Captivating In Love

by Bella Andre

  But Gideon was melting into the shadows.

  He’d already let himself touch—and be touched by—Rosie too many times today. He couldn’t dance with her, even if it was with the boys.

  If he pulled her into his arms again, if he held her close, if he closed his eyes and imagined, he would never be able to let her go.

  * * *

  Rosie saw Gideon fade away when he thought no one was watching. He’d come back out for the boys if they went after him, but she understood that today had been huge for him—walking Ari down the aisle, giving her away, having to smile and chat with so many strangers.

  So she took the boys’ hands and said, “Let’s dance with Ari and Matt and Chi. I bet Lyssa and Kelsey will join in too.”

  Once they were out on the dance floor, she spotted Gideon on the fringes. He nursed a beer he never seemed to finish. Watching. Hiding out. As though he didn’t realize he was as much a part of the family as Sebastian or Will or Daniel—when it was so very obvious to Rosie that he was.

  Chapter Nine

  At last, the cake had been cut—Ari and Matt loved the robot cake toppers Rosie had found—the last dance had been danced, the limo was waiting to take the newly married couple to the airport, and Rosie and Chi had helped Ari pack up her wedding dress. Doreen, Matt’s driver, would take everything, including the presents, back to their house for when the couple returned from their honeymoon.

  Ari was alone in the bride’s tent, changed into traveling clothes—comfy jeans and a top—when Gideon found her wiping tears from her eyes.

  His heart seized. “What’s wrong?” Everything was supposed to be perfect. He needed everything to be perfect for his sister, couldn’t bear for anything to mar her special day.

  She gave him a wobbly smile. “Oh, nothing. It’s just silly.”

  “Did someone say something to you?” He’d find whoever had hurt her and—

  She put her hand on his arm. “It’s nothing like that. Matt has never left Noah for two whole weeks. He’s really nervous about it.”

  Ah, now he understood. Gently, he asked, “Are you sure Matt’s the only one who can’t bear to leave Noah behind?”

  Another tear rolled down her cheek. “I don’t know if I can go,” she admitted. “Two weeks.” She made it sound like two years. “We’re supposed to be a family. He should be coming with us.”

  “Oh, honey.” He folded her into his arms, hugged her tight. Gideon rarely felt like he had the right words. Right now, however, he knew exactly what his sister needed. “You are a family. But sometimes you need alone time too, just you and Matt. Especially when you’re celebrating your marriage. There will be so many other times that Noah will be with you, so many trips to Disney World and anywhere else you guys want to take him. You can even take him back to Iceland on a later trip.”

  “I know you’re right,” she said, her voice muffled against his tux, “but I keep thinking we should have scheduled just a week, rather than two.”

  “It’s your honeymoon.”

  She tipped her head up, blinking tears away. “But—”

  “I’ll look after Noah as if he’s my own. I’ve got his back. I’ve got your back. Nothing bad will ever happen to Noah when he’s with me, I promise.” He’d once made similar promises to Ari when she was eight years old, that he’d take care of her no matter what. And he’d failed. But he’d never fail her—or Noah—ever again. “I will protect Noah with my life.”

  Ari put her hand to his cheek. “I know you will. Thank you for loving him as much as I do.”

  “How could I not?”

  Finally, she gave him a real smile. The smile of a very happy bride—and the best sister a guy could ever ask for. One who hadn’t given up on him…even after he’d given up on himself. “I love you, Gideon.”

  “I love you too, Ari. More than you’ll ever know.”

  “I’ve always known,” she said softly.

  After they hugged again, and she used his handkerchief to dry her eyes, he wrapped his arm around her and walked her outside the tent to where Matt stood by the limo with Noah in his arms.

  “Have a great time.” Gideon shook hands with his new brother-in-law—whoa, it was a helluva thing to realize his little sister was married now—then there was a tearful hug between Dad, Mom, and child.

  Finally, Matt put Noah down, and Gideon took his nephew’s hand. “I’ll take good care of him.” He repeated the promise to Matt.

  “I know you will.”

