Chapter 22
"No way am I riding in that." Marisol stood with folded arms, glaring at Gabe.
Paige shifted from one foot to the other, shooting a concerned look at Grace, who looked equally as uncomfortable to be witnessing the battle of wills between mother and son.
The hour-long drive to the Arboretum in Yakima had been heaven. With Marisol and Grace in the backseat, Gabe held her hand most of the way. The tension that had been present between them at PT this week had drained away, and Paige determined to enjoy every moment of this day.
When they decided to drive to the botanical gardens together, Paige had insisted Marisol take the front seat, but Gabe's mother refused.
"Oh no, Mija, a mother should never come between her son and the future mother of her grandchildren."
Paige was so stunned by the comment and Marisol calling her Mija that Gabe's mother claimed the spot in the back seat before she could.
And now, Gabe stood over the wheelchair he'd pulled from the trunk of his car, insisting his mom get in it.
"I'm not an invalid." Marisol held her ground. "You all need to stop treating me like one."
A look of guilt flitted across Gabe's face, but he didn't back down. "These gardens go on for miles, Mom, you know that. You'll wear yourself out if you try to walk them all."
"I'll feel like a fraud if I ride around in that all day."
"You don't have to ride in it all day. Just part of it." He grinned as he winked at Paige. "I'll make Paige take turns with you. She likes being pampered like that."
Paige felt her hackles rising until she locked gazes with Gabe.
His expression held both pleading and affection. "There are a lot of gardens here. I don't want anyone to overdo it."
Paige was getting stronger, but walking through the gardens would likely be as exhausting for her as it was on Marisol. A sudden warmth shot through her at Gabe's thoughtfulness, making the warm summer day even hotter.
Despite the distance between them this week, it was nice to know he'd been thinking about her as well as his mother. She loved the glimpse this sweet, caring act gave her into the man she'd fallen for.
"Does that mean I get a turn too?" Grace asked with a grin.
"Sure, right after you push me. I'm the old man after all." He pretended to rub his aching back, which made them all chuckle. "Okay ladies, who's riding first?"
Marisol, defiant expression still firmly in place, glared at her son then scowled at Paige and Grace.
Paige was about to volunteer to take the first ride to help smooth things over, when Grace said, "Mom, if you overdo it today, you won't feel good enough to go to church tomorrow. The Allred sisters were worried about you when you weren't there last Sunday."
"Fine. I can't believe you're all ganging up on me." Marisol shook her head before dropping into the chair. "Grace, you push, so Gabe and Paige can walk together."
"No problem." Grace winked at Gabe as she stepped behind the wheelchair. "I'm sure the lovebirds would like to hold hands anyway."
Heat filled Paige's face, but she wasn't about to argue. In fact, she had to bite her tongue to keep from thanking Grace less than a minute later when Gabe laced his fingers through hers.
They fell into step behind Grace and Marisol, strolling slowly, but passed them when the ladies stopped to take pictures of the lavender-colored rhododendrons. Before long, they were twenty yards ahead of the others, but Paige didn't mind.
It almost felt like she and Gabe were on a real date. She was determined to enjoy it for all it was worth, knowing she might still end up with a broken heart.
"I meant it when I said I want you to take a turn in the wheelchair," Gabe said.
"If this place is as big as you say, you won't hear any complaints from me."
Surprise registered on his face. "You've never been here before?"
"No, most of our family outings were spent at my uncle's ranch or at the lake where my mom's family has a cabin."
Gabe asked questions about both the ranch and the lake, and they got caught up in conversation as they walked. He continued to hold her hand, and thanks to the beautiful flowers and greenery surrounding them, Paige felt like she was in paradise.
She didn't realize how self-centered Phillip was until she compared him to Gabe. Phillip hadn’t bothered to learn anything about her family.
He only met her parents once, because they made the trip to Seattle and insisted on taking them to dinner.
Phillip spent the whole time talking about himself, telling what she now realized was lies.
So why did he come back, insisting they belonged together?
And why am I thinking about Phillip while I'm holding Gabe's hand?
She hoped to never see Phillip again, but his reappearance in her life had continued to bug her the past few weeks.
It wasn't about me. It was all about him.
Despite what Phillip said about dumping Avery, Paige was certain it had been the other way around. Any smart woman in Avery's position, would have shown Phillip the door. But he couldn't bear to lose. The narcissist in him needed to win. He didn't want Paige. He only wanted to conquer.
She looked up at the wispy clouds in the blue, summer sky and sent up a prayer of gratitude.
Thanks for the love reset.
It had been four long, hard months since her accident, but she was grateful God had remodeled her life. She'd dodged a bullet when it came to Phillip. And she'd met a man who was compassionate and thoughtful. Gentle and kind. He was attractive, inside and out.
It still bothered her that he insisted on lying to his mother but being with Gabe felt right. She thought often about what Riley said about God bringing her home and Gabe to Providence. Maybe their paths were always meant to intersect for more than professional reasons.
Here in eastern Washington with Gabe was where she belonged. She'd never felt these powerful, all-consuming emotions with Phillip. What she thought was love four months ago had been nothing but a cheap facade that rusted when the truth came out.
She looked up at Gabe and grinned. Their future was uncertain, but her feelings for him couldn't possibly be stronger. Well, maybe they could after they’d been married a few years.
That thought flooded her with warmth and made her heart dance in her chest.
Gabe caught her staring at him. "What?"
Paige continued to grin as she shrugged. She couldn't help it. She smiled when she was happy, and this was the happiest she'd been in years.
He squeezed her hand. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Do I need a reason to look at you?"
"It's your smile. It makes me think you're up to something."
