Convincing Lina: A Bachelor of Shell Cove Novel (The Bachelors of Shell Cove Romance Book 2) (24 page)

Walking down the stairs to find Team Rice around the longest oak table Lina had ever seen in a house brought a smile to her face. How cool was this? For most of her life, she sat at a small rectangular table in the kitchen while her mother cooked. Phoenix, with his dark eyes, to die for lashes and jet colored hair falling past his shoulders studied her.
 

“Good morning, you two, hope you got a good night’s rest,” Gideon’s father said.

“We certainly didn’t,” Ian coughed behind his coffee mug. A man she didn’t recognized rose from the table and crossed the room to Gideon. Both men stood surveying one another, before the stranger threw his arm around Gideon for a brief moment, then stood back. He was a lean man with piercing green eyes, golden brown waves, and frameless glasses.

“It’s good to have you home Gideon.” Expecting the customary
it’s good to be home
response from Gideon, Lina watched as the room’s occupants fell into quiet at Gideon’s lack of response. Lina glanced around the room taking in the different measures of disappointment and frustration on their faces, but the pain and sadness in Jacob’s eyes spurred her into action. Pasting a smile on her face, she placed her right arm around his waist. Initiating physical contact with Gideon was something she rarely did, then action garnered the desired response. He turned lowered his head, holding her captive in a heat gaze as a thick arm pulled her close to his side. She had his attention. With increasing pressure, she dug her nails into his right flank, until he got the message. He pushed out a low hiss through clenched teeth.
 

“Thanks Caleb.” Gideon’s reply was appropriate, but his voice was blunt. “What time did you get in?”
 

 
Caleb choked on his coffee, as Nairobi busied herself studying the ceiling.
 

“Thane told me you are a nurse. I could have used a little mouth to mouth just then,” Caleb said while grinning at her. Lina’s mouth fell open.
 

“I’ll give you fist to mouth resuscitation. You want it now or later?” So this was the life of a large family, jealousy, threats, strained conversations, and accusations around the breakfast table. She loved it.
 

“I’m Caleb by the way. Been awhile since you lived in the main house. Guess you forgot the walls are thin.” Lina had the decency to blush, but it was invisible to the naked eye. Gideon glared at every person in the room. His face hardened as he noticed Phoenix was staring at her.
 

“Phoenix, I hope you have the number to your medicine man because he should start heading this way.”

“Why is that big brother?” Gideon visibly bristled at the words big brother.
 

“Let your eyes roam my woman again.” Lina felt herself being pulled. Her back made contact with Gideon’s chest.

“I have a question for your woman, but I don’t want to offend her.” Lina felt her spine stiffened. Here it comes. Rejection. Was his family questioning his choice in her? He would doubt the connection they shared if his family disapproved of her. She would be alone, again. Never one to walk away from a fight she gave Phoenix his opening.
 

“What’s your question?” she heard herself ask. He took a slow drag from his coffee mug.
 

“You got any sisters?”
 

“Sisters?”

“Yeah, that don’t mind gettin’ a little Indian in them.” His wide grin was pure devilment.
 

“Phoenix!” Lina looked up to find a red-faced Jacob.
 

“We must’ve dropped you out of the saddle too many times. Head into town and stop by my campaign office. Talk with Fallon about increasing my social media presence.”

“How about I use social media to contact Fallon?” Phoenix’s face held a wicked grin.
 

“That wouldn’t get you out of the house and away from your brother’s…guest,” Jacob said. Phoenix crossed the room. She jumped when he placed a quick kiss to her cheek.

“Man…,” Lina said touching her cheek.
 

“I like your spirit, Lina. Welcome to the family, lil sis.” Gideon growled at Phoenix from behind her.

“Medicine man,” Gideon ground out. But Phoenix had placed his cup in the sink and was at the door.
 

“Don’t forget about my request, lil sis.” Phoenix tossed up a salute before walking out the door.
 

“Is the mountain cabin available?” Gideon asked no one in particular.
 

“Yep, you’ll need fresh linens and some food.” Jacob responded as he placed his coffee mug in the sink.

“Everything still in the same place?” Gideon asked.
 

“It’s home, son. Home doesn’t change.”

 
“Lina and I are moving out today.” Her eyes flew up to Gideon’s.
 

“We just got here. I don’t want to be in the middle of nowhere.”

“Don’t worry. The cabin is at the back of the property and the foot of the mountain.” She knew uncertainty was reflected on her face. “We’ll have more privacy.” She lowered her head in embarrassment remembering all the knowing looks she got when they first entered the kitchen.
 

“Thane can drive up enough supplies to last you a couple of days,” Jacob spoke up.

“Lina and I left in a hurry. I need to borrow a truck.”

“We kept your truck tuned-up. It’s in the rear barn.” Jacob gestured behind him. “The keys are on the pegboard by the door.” Gideon’s arms around her waist stiffened. The tension level in everyone’s face had increased by fifty percent.
 

