Giada’s mother came to the door and opened her arms. “Come here, my boy. Give Mamma Maria a hug.”
Giada hurried to fetch her luggage, but when she returned, her mother was still patting Gabe’s face with her hand. “Take care of my daughter, Gabe. I trust you, you know that.”
Gabriel met her mother’s gaze with a smile. “Don’t worry, Maria Theresa. Giada won’t be harmed in any way as long as she’s with me.”
But underneath his friendly expression, Giada’s knowing eyes detected a hint of tension. He also had a line between his eyebrows, as if he’d been frowning recently.
What was going on with Gabe? Was he also nervous about this trip with her? Or was it the trouble with work he’d hinted at that gave him this haunted look?
And what was with the white-knight phrase, ‘Giada won’t be harmed’? She stifled a snort. Gabe didn’t know what he was talking about. His very presence was the biggest danger to her mental and emotional health.
“Mom, we need to go.” She tapped her mother’s back.
Her mother shrugged and moved away slightly. “Sure, sure. You mustn’t miss your plane.” She gave Giada a strong embrace and a kiss on her cheek. “Be good, and act well.”
The unintended double meaning of her words made Giada’s chest tighten.
Act well.
Oh, yes. Her big theatrical performance as Gabe’s girlfriend was soon to start.
Gabe grabbed Giada’s luggage and put it into the trunk. They hopped into the car, and as her mother closed the house door, Gabe turned to Giada with a boyish smile. “Wow, your mom is always so nice to me.”
“She adores you.”
And she’s not the only one. The phrase was on the tip of her tongue, but she bit it back.
She pointed at her watch. “Shouldn’t we get going?”
“Oh, yes. You’re right.” Gabe smiled and snapped his head forward, and put the key in the ignition.
Mannaggia! Was all my detoxing in vain? Giada simmered with frustration. She’d religiously ditched all of her brother’s invites, and avoided her favorite pub for three months straight. She’d even switched gyms, for heaven’s sake. She’d stayed away from Gabe, hoping that her heart would finally get the memo about how ridiculous her emotions were.
And now, with one lopsided grin from him, all her defenses came tumbling down like a house of cards.
As the car rolled toward the highway, she pressed her head to the window. What have I gotten myself into?
Chapter 4
Gabriel followed Giada down the narrow, carpeted aisle of the plane. He threw a longing glance at the roomy reclining seats and beverages served in glassware of the first class section, but then focused back ahead. Thankfully, even the economy class wasn’t that full.
If they were lucky they might have a row for themselves. Giada had suggested in the car that they should set up ground rules for their act during their plane trip. It would be awkward to discuss the details of a fake relationship with a stranger eavesdropping on them.
“Twenty-two A and B. That’s us.” Giada stopped.
Gabriel was so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn’t give his legs the right command in time. He crashed against Giada’s fragile build with his entire weight. She wavered and almost stumbled to the floor. Gabriel acted instinctively and grabbed her waist before she could fall.
As his fingers closed on her body, the strangest feeling invaded his palms. It was a sort of prickle, as if thousands of tiny ants were racing back and forth on his skin. But it wasn’t unpleasant; no, rather the opposite.
Giada’s amber eyes widened “Phew, thanks. I didn’t want to start off our journey with a broken ankle.” She straightened and wiggled out from his grip.
Gabriel needed a second to answer. He was still too dumbfounded. He’d held Giada many times in his arms when they’d play-wrestled as kids or when they’d gone to the swimming pool. She’d never given him these odd tingles.
He cleared his throat. “No, it was all my fault.”
An elderly man behind Gabriel coughed. “Are you two done musing? I’d like to sit.”
Giada blushed and squeezed herself into their row. As soon as she took her place, Gabriel also settled down, clearing the passageway.
The man walked past them with a grumbling huff. “These young folks, so inconsiderate.”
Giada giggled. “Wow, someone is not a fan of flying…or waiting.”
Her familiar jingling laugh made Gabriel’s neck muscles relax. He was probably overreacting. He rubbed his hands on his legs to rid them of the remaining tickles.
