Second Chances

by Nicole Andrews Moore

  Isabella, for the first time since lunch, settled back into her seat, sometimes humming, sometimes singing, always with her eyes shut. Gabriel couldn’t help himself. He reached over and caressed her face. In the past when he had done that she would tense up or jump back as if stung, but today she actually leaned in to his touch, relished it. She might just be warming to him. A relaxed smile crossed his face.

  The CD continued to play as they pulled up to the guardhouse. Isabella’s eyes opened as the car slowed down. The guard nodded at Gabriel and opened the gate for their entrance. They traveled up a long paved circular driveway, and parked in the garage. Rather than taking her in through the door she saw at the far end of the room, Gabriel led her out and walked her to the front entrance.

  “I thought you would want the full effect,” he explained, then added with a smirk, “You know, for Jessie.”

  Isabella blushed as she followed him through the front door of the estate. The security people must have called in advance as the entire staff had assembled in the entry way and the man who she imagined to be Gabriel’s father could be seen making his way down the grand staircase. Nothing in her life had prepared her for this experience.

  Mr. Charmant crossed the marble foyer to greet them. He stood a good six inches shorter than his son, with a dark complexion and distinguished graying hair. He gave Gabriel a firm handshake, and Isabella several moist kisses on each cheek, taking her off guard as he greeted her. “You must be the lovely woman my handsome son is so taken with. He wasn’t ready to introduce us, but I have my ways of getting what I want.” He smiled affectionately at Gabriel as he tucked Isabella’s hand in the crease of his arm to give her the tour of the house and grounds.

  Isabella felt dizzy as she worked to take in every aspect, every detail in each room, without appearing to be gawking. She would never want to embarrass Gabriel. They moved from one room to the next, from floor to floor, and at last came to rest on the garden terrace.

  “You must have noticed that I didn’t take you through a couple of the wings,” Mr. Charmant commented.

  Isabella nodded. “I just assumed that they were personal, private spaces.” Gabriel reached out to hold her hand and she firmly grasped it.

  “Well, I figured I would let Gabriel give you the tour of his quarters,” he explained nodding at his son. “I will allow you two to work out suitable sleeping arrangements.” He looked at a cart being wheeled out to them. “Please help yourself to some refreshments. I can’t linger here. Too much work to do. It was a pleasure meeting you, Isabella. I will see you both in the dining room at eight.” And with that he strode to the doors and left them alone.

  “Well?” Isabella looked at Gabriel for feedback.

  “You were marvelous. He must like you, or he would have put you in the guest quarters without asking. Do you want to see my rooms after this?” He gestured to the refreshments the maid had brought out. Isabella beamed.

  They took the elevator to the third floor because Gabriel swore it to be the quickest way to their destination, but Isabella suspected he just wanted to show off a bit. They glided down the hall, and Gabriel opened the tall mahogany double doors to his rooms. Isabella stood in the doorway for a moment, just trying to take it all in. It was probably best that he had seen her apartment first, since if she had been here before she would have been too embarrassed to share it with him. His room was nearly the size of her entire three stories.

  Gabriel’s inner sanctum varied greatly from what she had imagined, given that this place was larger, grander, and far more sophisticated. The walls were a royal blue, the floor covered in plush cream carpeting. A large entertainment system graced one wall, a large sofa and a couple of chairs were opposite it. Set apart by columns were his sleeping area and private bath. The king size bed had been made of dark mahogany with a tall head board. And laid on the chest at the end of his bed were Isabella’s suitcases.

  She turned to eye him suspiciously. “I had to tell them some place to put it,” Gabriel explained to her. “I knew we would figure it out later. Right now we must decide what to wear. My father always has numerous guests for dinner.”

  Deferring to Gabriel’s expertise, Isabella allowed him free dominion over her attire for the evening. Ultimately he selected her black sleeveless mock turtleneck, her beige tiger striped wrap around skirt, and black strappy heels. Then he shooed her into the bathroom where the enormous Jacuzzi tub had been filled to capacity with hot foaming bathwater. The jets were humming, music was playing lightly, and the lit candles completed the relaxing atmosphere.

  There had been so much to take in given such a short period of time that Isabella was thrilled Gabriel had suggested the bath. She had experienced a roller coaster ride of emotions in the last twenty-four hours. One minute he’s canceling the weekend on her, the next he shows up and spends the night. If that hadn’t been enough to keep her completely unhinged, now she was being whisked away to Aruba for ten days. And it would be the first time ever that she was truly away from the kids. She sighed sadly at that thought.

  Isabella had been leaning back in the tub with her eyes closed when Gabriel entered the room, bent low and gave her a kiss on her throat. Startled, Isabella sat upright, felt a cool breeze across her nipples and realized that parts of her breasts were exposed. Her face turned several shades of pink; she gasped and then sank quickly beneath the bubbles. She lay panting and wired when she finally looked Gabriel in the eye.

