Convincing Lina: A Bachelor of Shell Cove Novel (The Bachelors of Shell Cove Romance Book 2) (23 page)

“I’m the brother that plays dirty.” Lina tilted her head in askance. Gideon ground his teeth. This would be one heck of a visit.
 

“Jacob told you to leave her alone.” He felt fingers curl around his wrist, before Lina’s scent filled the air around him. She’d moved in close, pressing into his side. Her physical reassurance calmed the jealous Neanderthal that was about to make a fool of himself. “Thane owns a demolition and construction company.” Thin, slender fingers slipped between his and he squeezed.
 

“Gideon gave me the okay to take care of the damages to your place. I’m leaving for Shell Cove in the morning.” At Lina’s furrowed brow, Thane grinned.
 

“Looks to me like the Marine is still keeping secrets.”
 

“There are no secrets. Gideon told me you would be taking care of the repairs. You surprised me by announcing that you are leaving tomorrow.” Thank heaven above, that Lina hadn’t seen the frown on Jacob and Ian’s face.
 

“It seems I’m the one that is surprised, Lina.” Gideon remembered all over again why he hadn’t visited in ten years. He didn’t want to relive the past. Living life as an open book was best left to preachers and politicians. Looking at the men before him meant his Book of Life had been pulled out of the archives.
 

Ignoring Thane’s comment, Gideon introduced the last of the Rice clan. “The Nordic blonde is Ian. He’s the ambulance chaser.” Because Ian was an ass and three inches shorter, he rode forward on his mount, flaunting his temporary height advantage.
 

Tipping his muted black Stetson, “Now, is that any way to talk about the lawyer handling your…” Gideon was at the end of his rope before and this was just the meet and greet.
 

“Shut up and welcome Lina.” He snapped at Ian, but the weight of hardened stares boring into him said every man knew his words were meant for all of them.

“Thanks for not making me feel like a stray,” Lina’s smile lightened his sinking mood. “I like the Waverly Falls hospitality already.” Gideon raked his fingers through his hair, scoring his scalp. This was a disaster. He cleared his throat searching his muddled brain for a subject that would lighten the conversation.

“The Rice family loves strays.” Gideon winced when the sting of his statement burrowed in his chest. Lina turned narrowed eyes on him. Heck, her silent reprimand echoed in his ear.

“Mr. Rice, Gideon and I have been traveling more than twelve hours. We’re both tired.”

“Please call me Jacob and there’s no need to make excuses for Dr. Rice,” Jacob emphasized the Rice name, reminding him he’d made the decision to change his name to Rice in spite of knowing they were not his family. The lesser of two evils, better to bear the name of your rescuer than the woman who abandoned you.

Gideon had not prepared her for meeting his family. The Rice family was like a multicultural version of
Dallas
. Any minute JR would come walking out of the big house.
 

A rider approached on a caramel colored horse with a white streak down the animal’s nose. Lina was surprised to see a dark skinned woman swing down from the horse.
 

“If it isn’t our head shrink.” The foreign accent was another surprise. The woman with a figure and complexion similar to Lina’s walked over to Gideon and threw her arms around his waist.
 

“Welcome home, Gideon. I missed you.”
What the flagnoid?
Did Gideon have a big butt, black woman fetish?
 

“Nai, this is Lina James.
”
 

“
Hi Lina, my name is Nairobi, but these guys refuse to add two syllables. It’s nice to meet you.” Lina didn’t share the sentiment.
 

“Thank you, Nairobi. Are you a sister?” Lina was phishing. Hoping this woman was a part of the Rice rainbow coalition.
 

“Nah, I just work and live here.” Lina didn’t know what to think. Was Nairobi an old flame? She felt nauseous. Lina must have fallen and bumped her head to leave Shell Cove and follow Gideon to the West Virginia hills. What did she really know about his past? She looked up at Gideon to find him studying her. A furrow formed between his brows.

“You okay, sweetness?” She nodded her head glancing anywhere but at his face.
 

“Lina and I are headed up to my room. It was a long drive and we’re both exhausted.”
 

She didn’t say a word. Just followed behind Gideon blindly.
 

“Tell me what’s wrong, Lina. You look like you just lost your best friend.” Had she come to Waverly Falls, only to be left behind again?

“I’m achy from the long car ride. Nothing a hot shower won’t solve.”

Lina walked beside him, as he kneaded her neck muscles.
 

“I’ll fix all your aches and pains after we shower.” Gideon led her around the tree line to a red brick mansion that sat in the middle of green grass and mountains for as far as her eyes could see. A billboard with a smiling Jacob was posted in front of the house. The board read,
Elect Jacob Rice for Mayor.
Jacob was running for office. She didn’t see that one coming.

Gideon glanced up at the sign, never missing a step. As if it was a routine occurrence for your father to be running for a public office.
 

A concrete patio with a circle painted in blue and outfitted with strategically placed ground lights caught her eye.
 

“What’s that?”

“It’s a helicopter pad.”

“Your family owns a helicopter?”

“West Virginia is mountain country. In the winter the roads can be difficult to travel. Helicopters are a necessity.”

“Can you fly it?”

“We all can fly, but Jacob and D.Wright are the most skilled.”

