Renegade (17 page)

He kissed her forehead. “Come, sweetheart. I don’t know about you, but I’m starved.” Pulling her hand into the curve of his elbow, he led her toward the elevators. It was when he turned his head she noticed he had replaced his hoops with small diamond studs. Even his hair was shorter. It was still long enough to put into a ponytail, but the blunt-cut ends no longer flowed down his back. If he decided to wear it loose, it would touch his broad shoulders.

“You look fabulous, Gabriel.”

He winked at her. “Why, thank you, my love.”

They entered the elevator car, and Gabriel pushed the button for their floor. “I hope you don’t mind that I requested room service for dinner.”

“No, I don’t mind.” And she didn’t. Not now. The
personal services had relaxed her body and her mind wherein her earlier confrontation with Lucas Shelby had been totally exorcised.

Gabriel inserted the card key in the slot to their suite, and opened the door. A large bouquet of snowy-white flowers on the table in the entryway, along with a quartet of lit candles provided an esthetic welcome for Summer.

“How beautiful!”

Gabriel cupped her elbow. “Come.”

He led her into the dining area where two white-jacketed waiters stood ready to serve dinner. The table was set with china, stemware and silver. Several candles and a smaller vase filled with an assortment of white flowers served as the centerpiece.

She was seated, and the next ninety minutes passed in a blur. Summer remembered eating seafood bisque and a crab salad, but not much after her second glass of champagne. The sun had set and the lights of the city shimmered like jewels when the waiters cleared the table and surreptitiously left the suite, as she and Gabriel sat staring at each other.

“Would you like dessert?”

She shook her head, her coiffed hair moving fluidly with the gesture. “No, thank you.”

He pushed a small gold box toward her. She recognized it immediately. The box contained chocolate from Godiva. “I’m allergic to chocolate.”

“I didn’t know you had food allergies.”

“Only chocolate.”

“I’m sorry, Summer.”

“You had no way of knowing.” She smiled. “I bet it’s a truffle.”

He stared at her, unblinking. “Why don’t you open it and find out.”

She picked up the box, untying the elastic band. Her eyes grew wide and filled with tears when she saw the contents. The box fell to the table when she covered her face with trembling fingers.

Gabriel rounded the table, going down on one knee in front of her. Reaching into the box, he removed a ring and slipped it on the third finger of her left hand.

His golden eyes sparkled like the precious jewels on Summer’s delicate hand. “Will you marry me, Miss Summer Montgomery?”

Lowering her head, she pressed her forehead to his. Tears streaked her face as she struggled to bring her fragile emotions under control. All traces of Renegade had fled, leaving only Summer open and vulnerable to the man who had asked her to share his life and his future with him.

She smiled through her tears. “Yes, Mr. Gabriel Cole. I will marry you.”

Light from a nearby floor lamp and the flickering candles on the table caught and fired a two-carat brilliant cut diamond ring with a pave diamond band. It was a perfect fit.

“How did you know my ring size?”

“The manager at the spa called and told me.”

“I wondered why they’d asked for my ring size along with my other vital statistics.” She kissed his mouth. “Even though you were quite clever and used a deceptive method, I think I’m going to keep you.”

He kissed her, his tongue tracing the outline of her mouth. “You better keep me, sweetheart, because we’re in this for the duration.”

“When do you want to announce the news to our families?”

“Tomorrow,” he whispered against her mouth. “Because tonight I think we’re going to be too busy celebrating to talk to anyone.”

Curving her arms around his neck, Summer closed her eyes when Gabriel stood up and carried her through the living room and into their bedroom.

She lay motionless, eyes closed, as he undressed her, and then himself. It was only when he moved over her that she opened her eyes, her legs, and her heart to let him in.

Her magical trip ended when she breathed the last sigh of her release into his mouth; she had given Gabriel all of herself, holding nothing back. He, unknowingly, had stripped away her defenses leaving her naked for a pain only he could inflict.

They slept, arms entwined, bodies joined. They woke at dawn to revive the passion that refused to burn out, and when Summer cried out her awesome climax she knew she was not the same woman who had driven from Whitman to Cotuit seeking the comforting warmth of Gabriel’s love and protection.