  “And I’ll take good care of Uncle Gideon,” Noah said with equal solemnity.

  “That’s right, kiddo. You’ve got my back.” He held Noah’s hand tight while they all hid their smiles.

  After everyone else got in their good-byes and hugs—Susan, Bob, the Mavericks, Jeremy, which took nearly as long as the wedding ceremony had—Gideon stepped back, picking up Noah and hugging him close for the final good-bye waves as the limo pulled away.

  Once Ari and Matt were out of sight, Noah slid to the ground and said to Jeremy, “You’ll take good care of my puppy, won’t you?” Gideon’s apartment couldn’t take dogs, so Jeremy, Harper, and Will were going to keep the puppy for the two weeks.

  Jeremy nodded so fast and hard that his hair flopped up and down on his forehead. “I sure will. Harper’s going to help me do training and everything. Our puppies are going to be so happy together.” Tasha had given puppies to both Jeremy and Noah from the litter she and Daniel had found abandoned in the mountains.

  “Come on, Jeremy.” Harper waved, her other hand held firmly in Will’s. “Time to go.”

  “See ya later, alligator,” Jeremy called over his shoulder as he raced off.

  “In a while, crocodile,” Noah shouted back. Then he turned to Gideon. “I was thinking, you and me are gonna have so much fun together while I’m staying with you, but I don’t want Jorge to feel left out.”

  The kid was good. He knew exactly how to yank Gideon’s heartstrings. “I wouldn’t want that either.” He had no idea how he’d get through seeing Rosie again so soon—especially when all he wanted to do was hold her in his arms and kiss her breathless. “Should we set up some playdates?”

  “Yes!” Noah raced to Jorge. “Uncle Gideon says we get to play together while I’m staying with him.”

  “I hope that’s okay,” Gideon said to Rosie. She’d mentioned playdates earlier, but they hadn’t actually agreed on anything.

  “Of course it is,” she replied. “In fact, Jorge already told me they want to spend every single day together. I didn’t make any promises, but I figure we can play it by ear and see what works for everyone.”

  Jorge cut in to ask, “Mom, can we go say good-bye to Henri the peacock? He’s right over there.”

  “Okay, but stay where I can see you.”

  Gideon was still rolling with shockwaves as Noah and Jorge ran off to see the peacock. He’d thought they’d set up a couple of playdates and he’d be done with it. But seeing Rosie every single day for the next two weeks? He’d go completely mad.

  Or worse, he’d kiss her.

  But he couldn’t ignore the sad look that had been on Noah’s face as he’d watched Matt and Ari drive away. The image was burned on Gideon’s retinas. So how could he say no when nothing would make Noah happier than to spend the next two weeks with his best friend?

  Two weeks in which Gideon would have to chain down his base urges. Yeah, right, that would take a gargantuan effort, considering how close he was to the edge while doing nothing more than standing beside Rosie. She was in his head, mesmerizing him with the scent of her skin, the feel of her body, the softness of her curves.

  “I was thinking we could take them some fun places,” she said cheerily, without a clue about all the feelings raging inside him. “Maybe the San Francisco Zoo or some of the museums. What do you think?”

  How could he possibly say no when Jorge was doing such a great job of erasing any fear or sadness Noah had been feeling over Matt and Ari’s two-week trip?


  “Sounds good to me.” He was committed to two weeks with Rosie. Two weeks where they would be together for the boys. Two weeks of no looking, no touching, no X-rated thoughts about Rosie.

  He could do this. He had to do it. For Noah.

  Even if he went crazy in the process.

  * * *

  Matt curled his fingers around Ari’s as the limo pulled onto the freeway, and raised her hand to kiss her knuckles. Reading her mind, he said, “Noah will be fine. He loves spending time with his uncle. And I’m sure there will be plenty of playdates with Jorge and Rosie too.”

  They were married. Ari almost couldn’t believe it. Just as she’d told Gideon, it was a dream come true.

  “I know Gideon will take good care of him,” she replied. “It’s just…” She loved Noah so much. And she wanted to include him in everything.

