Convincing Lina: A Bachelor of Shell Cove Novel (The Bachelors of Shell Cove Romance Book 2) (17 page)

Meanwhile Ava sobbed in Lina’s arms. Lina took in the smudged eyes, the waterproof mascara that hadn’t lived up to its namesake, the puffy red eyes. It broke Lina’s heart to see Ava hurting. Maribelle had wrecked her son’s engagement celebration, with God and The Reserves country club members as her witness. How could one woman justify being so horrible? Lina couldn’t imagine being that deliberately cruel to another human being. What pleasure was there in Ava’s tear stained face and Logan’s bloody knuckles?
 

“Marcus is gone. Don’t cry anymore,” Lina cooed as she hugged her friend.

“I’m not crying over seeing Marcus. He doesn’t scare me anymore.” Ava’s statement brought a smile to Lina’s face. Before Logan came into Ava’s life she was terrified to question or confront a man. Sharing the same space with the male species made her uncomfortable. Lina on the other hand adored male companionship. Too much for her own well-being. If she was remotely attracted to a man, her body suited up like Ironman with a target in sight. She didn’t want Gideon to get away. But get away from her, all men had.
 

“Then why are you still crying?”

“Because engagements and love shouldn’t be this hostile. Logan’s mother hates me. I’m marrying into a family where I’ll never be accepted.”
 

“All these tears and the wedding is still a go?”

“Lina, what do tears have to do with my marrying Logan?” Janna who had been a silent observer, chimed in.

“Cover your ears, Monique.” Everyone looked at Monique Faulkner. Monique had been a patient of Ava’s when she was on staff at SCMC.
 

“I’m seventeen, you can say bad words in front of me.” Monique pouted reinforcing why it was in everyone’s best interest if she left the room.
 

Lina stepped in before any one caved to the saccharine smile plastered on the girl’s heart shaped face “Time for you to wait in the lounge.”

“No Lina, why?”

“Because you believe there are bad words. Everyone else in the room knows there are situations where those
bad words,
” Lina motioned air quotes with two fingers on each hand, “are warranted.” Peeping through lowered lashes, Monique scanned the room searching for an ally. With none forthcoming, she turned in a huff and exited the soft spring loaded door.
 

“Ava, the whole engagement and Masters family drama has you stressed out. I say ride that man like Seabiscuit, then cut your losses if this family thing doesn’t work out.”

“Language, Lieutenant,” Lina chided.
 

“No offense Granny Lou, Deanie and Mrs. Walters,” Janna said. Lina’s mom beamed at the use of her nickname. Unphased by the Logan Seabiscuit comment. Lina recalled the first time she heard her father refer to Bernadean James as Deanie.
 

Lina had been about eight years old. Her mother had been flipping mouse eared pancakes on the griddle. Her father had walked up behind his wife, encircled her in his arms, planted a loud, smack of a kiss on her right cheek and said,
I love you, Deanie James
. Lina had looked on from the round oak table grinning as her mother had returned an equally affectionate kiss on her father’s lips. The kids in the neighborhood still called her Mrs. Deanie. All these years later, that memory still brought a smile to Lina’s face. That was the kind of love Lina wanted for herself.
 

“None taken, lil Miss Janna, but keep your equine metaphors to yourself. Our Ava is getting married and giving me some great grand babies. Your mother and I are going to have a show down with Maribelle Masters, as soon as I go get my blessing oil,” Ava’s Granny Lou said.
 

“She’s not going to let you near her, Granny Lou.” Ava replied, honestly. To Lina’s knowledge, Maribelle had made no effort to get to know the Walters family.
 

“Well, I could accidentally drop the bottle on her head. Prayer works, children, even when you’re unconscious.” Granny Lou nodded her head to no one in particular.
 

“Okay, before we consider senior-on-senior violence, let’s freshen up and get on with announcing an upcoming wedding.” Lina was the temporary maid of honor in Shaylah’s absence. No way, would she allow Ava’s engagement to go do in flames.