Giada was the same person he knew. There was nothing different about her. He was behaving out of character and the reason must be that damned post-traumatic condition. The therapist did say he might encounter unusual feelings toward his loved ones. Of course, he’d been speaking about anger management issues and frustration instead of electric sizzles and a thudding heart. But still.
He leaned back on his seat and rolled his neck in small circles. “So, I called Mémère and told her you were coming with me.”
“And?” Giada’s brows rose.
“And she was thrilled.”
Giada played with the fold-down tray in front of her. “Thrilled? I have a hard time imagining your grandmother being thrilled about anything.”
Gabriel stifled a bemused laugh. He’d forgotten that Giada had seen his grandma a few times. Certainly enough to get a feel for her character. “Okay, thrilled might be a bit of a stretch. But she was satisfied that I’m bringing along a date.”
Giada traced her lower lip with a finger. She wore a very light nail polish, and it stood in contrast with the deep cherry color of her mouth. Gabriel forced himself not to stare. Even between friends, gaping at each other’s mouths could be interpreted badly.
“Did you tell Noëlle it’s me? Would she even remember me?”
Gabriel swallowed. He was sure that his grandmother remembered Giada. She couldn’t possibly forget a seventeen-year-old girl who had enough gall to tell her to stop bugging Gabriel about his career choice. “No, I left that particular detail as a surprise.”
Giada leaned closer and whacked him in the chest. “You bastard. You should’ve prepared her for it. Now I’ll need to absorb her first startled reaction. If my memory isn’t deceiving me, your grandmother doesn’t do bewildered well.”
As she bent forward, a sweet scent of vanilla and cinnamon tickled Gabriel’s nostrils. Without realizing how inappropriate his question might be, he asked, “Did you switch perfumes?”
Giada froze and her mouth popped open. “Yes, I did. Why?”
Gabriel wanted to smack himself for pointing it out, but the enticing smell wafting around him must’ve messed with his senses. Instead of correcting his mistake, he said, “I like it a lot. It suits you.”
A hushed, Oh, escaped Giada’s lips, then her cheeks tinted a darker shade.
Great, he’d managed to sidetrack their perfectly amiable conversation into this weird grey zone he’d meant to avoid.
Giada was quicker to react than Gabriel. She shrugged. “I like to use a warmer scent for summer. Anyway…uhm…who else is going to be there at Noëlle’s?”
Gabriel was grateful that she’d brought them back to a more neutral topic. “It’ll be a full house due to the engagement. Jean-Pierre’s parents, plus Noëlle’s niece, Agathe, and her husband, Paul, will be there. Also, my aunt Fleur. Do you remember her?”
Giada’s eyes drifted to the overhead compartments and her forehead creased. “I’m not sure. Did I ever meet her?”
“Yes, once she came to visit us for my birthday. It was that year my dad forgot to come home.”
Gabriel’s throat constricted at the memory. It was usual for his father to miss preparing a gift for his birthday, but once when he was thirteen, he’d forgotten about the day entirely. He’d stayed out the whole night drinking with his pals. Fleur and Mémère Noëlle were horrified by his behavior. That year, his grandmother g
ave his father an ultimatum. Either he quit his vices or Mémère would withdraw her financial support from him. Unfortunately, even a threat that severe hadn’t been enough for his dad to change.
Giada’s gentle touch snapped Gabriel back to reality. “How is your father, by the way? Is he coming, too, with your mom?”
Giada was smiling but her voice was husky. Gabriel knew that neither Giada nor her brother liked his father. Heck yeah, even Gabriel had a hard time liking him. But he was his son, so he didn’t have the leisure of avoiding him or refusing to save his dad’s butt.
He shook his head. “He won’t come to the engagement. Maybe he and Mom will drop by toward the end of our vacation. But I’m not sure.”
With all the money his father had gambled away, it would be a miracle if his parents could scrape together enough to buy even a bus ticket. No, until Gabriel could convince Mémère to lend him the sum they needed, his parents would lie low.
Gabriel hated the thought that his mother had to endure this. Even if it was partially her fault. She should’ve left his dad ages ago.
