When It's Right(68)
His hand swept down her neck to her shoulder. He kissed her forehead and stood and left.
With her eyes closed, the knock on the front door made her jump, but when Gabe walked in, she didn’t even flinch. She gave him a soft smile.
“Blake around?”
“Kitchen.”
“Feeling better?”
“Pharmaceutically mellow.”
Gabe smiled and laughed with her. Looking at him now, she wondered why she’d ever been afraid of him, when he looked so much like Blake. How could she have mistaken him for her father? Nothing but her mind playing tricks on her, and her subconscious letting her know she still needed time to deal with and overcome what happened to her—what she’d had to do to protect herself and Justin.
“Let’s hope Blake’s mellowed out, too.”
“He’s just looking out for me.”
“As he should. I just got off the phone with Ella. Expect a package from her. She really can’t wait to meet you. I hope you join us at the wedding. We want you there. I know Blake wants you there.”
“What is Ella sending me?”
“A surprise. She does that sometimes for her friends.”
Gillian didn’t know what to say. She had yet to meet Ella, but the woman was treating her like a friend. Gillian had been on the ranch for a while. It might be nice to have a girlfriend her own age. Grandma Dee was great, but a friend to talk to and share things with would be nice.
“I need to get on the road, so I’ll say goodbye to you and go find Blake.”
“Again, I’m really sorry for the way I acted.”
“Forget it. I have. Since you’re staying here, we’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other.”
“I hope so.”
Gabe left her. The meds made her comfortably numb and drowsy, but didn’t stop her from watching the men say goodbye at the front door with a hearty hug and smack on the back. They smiled at each other, completely at ease in each other’s company. Connected. More than brothers, they liked each other.
“Walk me to my truck.” Gabe opened the door and Blake followed him out, wondering what his big brother had to say in private.
Blake stopped next to the truck’s open window after Gabe climbed in behind the wheel. “What?”
“You’re robbing the cradle a bit there, bro. She’s younger than Dane. She’s younger than most of the women he dates.”
“I know how old she is. And Dane doesn’t date anyone. He sleeps with them. Gillian isn’t like those women.”
“No. She’s broken.” Blake opened his mouth to defend her, but Gabe held up a hand to stop him. “She’s on the mend, but she’s still got a long road ahead of her. You up for that?”
“Would you have let Ella handle her uncle alone?”
“No fucking way.”
“I won’t let Gillian go through this alone. Get to know her. All those things you love about Ella, her kindness, smarts, strength, resilience, determination, Gillian has all those things and more times ten. I don’t care how old she is, I care who she is.”
Gabe pressed his lips together and nodded. “That’s all that really matters. Mom and Dad really like her.”
“You don’t?”
“I do. I can’t wait to get to know her better. I assume she’ll still be around, and with you, when Ella and I get back from our honeymoon.”
“Count on it.”
“Great. I feel a family barbeque coming on.”
“We’re in.”
“Catch you later. Thanks for training Pain in My Ass.”
“Bo. His name is Bo.”
Gabe laughed and took off down the driveway with a wave out the window.
Blake went back in the house, closed the door, and walked over to Gillian. “I thought you’d be asleep by now.”
“Nearly there. Did your brother tell you to run away from me as fast as you can?”
“No. He thinks you’re too young for me.”
“Why? I thought all guys, no matter how old they are, want to date twenty-year-olds.”
“That’s what I told him.” She frowned. “I told him I’m not interested in your age, I’m interested in you. He’s just looking out for me, making sure you don’t leave me for some younger guy. Like Ken,” he added and wished he’d held his tongue about that concern.
Gillian huffed that away. “He’s a chameleon. You never know who he really is.”
“What am I?”
“Better than anyone I’ve ever met.”
“Good answer.” He leaned down and kissed her on the head. “Justin, come on. Let’s get your homework done,” Blake called into the kitchen. He sat on the floor beside Gillian, his back against the sofa. He looked over his shoulder and smiled. “Go to sleep. I got this.”