“I thought your family was poor.”

“My family was poor. The Rice’s are the wealthy family in these parts.”

“Gideon, they are your family. Just because you don’t have the same blood–”
 

“You’re tired,” he cut her off. “Let’s go on in the house. We can talk later.” The glare she turned on him said he would not enjoy their next conversation.

Chapter 14

Gideon felt as if Lina was light years away from him. He watched as she pulled a clear travel bag with personal items from her purse. She examined the contents before dropping the bag onto his king sized bed.
 

He’d outgrown a queen sized bed before he hit puberty. His room hadn’t changed since the last time he’d been home. Someone had updated the comforter from his blue and gray sports team colors to a hunter green. Probably Nai’s attempt to keep Emma’s memory alive. West Virginia clay and crisp air seemed to permeate the room. Lina, who normally appreciated everything around her, was still absorbed in the contents of her travel bag. He took her shoulders, turning her to face him.
 

“Lina talk to me.” She smiled up at him, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes.
 

“What do you want to talk about?” She asked dropping her gaze to the floor. He loved that she was a terrible liar. She didn’t want to talk.
 

“Whatever is bothering you.” Gideon placed a finger under her chin, raising her head until she made eye contact.
 

“You’re upset. Why?” As he studied her face he noticed the frown lines around her mouth.
 

“I’ll be fine.” She was upset with him. Why else would she refuse to tell him what was wrong?

“Lina, I know you’ll be fine. You can take care of yourself. What I’m asking is for you to trust me with your feelings. Maybe I can help.” Getting Lina to make a place for him in her life was like moving a mountain with a serving spoon.
 

“Are we going to be okay here?” What the heck did that mean? He pushed a few strands of hair behind her ear.
 

“You and I are going to be okay wherever we are. Don’t ever doubt that.” He placed a kiss on her forehead.
 

“Gideon you tell me we are good. I believe you.” He looked into her eyes, trying to find the source of her doubt.
 

“Something has happened since we arrived that bothered you.” She took in a deep breath, nodding her head.

“If my brothers or Jacob are the cause, we are out of here.” A confused look crossed her face.

“No, it’s not them. I like your family.”
 

“The Rices’ are good people,” he said. And Gideon meant every word.
 

“Gideon, why are you so reluctant to accept them as your family?” He felt the stiffness infuse his muscles.

“I’m not reluctant.” He bit out. How had this conversation morphed into a talk about family?

“What are you afraid of?”
 

“Lina, just drop it, okay. You look exhausted and I’m too tired to talk about me and the Rice family.”

“Your family loves you.”

“Don’t you think I know that?” He grounded out.
 

“If you know it, then why are you scared to love them back?” His heart was pounding in his chest. How had she gathered a lifetime of information on his familial bonds standing in the front yard? Lina was one heck of a psychiatric nurse.
 

“Sweetness, I would love to spend tonight making you feel good.” He was easily distracted by sex, maybe the tactic would work on Lina.

“I have a question for you doctor.” He regarded her with wary eyes.
 

“Ask your question.”
 

“How can a man fall in love with a complete stranger, yet can’t find the capacity to love the people that have cared for him for most of his life?” Ah, heck. He’d walked into her word trap.
 

“Love is a bottomless emotion, Gideon. It doesn’t diminish because you’re sharing it with more than one person.” He pulled her into an embrace.

“I don’t want to talk anymore.” He held her close. Hoping that what she said was true.
 

“Now, who’s upset?”
 

He shook his head. “I’m not mad.”
 

“Good, because I still want my massage.” Somehow, their conversation had improved Lina’s disposition. He on the other hand, had some soul searching to do.

“Take your clothes off and lie down on the bed.” He released her when she stepped out of his embrace.

“Okay.” He watched as she discarded her T-shirt and sweat pants. Lina reached behind her back and unfastened her bra.
 

“I’ll be back. Get comfortable on your stomach, Lina. It’s going to be a long night for you.” Gideon entered the adjoining bathroom, found what he was looking for, and returned to find a very naked Lina gracing his bed.
 

“Did I tell you having large hands makes me a natural masseuse?”

“No, but I can’t wait for you to touch me,” she grinned. Neither could he.
 

Gideon stripped down to his boxers before straddling Lina’s hips. He poured some oil into his palms, rubbing his hands together before touching Lina’s flawless skin. The scent of toasted almonds filled the air, and he grinned when Lina took a big breath in, before snaking into the mattress.
 

“Relax, sweetness. This will feel good.”

A grin split her lips. “It already does.”
 

Gideon couldn’t help laughing.
 

The oil helped his hands glide across Lina’s skin. He cupped her shoulders, kneading the tension from her knotted muscles. He played with the dimples above her buttocks, stroking and massaging, until she groaned in pleasure. Smiling, Gideon reveled at how Lina’s body reacted as he slowly worked her body.
 

He pressed deeper into her muscles, drawing out soft moans of satisfaction.
 

“That feels good, Gideon. Don’t stop.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice.” He stroked every inch of her body until, her breathing became uneven, her muscles tensed and she cried out his name in ecstasy. He felt like he’d been worked over right along with Lina. Was this how all their discussions about family would end? He hoped so.