Letters to Gabriella

by Patricia Paris

  “You ran into Blake at the drugstore before you came for dinner?” Delaney asked.

  “Yes. I mean no. I mean, I thought it was Blake.”

  “It was me,” Justin said.

  “Well yes,” Gab agreed, “I realize that now, and I…you seemed nice and I…but then that woman…and well…then I came to dinner and thought…”

  She looked at Blake with a plea in her eyes, hoping he would understand. “I didn’t like you very much. In fact, I thought you were a colossal jerk, but I didn’t know you weren’t him, and he was…” She pushed her hands through her hair. “Oh, this is a mess.”

  Blake looked at Justin and started to laugh.

  “What the hell’s so funny?” Justin asked.

  “I think I see the light.” Blake’s amber eyes twinkled, and Gab got the impression he found the situation extremely amusing.

  “What light?” Delaney looked from Gab to Blake to Justin. “Would someone please explain what this is all about?”

  “I think my brother’s charm backfired on him.” Blake hiked a brow at Gab. “And you were caught with torn loyalties. Am I right?”

  “I guess you could say that. Can you forgive me for the way I treated you?”

  Blake grinned. “No problem. It won’t be the first time I had to clean up after one of Justin’s messes.”

  “What mess?” Justin asked, not looking too happy.

  “I thought you were—” Gab smiled at Blake. “I mean I thought Blake was—” She looked at Delaney. “I hope you won’t be upset I didn’t say anything, but I thought Blake was cheating on you.”

  Delaney gaped for a moment, then, turning to Justin, she punched him on the arm. “What did you do to her?”

  Justin stepped back. “I didn’t do anything. I never got the chance.”

  Blake laughed harder. Delaney glared at him.

  “Look, all I did was try to meet the woman. How the hell was I supposed to know she’d think I was Blake? It’s not like the first thing out of my mouth when I’m trying to meet someone is Hi, I’ve got an identical twin, so if you meet someone that looks just like me, don’t hold it against me, or him.”

  Gwen picked that moment to walk up and join the group. “Hey, everyone.” She made her way to Justin’s side and looked up. “Justin, right?”

  He shook his head. “Over there.” He pointed to Blake.

  Delaney put her arm around Blake’s waist.

  Gwen looked between the two brothers. “Come on you two, quit teasing me. Which one of you is really Justin?”

  Justin ‘fessed up. “I am, Gwen.”

  She sidled back up to him. “Think you could spare some time to take an old friend out in that sailboat?” She hitched her head toward Blake’s twenty-seven footer.

  “Sorry, Gwen. My brother’s real particular about who he lets take her out, and besides—” He moved away from her and over to stand beside Gab. “I’m committed for the rest of the day.”

  Gwen looked at Gab and then back to Justin. “Oh.” She frowned and then shrugged. “Have fun then,” she said breezily, and then traipsed off in search of someone else to talk to.

  Justin fixed Gabriella with a warm gaze. “Think we might be able to start over?”

  She nodded.

  He reached out and took her hand. “Name’s Justin, and I think you’re just about the prettiest thing I’ve ever laid eyes on.”

  “I think this is our cue to leave.” Blake took Delaney by the elbow and steered her toward a bench.

  Gab’s lips twitched with a grin. She couldn’t help herself. “Mine’s Gabriella, and you’re not so bad yourself.”

  His eyes sparkled golden humor, and she started to laugh.

  “I feel like a fool.” She ducked her head, a thread of embarrassment remaining.

  “Really?” Justin kept her hand in his, and as they started to walk across the lawn, he said, “I’ve always had an incurable fascination with people who say they feel like a fool, especially beautiful, intriguing, elusive ones. Makes me want to find out why.”

  AFTERNOON TURNED into evening, and as the sun went down, everyone found a spot to settle in to enjoy the fireworks show Blake was preparing to set off down by the water. The kids were jumping around and twirling sparklers. Girlish laughter and squeals of delight over being allowed to play outside so late, mingled with boyish taunts of butt-head, poopy-face, and a few fart jokes.

