Page 39 of The Beat of her Heart

Giselle gave a small nod, her gaze unwavering. “Of course.”

Addie lingered for a moment before she turned and left the room, her mind buzzing with everything unsaid.

She walked so fast that she was almostsprinting by the time she got to the girls’ room. Right outside the door, she took a deep breath and exhaled heavily.

She placed her hands on her cheeks, hoping the girls would be too excited with their sleepover to notice her blushing over her colleague.

Addie stepped quietly into Sophie and Natalie’s room, the soft glow of a nightlight casting a warm light over the small space. Sophie looked up as Addie approached, her eyes bright despite her sleepiness.

“Mom,” she whispered, her face breaking into a smile as she glanced at Natalie. “Told you she’d come. Mommy always kisses me goodnight.”

“That’s right, pumpkin,” Addie said.

“Would you kiss me goodnight too, Addie?” Natalie asked.

“Sure thing, Natalie,” Addie said.

This was it. This was how a sleepover should be—two friends enjoying each other’s company and preparing for a good night’s sleep. If only it could be this simple with Giselle.

“Are you with Dr. Giselle?” Sophie asked.

Addie chuckled, leaning down to kiss herdaughter’s forehead. “Yes, honey. It’s a double sleepover, isn’t it?”

Sophie giggled softly. “Double sleepover,” she repeated, sounding thrilled by the idea. She hugged her pillow, her excitement shining through even as her eyelids began to droop.

“Goodnight, sweetheart,” Addie murmured, brushing back Sophie’s hair and placing one last kiss on her forehead. She did the same with Natalie. “Goodnight, Natalie.”

She moved quietly toward the door, looking back at the two girls nestled under their blankets.

“Goodnight, girls.”

“Goodnight, Mom.”

“Goodnight, Ms. Wolfe.”

With a final smile, Addie slipped out of the room and closed the door gently behind her. She turned to head back to the guest room and nearly stumbled as she almost walked right into Giselle.

Giselle stood there, close enough that Addie had to steady herself against the wall. Dressed in simple, fitted pajamas, Gisellelooked different, softer in a way that Addie hadn’t seen before.

Her dark hair fell loose around her shoulders, and her eyes had a warmth in them that made Addie’s breath catch. The low light only made the lines of Giselle’s figure more pronounced.

Addie could see the faint outline of Giselle’s nipples pushing through the soft cotton fabric. She swallowed.

“I didn’t mean to surprise you,” Giselle said.

Addie managed a small smile, taking in every detail. “No, it’s…fine. Just didn’t expect anyone in the hallway.”

“I thought I’d come say goodnight to the girls, too,” Giselle said. “But now I don’t think I want to get them all excited again.”

Addie’s gaze dropped for a second, noticing the way the fabric of Giselle’s pajamas traced her frame, highlighting the subtle movement as she shifted slightly.

“So…have you ever spent the night here before?” Addie asked.

“Not exactly,” Giselle replied, her lips curving slightly. “I’ve spent the night at Josephine’s, but I was nine then.”

Addie nodded. “Sometimes a change of scenery isn’t so bad.”

Giselle’s gaze softened, her shoulders relaxing a bit more. “I can see that.”

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