Coincidences: #3 Diana & Anya

by Diroll-Nichols, Karen

  “That’s Harriet,” Gideon patted his jacket pocket, relieved he hadn’t forgotten his gift. He stood waiting, his arm comfortably at Diana’s waist.

  “Excuse me,” Harriet stepped into the warm hug. “Gideon! I was so hoping you’d be here! And…Diana? Oh my goodness…it’s been ages!” The effervescence overflowed as she hugged the younger woman tightly. “I’ve been searching galleries constantly for your art, girl!”

  “I’ll see that you get an invitation to the opening next Friday, Harriet,” Diana said quietly, returning the hug. “I can’t believe the coincidence…I haven’t seen you in forever…and it turns out you’re a good friend of Gideon’s.”

  “Six degrees,” Harriet said with a chuckle.

  “If you’ll excuse me for a bit,” Diana stepped back, glancing around. “I’m off to find the ladies room.”

  Chapter Seven

  “Upstairs on the left, Diana,” Harriet said easily. “I memorized it,” she waited until they were alone before staring at Gideon, her palm up to pat his cheek affectionately. “I like the beard.”

  “So does Diana. How do you know her, Harriet?”

  “Phew…I’ll have to talk fast on that one,” Harriet looped her arm in his, guiding him to the side. “I knew Diana when she was barely nineteen. Idiot father and grandmother. She used to live and breathe in the art section of the library at the university. I was in the finance section, but hers was a quieter portion for reading and note taking.”

  “Why an idiot family?”

  “Because they used her to try and get a bite out of Abrams Manufacturing. Jack Abrams wanted Diana, but she wasn’t interested and that idiot father of hers…anyway there was a wedding. Abrams was as much a jerk as far as women were concerned as he is now. Drank too much and, from what I’ve heard, has the finesse of a water buffalo.”

  “Why the hell would Diana agree to something like that?”

  “Gideon, you know business. You know banking and finance,” she sighed wearily. “You don’t know old family and old family behaviors. Diana’s mother died when she was very young and her grandmother took over rearing her. Everything in that era was about deportment, dignity and doing ones duty to family. Girls are raised to please. Period.”

  “What happened?”

  Harriet saw the anger in his face even before she spoke. “This was almost fourteen years ago, Gideon.”

  “Abrams is here tonight.”

  “I know. Old student. Not one of my brightest, but he received an invite,” Harriet ran her hand over the back of her neck. “The wedding went off. I learned some of this from Diana over four years later, mind you, and it still made her shake when she talked to me. She left the reception and went to the greenhouse. She was giving serious consideration to just running away. Evidently her grandmother gardens a great deal. Diana was there…she wanted to run and hide. She didn’t like Abrams. Hated the thought of the wedding night…wanted nothing to do with the whole thing…I’m sure she was crying…Abrams found her there. He was drunk, she said. Very drunk. Her gown was ripped, she was bruised and he struck her several times…she picked up a pair of gardening shears and stabbed him in the thigh. One can hope she was aiming for something else and missed.”

  Gideon swore harshly, the scenario playing itself out in his mind.

  “Fortunately…the justice who had performed the marriage was there when Abrams staggered into the house. The justice was a woman, with a camera and took lots of pictures of Diana, immediately ordered paperwork for an annulment and took Diana to the local trauma center. I know a lot of this because Jewel worked the ER during that time,” she said, mentioning her partner. “Diana was in shock. Shaking…terrified…bruised…the justice ordered Abrams to stay away from her. Diana stayed in the hospital for a couple days then she disappeared for several years.”

  “Do you know…”

  “I met Diana a couple years later, same spot in the university library,” Harriet picked up the story with a long sigh. “Her relatives shipped her off to finishing school in Europe as well as therapy. Their way of further hiding the scandal, as they called it. Abrams claimed she was frigid and psychotic. He couldn’t press charges because of the quick thinking of the justice and the damage he left behind. He claimed too much alcohol. It was his wedding…and he did apologize to his bride,” she said bitterly. “Anyway…” Harriet shrugged. “She is an amazing artist, Gideon. I spoke to several of her instructors. She can visualize a painting the way you visualize how a business should function financially. Show her a masterpiece once, and it’s ingrained in her memory, down to the signature brushstrokes of a master.”

