Summer Solace (23 page)

She nodded, not even wanting to tease. “Yes, Sir, I understand. I’ll be really careful, Gabe,” she promised. “Thanks.” 

He smiled and handed her the keys as he gave her a hug. He had his door open when she giggled. He turned around to see her holding a scrap of blue silk in one hand and a strip of condoms in the other.

“Care to -” She yelped when both were snatched from her and the console was slammed shut. Gabe saw her eyes grow huge and realized he had truly scared her.

“Sorry…um, I -” he stammered sheepishly.

“It’s okay, big brother,” Amber said. “I am not – repeat – not nine years old!” 

He grinned and quickly stuffed the items into the box he had in the space behind his seat.

She grinned and asked, “Do you want the rest of your stash?” 

Gabe gritted his teeth and nodded. She opened the console and passed him the remaining condoms. When she had emptied the console, she made a huge show of putting the remainder of her bag of gummy bears inside. “Can’t be too careful with these guys, you know. Too many wild animals and nephews and nieces running around.”  When she heard Gabe give an exaggerated groan, she looked up and giggled. “Hey, you have your treats and I shall have mine.” 

He nodded and then hauled her out of the truck.

Joanna had gone outside to see what was taking them so long. She frowned when she thought they were about to have a fight but then relaxed when she heard Amber laughing. She was standing on the porch when Amber and Gabe climbed out of the truck. Gabe took the steps two at a time and was soon kissing her as Amber passed them and disappeared into the store.

“What was that all about?” Jo asked when she was finally able to take a deep breath. He smiled and said it was nothing. “Well, I missed you,” she added and received another kiss as he admitted the same. She suddenly realized that she would be missing him far more in just a few days. “Gabe?” 

He looked down at her and saw the concern on her face. “Hey, honey, what’s wrong?” he asked.

“I just realized that you will be leaving soon. It’s way too far for us to commute daily. What are we going to do?” 

Gabe cupped her cheek and stroked his thumb over the soft skin. “We’ll work it out, Jo,” he reassured her. “Let’s not worry about that now, okay?  Let’s enjoy the time we’ve got left.” 

Joanna was taken aback. She had expected him to be as concerned as she. However, she didn’t want to push him. She didn’t own him and was suddenly a little insecure despite his declarations of love. She hid her concern and forced herself to smile and nod.

Gabe could tell it was forced but could do nothing to comfort her. He drew her back into his arms and kissed her again. When they separated, he smiled. “Amber’s thrilled, you know?” 

Joanna smiled and nodded, saying, “She’ll be fine. Between the three of us, we’ll have her set up in no time.” 

He nodded before asking for the key to her cabin. Joanna handed it to him without question. He explained his purpose. “I’m going to unload some of the stuff Amber brought back. She won’t need her books or most of the extra clothes and stuff she picked up while camping up with the family.” 

Joanna agreed that was a great idea and would save a trip later when she did move into Joanna’s spare room. “That sounds perfect. Why don’t you take a shower and rest at least a little while?” she suggested. “I know it was a long trip and you must be tired. There is beer and lunch meat in the refrigerator.” 

Gabe thought he might just do that. He promised to swing by and pick her up before dinner. Joanna watched him drive away, already missing him. Joanna waited until his taillights disappeared and then walked into the store. She found Amber already on her knees, rearranging the canned goods on the bottom shelves to make room for the new shipment.

“Hey, sorry about that, Amber. I should have greeted my new employee. Are you okay?” Joanna asked.

Amber glanced up and smiled. “Sure, I’m fine. Kim and Dan are great. They showed me how to stock and even use the price gun. It’s sort of fun,” Amber said waving at the cans she had already marked. Joanna laughed and wondered how long that would last. She saw Amber look back towards the door.

Amber’s voice was softer when she said, “Gabe is nuts about you, you know?  Don’t tell him, but I lost it and rolled my eyes when he practically knocked me over getting to you. You two are going to have to get used to having me around if I’m going to room with you.” 

Joanna smiled though she knew the girl was both teasing and being serious. “I’m sure we can work it out. I’m crazy about him as well, just so you know.” 

Amber grinned and teased, “Everyone knows, Jo. It is just so cool seeing the big meanie head over heels in love.” 

