Page 30 of A Heart of Little Faith
Startled, he frowned. “What is what?”
“That tune you’re humming.”
“I’m not humming a tune.”
“Yes you are.” She sat and the corners of her mouth stretched into a smile.
He sat still for a moment and turned a deep shade of red. “I do not hum.”
Lily smirked and raised one eyebrow.
He glared at her and sighed. “It was just a tune my mom used to hum to me when I was a child. For some reason it popped into my mind and I just started humming. I wasn’t even aware I was doing it.”
She relaxed and lay down. “It’s nice,” she said and smiled to herself.He hums.
****
Early the next morning, Gideon helped Lily straighten her apartment. He was reassured to see she was more like herself. Her cheeks were rosy, she sounded more rational, and she bantered with him a little as they moved furniture and put things away. Even so, she started whenever she heard an unexpected noise, and she remained wherever he was.
He’d be a liar if he didn’t say he enjoyed spending the time with her. The business arrangement he’d made with her ensured he’d see her socially occasionally, and let him pretend while they were together they were more than friends. But helping her after the burglary and having her depend on him filled a need he didn’t realize he had. He’d never wish this to happen to anyone, but he was glad he was the one to be able to be there for her. A protective instinct rose from deep within him. Still, there were some things he couldn’t do, so he called the one man he trusted above all others.
“Tony, it’s Gideon. Did you find out any more about Lily’s robbery?” Although Tony wasn’t a cop, he still possessed contacts in the department, and often helped the boys at the center out of jams when possible.
“There have been a number of them in the area, and the cops are checking out some new leads.”
“I don’t like to ask you for favors, but could you keep on top of this and let me know what happens?”
“She means that much to you?”
Gideon pushed his glasses up his nose and swallowed hard. He held the phone in a steel-like grip and turned away from Lily as he struggled to answer. “Yes.” Grinding out that one word took more effort than his first three months of physical therapy combined. Sweat popped on the nape of his neck and he rushed to brush it away. He hadn’t experienced this need, this desire, for a woman in years, hadn’t wanted to. But he did now.
“No problem, Gideon. I’ll let you know as soon as I know anything. Why don’t we meet for dinner tonight and I can fill you both in?”
Both. Like a couple. Something settled deep inside of him. “Thanks Tony, I appreciate it.” He found Lily at her desk, making a list of the damages. Her pen rasped over the paper, and Gideon was pleased to see she no longer jumped at every random noise.
“There’s so much to list. I have no idea if the insurance company is going to cover all of this.”
“Don’t worry, Lil, it’s what they’re there for.” He took a deep breath and plunged ahead. “I asked Tony to use his connections and keep us informed, okay? He’ll tell us everything tonight at dinner.” He leaned over and brushed the hair out of her face. His knuckles grazed the side of her face and he traced her jaw with his finger. Her combination of delicacy and strength would forever fascinate him. Mesmerized, he stared into her eyes, which changed again from sage to emerald. Their gazes locked and like the lens of a camera, everything around them lost focus.
There was no destroyed apartment, no wheelchair, no dead husband, and no anger. Just the two of them. Their breathing increased. The tip of Lily’s tongue moisten her lips—the lips he’d kissed—and he clamped his own mouth shut to stifle a groan. Despite his attempt to remain unmoved, his nostrils flared and Lily’s gaze shifted. They leaned toward each other. She swallowed and her throat constricted. He trailed the milky white column to her clavicle with his gaze. His fingers itched to caress her skin as its color changed from milky white to peach to a shadowy café au lait between her breasts. He was so close he smelled her light fragrance – a mixture of shampoo, soap and desire.
And as suddenly, he averted his gaze.
Gideon cleared his throat and excused himself. He should put distance between them. She’d been traumatized. This wasn’t the time to be lusting after her. Theirs was a business arrangement, nothing more. No matter how much he might want there to be.
For the rest of the day, Lily organized the apartment and dealt with her insurance company. Gideon divided his time between helping her and calling into work. As they passed by each other, their bodies touched casually—her arm against his shoulder, their hands as they reached for the same pen—and electricity crackled between them. Neither of them mentioned it, although often he caught her staring at him, and when he did the same to her, she’d look up and see him doing it. With a blush, Lily folded and refolded Claire’s clothes three times; Gideon misdialed Stella then hung up on her twice.
By the time Claire got home from camp, he was desperate for a break—ignoring their physical attraction had drained him more than their physical labor. Claire squealed when she saw him, and the two of them drew and played board games for the rest of the afternoon. Lily took a nap and joined them for a last game of Trouble.
When it was finished, the three of them went to Jonah’s to meet Tony.
Small and quiet, the restaurant specialized in seafood. The décor played off of the “Jonah and the Whale” theme. It was apparently one of Claire’s favorite places to go because each booth resembled the mouth of a whale. They met Tony outside and went in to find a table. The aroma of butter, garlic and spices made Gideon’s mouth water.
As Claire told him all about the restaurant, Lily and Tony talked. His friend broke the ice with trivial things—sports teams: she was a Yankees fan, while he was a die-hard Mets fanatic; movies: she loved anything by JJ Abrams, while he required hot chicks and lots of action; and food: he loved Thai, she loved chocolate. Afterward, he told her what the police knew so far about the robbery.
It wasn’t much.
The conversation over, he changed the subject and they ate dinner. As usual, the fish melted in their mouths, and he smiled as butter dripped down everyone’s chins. Claire’s fried shrimp crunched and made everyone laugh. When Lily learned Tony and Gideon had been friends since childhood, she interrogated them, and much to Gideon’s chagrin, Tony regaled the table with escapades from their past. Unlike Samantha’s stories, for some reason, Tony’s didn’t bother him. In fact, he loved Lily’s reaction to his past. It made him feel a bond with her. Everyone enjoyed the meal, and even Gideon loosened up. Tony also kept Claire entertained with stories of the boys from the community center.