  “I’ll make sure you and Jewel get invitations to next Friday, Harriet,” Gideon hugged her warmly. “Thank you for telling me. Oh…here…” he took an envelope from his inner pocket and placed it in her hands. “When you and Jewel want to get away.”

  “Gideon?” Harriet opened the envelope and peeped inside. A gift certificate for a three week Mediterranean cruise, plush accommodations all included.

  “You taught me well, Harriet, enjoy the rewards,” Gideon tipped his palm off his head, scanning the crowd for his blonde.

  Diana stood in a far corner, one set of carefully manicured fingers attempting to hide the laughter from breaking free. There was a delightful, mischievous look in her eyes that was enticing. Gideon followed her gaze before making himself known. Isabel and Gabe stood to her side. It was the incredibly wide brown eyes and innocent expression on Isabel’s face that should have been the key, he realized later.

  “Should I ask?” Gideon was surprised at the automatic way Diana moved into his arm when it settled at her waist. Laughing blue eyes slanted in his direction.

  The commotion appeared to be centered around Jack Abrams, several wait staff and a lot of towels.

  “It appears my sweet, innocent and graceful wife managed to trip over a large piece of invisible flotsam in the center of the floor,” Gabe explained graphically. “I should have realized something was up when you put ketchup on your plate. You hate ketchup…I’m getting slow,” he dropped a soft kiss to Isabel’s forehead.

  “You…” Gideon chuckled at the abruptly vague look on Isabel’s face.

  “I offered to pay for his dry cleaning,” she said innocently, winking at Jane as she joined them.

  “I just can’t believe someone left stuff in the floor for you to trip over,” Jane said in total seriousness.

  “How long do you suppose,” Isabel held up a set of keys with a gentle dangle and a wink. “It takes to sink to the bottom of the Sound?”

  “Hmm…I need paper and a pencil…the depth of this part of the Sound, the weight of the keys…” Jane rambled on with scientific interest. “The salinity of the water would also be helpful…”

  “You lifted the man’s keys?” Gabe stared in amazement.

  “I got all kinds of interesting skills, darling Gabe,” Isabel said with an evil little chuckle.

  “Hmm…the denseness of the water…” Jane continued with a teasing wink.

  “Oh, I feel a math headache coming on,” Diana announced with laughter that burst free happily.

  “Give me those,” Gabe snatched them before Isabel could move, gesturing to the waiter and handing him the keys with instructions.

  “Spoilsport,” Isabel wrinkled her nose at him.

  “So…anyone free this weekend? I need some moral support.” Jane shifted their topic.

  “Hmm…not us…Gabe has something secret planned,” Isabel said as her husband rejoined them, offering a tall glass of ice water to Isabel. “And he won’t tell me what’s happening this weekend. What do you need moral support for?”

  Damian groaned.

  “What’d you do?” Isabel asked instantly, all three pairs of female eyes on him intently.

  “He said…let’s go out sailing on Friday afternoon and not come back until sometime Sunday,” Jane’s elbow shot back lightly into his ribs. “Oh and by the way, I’ve invited my mother and gr
andparents to join us.”

  The gasps from Isabel and Diana were audible, along with another groan from Damian.

  “You didn’t!” Isabel gasped.

  “You’ve never met them before?” Diana asked incredulously.

  “Nope.”

  “Jane…” Damian began quickly, receiving shrugs from the other two males.

  “Cretin,” Isabel said.

  “Neanderthal,” Diana added, one on either side as they walked with Jane toward the buffet.

  Gideon chuckled, his hand up and rubbing his neck. He glanced at Gabe with a questioning grin and wink. “His business skills are better than…”

  “His interpersonal skills? Fortunately, yes,” Gabe said dryly.

  “Oh, good…I was starting to wonder…”

  “You guys are not helping things here,” he sighed and fell in with them on the trip to join the girls at the buffet.