  “I’ll miss him too. But I’m also really looking forward to fourteen days and nights of wedded bliss with my wife.” Matt pulled her in for a long, luscious kiss, the kind of kiss she’d never get enough of. When he finally released her, he said, “Plus, I think it’s going to be really good for your brother to spend a couple of weeks hanging with Noah.”

  She agreed wholeheartedly. “Just before he walked me down the aisle, he told me how proud he was of me. But when I tried to tell him the same thing, he cut me off.” She sighed. “It’s like he can’t hear anything about what a great guy he is.”

  “He’s still working through the past,” Matt noted. “Going to war, leaving you behind, not being able to find you. All those things would scar any man, especially one as devoted to family as Gideon is.”

  “I just wish I could find a way to make him see that he didn’t fail me, especially when he was only trying to do his best.” Frustration edged her voice. “I mean, what eighteen-year-old kid joins the army to send money home to his family? That alone should prove to him that he has nothing to be sorry for, regardless of what happened after he left. That wasn’t his fault.”

  “You’re right. Gideon is a great brother. A great son. A great man, period.” Matt held her tight. “Which is why I completely trust him with Noah.”

  Ari had fallen in love with Matt and Noah. But she had fallen for his family just as hard. And she hoped Gideon would one day realize that he was worthy of being part of a family again. Part of her family.

  “I love you,” she said to her handsome, sexy, wonderful, insightful husband.

  “Forever and ever,” Matt said as his lips touched hers.

  Chapter Ten

  Gideon brought Noah over to Rosie’s place bright and early on Sunday morning, the day after the wedding. She and Jorge lived in the cottage at the back of a property owned by a nice woman in her early seventies. Once a carriage house in the late 1800s, the cottage was quaint, with a small backyard. Two bedrooms, one bathroom, a family room, and a kitchen with a breakfast nook were all she and Jorge needed.

  She’d thought long and hard about what to do and where to go on their first outing. The safer choice would be to go somewhere loud and busy enough that Gideon wouldn’t have to interact with her too much. There were plenty of places that fit the bill—the trampoline gym would be wall-to-wall kids and parents, and the local public swimming pool was always overrun in the final days of summer. But then Jorge had suggested they take Noah and Gideon to one of their favorite places, somewhere most parents wouldn’t even consider for a playdate. Chi was right—playing it safe wasn’t the right move. If she wanted to make headway over Gideon’s walls, taking big risks would be the only way to get there. Besides, spending some time working with paints and brushes always made Rosie feel better. If they were lucky, maybe it would do the same for Gideon.

  Jorge and Rosie had agreed to keep the location a secret for as long as possible. Partly for the fun of surprising Noah and Gideon—but also, at least as far as Rosie was concerned, making sure that Gideon couldn’t find a way to back out.

  Which was why she’d sent Jorge, Noah, and Gideon straight out to the backyard while she gathered up the many supplies the four of them would need for the day. She even packed the car. Actually, it was Gideon’s SUV, because her tiny hatchback was too small for everything they’d need.

  Standing at the kitchen window, drying her hands on a dish towel, she watched Gideon with the kids. His jeans were snug in all the right places, sending her heart rate bouncing into the stratosphere. Beneath his T-shirt, his muscles flexed and rippled as he played ball with the boys. She had to fan herself, especially when he bent low to catch a wild throw, and his jeans stretched tight across his behind. He hadn’t shaved since yesterday, and she liked him with that hint of stubble. Liked it so much that she could practically feel the phantom brush of his whiskers against her skin. Her hand trembled as she hung up the dish towel, and her breathing was just the tiniest bit shaky.

  After the boys tired of that game, he pushed them on a tire swing her elderly landlady had allowed her to hang on the big tree. Their voices carried through the closed window. “Higher, Gid, higher.”

  At the moment, his eyes were ocean blue, and he was smiling that smile only the boys ever saw. Yet again, he looked like she imagined he’d been as a teenager, before he’d gone to Iraq.

  Although he’d never truly been a carefree teenager, had he? Not with the weight of a drug-addicted mother and a little sister to care for on his shoulders.