Joanna felt her heart swell and then jumped when Gabe spoke from right behind her. She thought he had gone already.

“Who are you calling a Big Meanie, Brat?” Gabe asked with a mock growl.

Amber giggled and picked up the pricing gun. “Sorry, Sir,” she said in her most serious voice. “I’m working and can’t be seen loitering with customers unless you want to buy something.” 

Gabe bent down and tugged on her ponytail. Amber yelped but he had stepped away before she could react. “Good to see you already earning your keep. I came back because a certain employee forgot to take her papers to work with her.” 

Amber groaned and accepted the folder she had left on the seat. “Thanks, Gabe,” she said.

He ruffled her hair and smiled. “No problem. It means I get another goodbye kiss,” Gabe replied as he reached for Joanna. Amber made a big show of pretending to gag as Gabe kissed Joanna again. He finally broke away and left again. Joanna stood, one hand on her throat as she attempted to calm her breathing. All three of her employees smiled. It was great to see people they cared for in love.

Chapter 16

Gabe was true to his word. Joanna and Amber were both ready and hungry. Joanna had decided that while Amber could work a few hours a day, she really needed to spend time with her family until the reunion was over. Amber had not argued because she knew the reunion had been planned basically for her benefit. She took off in the truck, driving really slowly as if to ensure her brother she would be very careful. Joanna smiled as Gabe followed driving her Jeep. He seemed more rested than he had earlier but seemed a bit distant.

Dinner was a relaxed affair. The adults had taught the children how to make ‘turtles’. Hamburger meat as well as all sorts of vegetables and potatoes were placed onto large pieces of foil and then closed and put into the fire. The meal was a simple one to prepare as well as to eat as the foil served as plates. All the kids were extremely proud of their accomplishment and Joanna found it wonderful that camping traditions were being passed down from one generation to the next.

The kids were thrilled to have S’mores again, thanks to Gabe’s shopping trip. Amber told everyone about her first day and Joanna was pleased to discover the young woman was very thrilled about her new job. Joanna could have stayed and visited with everyone but Gabe was soon pulling her up from her chair. He paused to look around the circle of chairs where his family sat. Scott grinned and assured him that unless there was some sort of emergency, no one would bother the two. Gabe nodded and took Joanna’s hand and pulled her towards the beach path. Joanna felt a moment of embarrassment as she thought about what his family must think he had in mind, especially since he had made it a point to pick up both the privacy flags. However, she felt her stomach clench and her panties moisten. She was pretty sure she had done nothing to earn a spanking, so was excited about returning to the beach. It had been where she and Gabe had first made love after reuniting.

They reached the beach and the simple beauty of it made her smile. The river was gently lapping against the shore, the sound calming. The twilight was just beginning but the moon had already made an appearance. Gabe surprised her by lifting her up and setting her on a large boulder. He put his arms at her waist and leaned in to kiss her. She melted against him and moaned when he pulled away.

“I love you, Joanna Calloway. I love you with all of my heart,” he said, his voice low and husky with emotion.

She felt her heart rate increase at the intensity of his stare as well as the tone of his voice. She swallowed hard. “I love you too, Gabriel Jamison,” she said, realizing she had never stopped loving him. “I’ll always love you.” 

His heart clenched at the promise in her voice. He smiled and gave her lips a quick kiss. Her mouth dropped open when he dropped to one knee. He pulled the ring box he had taken from his safe deposit box out of his pocket and opened it. Joanna didn’t even see the ring as her eyes were locked on his.

“I love you, Jo. I swear I always will. I promise to protect you and to keep you safe. I promise to provide for you and to lead you. I promise to try to be the best husband God ever put on the earth. Would you please do me the honor of becoming my wife?” he asked, his heart in his throat.

Her eyes were overflowing as she practically leapt off the boulder. Gabe reached up to catch her, dropping the box in the process. His arms closed around her as she sobbed.

“Gabe! Oh, Gabriel, I love you!” she cried, her voice choking with the love she felt.

After he kissed, her, he picked up the box and grinned. “I’m taking that as a ‘yes’,” he said.

She was laughing and crying as he slid the ring onto her finger. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him hard. When she pulled away, she looked at her hand that he was holding in his.

