But Gabriel did. Especially when those questions touched upon the biggest mistake he’d ever made.
He bent to shove his empty valise under the bed. It was obvious at one glance that it wouldn’t fit, but forcing it into the small opening gave him an excuse to avoid answering. “Darn it!”
Giada put her hand on his shoulder and kneeled beside him. “Gabe, something is up. I know you.”
Gabriel kept pushing against his valise until his knuckles turned pale. Why did Giada have to insist? He didn’t want to think about what he’d left behind. At least when he was awake he had a way to avoid the nightmares.
And why did she have to keep coming this close to him? The heat emanating from her body made Gabriel’s head spin.
She hooked two fingers underneath his chin and turned his face to her. Her eyes were large, filled with worry. “Gabe, please. It’s me. You know what we have. You can trust me.”
Gabriel’s heart stuttered. Yes, it was her. But he wasn’t sure anymore what they had. The past twenty-four hours had turned his soul more upside down than it had ever been.
He’d come to France to resolve at least one pressing issue in his life. To mend his father’s misstep. He had to focus on that. Not on how his cells seemed to dance every time Giada got close to him.
Despite this, she had a point. He couldn’t hold back everything from her. She was here to help him. Maybe he should trust her with part of the truth. He sighed, ignoring how Giada’s warm breath caressed his cheeks. “There was an accident at work. Someone who should have been saved died.”
Giada batted her lashes. “I see. It must have been bad.”
“Yeah, it was.”
She moved her fingers along his neckline, tracing the tensed muscle down to his shoulders. “Was it your fault?” Her voice was soft and warm.
The screams of the woman echoed so loudly in his skull, he had to force his hands from moving up to cover his ears. “It was nobody’s fault.” His commander’s words tasted foul on his tongue. The world could believe what it wanted, but Gabriel knew different. If he hadn’t have frozen, that woman would still be alive.
Giada nodded. “Yes, your work has very high risks. It’s impossible to always save everyone. You shouldn’t blame yourself for what happened.”
Gabriel pressed his lips together. “I don’t.”
“You forget how many times I exposed my brother and you for bluffing when we played poker.” She cupped his face in her palms. “Gabe, please, stop punishing yourself. You’re an excellent firefighter. You’ve saved thousands of lives. You’re a good man. The best, actually.”
At these last words, her voice wavered and she bit her lip.
Her skin on Gabriel’s face distracted him from the meaning of her words. He fought the sensation back, but as his gaze dipped to her lips, he lost his strength to resist the urge to bend forward.
He inched slowly, staring into Giada’s wide eyes. She didn’t recoil, but didn’t move forward either. She just watched him getting closer, an undecipherable expression playing on her face.
What was he doing? Was he really going to kiss her?
The rational thoughts died off as soon as Giada’s scent wafted over him. She really shouldn’t have switched perfumes.
Her breathing murmured in his ears, sending his mind into haywire. As his lips almost touched hers, a sense of elation flooded his insides. It was as if he was doing something that he’d wanted to do forever, that he never actually knew he wanted. Just a second more and he could taste her lips.
A shrill clang cut through the silence of the house.
Giada twitched and moved back. Her cheeks were red. “The bell. I’ll go and get it.”
She jumped up and dashed out of the room.
Gabriel squeezed his eyes shut and bumped his head against the valise lying in front of him. What a fool. No a complete idiot. What did he think he was doing? Why did he have to scare Giada like that?
She was just trying to console him and show him that she cared for him. As friends.
It must be talking about the Flemming Street case. Yes, diving into these horrific memories must’ve made him vulnerable and he’d sought comfort in the distracting beauty of Giada.
But this had to stop. Giada and he were only friends. Only in front of the others did they have to pretend. He shouldn’t push the boundaries of their relationship any further when they were alone. It was a dangerous game and, just like his dad, Gabriel never had luck as a player.
Chapter 7
Giada kept her eyes on her feet as she stumbled to the door. Her knees were still wobbly from the intense moment with Gabriel. Was he about to kiss her? Would he have gone through with it if they hadn’t been interrupted?