  No one’s life was simple, Rosie mused as she packed their lunch into an insulated bag. She’d grown up as an only child in a run-down neighborhood in a raggedy house her mother had always kept spotlessly clean—but she’d been so happy. So carefree. So utterly unaware that she was missing anything at all. How could she have known when she had her parents’ love and attention? As much as any child could ask for. When her mother and father saw how much she loved to draw on the sidewalk with her bits of chalk, they’d found the money to buy her brushes and paint. And they’d spent hours in the library with her, poring over coffee-table art books, as excited about learning from the works of the old masters as she was, despite neither of them having a passionate interest in art. They’d taken her to museums on the free days, even when their feet must have hurt from their long days out. They’d encouraged her to spend as much time as she wanted studying her favorite paintings.

  After her parents died in a car accident, and with no other family in the state, eleven-year-old Rosie had nowhere to go but foster care. Her life had changed in ways she could never have imagined. She’d had no terrible foster home experiences, although she’d never fully bonded with any of the families either. Still, she always had her memories of her loving parents, the life lessons they’d taught her about being kind to others and true to herself, along with the love of art they’d nurtured in her.

  Once lunch was packed, Rosie wiped down the kitchen counter. Her home was also spotless, a trait inherited from her mother. And the lunch she’d made—shredded beef empanadas—was delicious, a recipe she’d learned at her father’s side. He’d always loved to cook.

  Ready to go, she paused at the French doors leading to the backyard. Just one more minute to watch Gideon’s smile, one more glimpse of the real Gideon Jones.

  No matter how gruff or closed off he could be with everyone else—including her—the way he smiled with the boys revealed the man he was on the inside. A man she very much wanted to know. If only he would let her…

  With his back to her, Gideon shouldn’t have been able to hear the door open over the boys’ shouts and laughter. Yet his shoulders stiffened, and even before he’d turned to face her, his smile was gone, and shadows filled his eyes. Clearly, he was back to being on guard with her, just as he had been for the past nine months.

  Only, yesterday at Ari’s wedding, she had changed. Rosie was no longer satisfied with Gideon’s one-word responses and expressionless glances. She wanted the smiles he gave the boys. She wanted the happiness that glowed in his eyes when he looked at them. She wanted Gideon to share all that with her too.


  At the very least, she wanted to know that she was his friend, no matter what.

  “Everything’s ready,” she called. “We can head out now.”

  Gideon helped Jorge and Noah scramble down from the tire swing, then the boys raced across the small lawn to her.

  “What’s the surprise, Rosie?” Noah asked. “Jorge says you have something awesome planned for today. He wouldn’t tell us, but you could if you wanted to.”

  She smiled at him. “It’s not a surprise if I tell you.”

  “Do you know, Uncle Gideon?” Noah asked.

  “All I know is that Rosie knows how to have fun. So I’m sure the surprise will be great.”

  It was one of the nicest things he’d said about her. Rosie was practically glowing as they drove toward her surprise destination. Okay, so maybe they weren’t officially in the friend zone yet—and they certainly weren’t beyond the friend zone, not by any stretch of the imagination—but it was a step in the right direction.

  In the backseat, the boys chattered, talking about Noah’s video call that morning with Ari and Matt in Iceland, asking what they were going to eat for lunch, pointing out landmarks, plastering themselves to the passenger side window when they passed the Flintstone House along Highway 280. The home, made of free-form domes, had been a landmark as long as Rosie could remember. Previously adobe-colored, it was now painted deep purple and burnt orange and rusty red.

  “It’s got dinosaurs,” Jorge exclaimed from the backseat as he gazed at the huge metal sculptures filling the backyard.

  “Look!” Rosie exclaimed. “That’s Charlie’s T-Rex.” She’d almost forgotten Charlie had sold it to the owners of the iconic house. “Doesn’t it look amazing?” Everyone agreed that it most certainly did.

  Once they were in the city, she told Gideon where to turn, and as soon as they entered Lincoln Park, Jorge started to bounce in the back. “Mom, can I tell them now?”

  She grinned at him in the rearview mirror. “Yup, now would be good.”