Red Zone (20 page)

As she sat and listened to Chris and Elizabeth’s wedding plans, Rebecca began to relax a little. She’d known the personal questions would come, and she’d tried to prepare herself. With any luck, she’d been convincing enough. She would be surprised if that was the end of it, though. From the little she’d read on Paul, the man was good at his job, and that usually meant not settling for half answers. No, she knew that either she or Gage would have more questions to answer before the weekend was finished. 

Gage continued to touch her on and off throughout dessert, even though he’d released her hand shortly after the toast. Something about having him there, knowing he was supporting her, had given her the boost she needed to answer his mother and brother’s questions. She still didn’t understand this hold he seemed to have on her, but she was quickly coming to the conclusion that fighting it, no matter how logical it may be, was a losing battle. For whatever reason, fate had thrown them together. At least for a while.

She allowed her gaze to linger on his form at her left. The memory of their kiss upstairs made her lips tingle again. No matter how much she tried to deny it, she wanted him. Even if there was no future for them, Megan was right. Why shouldn’t she have some fun? She’d been responsible all her life. Of course, she’d be responsible with Gage as well, but she could do that and enjoy herself at the same time, right?

He caught her gawking at him and smirked. She was encouraging him, and for once, she didn’t care. 

The evening seemed to drag on forever. After the table was cleared, the men gathered in the kitchen to do the dishes, while the women went into the living room with coffee. Talk continued about the wedding. Even Megan joined in, offering her opinion on flowers and tuxedos. 

Rebecca was only half paying attention. It didn’t matter anyway. She wouldn’t be around come spring. Who knew where she’d be in March? Her job took her all over the United States. Of course, that all depended on whether or not she ever got clearance from psych. 

Eventually, the men joined them in the living room. Gage came to sit beside her on the couch, placing his arm behind her and resting it on her shoulders. He pulled her closer, and she let him. She wasn’t quite sure how she was going to act on her epiphany exactly, considering they were going to be staying at his parents’ house the next few days, but she wasn’t too worried about that. It was only a matter of time before Gage would initiate something again. When he did, she would go with it. 

Everyone was so caught up in conversation, they didn’t realize the late hour until Chloe began rubbing her eyes. Paul checked his watch, and a few others did the same. It was already after ten. 

Paul stood, Chloe hanging tightly to her father’s neck. “If you’ll excuse us, I need to get someone here ready for bed.”

Paul began walking out of the room. “Meg . . . mmm.” Chloe whined against her father’s shirt.

He stopped. 

“What? You have to turn your head so I can understand you, sweetheart.”

“Meg . . . in.” This time she twisted her body and reached for what she wanted. Megan. 

“Megan’s going to stay down here and talk with everyone else. We need to get you a bath and into bed.”

The little girl shook her head. “Sleep with Meg . . . mmm.” 

Paul glanced over his shoulder at his mom. Then at Megan. “Um . . .”

“I don’t mind,” Megan said, answering the unspoken question. “I mean, I don’t know where I’m sleeping, but it’s fine with me if she wants to share.”

Mary stood. “I was going to let you and Chloe have the pullout downstairs and let Megan have the couch in here.”

He nodded. “I’ll take the couch, then, and they can have the downstairs,” he said, then turned to Megan. “If that works for you.”

“Works for me.” She smiled. 

“Happy now?” Paul asked his daughter. “We’ll go get your bath and get you ready for bed. Then I’ll put you downstairs, and Megan can join you when she’s ready.” The little girl began to whine. “Stop.” He didn’t raise his voice, but it was enough for Chloe to end her fussing. Before she could say anything more, Paul turned back around and walked up the stairs. 

“Well, that was interesting,” Chris said.

“Yes, it was. I’ve never seen Chloe get so attached that quickly before,” Mary added.

“She’s a great kid.” Megan smiled.

“You’ll get no arguments from anyone here. Now, if we could only get a few more grandchildren just like her,” Mike said, looking pointedly at his sons.

“And on that note . . .” Trent stood. “I should be heading out.”

“You’re not staying here tonight?” Gage asked.

“Nope. I figured the house was full enough. Plus, I have to run and check on a sprinkler system that’s been malfunctioning, first thing. No reason I need to be waking any of you up at the crack of dawn.”

Trent leaving sparked another round of activity. There were hugs given by each of the Daniels family, including Elizabeth. The only two left out of the commotion were Rebecca and Megan. 

After good-byes were said and Trent was on his way, Chris leaned over and whispered something in Elizabeth’s ear, causing her to giggle. “Um. I think we’re going to call it a night as well. I know how this house is in the mornings.”

Then Gage was standing. “That’s not a bad idea.” He reached out his hand, encouraging Rebecca to join him. She took it and stood. 

Mary, still over by the door, shook her head, smiling. “Megan, why don’t I show you where you’re going to be sleeping. There’s a bathroom down there where you can get changed.”

“Sure. I just need to get my things . . .”

“My room is the first door on your left,” Gage answered her unspoken question.

“Great! Thanks.” Megan disappeared up the stairs.

Chris and Elizabeth were next. 

“Do you two have everything you need up in your room, Gage?” Mary asked. Rebecca hadn’t been sure of the sleeping arrangements, but it was apparent that Mary had no issues with her boys sleeping with their significant others.

“Yeah, I think we’re good, Ma. Thanks.”

They moved toward the stairs in time to see Megan on her way down. When she saw them, she gave Rebecca a sly smile. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” she whispered as she passed them. 

Gage heard her and chuckled.

Rebecca ignored her. 

