by Mysti Parker
“He’s beautiful,” she said.
“Very. He has a beautiful soul too. I think that’s why he likes you.”
She smiled. “Is anyone staying with you tonight?”
“No, it’s just me. You should go on home.”
“I have a better idea. I’ll stay here and keep you company.”
“Oh no, I can’t let you do that.”
“I want to. Really.”
“Who am I to argue with Harper Wheeler?” Gabriel stood and held out his hand. She took it. He led her to the sink, where they washed her hands. “Lepto can be contagious. Wash thoroughly and use sanitizer afterwards.”
“Yes, sir.”
He dried his hands with a paper towel and got a squirt of sanitizer. She did the same.
Then he nodded toward the chair. “If you’re being that obedient, have a seat.”
“Yes, sir.”
Harper smiled as she sat. They’d finished the food. Did he have dessert? She watched him as he walked to the table. He wasn’t a huge man, but his bearing and his build made him look powerful. Along with the dark hair, dark eyes, and two days’ worth of unshaven beard, Gabriel Castillo was dead sexy.
He sat in the chair beside hers again, turned it to face her instead of the table and glanced at her feet. Slapping his lap with both hands, he said, “Put your feet up here.”
“Um, okay. I can prop them on a chair, you know. You don’t have to be my stool.”
“I’m not.” He slapped his lap again while a playful smile danced on his lips.
Harper did as he asked, lifting both feet, and sat them gently on his lap. "What do you know? Clean shoes today."
"Ha, ha, very funny."
He untied her walking shoes and slipped them off then set them on the floor by the chair. Thankfully she’d never had a problem with smelly feet or she’d be totally embarrassed right about now. She’d also had the foresight to get herself a good pedicure the night before. Never had she appreciated toenail polish as much as she did now. Next he peeled off her socks and placed them inside her shoes. She watched him, her skin turning to gooseflesh at his warm touch on her ankles. He tilted his head from side to side as though admiring her pink toe paint job.
“You have nice feet,” he said.
“Thanks. Did you used to work in a shoe store or something?” She didn’t really know what to do with her hands apart from putting them all over his body, so she gripped the seat of her chair instead.
He chuckled. “No, but I haven’t seen this part of you before. They’re pretty. Cute, petite toes, smooth skin.” And then he did it – the thing that she’d been told was the kryptonite of women everywhere. He started massaging one of her feet. Concentrating on the ball of the foot, he rubbed his thumbs across the sore spots as though he knew instinctively where her feet hurt.
Harper let her head fall back with a soft sigh. “That is…wow, just wow.”
“You said your feet hurt, and since you offered to stay here and keep me company tonight, I thought I’d repay you with a good massage. Rachel used to-” He cut himself off when she lowered her head and leveled a sharp stare at him. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have brought her up. I’ve never been with anyone else before.”
“Seriously? As sex- I mean, as good looking as you are, that’s really surprising.”
“I was too focused on my work, I guess, to look elsewhere. Mama hoped we would get married. She wanted me to find a good Cuban girl.” He shrugged and moved on to her arches. Dear God, he could keep doing that forever, and she wouldn’t complain one bit. The day’s soreness quickly faded under the firm, gentle pressure of his touch.
“Your mama probably wouldn’t approve of this massage, then.”
“What mama doesn’t know won’t hurt her.”
One side of his mouth curved up into a mischievous smile. He studied her with hooded eyes that spoke of better things than foot massages to come. Her heart skipped a few beats as her skin turned to gooseflesh. He moved on to her heels, squeezing them just right, which alleviated the sharp pain that had almost made her limp by the end of the day.
“And you know what?” he added.
“What?” Her voice sounded husky and half asleep.
“I realized that life is too short to spend it with someone I’m not in love with.”
Harper’s eyes fluttered open and searched his. The intensity in his gaze said he meant it, not that he was in love with her necessarily, but that he was definitely ready to move on after his breakup. She swallowed hard, set one foot on the floor and then the other, and scooted to the edge of her seat. Gabriel rested his elbows on his knees and waited for her to lean in, closing the distance between them. She smelled his cologne and the spices from the wonderful meal he’d shared with her.
