Rachel's Rebellion (Moss Bayou) (8 page)

“Rachel?”

“Can you
stay?”

He nodded.
“A little while.”

Her eyes
focused on his mouth. For weeks that mouth had delivered a heat like she’d
never experienced. His mouth on hers was consuming and sensual and damn, it
drove her wild. She reached a hand to his face. A face that invaded her
thoughts and stole her dreams. A face she didn’t think she would ever tire of.
Passing a hand over the overgrown stubble for a moment, she took a deep breath.
He filled her with his scent. She felt the heat reaching through her body. Her
heart thudded in a staccato she had come to realize was meant just for him. For
Gabriel Deacon. For Deke Johnson.

For him.

Rachel ran a
finger over his full bottom lip. A fire kicked and crackled through her as his
tongue reached out and touched her fingertip. God, she wanted so much more.

“Make love
to me,” she whispered.

“Rachel…”

“Make love
to me, Gabriel.”

His head
went down and his lips found hers. Open, waiting. She was his. The instant his lips
touched hers, the fire blazed fiercely. Like steel to a magnet, she clung as
his tongue passed her lips. She accepted him inside and answered his deep moan
with one of her own. He held her to him and tasted, devoured and then did it
all once more.

“Gabe,”
sounded from deep inside her and she angled her head to the side when he began
his way to her neck.

He sent the
most delicious shiver through her body when he gave the side of her neck a
nibble and then soothed it with hot, wet kisses.

“Rachel, are
you sure?”

She didn’t
want to talk about it. She wanted to do it. With a hand on each side of his
face, she pulled his mouth back to hers. It was her turn to rush in and devour.

Before she
could process the sound of a knock and a door opening, a woman’s voice broke
into her awareness.

“Rachel, I…”

Both Rachel
and Gabe jumped at the sound of the voice. Rachel swallowed hard.

Not good.

Finding the
courage to cast her eyes in a direction other than Gabriel’s eyes, she looked
toward the living room. Standing just inside the doorway stood Lily Quinn,
frozen in place.

“Rachel?”

Taking a
half step back from Gabe, she ran a hand through her hair.

“Yeah, um,
Lily. Hey.”

“What’s
going on Rachel?” Lily pointed a finger at Gabe. “With him?”

“Lily, um…”
Rachel stammered. What was she supposed to say now? She looked at Gabe and then
back to Lily.

“I thought
you were with Phillip. Yet, this guy is all over you.” Lily’s eyebrows raised.
“And you’re all over him.”

Rachel
looked at Gabriel. His eyes locked with hers. She needed to say something to
Lily. She tried to think. Unfortunately, the only thing of any sense running
through her mind was one question
.

How could
you forget to lock the door?

**********

Well,
shit.

Yes, that
summed up this situation. Gabe looked at Lily Quinn and could see the blonde
ready to rapid fire question after question. Rachel stood beside him, still
holding on. He wasn’t letting go of her, either. Not now.

“Rachel
Emerson, what is going on?” Lily Quinn’s hand went to her hip as she waited for
answers.

“Lily, I
don’t want to talk about it,” Rachel finally said.

Gabe
tightened his arm around her a little more, hoping he offered her some comfort.

“Isn’t he
part of that group Tanner’s investigating?”

“Lily,”
Rachel’s voice was pleading.

“You were
kissing him, Rachel. Why? You know what Tanner’s investigating. He might be
part of that drug ring.”

Gabe tried
to quickly think of something that wouldn’t break his cover and at the same
time, appease Lily Quinn.  Unfortunately, his brain was on a coffee break.

“Lily, I
can’t explain things,” Rachel told her.

“I think if
you aren’t involving the police, you should at least tell Tanner.” Lily’s eyes
settled on Gabe.

“No.”

Rachel
shifted away from him, ready to argue things out with Lily.

“Lily?” Gabe
finally spoke. “I know you don’t know me. But I am going to ask you to pretend
you saw nothing here.”