  Even Gabriel looked startled. He had not anticipated this type of reaction to his romantic gesture. He wore only a towel around his waist, which started to slip as he moved back from the tub. Normally he wouldn’t care that he might expose himself, but Isabella proved herself to be different from any woman he had ever known. For her sake, he tucked the towel tightly into place. “Sorry, Bella,” he murmured, cautiously reaching out a hand to her the same as he might have to a frightened animal.

  Isabella softened. “You just surprised me.” She looked at him, recognized his concerned expression, and wanted nothing more than to soothe him, let him know all remained well between them. “Come here,” she whispered. Gabriel moved forward and knelt on the floor next to her. Turning to face him, and painfully aware of the rapidly dissipating bubbles, Isabella pulled his sandy blond head toward hers and kissed him on the lips for the first time. It was just one soft, sure, lingering kiss. “I’m okay,” she whispered into his ear, then released his head.

  Gabriel spoke in a foreign tongue in a low voice and quickly sprang into action, jumping up from the floor, and clutching the towel to him. With a new string of words ushering forth from his lips, he rushed to the shower. At last Isabella caught him mumbling something about having to get ready. She giggled. She hadn’t lost her touch after all.

  How did she do it? One moment he was staring at her lying there looking so sexy, so relaxed. Instantly, he had been drawn to her. Just had to kiss her once, show her how he felt about her. He had years of practice with women, extensive practice even. And now, a woman he had barely touched was eliciting such unfamiliar responses from him. He shook his head as the water rushed over him. He had been forced to stand facing the corner of the shower for several minutes before he once again had his body under control.

  Maybe he was in over his head with Isabella. He wasn’t ready to be serious about anyone. He had no experience in this area. She deserved better that what he had to offer. She deserved someone who would love her and her children, someone who could give her the forever she should have. It couldn’t be him. Not the way his father would have reacted had he known everything. No, he knew where his father stood. And in his mind he knew he should have cut Isabella loose long ago. But even as he imagined breaking off their relationship, he felt an unfamiliar ache in his chest at the mere thought of never seeing her again, never holding her close, and all of the things he longed to do with her. He would just have to forget about his father’s opinions and focus instead on being the man worthy of her love. He smiled.

>   Dinner proved to be exhausting. So many people were vying for her attention. So many servants cleared plates and delivered new courses. So much food! Isabella sat surprised to find she could eat no more long before they offered coffee and dessert. Gabriel at last asked that they be excused as the conversation turned toward the business realm.

  “Do you want to stay here with me, or take one of the guest rooms?” He asked the question as they walked rapidly up the stairs and made their escape to his wing.

  Isabella stopped in the hall and gazed at him intently. She thought about it for a moment. “I would feel more comfortable if I could stay with you.” She paused for a reaction, but saw none. “Is that all right?” In her mind she imagined recapturing the previous night’s experience, wrapped in the comfort of his strong arms. She slept so well then, better than she had in months.

  Gabriel picked her up and whirled her around in the hall. He placed her gently back on the floor and hugged her close. “Bella,” he murmured into her hair, “I can’t imagine a time I wouldn’t want you in my bed.” Then he grabbed her hand and they rushed down the hall to his room.

  Slowly, she became more daring. Tonight’s pajamas would consist of a jersey knit spaghetti strapped, mid-thigh nightgown. The periwinkle color would go well with her tan. Jessie insisted she wear it. When she returned to the bedroom from changing, she found Gabriel in only a pair of boxer briefs that left very little to the imagination. How could she sleep next to him in those? Murmuring, “Lord, give me strength,” Isabella climbed into Gabriel’s magnificent bed.

  She moved tentatively at first, biting on her cheek as she drew closer to him. Her eyes were wide open, as though in fear. Could she be afraid? Gabriel found that emotion hard to imagine in his Bella. She seemed so strong, so prepared to handle anything life threw at her. And goodness knew that she had already endured enough already. He scowled as he thought about the pain that Jack must have inflicted upon her for her to kick him out.

  Without a word, Gabriel reached over and tucked Isabella against his side. He could feel her warm breath coming in short spurts against his chest and paused. Slowly, afraid of what he might discover, he nudged her chin upward.

  “Bella, darling,” he began quietly, “are you crying?”

  Eyes wide, she shook her head feverishly. “I don’t cry,” she announced, as she stuck her chin out defiantly.

  He pushed her away from him so that he could study her. “Ever?” He was skeptical, having known so many women who cried indiscriminately.

  “Ever,” she affirmed, her voice but a whisper.

  “Since when?” He was concerned. How had she survived without the necessary release of emotions?

  Isabella inhaled slowly and exhaled evenly. “Since I was about twelve.” She looked at him with her enormous expressive brown eyes that at present showed more than a hint of pain. Her head dropped for a moment, but when she gazed at him moments later, his heart went to his throat. “Could you please just hold me?” She shrugged to diminish the importance of her request.

  Yet Gabriel saw through her. Slowly he reached out and stroked her cheek, stared into her eyes. He paused, swore for a moment that he saw them watering slightly, that she might even now be blinking back tears. Suddenly it came to him. I could really love this woman. And some of the ice he had safely encapsulated his heart in slowly began to melt.