  Justin looked at Gabriella and she rolled her eyes. “What is it with boys and all things gross?”

  Justin shrugged. “Just goes with the territory.”

  “I’m so glad I’ve got a girl.”

  He chuckled. “Let’s see if you still feel that way in seven or eight years.”

  “Not even going to think about that right now.”

  He leaned back on the grass where they were sitting and rested on his elbows. From this perspective he could look at her all he wanted without being obvious. He loved the shape of her head. It was a bizarre realization. He’d never in his thirty-four years thought about the shape of a woman’s head, but hers fascinated him. The short pixie style framed it to perfection. He had a weird urge to rub his hands over her crown and mold them around it just because it intrigued him so much. He’d like to run his hands over a lot more than her head, but they hadn’t even gotten to the kissing stage yet. He hoped, though, that they might cross that threshold before the day ended.

  Gabriella half-turned and looked back at him. “I’m going to get something to drink before the show gets started. Save my place?”

  Justin pushed up and stood in front of her. “I’ll get something, too.” He reached down and she took his hand. He pulled her up with little effort, already feeling an easy comfort with her.

  “This is a great house,” she said when they reached the patio. “There’s just something about older homes I find so appealing.”

  “It’s been in our family for three generations. My grandparents were the original owners, then my parents, and now Blake’s raising his family here.”

  “That’s nice. You don’t find that much anymore.”

  “Did you get the fifty-cent tour yet?”

  Gabriella shook her head. “I’ve only seen the living room and kitchen. When I came for dinner a couple of weeks ago, we ate outside.”

  “Come on.” He rested his hand against the back of her waist and steered her through the door. “I’ll show you around. We’ll get the drinks on the way out.”

  The last room he showed her on the second floor was the one that had been his growing up. He opened the door and ushered her in. “This is where I used to stash all my old Playboys and fantasize about kissing Cindy Johnson when I was a freshman in high school.”

  She arched one perfect eyebrow. “Your childhood sweetheart?”

  “I had a crush on her the size of Texas, Blake and me both.”

  “Oh no, that must have been awkward. Which one of you got the girl?”

  “Neither. She was a senior and never gave us the time of day. Just about every guy I knew made a fool of himself over her on a fairly regular basis, me included.”

  “Let me guess, she was dating the quarterback of the football team.”

  “Actually, she had a thing for the president of the chess club. He was a quiet loner with long black hair who stuck to himself and usually had his nose in a book. If you ask me, he always looked like he was sulking about something.” He glanced down at her and shook his head. “I never saw the attraction. And it was weird because the guy was a chick magnet. He’d walk down the hall, and they’d all go goofy over him.”

  “Ahh.” Gab nodded. “The suffering artistic type. A lot of women go for them.”

  Justin pulled a frown. “Please tell me you’re not one of them. I can manage a painting if it has numbers to follow, but the only poems I can think of involve chugging beer or naked women.”

  She threw him an adorable glance and laughed. “I’m not one of them,” she said to his relief, and then turned to take in the r
oom.

  “Blake and Delaney are going to turn this into a nursery for their daughter,” Justin said.

  “It’ll make a great nursery, nice and bright. That should make it cheerful.”

  “That’s the same thing Delaney says. I just hope they don’t paint it pink. It’s hard enough to think my old cave is going to be converted into a little girl’s room with baby dolls and lacey things all over the place.”

  “What, you don’t like lacey things?”

  Justin quirked his lips and set his hands on her waist, inching her toward him. “Well now, that depends on what we’re talking about.”

  She looked suddenly embarrassed. “I guess that sounded suggestive. I didn’t mean it to be.”

  He slid the other hand up her back and saw her swallow. He was itching to kiss her, and since she wasn’t making any move to step away, he saw no reason not to.

  “I did.” He lowered his head to cover her lips with his. She didn’t resist. There was a brief moment when he felt her stiffen, but he thought it was more from the initial contact than anything else.