Eighteen

Gabriel’s phone rang incessantly throughout the day and evening. He had called his parents with the news that Summer had accepted his proposal of marriage, and an hour later congratulatory calls came from Florida, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Brazil.

Summer also called her grandmother, telling her that she planned to marry her very nice young man the following summer. The sound of Virginia Brown’s sobbing was too much for her, and she hung up. Waiting twenty minutes, she called Gram back. This time grandmother and granddaughter were less emotional. The call ended with Virginia promising she would write her daughter and son-in-law in South Africa with the news that her baby girl was going to become a married woman. Just before she hung up she told Summer it was time her parents acted like parents and come home to reconnect with their daughter.

Summer went to sit on the porch after her call to St. Louis. A biting wind searched through the fibers of her bulky sweater, chilling her. The daytime temperature was dropping quickly. In five days it would be the end of the month and Halloween, and with the advent of November, winter would descend upon New England.

She thought about the Halloween Ball that was to be held at the high school. School officials had decided to host the dance to keep the youth off the streets and out of trouble with pranks that sometime resulted in police arrests. At least on school property, they would be monitored.

The screen door opened and closed with a soft click. Glancing up, she saw Gabriel balancing two mugs filled with a steaming liquid. He smiled at her. “One latté for the pretty lady, and a hot chocolate for her man.”

He sat down beside her on the love seat, and she leaned into him, sharing his body heat. “It’s getting cold.”

Gabriel nodded. “This will be my first full winter here.”

“Does the cold weather bother you?”

“No. If it gets too cold I’ll turn up the heat or put on another blanket on the bed.” He stared at her enchanting profile. “Were you cold last night?”

She smiled. “Not with you beside me. You’re like a thermal blanket.”

“Didn’t I tell you that you make me hot?”

“Stop it, Gabriel.”

He peered closely at her. “Are you blushing, baby?”

She turned her head rather than let him see her expression. “No.”

The cries of circling seagulls caught their attention. Then a comfortable silence descended as they sipped their beverages.

Gabriel broke the silence. “Why don’t you move in with me?”

Summer felt her heart stop, then start up again. “I can’t do that.”

“Why not? You could save money not paying rent.”

“It’s not about money.” What she wanted to tell him was that she did not pay rent on her apartment. That had become the responsibility of her employer. And she had to be available to Lucas whenever he wanted a face-to-face meeting. She didn’t think Gabriel would appreciate a strange man coming to see her at his home.

“Then, what is it about?” His voice was soft, non-confrontational.

“It’s about tradition, Gabriel. Despite the fact I’m sleeping with you before becoming your wife, I’m still a very traditional woman. I believe in dating, falling in love, getting engaged, marrying, and having children in that order. So far, we’re doing all of the right things. Moving in with you would not be the right thing. What I am willing to do is spend some weekends here with you.”

He curved an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer. “You can’t blame me for asking, can you?”

She smiled up at him. “No.” She regarded him for several seconds. “Have you decided what costume you’re going to wear to the Halloween Ball?”

“Not really. I have so many black clothes in my wardrobe that I should come as Dracula. All I need is a pair of fangs. What about yourself?”

Summer shook her head. “I’m drawing a blank, too. I should ask Desiree for a pair of bellbottoms, some love beads and … wait a minute. I just got an idea. Maybe I’ll come as a sixties radical: Afro, dashiki, platform shoes and a peace medallion around my neck.” She made a
V
sign with her first and second finger. “Peace out, my brother.”

Gabriel chuckled. “Why don’t you go as Tina
Turner. After all, you did “You Better Be Good to Me” as well as or better than Tina herself.”

“Then, that’s it. I’ll be Tina. What about you?”

“I’m leaning toward Jimi Hendrix, but I doubt if the kids will know who he was.”

“I disagree,” Summer argued. “Look at Robyn Phillips singing Aretha’s songs. The girl’s only sixteen, yet she knew the words to “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man.” And where do you think she was first exposed to Aretha? It had to be at home. These kids know more than just rap and hip-hop.”