  “Hey, my folks live in Arizona…I’m safe for a while at least,” Gideon said simply, filling his plate.

  “Don’t look to me for help,” Gabe followed his example. He was starving. “My parents fell in love with Isabel, adopted her and tossed me to the curb.”

  “That’s not true,” Isabel protested as they found a nice table near one of the wide windows in the far corner. “Your parents are amazing. Diana, you should go along on the sailing. You’ll love the boat. You can sketch and tan and swim…it’s a beautiful big yacht, actually. It has bathrooms and the weather promises to be gorgeous.”

  “Have you ever sailed the Sound?” Damian asked, looking from Diana to Gideon. “There’s room for you both. Great photography…beautiful islands and plenty of boats and stuff to draw. I’m having it stocked with lots of food and snacks. The diving tanks are being checked and will be filled, too.”

  “Please?” Jane added, pulling some chicken free and eating hungrily.

  “We’d love to come along. Shoot me the address and time for the marina,” Gideon told Damian with a nod. “I’ve met his mom, Jane…she’s a really nice lady.”

  “Diana?” Jane watched her cousin as she drained the tall glass of water.

  “Yes…I think it would be a wonderful weekend,” she smiled at Jane, giving her hand a quick squeeze. “It’ll be great. I haven’t been sailing in ages and ages…and to be able to just draw and take photos…it’ll help me not think about the showing Olivia is planning for the end of next week.”

  “Are you getting nervous?” Isabel asked, her head shaking. “You shouldn’t. Bella shot out some pictures of your paintings. They’re gorgeous. We plan to be there, Diana. I want one of those paintings of all the gorgeous red dahlias. It will go perfect on my side of the home office.”

  Diana found herself drawn into all types of discussions, arguing, laughing and relaxing. It was nice to settle into Gideon’s arm, her head resting on his shoulder as darkness settled over the Sound.

  Gideon stood up and drew Diana alongside him. “Off to dance, it was a great evening. Shoot me the information for tomorrow, Damian and we’ll see you there. Gabe, Isabel…have a great weekend.”

  “Bye…thank you all for the fun,” Diana smiled and followed close to Gideon, easily sliding into his arms with a peaceful sigh. “It really was a nice evening, thank you.”

  “A successful first date,” Gideon teased, their foreheads touching as they swayed to the music.

  “You know about Jack Abrams, don’t you?” Diana raised her head, watching the indecision in his eyes. “I grew up being taught to pretend issues weren’t there. Pretend it’s not there and never talk about it. I won’t live that way anymore, Gideon. Not with my friends and not with you.”

  “How about a quiet seat in the lounge?”

  “You really think quiet is possible?” Diana laughed as they wove their way between people enjoying the music, food and drink.

  “We’ll find a spot,” Gideon promised, enjoying the soft laughter in her eyes and voice. He kept his hand tightly on hers, their fingers intertwined as he led her to a quiet table in the corner. Most of the people were at the buffet or the dancing below. “Diana…is it going to bother you to talk about Abrams?”

  “I don’t know,” she answered simply. “It’s been so long…I don’t think I ever thought I’d run into him again after all this time. I wasn’t exactly good for his ego and his company suffered a great deal because the agreement was broken.”

  “If his company suffered, it’s from poor management, not anything to do with you.” He said flatly.

  “I know, Gideon. I know…but…well…never mind…” she paused. “It was Harriet, wasn’t it?”

  “Harriet remembered you from the library,” Gideon admitted after a quiet minute, carefully watching her face. He had both his hands wrapped around hers on the small table.

  “She was so nice to me,” Diana felt the flood of memories flowing like a slow movie in her mind. “I was a kid. No one heard me when I talked, no one listened. But she did…and I know now it was partly my fault for not…not shouting. Not forcing them to hear me. But we can’t go back, can we?”

  “No…we can’t,” Gideon stood up. “Water?”

  “Please…with some lemons or limes.” She saw him nod in the dim light. Resting her chin on her palms, she turned to stare into the lights sparkling off the water. “Time doesn’t heal anything,” she mused when he joined her again. She took a long swallow of the cold water. “Thank you…it just puts space between things.”

