Rachel's Rebellion (Moss Bayou) (27 page)

She walked
down a brief hallway and peered into the first room she came to. The bathroom
held more boxes. The only evidence someone still lived here was a razor and a
toothbrush lying by the sink. She didn’t know what to think. What to feel. Was
he leaving? Leaving her? Is that why he hadn’t called?

With a few
more steps she found herself in his bedroom. A king size bed dominated the
room. Unlike the rest of the apartment, the bedroom was empty of boxes. Her eyes
gravitated to the unmade bed. Pillows were stacked together with one bearing
the imprint of where Gabriel’s head had rested. Tears began to sting her eyes.
Wyatt had said he was miserable. Leaving is how he was going to deal with
things? Obviously, Wyatt didn’t know about the boxes. Gabriel was leaving and
hadn’t told Wyatt. Gabriel was going to disappear from her life.

Forever.

She felt a
tear, then another, and then everything she’d held inside for the past two
weeks fell from her eyes. She fell onto the bed and pulled Gabriel’s pillow to
her. His scent filled her nose and then she really cried.

**********

Gabe let
himself into his apartment and locked the door behind him. He was tired. There
were a lot of things to clear up, finish, and delegate. All before his last day
in the office. With only three workdays left after the weekend, there was still
a good bit of work to complete. He was anxious to leave. His new position would
take him far away from Shreveport, the home that never really felt like home.
His new job was a promotion of sorts even if the pay was about the same. He
shrugged as he cleaned out the pockets of his tact pants and dropped everything
on the small table beside his couch. He unstrapped the holster and removed his
weapon as well. He would place his gun in the safe after getting a beer. A beer
would quench his thirst and wipe thoughts of her away from his mind. For a
little while.

With his
pockets emptied and the gun on the small table, he navigated around the stacks
of boxes and almost tripped on a brown leather bag. He looked at it. It looked
like one of those carry on travel bags. It wasn’t his. Stepping backward a few
steps, he retrieved his gun. Was someone in the apartment? The movers weren’t
due. He still hadn’t set up an exact move date. Mainly because he still didn’t
have an address to give them. He turned to survey the room. Boxes, more boxes,
the space that used to hold the dinette set he’d recently sold to a newly
engaged fellow officer. Everything was in its place. Everything was his. Except
the brown bag. He looked at the bag once more. There was a tag attached. He
stooped to read the tag.

Rachel
Emerson.

His heart
kicked into overdrive. She was here. He dropped the gun, forgot the beer and
went in search of the beautiful woman who held his heart. It didn’t take long
to find her. In his bed. Asleep. He paused at the door to just appreciate the
vision. She was beautiful. She was his. If she would have him. Guilt hit at
that moment. What if she didn’t want him? He hadn’t called. What if….

Deacon,
move your ass!

Quietly
walking to the bed, he smiled as he saw her hugging a pillow. Her eyes were
closed and her mouth was slightly open. He just couldn’t resist that. He was
only human, after all. Bending down to her, he softly kissed her cheek. She
moved slightly. He kissed her cheek once more and Rachel’s head turned enough
to grant him access to her lush lips. Softly, he brushed his lips on hers.
Electricity surged as it always did. Two weeks without her had not dimmed the response
even a bit. Or the need. He moved his lips against hers and she stirred. When
he licked her bottom lip, she jumped.

“Hi,
Beauty.”

“Gabriel?”
Her eyes were only half open. “Really you?”

“Yes. It’s
me.”

Rachel’s
eyes opened a bit more and then wider. “You don’t look like you. Your hair …
your face.”

“Amazing
what getting a haircut and a shave can do, isn’t it?”

“I love it,”
she whispered as she sat up.

“What are
you doing here?”

She
hesitated for a moment and then blurted out, “I came to get you. Make you see
things my way.”

“What?”

She sat up
straighter. “But now…I’m not so sure.”

“Sure about
what?”

“You,
Gabriel.” She looked away and his heart skipped a couple beats. “Wyatt, said
you were miserable.”

“Wyatt?”