“You’re right. I grew up listening to my parents’ music, even though I thought it was lame at the time.”

“You know that everything that’s old is new again. Especially with hip-hop artists sampling old songs and melodies.”

Summer and Gabriel sat on the porch talking about music and performers until a frigid wind coming off the water made them retreat indoors. They went into the family room, lit a fire in the fireplace, lay on the rug and talked about what they wanted for themselves and the children they hoped to have.

A large silver ball, suspended from the ceiling in the gymnasium reflected the many colors of flashing lights. Hundreds of orange and black helium-filled balloons were cradled in a net next to the rotating ball. At exactly eleven o’clock the balloons would be released from the net, signaling the end of Weir Memorial’s first annual Halloween Ball.

Summer arrived with Gabriel, having had to endure his ribald comments about her legs in a short skirt and
four-inch heels. The moment she put on a frosted-blond wig she had become Tina.

Gabriel had become a reincarnation of Jimi once he donned a fringed vest, black hip-hugging leather pants, boots, colorful beads, and a tie-dyed T-shirt. Summer had styled his hair with her fingers after he had washed it. Thick waves gave his hair the body she needed to make it stand up in a modified Afro hairdo.

Faculty and staff were instructed to arrive at seven, an hour before the students, for a briefing. Dumas Gellis had met with school security to remind them that only Weir students were permitted admission, and that bags would be searched and anything alcoholic would be confiscated. Caterers would serve food and nonalcoholic drinks.

Principal Patricia Cookman, who gave Dumas Gellis the responsibility of direct oversight of her school, made a rare appearance. Most times she preferred sitting in her office behind closed doors to interacting with her faculty, staff and students.

Summer saw her as a middle-aged, nondescript woman with unflattering straight brown hair and dispassionate blue eyes. Miss Cookman had earned her reputation as an expert on curriculum. She believed students needed more than academics, which had led her to apply for and secure the cultural arts grant.

The principal’s cold stare swept over her teachers and staff, the lines bracketing her mouth deepening. She would have preferred if they had not come in costume. She had agreed to hold the Halloween dance not for the adults’ entertainment but the students.

“Weir is taking a big risk tonight by hosting this affair, but I’m willing to take the risk when we consider the alternatives of our children breaking the law when
they do things they consider childish pranks.” Her inflection with the flat A’s identified her as a Midwesterner. “Turning over headstones and desecrating graves is a crime, and because my goal is to keep young adults in school and out of jail I fully support this undertaking. I thank you in advance for volunteering your time. Good night.”

That said, she turned and walked out of the gymnasium. There was a pregnant silence from the assembled as they stared at one another.

“It’s two months into the school year, and the old bat comes out of her cave for the first time on Halloween,” mumbled a man behind Summer.

Dumas clapped his hands once. “I hope everyone remembers their assignments for monitoring the halls and checking bathrooms. I have security personnel stationed on every floor by the stairwells, so if you see something that’s not correct, please alert them.” He smiled. “Let’s party, people.”

Summer met Gabriel’s gaze, then glanced away. Even though she wore his engagement ring, they had agreed to keep their liaison private. She looked for Desiree, and seeing her talking to one of the math teachers, she headed in her direction.

“Summer?”

Stopping, she turned to find Dumas bearing down on her. He had come as a pirate: eye patch, earring, pantaloons, boots and a wooden sword in a leather scabbard.

“Yes, Dumas.”

“Tina Turner?”

She nodded, smiling. “Yes.”

His dark eyes roamed over her body, lingering on her legs in the high heels. “I wanted to congratulate you on
your engagement.” He caught her left hand, examining the ring. “That must have cost someone at least a year’s salary. I know he can’t be one of our teachers.”

“He isn’t.” Gabriel wasn’t a teacher, but a musician.

“It’s beautiful.”

“Thank you, Dumas.” She tried pulling her hand away, but he tightened his grip. “Please let go of my hand.”

“Who’s the lucky man?”

“I’d rather not say. Now, I’m going to ask you once again to let go of my hand.”

He leaned closer. “Or what, Summer?”

