on her chest and propped his chin on them. “I hadn’t planned on it. Anything else?” He bit his lip, trying to hide a smile. God, he loved playing with this woman. Taking her silence as an answer, Gabriel moved his hands to her shoulders and began to slide her bra straps down.

“We’re good. I’ll let you know if anything changes.” Looking at her again, he watched as she chewed the side of her cheek.

Crawling up her body, Gabriel waited until they were face to face. “How can you talk at a time like this?”

Isabella smiled at him sweetly. “Oh, I can talk anytime.” She laughed. “Don’t you have something else you’d rather be doing than chastising me?” She cupped her breasts and waggled her eyebrows. He couldn’t help but chuckle at her antics.