Second Chances (70 page)

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

“I’m not sure what you mean,” Isabella said honestly.

“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 shook her head in disbelief.  “I’ve just 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.

Before Isabella could go into details, Gabriel had come over for a drink.  He saw Ben’s eyebrow raised and wondered what was being said.  “Bella,” he said anxiously, “why don’t you comb the beach over there for some souvenirs.”

“Sure,” she said, recognizing that he wanted to be alone with Ben for a moment.  “The kids love shells.”

Gabriel winced at this mention of the children, but Isabella didn’t 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 asks 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.

They returned from the beach late afternoon.  Everyone planned to go upstairs to rest again before meeting for another late dinner and dancing.  Gabriel, however, had other plans. 

“Time for a shower,” he said.  “We are both covered in sand.  Then I have a surprise.”

Isabella had learned to never question his surprises.  They were always worth the wait.  Following a sensual shower, where Gabriel insisted on washing her hair and scrubbing her back, they dressed in casual wear.  They arrived at Pao de Acucar just before sunset. They rode the cable cars to the top and back, admiring the sparkle of the city lights down below.  Then they rushed back to the hotel guiltily, like two kids breaking curfew.

“I just wanted you all to myself for a little while, okay?”  Gabriel asked, begging her to pardon his actions once they had returned to their room.  They were lying on the bed, propped on their sides, facing each other.

“I understand,” Isabella began slowly, “but I want you to be careful.”

“How do you mean?”  Gabriel seemed genuinely confused.

“Well, this was supposed to be a trip for you and your friends, right?”  Her eyes penetrated his as she questioned him.

“Yes,” he said slowly.

“I don’t want to be accused of taking you away from them.  We
have all the time in the world, remember?  In every sense.  I love you, and I love spending time with you, but let’s include them as well.”  Gabriel looked doubtful and she knew exactly what he must be thinking.  “Even Sebastian,” she said resolutely.

Gabriel sighed.  “I hate when you are right.”  He glanced at his watch.  “Well, no rest for the wicked.  Come on; let’s get ready to meet them.”

Isabella had grown increasingly more comfortable regarding sharing a bathroom with Gabriel.  She no longer locked him out as she once did, but instead left the door unlocked or wide open invitingly.  They always seemed to have a double vanity sink and lots of counter space for them to both to get ready at the same time.  Inevitably, Gabriel readied himself in seconds and simply stood
there leaning against a wall, admiring Isabella as she completed her preparations.  Even this she had grown accustomed to.  In the past she would stop what she was doing and blush, or beg him to stop because he was making her nervous.  Now, however, she found some way to make him useful while he stood there gazing at her lovingly.

“So, do you recognize this dress?”  She asked, testing his memory.

Gabriel stroked his chin.  “This can’t be the dress that I bought you in Aruba.  You look even better in it now than you did then.”  He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist while bending low to sniff her neck appreciatively.  “So, want help with the jewelry?”

He loved putting necklaces on her.  It gave him an excuse to stroke and kiss her neck.  “There,” he said admiringly, after affixing the necklace.  “You look perfect.”

Isabella turned to face him.  She dropped her head slightly and murmured, “I’m not perfect, Gabriel.  Don’t ever think that.”

He raised her chin, kissed her lips lovingly.  “Don’t say that.  You are perfect for me.”

Dinner that night amounted to nothing heavier than hors d’oeuvres.  Everyone had lost
their appetite while hanging out in the sun.  This night they crowded into one of the plush circular booths of the Cipriani Bar, and found the seating as crowded as their tiny round cocktail table, once all of their drink order had been delivered.

Tonight, Isabella felt more relaxed because she found herself neatly sandwiched in between Gabriel and Ben.  They all chattered happily about their day.  Gabriel even divulged their secret rendez-vous.

“We went up the cable cars and watched the sunset,” he said contritely. 

“Don’t feel bad about it, Gabe,” Matty responded genially.  “I would rather nap than watch the sunset.  Don’t you agree?”  He asked, gesturing to the rest of the group.  They all nodded in accord.

“Well,” Gabriel said, reaching over and grabbing Isabella’s hand.  “Bella has convinced me that it isn’t proper etiquette to leave the rest of you out.  No more sneaking out alone.  On our honor.”  He raised his hand in a Boy Scout promise.

“Like you were ever a boy scout,” Isabella murmured under her breath.

“So, who wants to join us in the botanical gardens tomorrow?”  He surveyed the table.  The guys were sitting perfectly still.  Isabella bit her lip to keep from laughing.  “No one?  Okay, now, how about the art museum the next day?”  Again, no hands were raised.  He looked at Isabella and shrugged.

“What has happened to you, man?”  Sebastian asked in dismay.  “Art museums?  Botanical gardens?  What happened to the fun loving guy who could party half the night, attract every girl in sight, and go home with the pick of the litter?  Then, after a brief rest and some sun time, you would be ready to repeat all over again?”  He stopped, turned his gaze to Isabella and said accusingly, “I blame you.”

Everyone watched expectantly.  Isabella could feel Gabriel ready to spring to her rescue, but she didn’t need assistance.  She raised her glass to Sebastian.  “I think that is quite possibly the nicest thing you have ever said to me.  Thank you.”  Then she took a healthy drink and set the empty glass down with a gentle thump.  Immediately the looks of expectancy changed to admiration.  Isabella had handled Sebastian beautifully.

The next few days went incredibly smoothly.  Now that everyone in the party had accepted that Isabella and Gabriel were devoted to each other and weren’t likely to be tempted by anyone around them, they moved on and decided to actually work on picking up women of their own.  They didn’t begrudge the couple their time together on their little outings.

They barely missed them the next day when the two left following breakfast to walk the Jardim Botanico.  Isabella and Gabriel returned around lunch time spouting on about some Amazon section and palm trees, but mostly about their time at the lake filled with amazing water lilies.  Naturally, they left out the romantic “stuff.”  They didn’t tell anyone how Gabriel pulled her dangerously close, ran his fingers down her face, and neck, then buried his head there and promised her a garden of her own some day.

“Don’t make me promises,” she pleaded.  “I can’t stand broken promises.  You can’t possibly make me such a pledge anyway.”

“Why not?”  He asked seriously.

“Because...because I’ll want to believe it.”

“Then do,” he said earnestly.

And the following day, when they strolled through Museu Nacional de Belas Artes, they reported back about the amazing art work.  They discussed endlessly the vivid colors used, the talented artists that lived in Brazil.  They spoke of impressionist work, of landscapes, of pottery and sculpture, but they failed to mention the latest terrifying promise Gabriel made.