She rubbed her cheeks with both hands, trying to get herself back to reality. She needed to get to the door without tripping over to check which member of the Roche family was here to see them.
She couldn’t be panting or blushing. Nor tongue-tied from an almost-kiss. It probably didn’t mean the same thing to Gabriel as to her anyway.
The palpitations in her chest didn’t subside by the time she got to the door, so she paused for a second with her hand on the doorknob. She sucked in a big breath and exhaled slowly. It helped somewhat tame her irregular rhythm so she repeated it once more.
She’d been such a moron for digging into Gabriel’s problems. He was obviously very upset about them. So upset that he preferred kissing her just to shut her up?
Was that why he came at her?
“Gaaa-brieee-l, chérie! Is it you? I can see your shadow. Would you care to open the door, please?” An acute female voice snapped Giada out of her contemplation.
Aurélie?
Giada’s palm became moist but she pressed the doorknob.
She plastered on a smile and pulled the door open. “Hi, Aurélie. Nice to see you again.”
Aurélie gasped, her perfectly outlined lips letting out a tiny “Oh,” but she gathered her wits quickly and straightened her back. “Oh, hi, Giada. What a surprise. I didn’t know you were Gabriel’s date. Are you two together, or what?”
Giada narrowed her eyes. Was Aurélie only acting? “Didn’t Jean-Pierre already inform you about our arrival?”
Aurélie waved with her hand. “He did mention something of the sort, but I thought he was kidding.” Her eyes moved to Giada’s simple capri jeans and light blouse and she pursed her lips.
Giada’s nostrils flared. Aurélie hadn’t changed much. If it were possible, she was even more irritating than Giada remembered. What gave her the right to speak to Giada like this?
Giada squared her shoulders. “Oh, Aurélie. You’re charming as ever.”
A sly smirk spread on Aurélie’s face. “And you, badly dressed as ever. Tell me, did you bring stones in your luggage instead of clothes?”
Giada studied Gabriel’s ex’s impeccable curls and perfect makeup. If Giada was honest, Aurélie was in a sartorial league of her own. She had the talent of putting together clothes so artfully that the women around her were probably on a constant quest to emulate her style. Giada didn’t have the same gift. Her art was limited to her sculptures. But just because Aurélie had a better fashion sense, it didn’t make her a better person.
Giada licked her lips. “I’m not planning to work on vacation so, no, I left my materials and tools at home, thanks for asking. Were you looking for Gabriel? I can fetch him for you. He’s in our bedroom, unpacking.” The special accent on “our” wasn’t planned but her tongue seemed to acquire a life on its own.
Aurélie’s flawless complexion paled at Giada’s words. “Your bedroom?”
Okay, it wasn’t such a bad thing to say after all.
Giada feigned a casual expression as if the fact that she and Gabriel slept in the same bed wasn’t news to her. “Sure. Want me to call him for you?”
Aurélie leaned closer to Giada and lowered her voice. “You little piece of…I suspected that you were drooling over Gabriel when we were to
gether. I’m astonished that he finally noticed you. You aren’t the woman for him.”
It was as if the wind was knocked out of Giada. She never thought that Aurélie had recognized her feelings for Gabriel. Aurélie had visited Gabriel every month when they were together. Having a rich daddy with a private jet had its perks. But Giada had always paid attention to meet Aurélie as little as possible and to keep her body language more under control than usual.
Obviously her efforts weren’t enough, and Aurélie had seen through her. Could Aurélie have shared her suspicions with Gabriel?
Giada winced inwardly. This has to stop. She couldn’t go into analyzing the details of the past. It didn’t matter anyway. Aurélie was marrying Jean-Pierre. “I’m not sure what you’re referring to. But the blossoming emotions between Gabriel and me started only after you guys broke up.”
Aurélie sniffed. “Of course. Nobody would cheat on Aurélie Lebouy.”
“Aurélie?”
Gabriel’s baritone made Giada twirl around. She didn’t know how to look at him after what happened—or rather almost happened—between them, so she avoided his eyes by keeping her gaze on his chest.