  Justin brought her a little closer and got that quick rush of excitement that always made him want more. Oh yeah, he wanted more. He angled his mouth again, seeking out her tongue. It was a sweet meeting of heat and desire he couldn’t mistake, and her response almost made him groan out loud.

  “I’ve been wondering what this would be like since the first time I saw you.” He backed her up against the door frame and leaned into her. “I sure am glad I finally get to satisfy my curiosity.” He captured her mouth again for another, longer taste. His hips wanted to get into the action and as hard as he tried to control the urge, they had a mind of their own. He moved against her and felt her breathing pick up, sensing her desire growing apace with his.

  “Oh, damn!”

  Gabriella jumped and Justin jerked away from her, both of them turning at the same time to see Blake standing in the hallway.

  “Didn’t realize anyone was up here.” He held up a fire starter. “Just need to get another one of these from the bedroom. This one petered out.” Blake darted Justin a quick glance and wiggled his eyebrows before continuing down the hall to the master.

  Gabriella slid out of Justin’s reach and ran her fingers through her hair, looking thoroughly embarrassed.

  Blake came back down the hall. “I’m getting ready to set off the fireworks now, in case you’re interested.” He grinned at Justin as he passed by. Gabriella avoided looking at either one of them.

  “Probably won’t be as good as the ones going off up here, though,” Blake threw back over his shoulder as he started down the stairs.

  “That may have been one of the most awkward moments of my life.” Gabriella’s cheeks blushed a definite shade of pink. “I don’t even want to imagine what your brother’s thinking right now.”

  “My guess is he’s probably wondering what took me so long to get you off to myself somewhere so I could steal a few kisses.” Justin reached out and hooked her chin, angling her face up to his. “I sure am glad you got thirsty out there. I’ve been racking my brain all day trying to figure out how to accomplish it.”

  “No you haven’t.” A smile flirted across her full, tempting mouth.

  “Don’t bet on it.”

  She caught the corner of her lower lip between her teeth and eyed him as if she couldn’t be sure if he was serious or teasing.

  “We should get back outside.” She was already moving toward the stairs. “I’d like to see the fireworks, and if Chloe notices I’m gone, she’ll wonder where I am.”

  Justin followed her out, the fire in his blood warming him more than the humid July air. She’d given him a taste of paradise, but it stirred a need in him that demanded much more.

  SHORTLY AFTER Gab carried a sleeping Chloe up to bed later that night, she sat out on her back porch with a glass of wine and watched the endless play of shadows ripple across the water.

  They hadn’t gotten home until almost eleven, long past Chloe’s bedtime, but Gab was happy her daughter had made some new friends and had such an exciting day.

  Her day had been rather exciting as well, although she still wasn’t sure how she felt about all of it. What a shock it had been to discover Blake had a twin, and that Delaney’s husband wasn’t the two-timing jerk she’d thought he was. And although she was hugely relieved for her friend, Gab was also relieved for herself. She couldn’t deny she’d been attracted to Justin the first couple of times she’d seen him. Even after meeting Blake, and thinking he was her lion, and not wanting anything to do with him, she hadn’t been able to forget the rumblings of desire she’d felt when she’d looked into those tempting golden eyes at the drugstore.

  She wasn’t sure when, or if, she had ever felt such a strong physical pull to a man before. There was just something about Justin that made her knees go weak. Yeah, the man was drop-dead gorgeous, but she’d seen gorgeous men before and hadn’t felt attracted to them.

  Gab took a sip of wine. The man could kiss! He was so good at it he could probably set up one of those kiosks in a mall, charge a dollar a smooch, three for a little tongue action mixed in, and make a fortune at it. He’d done a pretty thorough job of turning her into a raging river of hormones with those lips. What did she do about it now, though? After being interrupted by his brother, which she was still mortified about, they’d gone back out and watched the fireworks. Justin had asked for her number and she’d given it to him, but he hadn’t asked if she wanted to go out anytime soon.