She continued to hold onto his hand as they ascended the stairs to his room. Once inside she released her hold on him, not really sure what to do with herself. They would sleep, yes, but what about
other
stuff? Would he try something? She wasn’t sure. He was cocky and confident, but she’d also noticed he was more subdued around his family. Maybe that was because they all seemed to have big personalities. She could only imagine what it would have been like growing up in a house when they were all teenagers.

He walked to the bed and opened his duffle bag. Removing a smaller bag, he tossed the larger one into the corner. “Let me check and see if Paul’s done in the bathroom.”

She stood, motionless, waiting for his return. It was silly she was so nervous. It wasn’t as if she’d never been with a man before. It wasn’t as if she was going to
be
with Gage. All she knew for sure was they would be spending the night in the same bed and sleeping together, actual
sleeping
together, which was something they’d already done.

Gage was only gone about thirty seconds. “He’s drying her off now. They should be finished in a minute or two if you want to get your things. The bathroom’s right across the hall. I’m going to run downstairs and use the one on the first floor.”

“Okay.” She knew that sounded lame but wasn’t sure what else to say. 

As promised, Paul walked out of the bathroom less than five minutes later with a very sleepy Chloe cradled in his arms. “All yours,” he said as he walked past. 

“Thanks.” Rebecca grabbed her suitcase and hurried into the bathroom. She went through her nightly routine as quickly as possible, not sure how long it would take Gage downstairs, or if someone else might need to use the bathroom after her. 

When she emerged fifteen minutes later, she didn’t feel any more confident than she had before she’d gone in. She was also fairly certain Gage would already be in the room waiting for her. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she walked back down the hall and into his room. 

The sight that greeted her almost had her turning around, running back down the hall, and locking herself in the bathroom. Gage stood turned away from her, looking at something on one of his bookshelves, in nothing but his underwear. Her mind was suddenly bombarded with images of her hands on his very firm backside, pressing him closer. The mental picture caused her to blush. She turned her back to him before he caught her staring.

“Hey, beautiful,” he said, walking toward her. His arms slipped around her waist, pulling her against him. 

“Hi,” she whispered. With only his underwear and her thin pajamas between them, there wasn’t much she didn’t feel of his body, even though it seemed to be behaving itself for the most part. 

He brushed her hair away from her neck and rested his chin on her shoulder. “You ready for bed?”

“Yes.” Her response squeaked out, and she wondered why, just this once, couldn’t she be confident like Megan?

To her surprise, Gage backed away, pulling her with him. 

When he reached the bed, he released her, pulled the covers back, and invited her to get in before strolling to the other side and slipping under the sheets himself. It was a double bed, smaller than the one she slept in at his house, but there was still a decent amount of room. Or there would have been if he had wasted any time closing the distance between them and wrapping her securely in his arms. 

“Goodnight, Rebecca,” he said, kissing the back of her neck.

She sighed, allowing herself to enjoy the feeling of him surrounding her. Closing her eyes, she placed her arm over his and intertwined their fingers. “Goodnight, Gage.”

Chapter 18

He was holding something soft and warm in his hand. It took him longer than it should to figure out what it was, but in his defense, he’d just come out of one of the deepest sleeps of his life. Opening his eyes, he was greeted with the top of Rebecca’s head. Sometime in the middle of the night, they’d adjusted their positions to where he was slightly above her, her head resting just below his chin. From there, he had a clear view of his hand as it cradled her breast. It was the first time he’d touched that part of her, and it only fueled his desire to strip off her clothing and continue his exploration without anything between them. 

His lower half was already awake, and his current train of thought wasn’t helping. He needed to move. No matter how much he wanted Rebecca, this wasn’t the time. His mom was an early riser, and since the sun was already peeking through the curtains, she was most likely awake. His mom might have been open-minded about him being an adult and having his girlfriend sleep in his bed with him, but he didn’t think she would be very happy about hearing her son and his girlfriend going at it. 

Rebecca moved in her sleep, unconsciously rubbing against his erection. He groaned and held his breath, willing his brain to override his body. One thing he knew for certain. He had to get out of there. 

Gently, he removed his hold on her breast before easing away from her body. He was almost free and clear when she rolled over and her hand landed on his thigh, just inches from where he was aching for her. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and removed her hand. The woman had no idea what she did to him. He threw on a pair of jeans and practically ran from the room. 

Paul was sitting on the couch, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, when Gage reached the bottom of the stairs. He looked up. “Morning.”

“Morning.” 

“Ma’s in the kitchen starting breakfast. I heard her moving around in there a few minutes ago. Chloe asked for pancakes this morning, and you know how Ma can’t seem to tell her no.”

Gage smiled. “True. But she can pretty much ask any of us for anything and we’d be hard-pressed to deny her.”

“Yes, I know,” he said in mock disgust before grinning. “It’s hard for me to say no to her sometimes. Being her dad, however, means I sort of have to.”

“Being her uncle means I don’t.” Gage chuckled.

Paul’s chest shook in a silent laugh. 

“I’m going to see if I can swipe some coffee. You want some?”

“Please.”

Gage left his brother in the living room and walked into the kitchen. His mom was at the sink rinsing blueberries. She looked over her shoulder and smiled. “Coffee’s over there,” she said, motioning to the coffeepot on the counter. 

“Thanks,” he said, taking two mugs from the cabinet and filling them. “Paul says you’re making pancakes.”

His mom never missed a beat as she spread a towel out on the counter and laid a strainer full of berries on top. Then she reached in a lower cabinet and retrieved a large mixing bowl. “That’s right. Everything should be ready in about fifteen minutes. That way I can just pop them on the griddle when everyone’s ready.” 

He walked over and placed a kiss on her cheek. “Thanks, Ma.”