But Gabriel wasn’t looking at her. His face was turned to Aurélie, his brows drawn together. “What are you doing here?”
Aurélie thrust her chest out and put a hand on her hip, while waving the other in the air. “What do you think? I came to greet you, you silly.”
Gabriel’s eyes widened as he stepped over to them. “I had the impression last time we spoke that you were angry with me.”
Giada’s glance bounced between their faces. Why would Aurélie be angry with Gabriel? They had broken up on amiable terms, hadn’t they? At least that’s what Gabriel had told her.
Aurélie flinched but then smiled. “Oh, that’s all in the past. As you can see, I’m a happy fiancée now. Jean-Pierre really knows how to make a girl feel special.”
Gabriel nodded. “I bet he does.”
Giada observed his face from the corner of her eye. He didn’t seem bothered with the mention of his cousin this time. She recalled how he’d worked his jaw when Jean-Pierre kissed Giada’s hand. Could Gabriel be getting feelings for her?
No, such wishful thinking would get her into trouble. It wasn’t like that. If Gabriel was interested in her, he’d tell her. He was always honest with her, for better or worse.
Aurélie licked her lower lip. “Anyway, you and Giada? That’s funny. I just never saw the two of you coming together.”
Gabriel snorted. “Oh, really? Well, life tends to surprise you in many ways, in case you didn’t notice. People don’t always act the way you expect them to.”
Aurélie’s eyes darkened. “Yes, they don’t.”
Giada stirred. For the second time in the last few hours she felt like she was intruding on some past occurrence and its aftermath. Gabriel and Aurélie didn’t seem to have that simple, feelings-died-due-to-the-distance story that Gabriel had sold her.
Did her twin know more about the break-up? Would it be weird if Giada called Giordano and asked?
Aurélie glanced at her watch. “Heavens, it’s this late? I need to go pick up some flowers for this evening. You know how much your grandmother enjoys a fresh bouquet on the table. I’ll see you two later then.”
She bent towards Gabriel and gave him a kiss on his cheek, a little too close to the corner of his mouth for Giada’s liking. She moved back and gave a nod to Giada. She turned and sashayed off toward the house, her hips swaying to the rhythm of her heels clicking.
Gabriel’s eyes were fixed on Aurélie’s back as he said, “Okay, that was officially weird. Why did she come over here to check on us? Do you think she suspects that we made up our relationship?”
Giada shrugged. “Maybe. I think it could’ve helped our case if you’d at least placed an arm around my shoulder or something.”
Gabriel flinched and his eyes darted to Giada. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I was caught off guard by seeing Aurélie here. Also I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about me hugging you after what just happened”—he pointed inside the house with his thumb—“you know…in there.”
Giada’s throat swelled. Was he going to tell her why he’d almost kissed her? Was it wise of her to prompt him? “Why, what do you think happened in there?”
Gabriel rubbed his neck. “Giada, don’t make me more embarrassed about it than I already am.”
Ouch, it was as if a knife pierced Giada’s stomach. Embarrassed wasn’t the word she’d hoped for. He obviously regretted whatever he did.
She forced her lips to curl up, and it wasn’t a simple task. Her facial muscles didn’t want to obey at first. But she managed an acceptable smile in the end. “Don’t worry about it, Gabe. It’s not a big deal. I know you didn’t mean to…you know.”
Why couldn’t she pronounce the word kiss?
Gabriel’s face relaxed. “You’re the best, Giada. Thank you. I’m not sure what came over me. This accident I told you about has been messing with my head lately. That’s why I took off time from work. I’m not safe for my colleagues to be around while I’m in this jumpy emotional state.”
Jumpy emotional state?
So it was as Giada thought. His actions were commanded by a moment of insanity due to the traumatic memories she must’ve awoken with her nosiness. Disappointment snaked through her chest, making her limbs numb.
What had she been hoping for? That he’d confess that he suddenly felt attracted to her? After all these years?
No, Aurélie was right. She wasn’t the woman for Gabriel. But she still would have to act like she was in front of his family.