  We weren’t even on a date, and I let the man kiss me like that! Forget what Blake must think. What did Justin think? Not that she was a prude, she wasn’t, but neither was she in the habit of making out like a horny teenager with a guy she’d just met. Well, she’d sort of met him before, but she couldn’t really count the other two times, and this time was completely accidental. They just happened to show up at the same barbecue…and then spent ten minutes in his old bedroom panting all over each other.

  It had been amazing, though. And if he was able to make her feel that good, that fast, with only a few kisses, she was in big trouble if they ever did go out together. Sin…Justin Morrison was pure sin.

  Gab liked him, though, and he seemed like a decent guy despite her earlier notions. He’d played softball with the kids, and after Blake set off fireworks, Justin had rounded the kids up again to do more sparklers. It had been fun watching them all running around in circles and spelling out their names with the glowing sticks. The kids all loved him. Gab thought that said a lot about the kind of person he was.

  Justin and Blake teased each other relentlessly, but she could tell they were very close, and Justin seemed close to Delaney and Ben as well. And they were all so down to earth. Gab wasn’t used to that. People weren’t as friendly where she came from, and there were expectations. The Forellis were family, but even they had expectations, maybe more than others.

  She hadn’t counted, but there had to have been close to a hundred people at the barbecue. The Morrison boys had a lot of friends, and those she’d had a chance to meet had been very welcoming. Gab had picked up a real sense of community that she liked and hoped to become part of. It would be great for Chloe to grow up in a place like this, a place where people seemed to look out for each other. It wasn’t that she thought things couldn’t, or didn’t happen here just like they did everywhere else. She wasn’t naïve, but still, Glebe Point was different.

  It would be too rural for a lot of people; they’d want to be closer to the action. But as far as she was concerned, it was special, and she hoped the rest of the world remained oblivious to its charm.

  A heron’s croak sounded in the night, and Gab was able to make out the dark shape as it flew low over the marsh. She took another sip of wine, letting her mind wander where it would. It took her right back to thoughts of Justin. She sighed. Considering they hadn’t even known who the other was until that afternoon, was she foolish to think the time they’d spent together at
the barbecue had been the start of something more to come?

  JUSTIN TOOK a break from his work around noon on Wednesday and walked down the street to get lunch at Mosey’s. He snagged a window booth and then pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and called up Gabriella’s number.

  “What’s your pleasure, handsome?”

  “Let me have a turkey club and a cup of clam chowder, sweetheart,” Justin told Molly, one of the waitresses who’d worked there since he was a kid.

  “You got it, Blake.” She started removing the plates and glasses still on the table from the prior customers.

  “It’s Justin, Molly.”

  She gave him a look and frowned. “Guess you two will be up to your old tricks now that you’ve moved back.”

  Justin gave her an amused grin. “Come on, Mol, you don’t think my brother and I would try to pull anything over on anyone anymore, do you?”

  She put a hand on her hip. “I don’t care how old you boys get, you’ll always be scamps. I just hope you don’t go getting all the single ladies stirred up again. Things have been almost peaceful since Blake settled down and married that sweet wife of his.

  Justin laughed. “If I can’t have you, I don’t want any of ‘em.”

  Molly hit him over her head with her order pad. “Just like I said, a scamp!” She went to place his order, and Justin leaned back against the booth and called Gabriella’s number back up. He placed the call, looking out the window as he waited for an answer. He hadn’t talked to her since the barbecue on Saturday, but he’d thought about her a lot, and he was anxious to see her again.

  “Hey, gorgeous,” he said when she answered. “Make my dreams come true and say you’ll go out with me Friday night.”

  “Who is this?”

  Justin frowned. Not the answer he hoped for. He cleared his throat. “It’s Justin. Remember me?” he asked, with a hint of sarcasm. “The guy you locked lips with at the Fourth of July barbecue?”

  He heard her chuckle. “I knew it was you, Justin.”