“But, everyone is gone.” Ava words sounded as sad as she looked.

“I see enough people, Ava.” Lina stated.
 

“Come on Rebecca Lynn and Janna, let’s go tell the guys.”

“Did Dick leave? I don’t want to go out there, until I’m sure he’s gone.”
 

“I haven’t seen your date since the melee started.”

“Good.” Rebecca released a sigh of relief. “Hopefully, he left with the rest of the guests.”

“Okay, Ms. Thang, spill the milk. Why are you here with a man named, Dick As-cot, knowing Darwin is crazy about you?
”
Lina asked the question they all wanted answered.
Six pairs of eyes turned in Rebecca Lynn’s direction.
 

“My father really likes Dick,” Rebecca said with a sigh. Coughs, giggles, and all out laughter filled the room.
 

“You need to rethink ever saying that sentence again and I strongly suggest you call him, Richard.” Lina said.
 

“Lina Diane James, enough with the sharp tongue.” Her mother rebuffed.
 

“Oh my goodness, I just caught the meaning!” Rebecca’s cheeks flamed red. She covered her mouth with her hand. They all laughed at Dick’s expense.
 

“What about Darwin?” Ava’s soft tone blanketed the room.
 

“What Darwin and I have is more complicated.”

“Relationships always are,” Ariss Walters commented.
 

“What Darwin and I have is more carnal than your traditional relationship.”

“My motto, is hit it and quit it,” Janna stated matter of factly.
 

“Sugar that’s not a motto, it’s a defense mechanism,” Bernadean offered. “At my age, carnal interest and love are crystal clear. Even my eighteen-year old self recognized her soul mate in Lincoln James.” Lina stilled at her father’s name. It was rare that her mother even mentioned him in conversation. Lina remembered when her father stopped coming home, she remembered hearing her mother’s sobs through closed doors.
 

A knock at the door brought the conversation to a halt.

“Sweetness, you ready to go?” She’d recognize her country boy in a saloon full of rowdy cowboys. Lina responded to his call without a second thought.

“Give me fifteen minutes.” Lina looked up to find six pairs of eyes trained on her.
 

“When did you become
sweetness
to Gideon Rice?” Ava questioned.

“He’s helping me sort out some personal stuff.” Lina would not make Ava’s day worse by mentioning she had a stalker.
 

“What kind of stuff is going on with you that requires Gideon to be at your side frequently enough that your name is now synonymous with powdered sugar?” Janna asked in a low tone, her eyes serious.
 

Leave it to Janna to ask the pivotal question. Lina looked to her mother for guidance. The sadness in her mother’s eyes was beyond disturbing. It made her heart ache. She could tell her friends about the break-in or she could do her part to save the day. Ava’s day.

“It’s nice to have a man’s assistance with some things.” Lina said, with a coy smile.
 

“Lina
Independent Woman
James is allowing a man to help her. You never let us help you, but by some miracle, Gideon gets the honor.” Ava gave her an incredulous look. “Who are you? And what have you done with my best friend?”
 

Ava’s statement was an uncomfortable truth. A fist tightened around Lina’s heart and she swallowed the lump that formed in her throat. She needed to stay in control of her emotions and refocus on what they were dealing with at this moment. Ava and Logan. She glanced around the room to find all eyes on her. She schooled her features in a mask of composure.
 

“I don’t ask for help, because I can take care of myself,” Lina stated. “Besides, I didn’t ask Gideon for anything. He won’t take no for an answer.” She prayed a lightning bolt did not strike her down, because the truth was she had grown accustomed to him being there for her.
 

“Nice save, Lina, but you better get going. Gideon is probably missing his sweetness by now,” came Janna’s voice. The room erupted in laughter, Lina felt anything, but joyful. She’d begun to depend on Gideon. What would she do if he decided to walk away?