“Why would I
do you a favor?”

“Lily,
please,” Rachel pleaded. “It’s important. Very important.”

“Yes, it is,”
the male voice cut through the open front door.

Gabe looked
passed Lily to see Wyatt walk through the open door. Great. Wyatt as Wylie and
Lily Quinn in the same room. Just what he needed.

“Hello,
Fancy Pants,” Wylie spoke to Lily. “Have you thought of any names for our
children yet?”

Lily turned
to face him head on. “You are a lunatic.”

“I told
you,” Wylie said, wearing his best grin. “I am crazy. Crazy about you Fancy
Pants.”

“Quit
calling me that,” Lily demanded.

Gabe looked at
Wyatt. He was so focused on Lily, he didn’t seem to notice that he and Rachel
stood in the same room.

“Wylie? Why
are you here?” Gabe broke in. “How did you know where I was?”

“Big deal
coming,” Wyatt said and gave him a quick look.

“See Rachel,”
Lily pointed a finger in their direction. “Kick them out. They’re not exactly
the kind of people to bring home to meet the family.” Lily eyed him a moment.
“Deke, is it? Don’t you already have a girlfriend?” Lily gave him another look.
“Your eyes are different. Is there anything you do that’s honest?”

Holy
shit.

Rachel
grabbed his hand and held on. “Butt out, Lily.”

“Fancy
Pants, I…”

“I told you
to quit calling me that,” Lily told Wyatt through clenched teeth.

Wyatt being
Wylie, grinned. “You’re right. It needs shortening. I’ll call you Fancy.”

Lily rolled
her eyes, obviously fed up. “Why do you do that?”

“I can’t
call you Lover.” Wylie’s eyes unapologetically swept Lily Quinn from head to
toe. “Yet.”

“I’m calling
the police,” Lily went for her purse.

“Lily,
don’t,” Rachel pleaded.

Before Gabe
could process the scene, Wyatt grabbed Lily Quinn’s arm and yet another visitor
walked in. Rachel’s grip on his hand tightened when Heather Jensen stopped
short in the open doorway. This was becoming a party.

“What’s
going on here?” Heather Jensen’s eyes scanned the scene before her. She paused
when she looked at him and Wyatt.

Gabe and the
rest of the group looked at Heather. No one spoke immediately. Not even Lily
Quinn. Rachel was tense beside him.

“Please let
it go, Heather.” Rachel said. “I won’t explain.”

Heather’s
eyes went from face to face once more. “Okay, I won’t ask,” she finally said.
“Only because I need you to come with me, Rachel. Now. I can’t explain,
either.”

“Seriously?”
Lily huffed out a rough breath. “I’m not just standing by, pretending I didn’t
see what I saw.”

Gabe tried
to send Wyatt a silent plea. Lily could be a problem. She could jeopardize a
lot.

“What do you
need, Heather.” Rachel jumped on the change of subject.

“As I said,
I can’t explain. Just need you to come with me. All I can say is I’m a nurse,
you’re a nurse, and we have to go. Please.”

“Have you
both lost your minds? Am I the only one concerned about what I’ve seen here?”

“Fancy, it’s
beyond us.” Wyatt obviously had something up his sleeve as he moved in closer.

Lily turned
her attention to Wylie the surfer dude standing before her. “What are you
talking about?”

“This.”

Gabe
watched, either in amusement or horror, he wasn’t sure which, as Wyatt grabbed
the annoyed Lily Quinn and kissed her. Really kissed her. As Lily struggled
against Wyatt, he knew this could only end badly. He had to stop it.

What are
you thinking, Dude?

He took a
step forward only to stop himself. He stood frozen in place. No one else in the
room seemed to move, either. He was shocked to say the least. He looked at
Rachel standing beside him. Yes, she was shocked, too. A quick glance at
Heather Jensen. She wore the same expression Rachel wore. Everyone was looking
at Wyatt and Lily.

