Someone To Watch Over Me (Harlequin Super Romance) (22 page)

O
NE HOUR INTO
the two-and-a-half-hour drive from Callanton to Bend, Gabe glanced over at Isabella, who’d been asleep since he’d picked her up. He stifled a yawn, envying her. She hadn’t exaggerated one bit about the partying fools who’d attended Estrella’s wedding. For himself, he’d called a halt at 3:00 a.m., but he had no idea how long Isabella had stuck around. The long tables set up at each end of the Basque Center had never lacked for food, which was her doing.

Every time Gabe thought the musicians were winding down, a new group showed up with drums, horns and stringed instruments, and the crowds surged into the center of the hall again.

Gabe hadn’t danced so much in years. But he never circled the floor with Isabella. She wouldn’t dance with anyone except her brothers, one dance each. Gabe whirled around the floor with her sisters, her mother and her sisters-in-law, including Christina, who couldn’t see her toes due to her advanced pregnancy. Gabe met a lot of nice people at the wedding, and a few who studied him suspiciously.

Heading that list were Mr. and Mrs. Arana. They’d greeted him politely enough. But after listening to the whispers that trailed in the couple’s wake, Gabe realized that had he not known Isabella, the Aranas’ allegations might have raised doubts about her.

He managed to keep his promise and not confront them because everyone at the wedding strove so hard to be neutral.

The scenery flying past his window couldn’t compare to the lush valley they’d left behind. Right before they’d driven off from the Navarros’
caserío,
Luisa had pressed a sack of food into Gabe’s hands. Amid tears of regret about the family’s not going to Bend, she asked him to stop at a little town called Brothers. There was a roadside picnic area nearby, according to Luisa. He should get Isabella to eat something. According to signs, they were nearing the spot. Gabe shook Isabella gently.

She opened one eyelid. “Are we there?” Bolting awake, she straightened her suit and shined the angel pin Gabe had given her, which adorned her lapel.

He was pleased but didn’t say anything about it. “This isn’t Bend, but it’s our last chance to stretch our legs. We don’t want to go into court looking like we just climbed out of bed.”

“I’ve been so nervous, I can’t believe I actually slept.”

“Jury selection is boring. You won’t want to sit through it after today.”

“I will. If prospective jurors have to look at me every day, maybe they’ll think about what I’ve lost. Everything,” she said woodenly. “I’ve lost everything.”

Patting her arm, Gabe pulled into the lay-by. Theirs was the only vehicle on the high windswept plateau. Dark clouds had hung up on a distant mountain peak, and he thought it might rain. “When you went upstairs to get your suitcase, your mom gave me a sack of
talos,
jam and sausages.”

“I see a thermos. I only want coffee.”

“Too much caffeine on an empty stomach will make you jittery. At least eat part of a
talos.
It’ll be something to soak up the caffeine.”

“Mama wanted to come. I wish she could have. Although I’d rather have them all at the trial.”

“I know, sweetheart.” As they stepped from the SUV, Gabe tugged Isabella into an embrace.

She burrowed close, accepting his solid warmth. Even then she shivered.

He briskly rubbed her back. “I hope it’s warmer in Bend.” The city, which had begun as a ranch community like Callanton, had grown steadily, thanks to tourists headed for Sun River and Mount Bachelor. “If you’d rather eat while we travel, I think we’ll have time to check into the cottage, and freshen up before we need to be in court.”

“Really? I’d like that.” She ducked out of his arms so fast, Gabe cursed himself for making the suggestion.

Traffic remained light, and the rain held off. They reached the resort with an hour to spare. Gabe showed his ID at the main gate. A security guard called the front desk to confirm that they were registered, then provided Gabe with a sticker for his windshield and an electronic gate card. “The receptionist said you’re involved in the big court case that’s starting today. This card frees you up from checking with us each time. The gate arm swings shut fast, and ought to keep reporters from following you.”

“Thanks. Yeah, media will be a problem if the case goes to trial.” Gabe propped the tag where it could be readily seen and pocketed the card.

“Why did you say
if
the case goes to trial?” Isabella asked after they’d passed the gatehouse.

“Because it’d take too much time to explain the difference between phase one and phase two. Media coverage will triple if Julian’s found competent to be charged with murder.”