“We won’t be gone long. We need clothes. Lina needs a descent pair of shoes.” She looked down at her dust covered sandals.
 

“Lina you can shop in my closet.” Nairobi said. Lina opened her mouth to refuse, but Nairobi held up a hand. “Before you refuse, we have two women’s clothing stores in town. Unless you like an array of sunflowers, butterflies, bumble bees and ladybugs across your chest and back, and on your feet you are going to be disappointed.”
 

Since she put it that way, Lina didn’t have a choice. “Okay, thanks Nairobi.”

“I have skinny jeans in sizes sixteen and up.” That announcement brought a smile to Lina’s face.

“Perfect.”

“Clothes bridges all gaps,” Nairobi joked.
 

“I’m in the loft over the rear barn. Gideon knows where it is.”
 

Again, what the flagnoid?

Lina let her eyes climb the walls of the Rice family barn. It resembled a mini replica of Noah’s Ark. She spun in a circle marveling in the vastness of the space.
 

“What is this place, exactly?” Lina asked.
 

“It’s a bank barn.” Gideon stated like that explained everything.

“Oh my goosebumps, rich people have an upgrade for everything.” Lina laughed at the absurdity.

A grin split Gideon’s lips, before he tossed his head back and laughed.
 

“You are such a city girl. Bank refers to the type of design, not the owner’s bank account. The barn is built into the hillside. The banks of the landscape allow more than one entrance to the second and third levels.” Lina nodded her head in understanding.
 

“This is a lot of space.” Lina gave him a quick glance, hopeful that her snooping went undetected.
 

“Jacob was a large animal veterinarian. There are a lot of nearby ranchers in the area. He’s semi-retired now. But most of the folks around here are loyal. He’s too kind hearted to turn people away. Nai helps him care for the animals and maintain the out properties.”
 

Okay he was the first to mention her name, this was her opening.
 

“You and Nairobi seem close.”
 

“We graduated in the same high school year group.”

“Right, makes sense. I guess…graduate from high school together, she moves into the loft and your truck is in her barn.” Gideon’s laughter filled the room.
 

“You’re jealous?” Her feet left the ground as Gideon lifted her in the air and spun her in a circle.
 

“That happy, huh?”

“Yes, ma’am. It’s about time. And there’s nothing between Nairobi and me.”

 
“Not now or not ever?” She had learned from experience that to get the correct answer from a man, a woman had to phrase the question exactly. Gideon narrowed his eyes at her.

“This is not a game between us. There has never been any romantic involvement between me and Nairobi. I consider her a part of the Rice family.” The way he phrased his response it was like he wasn’t included in the Rice family. From Lina’s perspective, he did more to exclude himself.
 

“Don’t you mean your family?”

“Jacob and Emma Rice took me in when my mother didn’t want me anymore. I am grateful. But we are not family.”

“Gideon, that doesn’t make sense. You may not share the same blood with your father and brothers but you obviously trust them or we wouldn’t be here.”

“Let’s not analyze…”

“Hear me out.” The look on his face told her he was resigned to let her speak, but he wouldn’t hear her.
 

“When we left Shell Cove, you said you were taking me home. Home is not Waverly Falls, it’s this group of people that you consider family.”
 

“I don’t have…,” Lina held up her hand to stop him.
 

“Why didn’t we go to a hotel or some other remote location?”

“Because.”

“That’s not an explanation.”

“Because I know the Rice’s will help me keep you safe.”

“Why are you convinced they will help? From what I’ve noticed, you haven’t been to visit in some years.”

“I haven’t been back since sophomore year of college.” Lina was doing the math in her head.
 

“Ten years.” Was he insane? He showed up, with her in tow, and he didn’t consider them family? Only family would accept this nonsense. But the psychiatric nurse in her would not let her speak the words aloud.
 

“How many non-family members would open their door to you, with a woman they don’t know in tow, after ten years of no contact?”

“Limited contact,” he muttered.
 

“What was that?”

“They call, I answer. I’ve talked to Ian.”

“He’s the lawyer, right?” Gideon nodded his head in agreement.
 

“Jacob has known me since I was born. My mother lived with her folks about five miles up the road. He’s a generous man.”

“Yes, your father is very kind. I like him.” Lina saw the hint of a smile cross Gideon’s face before he steeled it away and the hard lines returned to his face. “I don’t have a father.”

“Look Gideon, my father is gone and my mother refuses to give me any details surrounding his death. I wish a man had volunteered to step in and help my mother, be a father to me. My mother is still alone, and I don’t have another sole in this world other than her to call my own. So, if Jesus can accept Joseph, you-Dr. Rice can cut Jacob some slack.” He looked floored by her rant.
Good.
Jacob had welcomed them both with open arms and she liked the man. Jacob was the best kind of father. Father to another man’s children, what could be more noble?