“You know what I think?” she asked as she placed her palm on his cheek. His jaw was rough, warm, and strong, just as she’d imagined.
“What?” he whispered.
“I think you’re a very smart man.” She pressed her lips to his as he gently cupped her face in his hands and enjoyed the absolute best kiss she’d ever had.
Chapter Nine
“The best idea in the world,” Dwight said to Rachel. Gabriel was web-browsing on his phone, trying hard to pretend he wasn’t listening.
“Best idea in the world?” said Rachel. “What was that? Buy low and sell high? Or mix red beans with rice?”
“Those two are pretty good,” Dwight admitted. “But this one is better. Best idea in the world. Friday night. You. Me. Gargiulo’s. Walk on the Boardwalk.”
“You’re crazy. Gabriel, listen to him, papi.”
Gabriel shrugged. “I already turned him down, Rach.”
“You're lying.” She stared at Dwight, then pointed at Gabriel. “Did he put you up to this? Cause it seems like he isn’t willing to be a man and deal with things himself.”
“All my idea,” said Dwight. “We used to go out together on double dates, before Cyndi moved away. She’s gone, and you guys are through, and here we are, two lonely hearts, both yearning to connect with someone special, each in our own special way. Aren’t we?”
“Who said I’m lonely?” Rachel demanded. “Gabriel, what the hell?”
“Leave me out of it. I said what I had to say to you the other night.”
“But why this guy?” She glared at her ex-boyfriend while nodding toward Dwight. Gabriel was determined to give no answer.
“This guy is in the room waiting for your answer,” said Dwight. “And this guy is the same guy who came and fixed your abuela’s stove twice in one weekend, and the guy who picked you up and drove you home every day for a week when you had the ankle brace. This guy is the guy who has always had your back when we were only friends, and this guy is the guy who wants to buy you dinner at Gargiulo’s on Friday night. Or tonight, if you want the calamari special.”
Gabriel got up, slid his phone into his pocket. Dwight must have worked that speech out in advance. He was quite the poet when he got serious about something.
Rachel called after him, “You think I don’t know you got something going with that puta from Kentucky? I know.”
Gabriel stopped and turned. “Mind your business. I was good to you for a long time, and I stayed with you for a long time after I felt it should’ve been over, and now we are done. Done. Ya basta! Adios, okay?”
“Walk on the Boardwalk,” Dwight said again. It was the last thing Gabriel heard before he got clear of the room. In their relationship, Rachel had often seemed more his charge than his equal partner, but beneath that her ability to love was very deep, her anger with him understandable. If Dwight’s patience with her finally overcame her petulance, and he won her love, she would do anything to make the relationship last. But that was a big if.
Pepper was doing a little better now under Dr. Shahini’s care, swimming faster and eating better and drinking less water, and Gabriel was hoping he’d be able to resume performing in a day or so. According to the doctor, the likely source of the leptospir
osis was Raphael’s visit to San Diego months before. Gabriel’s dad had gone out to visit some college friends who worked at Sea World, and together they had captured three sick wild animals in the harbor.
As he was approaching the amphitheater, he saw the tall, lanky form of the new part-time staffer, a Broadway-wannabe actor named Gino, who was supposed to be playing the costumed sea lion mascot. In fact, Gino was nearly doing so; he was in the padded costume up to its neck, but the zipper was down in the back, and the fuzzy mask with the goo-goo eyes was nowhere to be seen. Gino’s red eyes were tilted toward the cracks in the pavement.
“What’s up?” Gabriel asked him.
“Aah, I got canned,” said the actor. “Just got to change and head into the city to see if I can get an audition somewhere else.”
“But you haven’t even done a show yet. I was impressed that you could dance without slipping in the padded booties, right?”
“Yeah, I know. But I brought my girlfriend Gina last night, and the security caught me banging her in one of those new tanks you guys have back there.”
“Uh… That’s weird.” Gina and Gino?