“It’s beautiful, Gabe. I never expected - but, oh God, I’m so happy.” 

He smiled and lifted her hand. He kissed her palm and she felt a jolt of longing flash along every nerve ending.

“It belonged to my grandmother and I know she is looking down on us right now. She would have loved you, Jo,” Gabe said, the memory of his grandmother filling his heart. “She would have loved knowing you were accepting her ring.” 

Joanna felt humbled and gave him a gentle kiss. “I wish I had known her, Gabriel,” she said wistfully as she looked at the antique ring on her finger. “I will treasure it forever.”  After a few moments, she shocked him by breaking into giggles. When he looked at her, with his raised eyebrow, she laughed harder.

“Care to share what’s so funny?” he asked.

She shook her head and then managed to choke out. “When you reached into your pocket, I thought you were going to pull out a - you know -a condom,” she admitted. “Then when you said your grandmother was looking down on us, all I could think of was how shocked she would be.” 

She dissolved into giggles again and though Gabe shook his head, he was smiling. “Don’t bet on it, Jo. After all, why do you think there are so many Jamisons in our family?” 

She smiled and they were soon kissing again. When he pulled her back down the path without first making love to her, she was a little surprised. However, her surprise turned to pleasure when they stepped back into the campsite. Every member of Gabe’s family was there, and all of them looking directly towards the couple. Joanna also saw Ian and Kim as well as Dan and realized that everyone she loved was there. Gabe raised the flags and waved them above his head in the prearranged signal that she had accepted.

Joanna began to cry as loving arms and shouts of congratulations engulfed her. Gabriel watched as all the people he loved welcomed his one true love into their hearts and knew his family was now complete. It was another half–hour before he could drag her away. He spoke privately with Kim who assured him that his plans had been set into motion. He thanked her and they left Kim and her husband happily munching on S’mores as Dan roasted marshmallows for everyone. Joanna was pleasantly exhausted by emotion and leaned against him when he seated her in the Jeep. He gave her a kiss before driving home.

Joanna stood at the threshold of the cabin as Gabe unlocked and opened the door. Some scent seemed to fill the air. She turned to Gabe to see if he was aware of it as well.

“Close your eyes, Jo and don’t open them until I tell you to,” Gabe said, his words slipping like velvet across her soul. She shivered and then nodded, her eyes closing obediently.

Gabe guided her through the door and then into her bedroom. She trusted him completely, knowing he wouldn’t allow her to stumble. Once they were in the bedroom, he told her to stand still and dropped her arm. She shivered again, the smell of something seeming to engulf every molecule of air she was breathing. Whatever it was, it was heavenly. She gasped when she felt something silky being pressed against her eyes and then relaxed, recognizing a blindfold. Her heart rate increased as Gabe fastened it securely behind her head.

“That’s good. Now, stay still. I’m going to undress you.”  His words caused her stomach to flutter and her blood to race through her veins. She felt him slowly remove her outer clothing until she was standing in only her underwear. “God, don’t ever stop buying these things. You are gorgeous,” Gabe said, his voice a whisper that sounded thick with desire.

Joanna smiled and gave him a slight nod. He ran his hands over her bottom, which was covered by a pair of lacy cream panties. The panties were ‘boy shorts’ and the lace hugged every inch of her bottom. Her creamy skin was visible through the lace. Her bra matched the panties and his fingers found her nipples already hard, threatening to poke through the lace of the cups. She bit back a moan as he gave each nipple a pinch, her hands rising with the need to take his wrists into her hands.

“No, keep your hands down,” Gabe ordered. “Don’t move, sweetheart.” 

Joanna groaned, but lowered her hands. He reached behind her and undid her bra, slowly drawing it down her arms and then off her body. His mouth replaced his fingers and she shuddered, her moans sounding deeper as her desire increased. Gabe suckled and nipped at her breasts for several long minutes until her breasts were swollen and her nipples tight. He moved to draw her panties down and off her legs, instructing her to lift one foot at a time and step out of them. When she was completely nude, he took her face between his hands and kissed her gently. Joanna surged up, her mouth glued to his, whimpers sneaking from her lips even as he devoured her mouth.