Turning his
gaze back to Wyatt and Lily, he still couldn’t believe what he saw. Lily’s arms
went from defensive and stiff to resting on Wyatt’s chest and then began edging
upward to wrap around his neck. Wyatt for his part, kissed her like nobody else
was in the room. Lily let out a small moan and Wyatt shifted slightly and
pulled her body into hers. Lily went into Wyatt and held on.

Well,
shit.

Rachel sat in the passenger seat of Heather Jensen’s car, watching
the headlights of oncoming traffic as Heather drove them on. Dusk had been
swallowed by the darkness of night, making this secretive drive a bit eerie for
her. She still didn’t know where they were going. They had left Moss Bayou
immediately and were now in Houma. There had been only small talk to fill the
fifteen or so minutes the trip had taken. Heather refused to discuss anything
but the weather. To make the ride more tense, Heather never asked about who she
had seen in her apartment. It had been excruciating on her nerves because she
knew Heather had questions to ask. Just like Lily.

Rachel thought about Lily. She smiled inwardly. She and
Heather had left in a rush, but had still managed to catch a glimpse of Lily’s
expression as they headed out the door. Dear Lily appeared to be in shock. She
stood statue-still and said nothing as they maneuvered around her and out the
door. Yes, that must have been some kiss. Lily was stunned.

Steering
through Houma’s west side, Heather slowed at the green light ahead of her.
Rachel looked her way and she indicated she was turning right. She made the
turn and then pulled into the parking lot of the hotel sitting a few yards from
the intersection. Rachel looked at the hotel’s entrance and then cast another
glance at Heather. The only response she got was a shrug of Heather’s shoulders
as she found a parking space. She watched her in disbelief. Heather really
wasn’t going to say anything. This must be the secret that has Luke’s big boy
drawers in a knot. Shutting off the engine, Heather grabbed her purse and a
backpack from the backseat. Casting a glance at her, Heather took a deep
breath.

“Follow me,”
she said as she reached for the door handle.

Rachel had a
lot to say to that, but instead reached for her own door handle and exited the
car. Heather thumbed her remote, locking the car and motioned her to follow.
With Heather leading the way, they made their way to the door of the room
Heather had parked in front of. The door with numbers reading one seventeen on
a small gold colored plate was where Heather knocked. She didn’t have to wait
long.

“Heather.”
Tyler Devlin gave a small smile as he pulled her into the room. Ty looked like
he’d seen better days. Rachel saw the smile was placed over a tear-stained
face. It took him a moment to realize Heather wasn’t alone. “Heather?”

“I can’t do
this alone, Ty. I need help. I need Rachel.” Heather gave her a quick look.
“She can keep a secret.”

Ty looked at
Rachel and she tried to give him a look of reassurance. The truth was, she
didn’t know what she was walking into. She wasn’t sure if reassurance was
something she could offer.

“How is
she?”

Ty looked at
Heather once more. “Not good. Anymore.”

Heather pushed
passed Ty and Rachel walked in as well. The room was quiet and dark. Only a
slice of light from the slightly ajar bathroom door cast a bit of a glow into
the room. She waited for her eyes to adjust. Then her attention focused on the
bed. There was someone lying very still on the bed. Ty began to sob. It was a
heart wrenching sound coming from someone who always laughed and enjoyed life.
She looked at Ty but her eyes but her eyes quickly returned to the bed.

“I tried.”
Ty took a big breath. “I really tried. It was too late.” He wiped the back of
his hand across his face. “I was too late.”

Rachel
scanned the darkened room. “Too late?” Her heart hammered. “Who’s on the bed?”

Ty dropped
himself onto the long dresser against one wall and continued to sob. Big, body
shaking sobs. She wanted to go over to the figure on the bed, but Heather was
already there, grabbing an arm. Rachel realized Heather was looking for a
pulse.