Page 31 of A Heart of Little Faith

“We have a great basketball team, you know,” he said, with a wink at Gideon.

“I don’t like basketball,” Claire said.

“Oh no? Well, do you know who our coach is?”

“No, who?”

“Gideon.”

Claire’s eyes got huge. “Really? Can I come watch a game?”

Tony asked, “But I thought you didn’t like basketball?”

“That was before you told me Gideon was the coach. I like basketball when he coaches.” She shot him an adoring look and Gideon smiled.

“Claire, honey, you don’t even know what basketball is,” chided Lily.

“I do too, Mom. There’s a basket and you have to get the ball in it,” Claire replied hotly. Gideon stifled a laugh.

“Sounds like she’s ready to join the team,” cut in Tony.

“Can I please?” she asked Gideon.

“Well, Claire, why don’t you come watch us play before you decide, okay?” Gideon kissed the top of her head. “You might find out you still don’t like basketball, even if I’m the coach.”

“Okay,” she grumbled and shot a pleading look at her mom. “Can we go tomorrow, Mommy, please?”

Lily bit her lip. “Let’s wait and see, okay sweetie?”

“Maybe you’d like to spend some time at the center with me and the boys one day after camp?” Gideon checked with Lily, who agreed.

“Okay!”

They made plans and by the time the meal was over, everyone had spent a pleasant evening together.

“I’ll call you tomorrow if I hear anything, Lily,” Tony said and she and Claire headed to the apartment. Gideon hung back with his friend.

“Watch out for her, Tony. Don’t let the police drop this one.” He and Tony shook hands. He’d do anything to keep the two women he was growing to adore safe. Even if he had to rely on someone else.

“They won’t, I promise.”

Chapter 11

When Lily returned to work, her co-workers treated her like a rock star. First Anne then Lily’s assistant then her co-workers down the hall visited to hear about the break-in and to ask after her and Claire. Lily’s office didn’t empty out until almost ten o’clock. Then Tony called.

“Hi, Tony, did you find anything out?”

“So far there’s nothing to report. But I was wondering if you had time to grab a quick bite to eat?”

“Well,” she sighed, “it depends on how much work I’ve got. With the way my morning is going, I’ll probably have to eat at my desk if I have any hope of catching up on what I’ve missed.”

“How about I come back at twelve and we grab sandwiches to take to your office? I have a few questions to ask you.” His easy-going voice penetrated her work stress and made her want the break.

“Okay, sounds good.”

When he arrived at noon, she’d plowed through her emails and phone messages, and reviewed notes about yesterday from her assistant. As they exited the office, Lily introduced him to several of her co-workers. The women’s admiration of him amused Lily. Although only about average height, his physical presence made him appear much taller and more powerful than other men his size. He wore his jet-black hair cropped close to his skull, and long dark lashes framed his piercing gray eyes. A permanent five-o’clock shadow darkened his chiseled face. His body was fit, with sharply delineated arm and chest muscles. He was handsome and smelled better – a combination of pine, wood smoke and citrus. He reminded her of a cougar, his movement sparse yet precise, lithe yet forceful. He oozed raw power, and she enjoyed the speculative looks the other women gave him.

They walked around the corner to the deli for lunch. As they entered, the strong aroma of mustard, pickles and garlic assaulted them and made Lily’s mouth water. Tony ordered a Reuben and Lily ordered pastrami on rye with mustard.

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