Next time she saw Giordano, she’d kill him. Her brother should’ve never set her up like this. She bit the insides of her cheeks. But she was here now, and it didn’t make sense to dwell on what would’ve been a better situation.
Her glance wandered to a building further away to the left of Fleur’s house. It looked like a barn. Desperate to change the topic, she asked, “Do you have horses here?”
Gabriel’s face lit up. He was clearly happy to address a more neutral subject. “Yes, a dozen or so. There’s even a pony. Do you want to go and take a look at them?”
Giada nodded. “It’d be great.” Anything to move away from here and forget that the almost-kiss between them ever existed.
Gabriel winked. “Fine, then let’s put on some comfy shoes.”
Chapter 8
Gabriel reached for the bowl his grandmother’s cook, Sophie, pointed at, but his movement stopped midway. Maybe he could wait at least another minute.
He had no wish to return to the dinner party all so soon. Aunt Agathe’s gloating about Jean-Pierre’s engagement and Mémère’s insistent questions about his father’s absence were getting on his nerves.
At least Giada was doing a formidable interpretation as his girlfriend. The memory of how she caressed his neck while she fought back a nosy comment by Aurélie on Gabriel’s behalf flashed into his mind and his chest warmed. If he was ever in a long-term relationship again, he’d make sure to pick someone as charming as Giada.
Why was his brain jumping to these illogical conclusions? Just like that horrible idea about the kiss. He’d almost ruined everything. Luckily Giada had been easygoing about his foolish act.
Which only showed how truly foolish it would’ve been if he’d gone through with it. Giada didn’t want anything more from him than his friendship.
Sophie wiped her forehead with her forearm and growled. “Gabe, what are you waiting for? Everybody wants the salad to arrive with the main meal. I don’t need a hand if it means you’re just going to stand around in my kitchen doing nothing.”
“I’m going already. I just needed a break from the family gathering.” Gabriel grabbed the white container, careful not to drop any green leaves on the kitchen counter.
Sophie’s round face softened. “You can stay another moment, if you like. It must be hard seeing Mademoiselle Aurélie in the arms
of Jean-Pierre, huh?”
Gabriel snorted. “Sure. It is.”
He didn’t want to correct Sophie about her wrong assumption. After all, what did it matter if his grandmother’s cook thought he was feeling uneasy because of Aurélie. She didn’t have to know that seeing Aurélie and Jean-Pierre together was about the only thing that made him glad tonight. It reminded him of the huge error he’d avoided.
Yes, accepting Aurélie’s marriage proposal would have been a mistake. Even if it would’ve made him the richest firefighter in his town. Taking the money Aurélie’s father offered for his daughter’s nuptials might’ve been Mémère’s wish, but it was still a bribe. Perhaps Aurélie’s dad knew that staying with his daughter for an entire lifetime would need some serious compensation.
The kitchen door creaked and Giada appeared. The hairpin she’d used to tame her thick dark tresses had come loose. A large curl danced on the right side of her face as she cocked her head to the side. “Gabe, honey, you need to come back. Jean-Pierre is just about to make a toast.”
The way honey rolled off her tongue gave Gabriel goose bumps. It would be lovely to be called like that for real.
He kicked himself back to reality and clutched the salad bowl tighter to his belly. “Yes, I’m here. Let’s go.”
He followed Giada back to the large dining room.
His grandmother turned to look at him as he entered. “Ah, here you are. I was afraid you tried to coax Sophie into giving you your favorite dessert or something.” She chuckled and her silver hair bounced with the movement.
Gabriel rolled his eyes. “Mémère, you forget that I’m a grown man now, not a boy. If I want a crème brûlée, I’ll just ask Sophie in front of everyone.”
Giada and Gabriel settled to their seats.
His grandmother must’ve decided it was time for some reminiscence. She narrated various stories that featured Gabriel, either as a clumsy child or a rebellious teenager. Aunt Fleur inserted a few comments here and there, trying to correct the flawed conclusions that always depicted Jean-Pierre as a savior of every situation.
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