Someone To Watch Over Me (Harlequin Super Romance) (23 page)

“Chris spilled catsup on his tie.” James pointed to the splotch. “We’ll run back to the hotel so he can change. See you two in court at one o’clock.”

Gabe had ordered the broccoli-cheese soup. He checked the paisley tie he had on and muttered to Isabella, “If I spill any of this, we won’t have time to go back to the cottage.”

“You’re lucky. There’s yellow and green already mixed in with the blue. The soup will blend right in,” she said, which told Gabe she wasn’t all nerves and no humor. If only he knew how to help her reach beyond the hatred she’d stored up. Maybe he ought to admit he’d once been consumed with hostility, too. He’d remained miserable until he learned the only road out was to let go of his anger at his parents. Mostly Russ, but then he had discovered he was also furious at his mother for dying. Ultimately he decided Isabella didn’t need his old troubles heaped atop hers.

The first half of the afternoon was a repeat of the morning. A second pool of twenty-four would-be jurors trooped into the room behind a bailiff, only to be sub
jected to the same scrutiny by Weller. Midway through the afternoon, James and Julian’s attorney were finally given the go-ahead to ask questions of those Weller had okayed.

Isabella stopped fidgeting and leaned forward in her seat.

Back and forth the teams hurled questions, one after another. Isabella nearly jumped out of her skin when the judge banged his gavel.

“May I advise the court that these proceedings are suspended until 9:00 a.m. tomorrow.” Weller rose in a rustle of black silky robes. His clerk hurriedly asked everyone to rise.

“What’s happening?” Isabella asked Gabe, who’d pulled her out of her chair.

“It’s five o’clock. Time for us to go.”

James shut his folders and approached Isabella and Gabe. “The last hour went well, don’t you agree?”

“Well?”
Isabella gaped. “The day’s gone and you’ve only selected one man and one woman to be on the jury.”

“Which only gives us ten to go. Isabella, I explained this phase would likely be long and drawn-out. If you’d rather conserve your energy for the competency arguments, then by all means, do so.”

“Absolutely not. I’m not missing one minute.”

“Suit yourself.” He aimed a slight shrug toward Gabe.

“Before you go—is there a back door? I saw several eager-beaver reporters out front. I’d like to duck them for Isabella’s sake if we can.”

He shook his head. “Just hustle on by those jokers or they’ll hound you to death. It’s way too early to make statements to the press.”

Gabe did his darnedest to shield Isabella from having notepads, microphones and flashing cameras shoved into her face. The two of them were out of breath when they reached the Lexus.

“Are you okay?” he asked, stripping off the glasses he’d worn in court.

“To tell you the truth, I don’t know.” Closing her eyes, she cupped both hands over her face. “They all ask how I feel. How do they
think
I feel, for pity’s sake?”

Gabe fastened their seat belts. “News is their job, and this trial is news,” he said matter-of-factly. He motioned for two particularly pushy reporters to get out from behind the SUV. “I’m backing out,” he warned, lowering his window a crack.

They scattered at the last moment and he drove away.

“Gabe, some of them are following us.” Isabella had grown panicky.

“It’s their turf. No sense trying to ditch them. We’ll rely on the resort’s security to keep the wolves off our doorstep.”

“Why are they so interested in knowing your name?”

“They smell a sidebar. I’m a new wrinkle,” he explained. “Reporters are always on the lookout for a scandal.”

“What?” Her voice rose shrilly.

Gabe slowed to go through the resort gate. He had the electronic key card in his hand, but couldn’t resist bending over and planting a kiss on Isabella’s lips in order to silence what would surely lead to another disagreement.

She pressed a hand to her tingling lips, never real
izing they’d passed through the gates and left the reporters outside.

“We’ll change clothes. You can phone your folks and catch them up. Then let’s take a horseback ride through the pines before I toss a couple of steaks on the grill. Wait—do you ride?”

“Yes. I owned two horses. Julian sold them. He hated the way I smelled when I came in from a ride. Or that was his excuse. He didn’t like to ride, but disliked even more that riding got me out from under his watchful eye.”

“I proposed a ride as a way to relax. If it brings you bad memories—”

“You know, it does sound inviting. Gosh, I hope I haven’t forgotten how. It’s been ten years.”

“I don’t think you forget how.” He winked at her. “It’s like riding a bike.”

“All right. Please make the arrangements. And Gabe, thanks. I feel less tense already.”