She stopped walking and stepped close to him. Her expression serious as she tried to keep her teasing mood from showing on her face. "Do you want me to be up to something?" Her voice sounded sultrier than she'd intended.
Gabe's eyes widened, and a grin split his face. "It depends." His own voice dropped, sending a ripple of warmth cascading over her as he shifted closer.
"On what?" She searched his warm brown eyes. She could get lost in their depths.
"If it has something to do…" He ran a finger along her jaw, bringing it to a stop near her mouth. "…with your pretty, glossy lips…" Each word sounded like a seduction as he caressed her bottom lip with his thumb. "…wishing me happy birthday."
Paige let out a breathy sigh and leaned into him. She moistened her lips with her tongue and watched his eyes grow wider. "Happy birthday, Gabe!" She threw her arm in the air as she shouted the words. Then she burst into laughter at the shocked look on his face.
She turned to move away from him, but his arms caught her around the waist and pulled her against his body. The heated look in his eyes doused her teasing mood and pushed the air from her lungs. The warm summer day suddenly got a lot hotter.
"You're such a tease." The deep timber of his voice sent goose bumps racing across her skin despite her rising temperature.
"I really am." Her smile returned.
Hope flared in her chest. She didn’t know what happened since last Saturday to cause this change in him, but like a sponge, she'd soak up every ounce of attention Gabe gave her. Hopefully, somewhere along the way, she’d convince him he didn't have to choose between her and his mom.
Their relationship could survive the storms he faced with his mother.
She'd show him she wasn't a flighty woman whose head turned every time she didn't get enough attention.
"I can tease too." His voice dropped even lower as he settled his hands on her hips and tugged her a little closer.
"Is that so?" She took her time sliding one hand up his chest and over his broad shoulder, before finally bringing it to a stop at the back of his neck to play with his thick hair that was due for a trim. The other hand she kept firmly planted on his chest.
He lowered his head, bringing his lips close to her ear. "Teasing is really just…" His warm, minty breath against her ear and cheek sent her pulse racing. "…enjoying another person's discomfort."
She tilted her chin, angling her mouth closer to his ear. "Hmm…I don't think you're very good at it, because I'm quite comfortable at the moment."
A low chuckle rumbled through his chest, and his hands tightened on her hips. "So am I."
"Correct me if I'm wrong…" She leaned back to look him in the eye. "But it sounded like you were begging for a birthday kiss."
His lips quirked. "Begging is a strong word."
"Your birthday was yesterday. I brought you cupcakes. If you wanted a birthday kiss, you should have asked for it then."
"In front of Nikki, Gladys, and Luke? No way."
"I'm sure Nikki would have been happy to give you a birthday kiss too." Paige laughed. "And I bet it wouldn't have taken much persuasion to get Gladys to join in."
Gabe growled, pulling her flush against him.
"It was your idea to celebrate my birthday today with my mom and sister.
So…" He kept one arm clamped around her waist as he lifted the other hand to caress her neck, his thumb lingering on the racing pulse below her jaw. "You should give me a gift today."
"I have presents for you back at your mom's house." Paige couldn’t hide the breathlessness in her voice. Resisting was getting harder by the second.
"But I want one now." His voice dropped to a whisper. His face inched closer to hers as he slid his hand into her hair, sending tingles racing across her scalp. He cupped the back of her head.
She lifted her chin, angling it closer to his. "That sounds a lot like begging to me." Her words were airy; the teasing swallowed up by the anticipation of his lips on hers.
"Aren't we all beggars?" His breath mingled with her own, and the final thread of Paige's self-control evaporated.
"Indeed." He may as well have spoken the word, because his mouth was on hers before it had fully left her lips.
Warmth and contentment swept over Paige as Gabe's mouth claimed hers. The electrifying thrill she experienced the first time they kissed hit her again, amplified this time by a weeks’ worth of stubble on his jaw.
She plunged her fingers into the thick hair at the back of his neck as she savored each caress of his lips against hers. Her other hand gripped the t-shirt at his chest. If she didn't somehow ground herself, she feared she'd float away with the exhilarating energy that buzzed through her.
Sheer perfection. Gabe's kiss was what she’d been missing all her life. Here in his arms was where she belonged. Even the birds singing in the trees above her seemed to agree. She would never tire of kissing Gabriel Rivera.
He let out a small moan as the kiss became more urgent and exploratory. She eagerly melted into him, silently giving him her heart and soul. He might regret this later, but she never could.
She enjoyed every stroke of his lips against hers and brush of his fingertips against her scalp. She'd ride this wave for all it was worth, knowing it would come crashing down on the shore all too soon.
She kissed him for several long delicious moments before pulling her lips from his. He held her close in the circle of his arms, where she was content to stay until she'd caught her breath.
"Happy birthday, Gabe," she whispered.
"Mmm… All other gifts will pale in comparison to that."
They locked gazes. A myriad of emotion flitted through his eyes. She struggled to interpret them, but she was certain she saw contentment and desire in the depths of his gorgeous brown irises.
Marisol and Grace's voices drew closer, and disappointment settled over her. Especially when Gabe released her and took her hand.
"Thank you for spending the day with me and my family," he said as they started walking again.
"It's my pleasure. Seriously. I love your mom and sister."
And I'm head over heels in love with you.
If she voiced the words out loud, Paige feared he'd back off, distancing himself from her like he did last week. She couldn't pressure him. But she could pray he would see they were meant to be together.
"They like you too." The contemplative look he gave her before his lips turned up in a smile seemed to hold a promise.
Of what, she wasn't sure, but she'd take whatever he offered.