The odor of stale tobacco on his breath threatened to make her sick. Even if she had not fallen in love with Gabriel, she never would’ve dated Dumas because he smoked. What she could not understand was that he was coming onto her in the workplace with dozens of witnesses.

A smile trembled over her lips. “I will knee you in your groin.” She had enunciated each word so he would not misconstrue her intent.

Dumas dropped her hand. His face was marked with a loathing that unnerved her. Within seconds, his expression of desire had changed to hate.

It had ended as quickly as it had begun. Nodding, he turned and walked away, leaving Summer staring at his back. She wasn’t aware that Gabriel had witnessed Dumas holding her hand, and when she met his gaze his dark face was set in a vicious expression.

The students poured into the school at eight and the partying began in earnest. Music blared from the massive speakers set up by the hired DJ and his crew. Most
had lined up at the food and beverage tables, getting their “eat on” before dancing.

The costumes ranged from the ridiculous to the predictable witch, nurse, nun, skeleton, soldier, and vampire. Celebrities, past and present, were well represented: Michael Jackson, Elvis, Prince, Madonna, James Brown, Marilyn Monroe, Alice Cooper, Little Richard, Bob Marley, and Kiss. It was apparent many of the students had raided their parents’ attics for the vintage clothing.

The clothes may have been vintage, but the music was contemporary. Glancing at her watch, Summer headed out of the gym to monitor the second floor girls’ bathrooms.

She winked at Gabriel dancing with Desiree as she wound her way through the throng eating, dancing, or standing around talking in small groups.

“Nice outfit, Miss Monty.”

She smiled at a boy who had auditioned for her. “Thanks, Billy.” Most of the students had shortened her name to Monty because they said Montgomery took too long to say.

She headed for the stairwell, and climbed the staircase to the second floor. Her heels made click-clacking sounds on the waxed tiles. Each floor contained four bathrooms: two for girls and two for boys. She knocked on the door of the first one, pushing open the door. Two girls stood in front of a mirror applying kohl to their eyes.

“We’re vampires,” they said in unison.

Summer smiled. “I know.”

She rapped on a stall door, then pushed on it. It was locked. “Anyone in there?” There was no answer. “Did you see anyone go in here?” she asked the girls.

“No.”

“Not me.”

Sighing, she went into a neighboring stall, stood on the edge of the toilet, and peered into the locked one. It was empty. She checked the remaining stall, and it, too, was empty.

“Let’s go, ladies. Do your business and leave.”

They put away their makeup, then left, teetering on incredibly high heels, their wispy black dresses fluttering around them like bat wings.

Summer followed them, making her way down the hall to the next bathroom. She stopped short when she heard loud voices coming from the boy’s bathroom. Moving closer to the door, she listened intently. The voices were lower, and she took a step, but stopped again when she heard someone moaning in pain.

Reacting quickly, she braced her hands on the door, pushing it open. The scene that greeted her stopped Summer in her tracks. Dumas Gellis’s right hand gripped a boy’s throat as he pressed him against a wall. She would never forget the fear in the kid’s eyes as he pleaded with Dumas to let him go.

“I’ll get it for you, Mr. Gellis. I swear I will.”

Summer had seen enough. “Let him go, Dumas.”

Dumas’s head spun around, and when he stared at her, Summer saw the simmering rage in his gaze. “Get the hell out of here and mind your business, Miss Montgomery.”

She shook her head. “I’m not leaving until you let him go.”

“Please, Mr. Gellis,” the boy pleaded. His face was drenched with his tears.

Summer moved closer, her hands tightening into fists. She measured how close she could get to him to
land a well-aimed kick to the back of his knees. She had to remember Dumas was a former athlete who had played semi-pro football. He was tall, large
and
strong.

She blinked and before she could blink again Dumas had released the boy, who ran out the bathroom, nearly knocking her down in his haste to escape.

Summer and Dumas stared at each other in what had become a face-off. “If that kid tells his parents that you put your hands on him you know the consequences.”

One corner of his mouth twisted upward. “He’s not going to tell his parents a damn thing, Miss Montgomery. Do you know why?

“Why?”

“Because I believe he’s been dealing drugs at Weir. I’ve been watching him for a long time.”