Chapter 11

She still wasn’t dating Gideon. The connection they shared was beyond dating. It was a deeper connection, more intense, all-consuming. The clinic day ended for the rest of the staff two hours ago. Her SCMC process improvement meeting took her away from the clinic for the better part of the afternoon. She managed to restructure the clinic appointment templates to expand availability during the morning hours. Freeing up an hour in the afternoon for each provider left time in their schedules to document patient encounters, make in-patient rounds on their recent admissions and leave the hospital at five o’clock each evening. She however, hadn’t faired as well in the deal.
 

Lina wanted to get home, soak in a verbena scented whirlpool bath, and eat whatever Gideon or Estrella prepared for dinner. She couldn’t remember a time in her life when she felt more cared for.
 

Gideon’s door opened and the man she saw walking away from a neutral faced Gideon nearly brought her to her knees.
 

She must have made a sound of distress, because both men looked down at her. Now she saw an equal measure of shock register in wide stretched chestnut colored eyes. He was the first to speak.

“Lina?” God, the tears started flowing unbridled down her face. He shouldn’t be here. This couldn’t be happening. But he was real, because she felt his arms curl around her back, pulling her into his comforting embrace.

“Bishop?” Resting her head against his firm chest she let the tears flow. Her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, she pulled at the material trying to pull herself together. Seeing him here, changed everything.
 

“I’m fine, baby girl.” If he was back in therapy his words weren’t true. Bishop had been an active duty Marine during Operation Enduring Freedom. His time in Afghanistan had changed him. He’d seen too much and done too much to stay alive. Knowing that he was now Gideon’s patient, spoke volumes to what he’d experienced in the conflict. She’d read enough medical records on their patients’ nightmares, thoughts of violence, escalating over minor offenses.

 
“Keep your tears for someone important.” Loosening her hold around his waist, she tilted her head back, raising her eyes to meet his.
 

“You’re important to me,” she said before dropping her head to his shoulder.

“Thanks, baby girl,” he said planting a kiss on the top of her head. The soft strokes he delivered to her back did little to soothe her.
 

“What are you doing here?” she asked, her face now buried in his shirt. Maybe, she was overreacting. Gideon was a Marine. Hoping Bishop and Gideon were battle buddies was probably asking too much of the universe. She sniffled, and the stroking to her back increased.

“Doc and I met through the WWI program at Queens Bay Naval Treatment facility.” Fledgling hope blossomed in her gut. Bishop wasn’t Gideon’s patient. “Some heavy stuff is going down in my police precinct because of the increase in Galaxy drug activity and missing persons reporting.”

“But why are you here? Meeting with Gideon in private?” It was unprofessional to use Gideon’s given name with a patient, but her thoughts were scattered. “The crime scenes triggered memories from my time in Afghanistan.”

That’s when Lina noticed Gideon stood stalk still in the door to his office. He watched her and Bishop. He looked downright menacing.

“Gideon,” Lina called his name. He turned his steely gaze to her and she saw the storm clouds brewing in his eyes.
 

“When did you start working in this clinic with Doc? The last time we talked you worked on the inpatient unit.” She should’ve never left the unit.
 

“How do you two know each other?” Gideon’s tone sounded accusatory. What was the matter with him?
 

“Gideon is everything okay?” He couldn’t think she was involved with another man. She spent her days and evenings with him. Granted he hadn’t stayed with her since that first date, but he knew her.
 

“Bishop is my…” She looked at Bishop then, questioning if she should disclose their relationship before he was ready.

“What is he to you?” Even Bishop pivoted on his heel to look in Gideon’s direction. Gideon’s voice was low pitched, feral.
 

“It’s okay to tell him.”

“Tell me what?”
 

“Bishop…he’s my brother.” Their relationship was fragile and she would do anything in her power to protect the budding kinship with her father’s firstborn.

“No.” That single syllable word spoke volumes to their immediate dilemma. It was unethical to become involved with your patient’s sister. “You don’t have the same last name.” Judging by the furrow between Gideon’s brows his statement was more of a question.