“Yeah, I call her my little fastball, cause she likes it hard and outside. Nice meeting you, bro.”
"Good luck." Gabriel shook Gino’s hand through the padded glove.
In the amphitheater, Gabriel put Jorge through his usual exercises, exercised Pepper gently, and had a swim with the animals. He was eating lots of heavy dinners, and needed to keep fit and trim. As he did laps, he imagined each stroke in time with a gentle kiss in the dark from Harper Wheeler. He had been sure he had no time to be in love, that his heart was closed, but she had opened it with her sincerity and openness, her pretty eyes and voice and sexy feet and great curves. Something was happening between them, something he needed and wanted a lot more of.
Showered and changed, he busied himself with cleaning and sorting equipment till it was time to go. His mind wasn’t on his work, but alternated between his father and Harper. Raphael had told his son little about that San Diego trip, had almost never vacationed with Gabriel and Sofia, had preferred to go alone. The older man had never wanted his family to see him relaxed or having fun; it was always work, work, work for him. That was the standard he had set, a standard of goal-setting, constant, patient, uncomplaining effort, and accomplishment.
Harper was a hard worker, too. Despite their romance, she wasn’t clingy at all; she stuck to her job when it was time to work, and even when they were messaging or face-timing each other, she was talking about the kids and the website and the aquarium constantly, asking his opinion and using him as a sounding board.
Harper and Raphael were different in personality, though, because Harper trusted and believed in him and wanted to learn from him, but Raphael had always held back. With Gabriel’s dad, it was always possible to do better. Every compliment had a but attached. “That was a good idea to make him do an extra lap, but don’t tire him out too much. Good idea to try that other supplier for chum, but be sure you don’t pay too much. Nice new shirt, but don’t wear those shorts, your legs are too skinny.”
The two were also different because Harper had soft skin and succulent lips and a sweet voice that made his heart jump.
At the end of the work day, he went to the office to see her. He was due at his mother’s for dinner, but maybe he could arrange a date later. He didn’t want to rush Harper, but he already knew she was someone special in his life, and the idea of making love was not one he could ignore. The kissing between them had been brief, but amazing. Why not go further?
Rachel wasn’t there, thank God.
Harper greeted him with a sunny smile and swiveled her chair away from her desktop’s huge monitor, where he could see the bright colors of the aquarium’s information website for kids. She was wearing tan slacks and an aquarium polo. A pink breast-cancer ribbon was pinned above one breast. Her hair had fresh highlights.
“You changed your hair,” Gabriel noted.
“I took a long lunch. You like it? Sailor sent me to her hairdresser. Pricey, but I like how it came out.”
“Looks great.” He approached as she stood to greet him. Could he kiss her? There was no one around. He leaned in and did it, and she knotted her fingers into his hair and put one hand around his waist.
“Hey, you smell good.”
“Took a shower.” They let go of each other, but stayed close enough to touch. Gabriel was relieved; she had kissed him like she meant it, and it was a warm and gentle kiss, not a lot of violent tongue-wrestling like Rachel had gone for. “Want to do something tonight?”
“Mm-hmm. Anywhere except, what’s that Italian place you told me about?”
“Gargiulo’s.”
“Yeah, your ex is going there tonight with some guy. She said he’s a total idiot but she’s giving him a chance anyway 'cause she’s a nice girl.”
Gabriel snickered. “She’s going out with Dwight.”
“Dwight? But he’s such a good guy. What would he want with her?”
“She has a good heart, underneath the surface bitchiness. So, no Gargiulo’s. I have to eat at my mom’s anyway. After that, I could pick you up and we could go somewhere.”
“Sure. Let’s walk out and we’ll decide. Give me a sec to log out.”
She sat and fiddled with her computer till it was off, got her coat and handbag, and they proceeded to the parking lot.
“You saw my truck before? I drove in today.”
He had noticed it in the parking lot, all-pink, with the Kentucky license plate of the running horse and the words “Unbridled Spirit.” It fit her well. He thought about taking her to the riding school out by the Belt Parkway. She had said she had only a little experience with horses, but liked them. Not tonight, obviously, but soon.
