Page 10 of Husband Material
She mustered up an unconvincing smile. "I will live."
I felt a bit helpless, and it was fucking frustrating seeing her this way. "In France, what do they do for pain? Like, to take your mind off it?"
A smile lit in her eyes. "The same way I presume they do here in America."
I liked the sound of this already. "Oh?"
She glanced down, her cheeks blushing pink. "Wine."
She looked back at me, meeting my gaze brazenly this time. For what seemed like one long dreamlike minute, we stared at each other. Was it just my imagination? Or did Giselle have more than a fair idea of what I'd like to do with her? Maybe something she wanted…too.
She was the first to tear her eyes away. "Sorry. That was a bit assuming of me, asking for wine after you have been so generous and accommodating already. You do not have to. In fact, forget about it."
I'd already made my way to the wine cupboard, though. "You don't have to apologize for anything. Before I met you, I'd had a shit day myself. Some wine would be an excellent way to top off the night. I'll even throw in cheese and crackers while I'm at it to show you my social skills aren’t a complete waste of—"
As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I realized I couldn't just toss her out onto the beach when we were finished drinking the wine. She didn't have a car or a way to get home that I knew of, and she wasn't walking back in the dark with an injured foot.
"Would you like me to drive you where you're staying?"
She shook her head no.
"Sorry, I didn't even ask you about that before I brought you here. I forgot—I don't even know where you live." My rambling seemed to do nothing in the way of earning me any more information from her, so I finished it by making her an offer. "Although, you're more than welcome to stay here too, if you'd prefer."Oh, that's smart, asshole.
Yet I really wanted her to say yes.What the fuck, man.
Giselle looked past me. "Whatever is easiest for you is perfect for me."
My decision was big, significant—and yet I made it in a split-second, sensing that if I pondered for a second longer then I wouldn't firm up the offer. I didn't invite women to my house to stay the night. Ever. Not even pre-Cassidy.
"Then you can stay. But I only have one bedroom furnished at the moment, so I'll sleep on the couch."
At this, Giselle firmly shook her head no. "It would be impossible for me to stay if you did that. Please, let me have the couch. These past few months I have slept on the odd couch for a night or two when necessary, and in horribly crummy hostile beds that are like glorified sacks of potatoes."
I tried to bite back my grin…and failed.
"What is so amusing to you, Gage?"
You. Everything you say. The way you are.
"Just, the beds. Did you meanhostelbeds, or were the beds themselves actuallyhostileto you?"
Hearing her mistake, Giselle giggled while I scanned the bottles in the wine case carefully. "How doesChâteau Margaux 2010sound?"
Giselle clapped a hand to her lips. "Oh no, I could never. That wine is…rare and very expensive."
She was right…and knowledgeable about wine. Cassidy's parents had gifted us the bottle. A thousand-dollar bottle of cabernet to enjoy on our honeymoon. In the madness of the wedding cancellation and shipping out Cassidy's things, I'd forgotten about it. And nobody had asked for it back, so they’d probably thought it was tainted from its original purpose. Good thing I didn't share their sentiments.
I set it on the marble countertop and popped the cork, pouring two glasses and then handing her one. "I think you can, Giselle. Enjoy it while I set up the rest of our night-time feast."
Smiling slightly, she accepted her glass without a word.
When I returned with the cheese and crackers, I didn't miss her wince of pain as she got up and tried to follow me. I glanced to the adjoined living room. "Here, let's get you on the couch now."
She made no protest as I swept her up again and carried her over, although she did let out a small exhale of surprise. "You made that look very simple."
That's because it is.I set her down on the suede cushions, grinning like an idiot. "I'm sure if you went to the gym as much as I do…plus, you are easy to carry."I’ve never carried a woman like this. For some insane reason, it felt right. She felt right in my arms.
"Ha." Giselle threw up a hand. "Do not lie."