  After a night that seemed entirely too short for Isabella’s liking, the time arrived to get ready to head out to the airport. Gabriel and Isabella managed to share the bathroom in the morning with none of the issues of the previous afternoon. And before long their luggage had been carried out to the limousine that would drive them to the airport.

  Mr. Charmant met them in the driveway to wish them well on their trip. Isabella was feeling more comfortable with him than she had previously, as she walked over to him and gave him a warm goodbye. “Thank you so much, Mr. Charmant. Thank you for making me feel so welcome, allowing me to stay in your home, and helping to arrange this trip for us.” She paused before adding, “And yet, at the same time, thank you seems truly inadequate.”

  Gabriel’s father planted a kiss on her cheek, then marched over to his son. He shook his hand and embraced him, while whispering in his ear. Gabriel smiled and nodded, then joined Isabella in the back of the limo. She didn’t ask what was said, and Gabriel didn’t offer to share, yet still she remained unconcerned. Right now she had to concentrate on bigger distractions, such as her first time in a limo, and the fact that they would be flying out first class. She was unaccustomed to all the trappings that came with having money and found herself feeling awkward and out of place.

  In Aruba, Gabriel’s driver unloaded their luggage and deposited them in front of the most amazing vacation home she had ever seen in person. It had the feel of something out of a magazine. While she studied the enormous beachfront property, Gabriel instructed the driver as to which room the luggage would be deposited in.

  Then he turned his full attention back to her. “So, what do you think so far, my Bella?” He moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her, steering her to face the impressive ocean view.

  “It is so beautiful here,” Isabella said warmly.

  “I have always thought so. That’s why I wanted this to be our first trip. It’s also very secluded,” Gabriel noted. “We have our own private beach. We don’t even have to wear clothes,” he added nonchalantly.

  Isabella shivered slightly at the thought of being naked in front of him. Did he not understand how pregnancy could ravage a body? Try as she had, she still bore stretch marks, which sealed the end of her bikini days as far as she was concerned.

  “Let me show you our house,” Gabriel suggested, leading her up the steps of the back veranda, through the French doors, and into the home.

  The home had a very contemporary feel to it, decorated in white. The two stories contained five bedrooms, five and one half baths, a formal living room, dining room, kitchen, study, and great room with a bar for entertaining. The two bedrooms that faced the ocean had balconies, and the verandah steps ended in sand. The staff consisted of a driver, a cook, and a maid, which seemed foolish to Isabella, as infrequently as Gabriel claimed they actually were able to use the place.

  Gabriel had chosen for them one of the bedrooms that overlooked the beach. The balcony had a wicker loveseat and small coffee table on it in addition to the lovely pots of flowers and a potted tropical tree. The room itself held a queen size bed made up in luxurious white silk sheets and gauzy curtains hung from the canopy. But the bathroom really took Isabella’s breath away with its tropical paradise feel. The Jacuzzi tub, the focal point of the room, sat surrounded by greenery and candles, centered directly beneath a sky light.

  “I guess I know where to find you at night, eh?” Gabriel smiled as he pulled Isabella out into the bedroom. He sat on the bed, and patted it for her to join him.

  Excited and scared, Isabella slowly lowered herself to the bed. He tilted his head, a question. Isabella struggled to explain. “We’ve never been alone before. First, it was my children, then your father...” Her voice trailed off. What did she really have to worry about? Gabriel would never take advantage of her.

  “And now we have the house staff,” he said matter-of-factly.

  Suddenly, Isabella recognized the accurate assessment of their situation. She wasn’t as alone as she felt. And Gabriel obviously wasn’t thinking about going back on his word.

  “Let’s talk about what you would like to do until dinner. I propose we lay around on the beach until seven, then change and dine on the verandah.” He looked at her for a reaction. “Any objections?”

  Isabella sighed, “Nope, sounds perfect.”

  Despite Gabriel’s comment about swimwear being optional, Isabella emerged from the bathroom in a black tankini with a matching sarong tied neatly around her waist. Gabriel noticed her apprehension about her attire. He walked over to her in his bulging Speedo with his sculpted physique and wrapped hi
s muscular arms around her, hugging her tightly.

  “You don’t have to worry what I will think of you,” he whispered into her hair. “I find you unbelievably attractive. I don’t care what you look like naked. You could never disappoint me because I know how beautiful you are on the inside. Do you understand?”

  Isabella nodded, managed a weak smile, and in an act of undeniable bravery, reluctantly left the sarong on the bed.

  They lay side by side on a huge beach blanket and took turns rubbing lotion on each other’s shoulders. Gabriel’s hands seemed strong and sure as they traversed the length of her back and snuck along the two inch gap between her top and bottom. He rubbed much longer than necessary for the lotion to disappear. Torn between letting him continue massaging her, and concern about starting something she considered herself unready to finish, Isabella rolled onto her side to gaze at him from above her sun glasses.

  Blushing, Gabriel ceased straddling her back, fell on his side to mirror her, and artfully changed the subject. “What would you like to see and do here?” He asked seriously.