His phone rang as they were just stopping at the car. “Hola, Mama,” he said. “Yeah. vengo en seguida. You need anything from the supermarket?” He was aware of Harper next to him and put his arm around her to keep her from leaving before they made plans. Sofia told him a few groceries she needed.
“You guys speak both Spanish and English at home?” Harper whispered.
“Yeah, both, but mostly English. I understand Spanish better than I speak it.”
“Who’s that?” Sofia demanded. “Who are you talking to?”
“It’s Harper. It’s a woman from work.”
“Bring her to dinner.”
Gabriel felt his face contorting. His mother’s grieving had made her even more fussy and difficult than when he was growing up. He didn’t want to scare Harper away.
“That’s not a good idea,” he said into the phone.
“Listen to your mother,” Sofia said. “I have so much food, what will I do with it? Who is this girl, you like her?”
“Mama, please.”
Harper gave him a puzzled look, squeezed his hand, and her truck key pressed against his flesh.
“My mother wants me to bring you to dinner,” he said. He shrugged. “Hold on, Mama.” He turned to the young woman he really, really liked. This moment could determine whether he had a future with her. “You don’t have to come. It could be a little intense. She feeds all the neighbors, and she can be inappropriate.”
“That’s okay,” Harper said. “My mother is the most inappropriate person I’ve ever met, and I love her like crazy.”
Gabriel covered his phone. “I’m serious. You and I have something good, and I don’t want my mother to spoil it.”
She smiled warmly. “Don’t worry about that. I’m not easily scared off, and I want to try more of your mama’s homemade food. Can I talk to her?”
Gabriel sighed and handed over the phone.
“Hi, Mrs. Castillo? Hi, this is Harper Wheeler, Gabe’s friend from the aquarium. I want to thank you so much for the invitation to dinner. Can I bring something, a bottle of wine or some dessert?” She listened. “Uh huh. Okay, we can do that. By the way, are you making tostones? I hear you make the best in the wo
rld. Okay. Okay, great. Thanks, here he is.” She handed the phone back.
“It’s a country girl?” Sofia asked, too loudly. “How’d a country girl get to Brooklyn?”
“She works at the aquarium, Mama,” Gabriel explained.
“You like this girl? You have to, you’re being so careful.”
“Yeah, Mama, I do, so no te jode esta, okay?”
“Don’t disrespect like that. Vente!”
Chapter Ten
Harper's hand ached by the time they reached the front door of his mama's brownstone. "Gabe, sweetie, could you loosen your grip just a bit?"
He turned to her, startled, before he let go with a nervous smile. "Sorry. I'm a little..."
She rubbed his back, enjoying the strong and solid muscles under his shirt. "I know, but it's fine, seriously."
The door at the top of the staircase opened suddenly, to a woman shorter than Harper with dark hair like Gabriel's pulled into a low bun. She had his dark eyes and complexion too. Harper had envisioned an old fashioned woman dressed in mourning black, but Gabriel's mother wore a trendy pair of black culottes, a turquoise blouse with a paisley scarf and nicely done makeup. Gold hoop earrings swayed as she motioned them inside, then shut the door behind them. They stood in a small foyer with yellow walls, dark wood floors and a coat rack full of jackets, sweaters and purses. Voices and laughter echoed from a dining room to their left. Several people sat around a long table that was filled with platters and bowls of delicious-looking foods.
Gabriel kissed his mama on the cheek and placed his hand lightly on Harper's shoulder. "Mama, this is Harper. Harper, Sofia Castillo."
She stood there, hands clasped in front of her, while she assessed Harper with a sweep of her eyes. "Ah, the country girl."
"A pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Castillo." Harper offered her hand, and Sofia looked at it a moment before giving her a gentle handshake.
"She has manners; that's good. Come and eat." She walked past them and into the dining room.
Gabriel sighed. Taking Harper's purse and sweater, he added them to the others on the rack. "I'm sorry about Mama."
