Page 58 of The Beat of her Heart

Addie smiled. “Sure, Giselle. Sure.”

Giselle reached out and traced the lines of Addie’s face.

“I’m glad it happened,” she said softly.

Addie smiled. “Me, too.”

“Want to come over?” The words left Giselle’s mouth before she could overthink them.

Addie looked at her, a flicker of surprise in her eyes, but then she nodded. “I’d love to. Just for a little while, though. I need to get Sophie from school soon.”

They finished gathering their things, and Giselle couldn’t help glancing at Addie as she ran a hand through her hair. She had a way of moving that was both graceful and grounded, something Giselle found strangely comforting.

“It’s strange,” Addie said, finally breaking the silence, “being this close and still feeling like we have so much to learn about each other.”

Giselle looked at her, appreciating the honesty in her words. “You’re right. There’s still a lot to discover.”

Addie’s eyes met hers as a faint smile touched her lips. “But I don’t mind taking the time to figure you out.”

The words hit Giselle in a way she hadn’t expected, softening something inside her that she’d held tight for so long.

Giselle stood there, her gaze fixed on Addie as her mind slowly pieced together the events of their morning. She watchedAddie smooth out her shirt and adjust each button with a steady, practiced hand. The shirt framed her figure perfectly, and Giselle found herself distracted by how well Addie wore it.

Every gesture Addie made felt deliberate and graceful. Giselle’s eyes traced the line of her collarbone, the curve of her neck, even the way her fingers moved to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

She looked so natural, as if she belonged right there, standing in front of Giselle and taking her time. There was a calmness about her that both soothed and unsettled Giselle.

“Did you say something?” Addie looked up, noticing Giselle’s silence.

“No,” Giselle said, shaking her head slightly. “Just watching.”

Addie smirked. “I could tell.”

Giselle took a step back and crossed her arms, trying to maintain her usual calm. “You know, some people would consider your level of self-confidence impressive.”

“Only impressive?” Addie raised an eyebrow, teasing. “I expected more.”

Giselle rolled her eyes, letting out a small, reluctant smile. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Guess you’ll have to get used to it.” Addie gave her a light shrug, a hint of mischief in her expression as she finished up her lipstick.

Giselle watched, her heart doing a slow, steady drumbeat she didn’t dare acknowledge. She forced herself to look away, straightening the sleeves of her own shirt, though her mind was anything but focused on the simple task.

Her thoughts were fragmented and scattered, all centered on the way she felt each time she was around Addie.

Inwardly, Giselle felt a flicker of something unguarded, some sense of ease that was both familiar and strange.

She hadn’t allowed herself this kind of closeness in a long time, and she wasn’t sure how to process it. But Addie made it feel like she didn’t have to overthink.

She reached out, her fingers tracing the line of Addie’s cheek, soft and reassuring. The gesture felt more honest than words.

They stepped out of the office together, and for a second, Giselle felt a pang of nerves, almost as if someone might notice something had changed between them. Sheglanced sideways at Addie, catching her small, knowing smile.

Their gaze locked, but the moment was interrupted by a familiar voice. “Well, well, look who’s here!” Josephine’s voice was unmistakably cheerful, her expression all too curious as she studied them.

Giselle tensed slightly, hoping Josephine wasn’t watching them too closely. Josephine’s gaze was sharp, noticing every detail with that quiet, knowing glint in her eyes.

“Good morning,” Giselle replied, keeping her tone level.

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