I can’t sleep, so I find myself in Catherine’s library, looking for a book to help my mind settle. I hear the beeping of the alarm and hear a rustling noise coming from the kitchen. I walk slowly down the hall. As I get up to the doorway to the kitchen, I see a jacket over a chair, then the light from the fridge comes on. It’s Gabriel; he’s here. I turn on some of the lights, not all; I didn’t want to wake everyone in the house. He has blood covering his skin and shirt. I allow myself a second of shock, then I pull it together and walk over to him. I close the door to the fridge and grab his hand. I walk him over to the table and sit him down in a chair. Without a word, I go to the cabinets to locate a bowl and towel. I fill it with some warm water and soap, then carefully bring it over to the table, without spilling any of the water as I go. I wet the towel and wring it out, then kneel and grab Gabriel’s hand again. His knuckles are busted, so I start to wipe the blood off with the cloth as gently as I can. He just stares at my face as I go. As I finish with one hand, I go to the next, repeating the same procedure. We still have not said a word to each other. I glance up at him and down his neck, and I see blood under his collar. So, I start to unbutton his shirt. He grabs my hands, and we just glare at each other.

“Let me, Gabriel.”

He releases my hands, and I proceed to unbutton his shirt, praying I don’t see any injuries. Once it’s fully unbuttoned, I slide my hands to his shoulders and remove the shirt. I pass my hands through all the blood to check for wounds, then let out a sigh of relief when I don’t find any. Glancing back at him, I see his eyes are closed and his breathing is deeper. His chest is muscular and tight, with just enough hair. All I want to do is run my fingers lazily through his chest hair. Instead, I grab the towel again and wash him off. Starting at his neck and going down his chest, I repeat on his arms.

As I do, he whispers, “Don’t you want to know why?”

“No, not unless you want to tell me. I trust you know what you’re doing.”

I pause. “Do you want to tell me what happened?”

He answers, “I took care of a problem for our family; I did what I had to. It wasn’t easy, but I do it for the people I care about.”

“Then that’s all I need to know. You are welcome to tell me more, when and if you want. I can handle it. I’m a lot stronger than I look.”

“I see you, Fallon. I know there are things you are hiding, but I see you.”

He opens my satin robe and sees my matching light pink cami and panties. His fingers slide gently over my collar bone. He releases a breath and grabs my wrists, then leans down to put his forehead on mine

“Why are you here, Fallon?”

“You know why I’m here, Gabriel.”

“It won’t work.”

“You sure it won't?”

“Yes, Fallon. I can't.”

“All right.”

I stand, and as I walk away, I hear him call my name. I turn my head, looking over my shoulder and tell him, “I know, Gabriel.”

I leave, with nothing left to be said. He won’t allow himself to feel for me, so I have no choice but to move on. Hopefully, Catherine won’t be too disappointed; I did try.

The softness of her hands sliding up and down my chest, washing me, gave me more comfort than I thought possible. How can she put me at such ease? I’ve never known a woman to have that ability except for my mother when I was a child. She would hold me and tell me everything would be okay. I don’t need another mother or to be mothered, but the smoothness of Fallon’s touch was just as reassuring. She didn’t falter in her step; she didn’t act disgusted at the sight of blood. She simply washed my sins away. I’m letting her get under my skin. Then she leaves me with no protest when I tell her we can never be. Is it that easy for her? Just get up and walk away. I head for the bar to grab a bottle of whiskey, then go to my new room, because Fallon is sleeping in my bed, on my pillow. What I wouldn’t give to be right there with her.

Sometime in the midst of drinking the entire contents of the bottle of whiskey, I must have passed out. I wake with a heavy head and the taste of bile in my mouth. I hear music coming from outside. Shit, my head is pounding. I take a shower and find some clothes in the dresser; t-shirt, and jeans day, I guess.

I walk outside and head towards the music. I stop abruptly when I see Fallon laid out on a lounge chair, tanning her already golden skin. She’s in a white bikini. I instantly get hard and have to adjust myself. I finally get up close to her, and she still doesn’t notice me. She must have her eyes closed under her aviators. I clear my throat to announce myself; her head turns slightly in my direction.

I jokingly say, “I guess I didn’t have to buy a beach to see you in a bikini.”

She lifts her sunglasses and says, “Neither did they.”

She points in the direction of the pool house, where I see my brothers coming out in swimming trunks and towels. Well, they didn’t waste any time. I look down to her.

“Did you agree to go out with Miles?” I can’t help myself; I have to ask.

“Gabriel, I don’t see where that’s any of your business.”

Before I can even tell her she’s not going anywhere with that prick, my brothers walk up.

Zander speaks first. “Hey, Gabriel, we heard you were passed out in your room. Glad to see you could make it to the party. You’re a little overdressed, though.”

Liam yells, “Yeah, Gabriel, go get changed, and let’s have some fun.”

“That’s all right. One of us has to go into work today, Liam,” I say on a growl.

We all take notice at Fallon turning around in her lounger. She starts to pull her strings on her bikini top, exposing her back.

She playfully asks, “Zander, can you put some more lotion on my back? I don’t want to burn.”

Zander looks up at me and Liam, then says with a shrug, “Of course I will!”

He sits down next to her and pours lotion on her back. She jumps a little from the cold lotion and lets out a small giggle. Zander apologizes and begins to rub the lotion all over her back.

I can’t take it anymore. I’m about to strangle Zander if he doesn’t stop.

I yell out, “Enough of this bullshit. Get your fucking hands off her Zander! Now!”

I throw a towel on her to cover herself and yank her by the arm. Zander comes after me and shoves me hard. I get my bearings and go for the punch, but before I can get one out, Mother screams from the veranda.

“Enough, boys! Enough!”

We give each other a knowing look that says you’re a lucky son of a bitch that Mom was here to stop us. It’s a look we gave to each other growing up so many times. Sometimes Mom would just let us battle it out. She said we needed to learn how to take a beating.

I turn and leave. As I make it back to the veranda, Mother waits for me. I try to pass her, but she stops me.

“Why are you doing this, son?”

“Doing what?” I angrily say.

“I saw your clothes, Gabriel; you haven’t been to that warehouse in a long time. You’ve done your time. What made you go back? Now you pick a fight with Zander over Fallon...why?”

Through clenched teeth, I ask, “Why did you bring her here, Mother?”

“Does it matter? You said you don’t want her. She told me how you have no interest in her at all. It’s a shame. That girl is special.”

“Why is she so special, Mom? You said she was a friend’s daughter from the past, but you have no friends; no true friends anyway. So, why is she so special? Is it because you brought her here for me?”

She smiles and walks past me to sit down.

“As I said, I brought her here to meet the right kind of people, and if she could meet a good man in the process, well even better. She would have been a good pick for you, but since you don’t want anything to do with her...” She pauses and looks straight at me. “Then don’t get in her way, Gabriel. Let her find someone else, even if that someone happens to be one of your brothers.”

I look back at the pool area. Liam has just grabbed Fallon and throws her over his shoulder. She is laughing out loud, begging for him to put her down. He does lower her down his body, then throws her into the pool. Then they both jump in after her. As I watch, I realize it’s been a long time since I’ve laughed or had any fun like that. I miss it. I kiss my mother’s cheek and carry my sorry ass home for a change of clothes.

Back at work, I call Vin. I know he’s her bodyguard. I tell him I want to be informed of her whereabouts and who she’s with at all times. He says he’ll keep me informed.