“Yes. He
gave me the spare key to get in. He helped Lily talk me into coming to you.”

“He did?”

           
He watched something unreadable cross her face.

“Beauty?” He
reached for her and she pulled away. With no other choice he placed himself on
the edge of the bed and waited for her to speak.

“Gabriel,
you’re leaving aren’t you? That’s why your apartment is full of boxes, isn’t
it?”

His
heartbeat kicked a little as he smiled at her. “Yes, I’m leaving Shreveport. No
reason to stay here.”

He watched
as her head turned away from him. He could see her struggling with something.
He had to tell her.

Find the
words, Deacon.

“Rachel,” he
said softly. “I don’t think I have a right to feel the way I do. I don’t think
I’m ever going to take this feeling for granted.” He reached out and grabbed
her hand. “I love you, Rachel Emerson. From the very first moment I saw you as
I was driving through your town. Even from a distance you captured me.”

“Gabriel…”

“You are my
beautiful life waiting to begin. Until two weeks ago, I didn’t think I deserved
someone so special.”

“But, I
wanted to tell you…” she stopped and wiped a tear from her cheek. He looked at
her sitting there with that expression on her face. He fell in love with her
all over again.

“The boxes,”
Rachel finally said. “And, I didn’t hear from you…”

He pulled
her into his arms. “I love you, Rachel. Can we work on that subject first?”

She laughed.
“I love you Gabriel Deacon. With every breath I take. I love you.”

He couldn’t
resist any longer. He kissed her. Kissed her thoroughly. Two weeks of
frustration went into the kiss. Two weeks without her. When they finally broke
apart, he held her close to his heart.

“But…what
about the boxes? Why didn’t you call last week?” She pulled her head back to
look at him.

It was his
turn to laugh. “The boxes are ready for the movers. I’m leaving Shreveport,
remember? Told you a few minutes ago.”

“Oh.” She
looked sad again.

“The reason
I didn’t call last week?” He paused. “Truth was, it was killing me to talk to
you and not have you beside me. Work was busy and the time we had to talk was
so brief. There were so many things I wanted to say.” He shrugged. “When the
new job transfer came up, I figured we would talk about it face to face.
Actually, I figured I would find you… convince you to see things my way.”

“New job?”

“I requested
a transfer. My captain rushed it through. I’ll be working in the investigation
division of the State office in Houma.”

“You’re
moving to Houma?”

“No. If you
don’t mind, I’m moving to Moss Bayou.”

Rachel
looked perplexed.

“I want to hold
you every night. I want to make love to you every night. I want to kiss you
every morning. Get the idea?”

“Oh,
Gabriel,” she leaned in and kissed him sweetly. “I want that too.”

“So, what do
you say? Rachel, will you marry a cop with a lot of old childhood baggage?”

“I’ll marry
a cop with a bright and happy future.” Placing a hand on either side of his
face, she said the words his life depended on.

“Yes,
Gabriel. I will marry you.”

“I’m so glad
you’re the type of girl who picks up thugs in the dark shadows of parking
lots,” he murmured against her lips.

“As I asked
that night,” she whispered. “Can you kiss me?”

“Oh, Beauty.
I can definitely kiss you.”

Then he did.

Coming
Summer
, 2014

Lily’s Surrender

Find out
what happens next for the totally hot cop and the gorgeous fashionista.

Did they?

Will they?

About GiGi Duvall

When
writing about southern Louisiana, Cajuns, and the bayous, it's from real life.
The bayous of Southern Louisiana will always be home, even though she now makes
her home in Maryland. Her characters bring flaws, humor, and love to a town
that exists deep in her imagination.

Recently
asked how her characters come to life, she replied, “They do it all by themselves.
Every emotion, every flaw, and every reaction is designed by the characters.
I’m just in charge of the keyboard.”

Married to her very own Prince Charming and living happily ever
after, she designs happily-ever-afters for the characters she calls her
imaginary friends.

GiGi loves chatting with her readers. Check out GiGi Duvall on
Facebook, Twitter, and at
www.gigiduvall.com
, for all of the latest, including news and release
information about the Moss Bayou series.