“He
has
been charged, hasn’t he?”

“Yes and no. The charge goes into effect if he’s medically and mentally sound.”

Isabella seemed to retreat inside herself. She let Gabe check into the facility for both of them and roused only to accept the second key he handed her. Her first response of any kind came in the form of a gasp when he unlocked the cottage and stood aside to let her enter.

“Gabe, this is impossibly luxurious! There must be a mistake. We can’t be getting all this for the amount you told me.”

“I qualified for frequent flyer upgrades. I traveled a lot for SOS.”

Isabella stepped to the middle of a central living space where light flooded in from clerestory windows. Turning slowly, she surveyed the thick gold carpet, the pale yellow walls, a beautiful brick fireplace surrounded by comfortable, inviting furniture.

Gabe pointed out a fair-sized kitchen and two couches that converted into beds before he led her to one of two bedrooms set on either side of a large, shared bath.

“I can’t stay here.” She grabbed the suitcase he’d set on her bed and started for the door.

“Wait! Why not? I’ve arranged to have the kitchen stocked while we’re out. I thought you’d like to have some meals here. The place offers hiking, horseback riding and indoor swimming. You’ll need to unwind after sitting all day in court.”

“What if someone reports that we’re…uh…staying together?”

“Who’ll know except us, your family and James Hayden? I was assured the resort staff is very discreet. The registry is kept under lock and key. It’ll be fine, Isabella. Or…is it…that you don’t trust me?” Gabe confronted her with fists on his hips. He tried not to show how much her answer mattered.

“I trust you.” As she walked past him, taking her suitcase back to the bed, it crossed her mind to wonder if she ought to trust herself. She alone knew how difficult it had been last night, watching him laugh and dance with her sisters. She’d cautioned herself a hundred times not to be jealous—he and she were nothing more than friends. But her heart refused to accept the truth that kept rearing its head.

He gazed at her stiff back for a few seconds, until her clipped statement sank in. “Well, good. Since that’s settled, why don’t you unpack. I’ll do the same. We have twenty minutes before we need to leave.”

Isabella sensed more than heard when he left her alone. Her knees had gone so weak, she finally turned and sat on the edge of the bed, clenching her shaking hands. Accepting these arrangements probably wasn’t smart. Definitely wasn’t smart.
What harm can come of it?
argued another part of her brain—the part Isabella chose to hear.
You’re a big girl. The cottage is almost as big as the house you shared with Julian. You managed to avoid him for weeks after you filed for divorce.

Feeling calmer, Isabella rose and hung her things in the closet. Storing her bath items in drawers and a cabinet where Gabe had already left his soap and shaving kit almost sent her running again.

She picked up a new bar of soap and sniffed the wrapper. A light, woodsy aroma, which Isabella recognized as Gabe’s, was discernible for only a second, as if his ghost had walked by. It was far superior to anything her brothers wore. Keenly aware of the fact that she couldn’t pass any counter displaying Julian’s aftershave without gagging, she wondered if her brain had drawn her to Gabe because she found this tangy scent so appealing.

Replacing the shaving kit where she’d found it, Isabella bent over the sink and splashed cold water on her face and wrists. She fluffed her hair and applied some fresh lipstick, refusing to let her eyes stray again to Gabe’s personal belongings.

“Ah, so you’ve finished,” Gabe said when she emerged from the bathroom. “Rather than take any more time, let’s stop somewhere on the way for coffee. I checked the phone book, and found a place near the courthouse.”

“I’d love a coffee with cream.” She slung her purse over her shoulder and advanced to the door. “I’ve got a beautiful view of snow-capped peaks from my bedroom window.”

“The clouds have disappeared. It may turn out to be a nice day.”

“I don’t know about nice, but not so gloomy at least.”

“I’m sorry, Isabella. It’s easy for me to look around and pretend I’m on vacation. You constantly live with the truth of why we’re here.”

“It’s a relief to finally get to this point. As the days and weeks passed, it was as if other people forgot what happened. Oh, not my family, but others. Whenever I go home at night, I still expect to see Toni and Ramon
coloring at Mama’s table or playing with my brothers’ and sisters’ kids. Over Christmas, I wanted to die.”

“God, Isabella.” Gabe reached out and clasped her hand.

