Page 43 of Angel Eyes

On the second landing, he let go, and I peered around him, taking in the space beyond. Like the lower level, the upper floor consisted of a long chamber separated into four bays beneath a decorated vaulted ceiling. However, the upper chapel was brighter, each wall featuring a series of stained glass windows that filled the entire space with colorful light.

I darted a wide-eyed look around, pressing my fingertips to my lips.

So beautiful.

We circuited the room in companionable silence, examining the various panes of glass, each depicting a different biblical story. A few other people were milling around, but by the time we reached the far end of the sanctuary, a cursory look over my shoulder showed me we were alone.

I peeked up at Gabriel.

I supposed this was as good a time as any to clear the air.

“Gab—”

“Juliet—”

We blinked at each other, a trickle of laughter passing between us. Gabriel rubbed the back of his neck, and I smiled, pushing down a nervous flutter in my belly.

“Um,” I tried again, “about last night …”

“What about last night?” he said, his eyes igniting with a heat I felt all the way down to my toes.

Um, no. There was no way I could say what I needed to with him looking at me like that.

Turning toward the altar, I studied a row of carved cherubim decorating an archway. “I just wanted to make something clear—specifically, I don’t have any expectations.”

A long beat of silence passed. “I see. And what exactly do you mean by that?”

I shrugged. “Just that nothing needs to change. We can continue as we were before. As friends.”

“Friends,” he said flatly.

“Mm-hmm.” I smoothed a hand over my dress, feeling more confident.

Now that I’d initiated the conversation, all I had to do was double down, and, with any luck, I could assure Gabriel I wasn’t looking for a relationship.

“We can keep visiting museums like we planned,” I continued. “Or maybe you could show me some of your favorite places. In fact, I hope you will. I’ve made a list of interesting sites, but I’m sure to have missed some.”

I had no such list, but I made a show of pulling out my phone and studying the catalog of recipes I kept in my notes app. After a few seconds of examining the ingredients for Tuscan Salmon, I looked up to find Gabriel watching me, his expression unreadable.

“Uh-huh.” He traced a thumb over his lower lip, and my eyes tracked the motion, no doubt revealing what a horrible liar I was. “So, to be clear, you still want to explore the city together.”

“Yes.”

He nodded, slipping one hand in his pocket and ruffling the hair at the back of his head with the other.

God, did he have to be so effortlessly handsome? Between features that looked like they’d been carved by God himself and those lean muscles flexing beneath his shirt, it was all I could do to not climb him like a ladder.

And on that note …

I put several paces between us, stopping in front of a statue of Saint Paul.

Ah yes, nothing like peering into the face of a saint to temper one’s libido.

“What about going to restaurants?” I could feel Gabriel behind me, even though I hadn’t heard a single sound to signal his approach. “If memory serves, you promised to let me take you to my favorite bistro.”

“That would be acceptable.”

“And the cinema? There are a few classic French films you might find interesting.”

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