He smiled as he unlocked the cottage. Once they were inside, he reached up and released the clip holding Isabella’s braid. When the hair didn’t at once tumble free, Gabe threaded his fingers through the strands.

She grabbed his hand. “Why did you do that? It takes me an hour to fix a nice French braid.”

He teased the soft ends of her hair between forefinger and thumb. “All day I’ve been watching you rub your head. Can you honestly tell me this doesn’t feel better?”

“Of course it does. But if I wear it loose, it falls to my waist and takes years off my age. I need the jurors to see me as a woman, not a girl.”

“No danger of missing that, Isabella.” Gabe’s eyes
darkened appreciably. His fingers inched up to her neck, and he leaned toward her lips again.

She sidestepped his touch and massaged her upper arms briskly. “We’re, uh, just friends, remember?”

Gabe brushed back a lock of his own hair, which had fallen into his eyes. “Right! Friends. So.” He blew out air. “Do you want first crack at the bathroom?”

“Go ahead. I’ll, ah…phone Mama. She’ll be anxious to hear from me. Then you can call the stable while I change into jeans.”

An hour later, their ride went off without a hitch. Afterward, the steaks were grilled to perfection, even if Gabe did say so himself. Isabella refused to share the wine he’d carefully chosen to go with the meal. He regretted making that earlier move on her; it had left her wary of being alone with him in the cottage.

“You have a lock on your bedroom door,” he felt compelled to point out when she made excuses to flee there the moment dishes had been dispensed with.

“Rick’s coming tomorrow. Just for the day. He’ll probably have a lot to say about our accommodations. I’m sorry, Gabe. My brother’s a nice man. He’s only gotten this way after Julian—well, Rick’s afraid I’ll be hurt again.”

“You have my word I’d never hurt you, Isabella. I can handle Rick, okay?”

She nodded, but it didn’t stop her from shooting home the dead bolt on her door.

C
OURT WAS MORE UNCOMFORTABLE
for Gabe the next day, Rick Navarro’s hulking presence being the largest contributor. “I rented the cottage for security reasons,” he told Rick after lunch. They were waiting for Isabella to return from the ladies’ room. “There are two hide-
a-beds in the cottage. You’re welcome to use them. Same goes for any member of your family. Move in tonight. I’ll get you an extra key.”

“You know damn well I can’t take more than a day at a time away from the orchards. All of us are in the same boat.”

“I can’t help that.” Gabe straightened his tie. “This isn’t about us.” He looked directly into Rick’s eyes. “You helped stave off the mob of reporters earlier—you saw what it’s like. Isabella’s beyond their reach at the resort.”

“But not beyond yours.” Plenty of heat dripped off Rick’s words.

“No. Not beyond mine,” Gabe said flatly. “Can’t you see I care about her?”

Rick reared back to study his adversary. “Hurt her, Poston, and we’ll settle this in a different way.”

Gabe rattled around the cottage alone that night. Rick took Isabella out to dinner and didn’t invite him. Needing to release some energy, Gabe ambled off to swim laps. He missed Isabella’s arrival home. She’d left a note on the kitchen counter saying Joe would pick her up in the morning.
Fine!
He’d take Wednesday off and run home to see how the carpentry work was coming.

It was while he was there that he learned Manny planned to be in court the following day. “Here, take my key card to save explaining to security. And this card gives my cell number. Someone can let me know when or if I’m needed in Bend again. I’m glad we all agree Isabella shouldn’t go through this trial process alone.”

“Look, Bella’s five years my senior. I think Rick’s gone overboard, but—hey, we’re family.”

“I have no experience in that quarter, Manny. But I’d never get between Isabella and her family. Just keep me updated, okay?”

Early the next morning, at daybreak, Gabe’s cell phone rang. He’d spent half the night tearing out kitchen cabinets and felt as if he’d barely gotten to sleep. “’Lo,” he croaked.

“Gabe, it’s Manny. Manny Navarro. Christina went into labor about an hour ago. I’m at the hospital. The doctor thinks she may need a C-section.”

Scrambling in the dark to find his clothes, Gabe asked what he could do to help. “Do you want me to bring your mother to the hospital?”

“She’s here. Most of the family is. I’m calling because it leaves Bella alone. Joe said they still have three jurors to go. And Bella’s a bundle of nerves. Joe says she’s worried sick about the outcome.”