Giada’s face relaxed. “Oh, that’s good. I’m always a little afraid of your dad. He is just…well…how should I put it?”
“Brutal? Intimidating? Unpredictable?”
“I wanted to say cold.”
Gabriel snorted. “Well, don’t worry. All the adjectives I’ve mentioned do fit him.”
“I’m sorry.” Giada stared at him without blinking.
“Don’t be. It doesn’t bother me as much as it did before. It’s a blessing to live further away and only have to visit once in a while.”
The interphone announced the take off. The roar of the engines firing up filled the air. As the plane rolled to the runway, Giada’s breathing quickened. She turned her head to face the seat in front of her. Her hands gripped the sides of her chair.
Gabriel peeked at her fingers. They were so white it was almost a miracle her bones didn’t burst through her soft skin.
Was Giada afraid of flying? She’d never said so. Shouldn’t she be used to these long flights?
He observed her face from the corner of his eye. Her jaw was set in a frown, and her lower lip quivered imperceptibly. Oh, no. Definitely scared.
He put one hand on hers, engulfing her fingers in his. “I’m here. Just stay calm.”
Her eyes darted to his. “I know it’s silly. My parents made us fly to Italy every summer, so I should be a pro when it comes to transatlantic travels. But I still get the jitters when the plane takes off. I can’t help it.”
He gave a small squeeze to her hand, ignoring the glowing sensations spreading in his arm. “Well, it’ll be over soon. Do you want me to keep talking to you?”
A small smile tugged on her lower lip. “Yes, please. Some distraction would be welcome.” She turned her head back.
Gabriel scratched his temple. Maybe a bit more about their stay in Provence? “Oh, I forgot to mention that I booked the guesthouse for us.”
The plane picked up speed and began to climb towards the sky. A clatter sounded as the luggage jittered in the overhead bins.
Giada’s breath caught.
Gabriel continued, hoping that the new information would keep her focused. “Fleur was kind enough to leave it for us. It’s usually her home. It’s detached from the mansion and has a large bedroom, but also a comfy sofa. You know, so that we don’t have to sleep together.”
At his last words, Giada gasped. “Sleep together?”
Gabriel chuckled. “Yes, I guessed they’d expect us to share a bedroom if we stayed in the mansion, don’t you think? Mémère has these old baldachin beds in each guest room. I didn’t want to sleep on the floor, so I asked Fleur to give us her house.”
Giada shook her head. “I don’t want to disturb your aunt like that. We could’ve slept in the same bed. It wouldn’t have been the first time.”
Gabriel’s stomach tightened. Yes, Giada was right. They’d slept in the same bed quite a few times when they were younger and he spent the weekends in their house. When Giada’s big sister, with whom Giada shared a room, was away, she’d always tried climbing into her brother’s bed. Giada was afraid to sleep alone. But Giordano normally kicked her out, claiming that she tossed and turned too much. Which was true. So then she’d end up sneaking into Gabriel’s bed.
Why did he think it would be different now? Giada apparently had no problem with it. For her, he was still a good friend. And for Gabriel, too, of course. It wasn’t because he feared her closeness that he’d asked Fleur to leave them the guesthouse.
He waved with his hand. “Yes, I know. It’s more a question of space. We’re staying three weeks. The guest house has its own bath and kitchen. This way we won’t disturb Mémère or constantly bump into Jean-Pierre and Aurélie.”
She threw him a side-glance. “You’re not a fan of your cousin, are you?”
He shrugged. “He’s alright. I just hate being compared to him all the time. Jean-Pierre is everything that Mémère wanted me to be. He studied at a Grand École, he graduated in Economics with honors, and has a well-paying job. Oh yes, and he’s getting married to Aurélie whose father is our family’s best business associate. All by the book. And what have I got to show for? Nothing.”
He didn’t mean for his voice to sound so bitter. But somehow anticipating the arguments his grandmother was going to throw at him darkened his mood.
“Are you out of your mind? Gabe, you’re amazing. You save lives. You’re a firefighter, one of the most honorable and dangerous professions on this planet.”
