Is this destiny?

Gabriel held Becca firmly and waited for her to cry it out while enjoying how well she fits into his arms. He wanted to comfort her somehow, but he didn't know what to say so he decided to stay silent.

Becca sobbed into Gabriel's chest and she was not aware at what point her arms wrapped around him.

After an unknown measure of time, Becca calmed down and she would enjoy Gabriel's masculine scent and the feel of the muscles of his back under her palms, but she became aware that his shirt is ruined with her tears and snot and Becca wanted to die from embarrassment.

"I'm sorry… Can you give me your shirt to wash?", Becca spoke in a small voice.

"You want to undress me on our first date?", Gabriel asked teasingly. 

Becca inhaled sharply. "No… that's… I mean…"

Gabriel shook from laughter that bubbled from her super-cute reaction and the relief of feeling her body next to his. "It's OK. I don't mind. You have no idea how much it means to me that you came back." He didn't want to say how good it feels to hug her, fearing that he might creep her out.

With his palms, Gabriel wiped the tears from Becca's cheeks while talking: "I heard you, and you are right. What I did is not fair. In my defense, I was so consumed in the moment, that the only thing on my mind was to see you again. I will call you when I get my divorce finalized."

Becca realized that this is the goodbye part, and she fisted his shirt, unwilling to let go. "How long will that take?"

"I don't know.", Gabriel admitted. "Days, weeks maybe? My lawyer said that it might take a while and I didn't care then but now... I will ask him to speed up the process."

"Are you saying that there is a chance I will not see you in the next month or two? Or more?"

Gabriel confirmed. "I don't want people to see us together and to think badly of you. You are not a mistress and I don't want you to hide. You deserve a clean slate, and I can give you one only after Victoria is legally out of my life."

"What about the horse-riding?"

"We will go after my divorce is finalized. I will take you wherever you want."

Becca could see that he is sincere, but she was not willing to give up. She felt that Gabriel is much more than a teenage crush. They have a lot in common and she believes that he can understand her, broken pieces and all. And the fact that he didn't leave, and that he listened, and that he is hugging her now while telling her that he will take care of her, proves that.

"Do we need to stay away from each other? We can still hang out as friends."

Gabriel's eyes landed on Becca's lips and he swallowed hard. "You have no idea how hard it is for me to keep the promise I made to your father. The more we see each other, the more I want to touch you and only a blind person would not see that I am attracted to you."

Becca held her breath. He said that he is attracted to her! If he thought that his words will discourage her, he was gravely mistaken. Becca glanced at her sides, and she wanted to point out that his arms are around her. "Aren't we touching now?"

Gabriel smiled, enjoying her innocence. "The touch I am talking about does not involve clothes between us."

Becca pressed her lips into a line. She is wearing a cardigan, and even though his arms are on her back they avoided skin-to-skin contact.

She looked at him defiantly. "You can't make this decision on your own. I refuse not to see you for a month, or more. There must be a way to achieve a compromise."

Gabriel exhaled in defeat. "Give me a week. I promise to stay in touch and then we will see what to do next."

Becca smiled. "Next Saturday, I expect another date. Regardless of the status of your divorce. If you don't want anyone to see us, then we can go somewhere without people like... fishing."

Gabriel hummed in agreement and his eyes were locked on her inviting lips. Oh, how he wanted to kiss her! Without thinking, he inched closer, and at the last moment, he moved higher and kissed Becca on the forehead.

Her skin was smooth and soft, and he could only imagine how much softer her lips are.

"Go inside before your father comes out."

"You go first.", Becca insisted with disappointment obvious in her voice. She was hoping for a kiss on the lips, not on the forehead!

Gabriel let go of her with difficulty before wishing her a good night and promising that he will call her every day.

Becca watched the car disappear down the driveway and she walked slowly into the house.

She plopped on her bed and stared at the ceiling while mentally rewinding her talk with Gabriel.

She smiled goofily when she remembered him holding her and how he said that he wants to touch her without clothes between them. The next mental image was of her and Gabriel without clothes and intense blush invaded her to the point of Becca thinking that her face will explode. At that time, her thoughts were only about their arms exposed, but now… did Gabriel think of them being naked and hugging and…? Oh, gosh!

~ Eastern Europe, the base of the Lebedev family ~

It's late evening in Los Angeles, and morning (the next day) in Eastern Europe.

Sophia and JoAnna were in the study, analyzing all the data collected, and discussing their plans. They want to decide on the safest option that will yield the desired results and for the two of them to be in sync before Sarah joins. Sarah's ideas are usually reckless as if she is invincible, and her two sisters need to act in unison if they are going to convince Sarah otherwise.

Sophia's phone rang and she saw that it's Gabriel.

"Yes?... Yes… Just a minute…", Sophia gestured to JoAnna that she will take the call outside before stepping out of the room.

About ten minutes later, Sophia returned.

"What does Gabriel want?" JoAnna was curious about why Sophia stepped out.

"A divorce."

"Isn't he getting one?"

"He wants to speed up the process and his lawyer said that it will take at least nine months, and possibly longer."

JoAnna snorted. "First, he does not want to kill her, and now he can't wait to get rid of her. And why is he in a rush to get a divorce?"

Sophia hesitated. "Uhm… I am not his lawyer, and I already overshared, so I might as well say the rest. It seems that Gabriel got a crush."

JoAnna didn't expect this. "Who is the lucky lady?"

"Becca, Ben's daughter."

"Whaaat? How did that happen?" JoAnna's eyes were hungry for gossip.

"I didn't ask for details, but it's mutual and he does not want to date her until he cuts his ties with Victoria."

JoAnna didn't understand what the problem is. "She is in the crazy-house. Isn't that a good reason for dissolving a marriage quickly?"

"Yes. And that should not take long, however… Victoria is diagnosed as mentally unstable and as such, she is unable to make decisions for herself. The nature of the divorce is making Gabriel a non-candidate to act in her place, so her parents are her guardians and they are not willing to let this go peacefully."

"They want money.", JoAnna guessed.

Sophia confirmed. "And a lot of it."

JoAnna snorted. "I guess the apple does not fall far from the tree."

"What was that about the apple and the tree?", Sarah asked as she entered the room.

JoAnna and Sophia greeted Sarah before Sophia answered.

"Gabriel wants to divorce Victoria quickly, but her parents are making it difficult. They demand compensation and he called me to see if I have any ideas, because his lawyer is having none."

Sarah frowned as Sophia spoke. "Disgusting people. Compensation, for what? For killing my people? For shooting my dog? For kidnaping my husband? For damaging Eve? For sending armed people on my property!? While all that was happening, Victoria was shamelessly sitting in my house and pretending to be clueless! I will compensate them properly. Tell Gabriel that we will take care of it. He asked for one favor and that is why Victoria is alive. This is the second thing, and I am eager to put those snobby people in their place."

JoAnna and Sophia exchanged glances and nodded without asking any questions. Whatever Sarah is up to, they probably don't want to know.

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