“God is why I’m still here. My beliefs would never allow me to take my life or anyone else’s. Part of what’s so incomprehensible to me is that Julian and I were raised in the same faith. We rarely missed attending church.”

Gabe puzzled over her remarks. If she had all that figured out, why was it so difficult for her to accept that Julian’s mind might simply have snapped? Considering how defensive she always got, he didn’t say what he was thinking.

They picked up coffee before parking in one of the lots near the courthouse. As they entered the building, Gabe noticed that Isabella seemed to have trouble catching her breath. No wonder—a bailiff was coming down the steps leading a group of prospective jurors. “Are you okay?” he whispered near her ear.

“Silly, isn’t it?” she whispered back. “Julian’s the one who should have problems breathing. It’s just…these people look so ordinary, and they wield such power.”

“Guess I never thought of it that way. Keep in mind that most jurors take their responsibility very seriously.”

Isabella nodded as they entered a courtroom already filling up with people.

Hayden spotted them right off and motioned them up front. Gabe would’ve preferred to observe from the back of the room, although he knew James would want Isabella front and center.

“You can relax, Isabella. Neither Julian nor anyone
from his family is sitting in on the selection of jurors,” Hayden said after introducing them to his team of three.

Isabella frowned. “How will that work in Julian’s favor?”

James unloaded his briefcase. “I don’t know that it will.”

“Are you kidding? Every move Julian makes is calculated.”

The junior prosecutor no doubt thought he was helping when he told her the opposing team had presented the judge with a doctor’s certificate stating Julian’s health precluded his attending anything but the actual trial.

“Bullpucky,” was Isabella’s succinct response. She sat then, revealing an odd mix of anger and dignity.

Frustrations mounted on all sides as the day wore on. The judge, who apparently liked the sound of his own voice, lectured prospective jurors on trial rules ad nauseam. When he finished culling out those he deemed unsuitable, it was lunchtime.

“I’m not hungry,” Isabella said, even though she went with Gabe, James and his associates to a sandwich shop a few blocks from the court.

“If you don’t want a sandwich, then have soup,” Gabe said.

“My stomach already feels like a churning cement mixer. Throwing food in there isn’t such a great idea, Gabe.”

“Eating something may take the edge off your headache.”

“How did you know I have a headache?”

“I’m not psychic.” His grin spread slowly. “You’ve been rubbing your neck for the last hour.”

The lawyers trooped to the table. James made room for all their plates and cups. “You two had better eat. I know Judge Weller. This phase could take days.”

Isabella steepled her fingers. “I thought you said you and Julian’s lawyer would be asking the questions.”

“We may get a crack at the potential jurors he passes on this afternoon. No one ever said this was going to be a simple case, Isabella.”

“No. No, it isn’t. But I never imagined convicting him would take so long.”

James Hayden stopped with a sandwich halfway to his mouth. “Isabella,” he cautioned, “I warned you about making those kinds of remarks. Julian is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”

“Not in my book. He’s guilty as guilty can be,” she bit back with such fury that Gabe looped an arm around her shaking shoulders.

“Have you ever been on a jury?” one of the assistants asked.

Isabella shook her head as she sank against Gabe. “But if I were called, I’d never be wishy-washy like some of those people. Anyone who’s read the paper or watched TV can’t doubt Julian’s intent. He ran a hose from his tailpipe into the car. James, you said you only have to prove intent.”

Gabe felt the muscles along her neck and back tighten. He wished there was some way he could ease the terrible pain she seemed determined to inflict on herself. “The lunch hour is half gone. Come through the line with me and pick out a soup.”

She rose and followed him without enthusiasm. “You said James had a passion for his work,” she murmured dully as Gabe thrust a tray into her nerveless hands.

“He does. The system demands he try his best to seat twelve unbiased people. They do exist. It takes time, but the teams will get there, you’ll see.”

“I’ll pray for biased people, Gabe. Ones willing to avenge Toni and Ramon.”

“There’s no point in arguing, Isabella. Our soup choices are broccoli-cheese or minestrone.”

“I’ll have a toasted bagel, plain.”

Gabe gave their order before she could change her mind and come away with nothing. He was glad to see James and his assistants tossing their trash in the waste cans, getting ready to leave by the time he and Isabella sat down again.