“Plus now she’ll have Christina to worry over. Damn, it’s almost six o’clock.” Gabe stroked his unshaven jaw. “I worked on the house till three. Did Joe say what time court reconvenes?”

“Ten.”

“If traffic’s with me, I may get in before they close the doors. Phone Isabella and have her take a cab. Tell her I’ll meet her at the courthouse. And Manny, call me on my cell to let us know how Christina makes out. Good luck, man.”

After the fastest shower and shave in history, Gabe was on the road in sixteen minutes. He’d left extra clothes at the cottage, so he didn’t need to pack. Surely they ought to be able to agree on the last three jurors today, he thought. That would let Isabella come home to be with her family during this crisis. She’d have a
few days to spend with them before the hard part of the trial began.

He dashed into the courtroom with mere minutes to spare. As Gabe slid into the empty seat next to Isabella, he tried not to show his shock at her pale, drawn appearance. She looked a wreck.

“Gabe! Manny said you’d be here. I’m so torn about staying or going home.”

“Any word on Christina’s condition?” he asked, not caring who saw him rub life back into Isabella’s cold hands.

She gave a shake of her head. “Not a word. Manny sounded frantic.”

“If they’d get this show on the road, with luck we’ll be done early enough to get you back to Callanton to see your new niece or nephew. Unless—will that be too hard on you, Isabella? To see a baby, I mean.”

She squeezed his fingers. “It will, but not as hard as if Christina lo-loses this baby. Her first. God, Gabe, I couldn’t handle another funeral. I couldn’t.”

“Whoa! Manny didn’t even hint that was a possibility.”

Members of the defense team whirled and glared at them. Gabe belatedly realized everyone else was standing because the judge had entered the room.

They’d been wrong in assuming the final jurors would be seated quickly. Five o’clock rolled around, after a grueling day of first one lawyer dismissing a juror, then the other throwing out the next one. Everyone left in a snit.

“James is concerned,” Isabella said as Gabe shut them both into the Lexus. “He’s determined the last three slots on the jury should go to women.”

“It’s apparent the defense team knows and intends
to block him. Here’s my cell. Phone Manny and find out what’s going on. I think we should head back to Callanton tonight.”

“And not see who the last jurors are?” She bit her lip. “I want to stay. I hope they can complete the jury selection on Friday.”

The phone rang then, and Isabella almost dropped it.

“Manny, thank heaven,” she cried. “How’s Christina? You have a girl?” She covered the phone. “They have a daughter,” she informed Gabe. “She didn’t need a C-section?” Turning, Isabella spoke into the phone again. “So, everything went slow but fine? You named her Manuela. Well, that’s original.” She rolled her eyes at Gabe. “Actually, it didn’t wind down today. No progress. Hopefully tomorrow. Either way, I’ll be home for the weekend. It’s okay, Manny. Tell Rick to get a life. Hug Christina and the baby for me.” She said the last brightly. Too brightly.

Gabe knew that both the ordeal in court and the shaky birth of her niece had rattled Isabella. “What’s there to eat at the cottage? Do you want to go out somewhere instead? Somewhere nice where we can toast Manuela’s entry into the world?”

“What about those blasted reporters?”

“I was thinking of the resort dining room. From what I saw, it’s pretty posh.”

“How posh? I packed one dress, raw silk, but nothing out of the ordinary.”

“You could wear a laundry bag and still be the most beautiful woman in the room.”

Isabella snorted in disbelief and averted her eyes.

It pleased Gabe to see some pink appear in her cheeks. She’d looked like a damned ghost.

And he’d been right on the mark, he saw an hour
later when she emerged from the bathroom wearing a sleeveless black dress that hit her mid-thigh. He could barely keep his eyes in his head and didn’t even attempt to stifle a growl of pleasure.

“Stop. You’re too good for my ego, Gabe.”

“It’s about time someone is. Do you want to walk or drive?”

“Walk. It’s cool, but I brought a coat. It’s not far.”

Gabe hadn’t expected her to agree to a glass of wine. He ordered a bottle after they were seated and handed menus. She surprised him as she often did.

“Remind me to tell Louis I’ve found a red wine better than his.” She licked her lips and Gabe felt rooted to his chair. He fumbled for words.

“How’s the work going on your house?” she asked.

“It’s humming right along,” he managed after a few seconds. “The deck’s half done. I tore out kitchen cupboards last night.”