Right, saving lives. Gabriel used to think that’s what he did, too. The memory of that house in flames threatened to enter his consciousness, so he hurried to suppress it before it could take possession of him. “Yeah, sure. But I’m not getting married.”
“Perhaps not. But you have a very pretty fake girlfriend.” She pointed at her chest and winked.
Gabriel chuckled. “Probably this last point will save me. Thanks for agreeing to come, Giada. You’re the one who’s amazing.”
He bent close and gave her a quick peck on her cheek.
Giada twitched and retreated. “Oh, wow. Yes. No problem.” She tugged a tendril of brown hair behind her ear, then rubbed at her eyes. “You know what, I’m getting a bit tired. Do you mind if I sleep a little? The plane has finally leveled off, so my stomach shouldn’t be bobbing up and down.”
Gabriel shook his head. “Of course. Do you want to lie on my shoulder?” He grabbed at the divider between their seats to lift it, but Giada held up a hand.
“No, no. NO. That won’t be necessary. I can sleep very well like this.” As if demonstrating the truth of her words, she pressed her head to the seat and closed her eyes. “Really comfy.”
“Okay. Shall I wake you when dinner is served?”
Giada smiled without opening her eyes. “That’d be kind, thanks.”
Gabriel stared at her closed eyelids. She had delightfully long eyelashes from up close. Today she wasn’t wearing any mascara, and he could see their tips were almost blond.
Crap, he’d forgotten to ask whether she was seeing someone before he coaxed her into accepting his proposal. Well, she probably wasn’t. How could she agree to help him like this if she was, right?
Also they hadn’t set the rules for their act yet. Giada wanted to write them down to ensure they could refer back to them if needed.
Was she already asleep?
He listened to her breathing, and it sounded calm enough to suggest that she might be.
He would need to wait till she woke to address it then. And if we don’t get around to it, what isn’t written can be bent. An uneasy feeling settled in the pit of his stomach as this foolish thought crossed his mind.
Why would he want to bend the rules?
His eyes moved to Giada’s neck where the skin rose rhythmically. His gaze wandered further up to her lips. They definitely looked fuller and more symmetrical than he remembered.
H
e gulped and covered his eyes with his palms.
Perhaps he should sleep a bit, too. His mind was obviously confused at the moment.
Chapter 5
Giada stared wide-eyed as Gabriel’s grandmother’s enormous house came into view. Calling it a mansion wasn’t an overstatement. The building must’ve had at least ten bedrooms, maybe even more, judging from the number of windows.
As their rented Renault stopped in the parking lot, her eyes fell on a statue that framed the entrance to a large garden. It was a pretty successful imitation of Giada’s favorite Rodin sculpture—The Kiss.
“Wow, I didn’t know your grandma appreciated plastic art. To get such a remake from bronze couldn’t be cheap.”
“Money has never been a concern for Mémère.” Gabriel snorted and pulled the key from the ignition. “Her husband was a very wealthy man, and after his early death, she inherited everything. But she does love sculptures and fine art. It could be a nice topic for you two.”
Oh, right. Giada still had the difficult task of making Gabriel’s grandmother like her. Based on their past interactions, it wouldn’t be a child’s game. But maybe he had a point. Giada’s passion for sculpting could build a bridge between them and might possibly make Noëlle forget that Giada had screamed at her once.
They got out of the car and Gabriel fetched their valises from the trunk. Just as he closed it, an elderly lady appeared at the door. She wore a simple blue dress and her hair was arranged in a neat bun. As soon as her gaze locked on Gabriel, a wide smile spread on her face. “Oh, Gabe, mon fils. Comment ça va? How was your trip? Are you tired?” She hurried toward him with open arms, while firing her rapid questions at him.
Gabriel grinned and hugged her. “Aunt Fleur, you never age. How is this even possible?”
She giggled but waved with her hand. “Oh, you charmer. You got your skills to compliment women from your dad.”
Gabriel’s jaw clenched as though the comparison with his father wasn’t flattering.
Saving The Brother's Best Friend (Gems 0f Love Book 4) Page 3