  “I know. Harriet recognized you, Diana. And I asked questions.”

  “It seems like another person,” she said with a half-smile, her lower lip pulled between her teeth for a quiet minute. “Would I do it again? I think my aim would be better if I found myself in that situation.”

  “I think you’re a little past being pushed into a marriage for business convenience, Diana,” Gideon stared into the darkness. “I…that type of archaic behavior…”

  “Generations were like that, Gideon. Women were married off for dowries, remember? It’s not so unusual. Some countries are worse these days, perpetuating the ancient laws and rules, with females being the chattel,” Diana shook her head. “I think it hurt more that I wasn’t more important to my father or grandmother than to be treated that way. I spent so much time willingly being lost in colors and painting and drawing everything and anything…creating my own world, I think…guess I should have been paying more attention to how the real world operated.”

  “You know he’s been watching you,” Gideon saw the smile tip her lips. “Does it bother you?”

  “I think he’s angry at what Isabel did,” she leaned over and whispered with a small giggle. “It was very funny to see, believe me.”

  Gideon pulled his chair closer to her side, very aware that Abrams had a perfect view of the couple. “Put your hands on my face, Diana.”

  Chapter Eight

  She offered a little puzzled look but took her hands from the cold glass, brushing them against each other before doing as he asked. Fingertips brushed the bare skin above his beard.

  “It’s very soft,” she said as if only now realizing what it felt like. Her hands moved from his ears, over the sides of his face and onto the small patch of brown on his lip and chin. “I had no idea it felt like this…”

  “Come closer,” he whispered gently, his eyes trapped in the sapphire gaze that rose from his lips. He knew he was barely breathing when she leaned close enough to brush her mouth against his. Once…and once more, firmer and tempting. Experimenting…learning, he realized with a spark that sent his blood boiling.

  Diana closed her eyes with a gentle sigh against his mouth. Her thumbs brushed over the soft flesh of his face, her palms on his beard as she leaned more firmly into her kiss. She liked the feeling, the softness and the tender stroke of his tongue over her lower lip. She touched her tongue to his, accepting the invitation to explore, she pulled his lower lip between her teeth with a teasing nip before settling down to thoroughly lose herself in the kiss. One kiss, he
r mind whispered. And maybe just one more.

  Diana felt an immediate tingle of sensual awareness course along her spine. She was fascinated by the feel of his mouth, the shape and taste that aroused her senses like all the colors in the rainbow at once cascading through her. She could see and feel every single one of them and it was magical.

  Gideon hungrily drank up the trembling little sigh that left her lips, the teasing nip on his lip sending a flare of excitement so hot he was sure the fire alarms would pick it up. Struggling with his self-control, Gideon raised his head, his palm up to gently drag his thumb roughly over her lips, his head shaking in amazement.

  “That was some kiss, city girl,” Gideon whispered against her throat, his teeth nipping at her ear lightly.

  “I think I’m going to blame the beard,” Diana said loftily, trying to find the control that she was accustomed to holding. “It’s amazingly sensual and erotic.”

  “You certainly gave Abrams something to dream about,” Gideon, took her hands in his. “Not to mention me.”

  “I think we’re docking,” Diana drained the water in her glass and gathered her shawl around her, fingers slipping from his to hold her bag. “I can’t remember the last time I had such a marvelous time just relaxing. Thank you, Gideon.”

  “My pleasure, ma’am,” Gideon held his hand out, leading her to the fresh air on the departure deck. She didn’t seem to even notice the cold, his arms around her from behind and a gentle breeze tossing her perfume into his senses.

  “Do you think we need to bring anything? To the boat tomorrow, I mean. Like…well, like food or anything,” Diana moved carefully over the ramp, her stride happy and alive as they headed to the car.

  “I’ll send a note to Damian and ask,” Gideon opened the car door and lifted her onto the seat. He stood there a long minute before giving up with a hungry sigh. He leaned in to kiss her soundly. “A very good first date, Diana.”

  She was still smiling when she waved from the window of her apartment, twirling on her heels and knowing exactly how all the Disney princesses felt.