Gabriel Brown: Collection of Short Alaskan Bush People Fan Fics

Just Right. part 2

"Stay there." Gabriel said as he hopped over the side of the skiff into the shallow water.

As you sat still, your eyes on his smile, he tugged the small boat with you inside up the beach and set the anchor. You watched with wide eyes as his muscles bulged and flexed through his plaid shirt. He had shed his leather vest halfway through the ride to the island.

"Hot." Was all he had said. You held out your hand for his vest and kept it folded in your lap the rest of the way. The ride to Brown Town had been way too short for all the silly jokes and stories he wanted to tell you.  But he had packed in as many as he could. Your favorite joke?

"What do you call a belt made out of watches?"
"A 'waist' of time!"

You could tell Gabriel was a little nervous because once he started talking, he didn't stop. In between his funny jokes and comments, Gabriel told you as much as he could about his family. Since you would be meeting them in less than an hour, he said he wanted to prepare you. His eyes had misted over with tears when he talked about his mom and dad's health issues and how the family wasn't sure they would be able to continue living in the bush because of them. But his sweet smile had spread over his face as he told you about hunting with his sister Birdy.

"It was a long walk back to camp and that deer was really heavy." He said in his deep voice. "But he's going to be delicious!" He smiled.

When Gabriel reached out a hand to help you out of the skiff, you gasped a little as his other arm swung around your waist. With barely a strain, he lifted you straight out of the boat and set you on your feet on the grassy beach. Holding you close to his tight chest, his bright blue eyes stared into yours.

Lifting your eyes to his, you tried to push down your disappointment. It had been less than two hours and just like every other man, he was already finding a way to kiss you. You had hoped Gabriel was different from most men. He certainly looked different, dressed different and even talked differently from any other man you had met. But there he was with his arm tight around your waist, staring deep into your eyes with a hungry look. It was a look you had seen a hundred times and you readied yourself for the predictable kiss and fake apology that would come next.

His arm suddenly slipped away from your waist and he reached out to take his vest from your hand.
"Thanks." He muttered kindly and slipped the vest on, zipping it partway.
"You're welcome." You blinked rapidly and managed to reply.

Even though you were glad he hadn't tried to take advantage of the moment, you were in truth, slightly disappointed. Gabriel was incredibly handsome and you were attracted to him. You were glad that he wasn't so shallow that all he thought about was grabbing you and starting something physical right away. But at the same time, you wondered.

"That would've been a perfect time for a kiss." You said boldly and then wondered if it was your habit of saying whatever was on your mind that was making him nervous around you.
"Well..." The light pink blush started up his neck again. "I don't know you that well yet." He said and looked sheepishly at you.

That was definitely unexpected.
"You're right, Gabriel. You don't know me that well." But you were beginning to learn quite a lot about him.

He pointed toward a break in the trees opposite the beach. "We're going that-a-way." He smiled and led the way.

Walking along behind him down the path, you kept one eye on the beautiful forest to either side of you and one eye on Gabriel. You had decided that he wasn't too crazy and he wasn't too shallow. He certainly did captivate you with his stories of his family and Alaska. And you also knew he could make you laugh out loud with his funny sense of humor. But was he too silly? Or was he so shy that he always made jokes and would never make a move? Maybe Gabriel wasn't 'just right' like you had hoped. There was so much you still wanted to know about him and you didn't want to be disappointed. You shook your head at yourself. There you were, only two hours into the relationship and you were already getting mad at him for not being everything you wanted him to be. What was wrong with you?

When the deep sigh slipped out of you, Gabriel turned and looked back at you, a look of concern on his face.
"Everything ok?" He asked.
"Yes." What else could you say? "There is just so much to see here." You waved your hand around vaguely to include the forest and the sky and then him.

"It is beautiful here, isn't it?" Gabriel moved his head to peer at the trees and the sky and then...directly at you.
"Uhhhh." Your chin fell as you saw his slight smile.
"Let's go." He tossed his head. "I can smell the venison from here." And he took off down the path.

By the time you caught up to Gabriel, he was almost in the clearing. You glanced quickly at the main cabin as you jogged along behind him, skidding to a stop at the campfire.

"I brought a guest home for lunch." Gabriel  planted a kiss on the cheek of a slim white-haired woman you assumed was mother.

"Welcome!" She gathered you in a soft hug.

Stepping back close to Gabriel, you let your eyes travel over the group of people assembled. It was easy to tell who was who based on the descriptions of them he had shared along the way. You hopped back, startled, as a blur of red suddenly landed in front of you.

"Hi!" The smiling young man stuck out his hand to you.
"Hi, Bear." You smiled in return and let him shake your hand.
"You have a good memory." You could hear the smile in Gabe's voice as he spoke.
Turning to look at him, you confirmed he was smiling proudly at you. "You gave good descriptions."

Gabriel's eyes moved from side to side as he surveyed your face. You didn't try to stop him. You let him take his time and look you over. This would be the time when most men would stroke your cheek or blurt out some cheesy faux-romantic line. You waited.

"Ready for lunch?" He asked suddenly, motioning to a long wooden bench.
"I'm ready." You smiled. He was never predictable.

The plate of food that was set before you smelled amazing. You were sitting on the end of the log bench and next to you was a small space. Gabriel's' brother Matt was sitting a few inches away but you were sure that wasn't enough room for Gabriel to fit next to you. You looked up at Gabriel where he was standing filling his plate and you raised your eyebrows.

Playing games was not your style and you didn't want him to think you had deliberately sat close to his brother. When he met your eye and then you saw him glance at his brother, it was hard to read his expression. You coldnt tell if he was angry or hurt or what. And when he hesitated, your heart plummeted thinking he would be too timid to make his brother move away from you. 

"Matt." Gabriel's deep voice boomed out. "Move over man."

Gabriel slid into the tight space between you and Matt and wiggled his hips side to side to make more room. You were almost knocked off the edge of the seat by his broad shoulders. Grabbing hold of Gabriel's arm, you grinned and held on to your seat.

"Smooth." You smiled.
"Thanks." He grinned.

You looked over at Gabriel. He was the most unpredictable man you had ever met. And it wasn't just his clothes or his hair. It was the way he talked and the way he thought. It was everything. There wasn't a moment that he did things the way you thought he might do and so far he hadn't done anything by the book. You were pretty sure he didn't even own that book.

Thinking of how far you had gone past, 'hello', you were absolutely fascinated by Gabriel Brown. Smiling at his profile as he chewed, you realized if he was any different than who he was, he would not have stolen your heart and captivated your mind so fast. He was sitting calmly beside you, eating his portion of venison not with a fork, but with a huge hunting knife. He was so at ease as he stabbed at his meat and lifted each bite to his mouth. Just as the last morsel touched his lips, he felt your eyes on him and he glanced over at you.

"Is everything OK?" He asked sincerely.
"Yes, Gabriel." You smiled and leaned over to kiss his cheek. "Everything is just right."