Page 15 of Husband Material
She bobbed her head up and cocked a brow at him impatiently. "Really nice place you've got here. Decorated it yourself?"
With a frown set so deep into her face that I wondered if it would ever come out, she nodded warily.
Reid then glanced around the shop, taking it all in with a wistful sigh. "You made all of this with your husband, didn't you?"
Miraculously, the frowning set of wrinkles on her face softened. Shealmostsmiled. "Took us months. We almost didn't think it would be ready in time. Didn't even know whether the store would work, but here it is still thriving all these years later."
Reid rubbed the side of his jaw like that was the most fascinating thing he'd heard all week. “It’s obviously been in exceptional hands then. Kudos to you.” Then, he gestured to me. "My friend Gage here, the person he's asking about, well, they have a connection. He's not some crazy creeper, I can attest to that. He's just a guy who's looking for a girl. There was this…misfortune…where they were separated without getting each other's information. So if you had her phone number that would do him a world of good."
The woman gave me a long, hard look before tapping a finger on the mouse connected to her ancient desktop. After a beat and a pause, she said, "Unlucky for you we don't deal with phone numbers. Phone calls aren't our style." My whole body sagged in defeat.Fuck.
"But"—Old Bat Art Lady lifted her eyes upward, as if seeking guidance from above—"some peopleset up accounts to have things delivered directly…like Giselle Fleury, 24 Clair Creek Lane." Clearly, she'd made her decision in advance because of what she said next. "Don't thank me for the information because I didn't tell you a thing. You only overhead my mention of the details of a client's delivery. In fact, don't say anything to me unless it's to ask for the price of whatever you're buying before you go." She had game, I'd give her that much. I also now had a way to find Giselle, so I didn't even care Old Bat Art Lady was grifting me.
Reid nodded gravely.
I followed her very specific instructions. "How much for three pads of this fine sketching paper, ma'am?"
She finally cracked the beginnings of a smile when she gave me the total for my purchase.
We waited until we were outside before the congratulatory knuckle tap. Then Reid stepped back and leaned on the wall of the store, that annoying debonair-Southern-gentleman act of his in full fucking swing and asked me the question.
"So, you want to tell me why you're stuck on this girl, Gage?"
I jostled the bag holding the three sketchpads I'd just bought for Giselle and shook my head.
"No. I'm not stuck on her. It's…only that we got separated…and I just want to make sure she's okay. She hurt her foot."The truth—mostly.
Reid nodded with the air of someone who didn't believe a word I'd said but would pretend to buy it for my sake anyway. Clapping his hand on my back, he said, "I'll leave you to it then. Take care of yourself, brother."
I gave him a shoulder bump. "You too. Thanks for wooing the info out of the crazy old bat for me. I owe you one."
After he left, it gradually dawned on me that our hasty victory wasn't exactly one. I hadn't gotten Giselle's phone number as I'd hoped. I'd gotten heraddress, which demanded a very different commitment—and potentially different interpretation by Giselle herself. Although she had seemed reckless and easygoing in some ways, what if she thought me showing up at her place unannounced was creepy and stalkerish?
Reading the address I'd recorded on my phone, I squared my shoulders. Although the normal way of getting Giselle's number and shooting her a call or a text would have been preferable, I didn't have that option. And it wasn’t acceptable to not see her again. I felt something for her and wanted to explore what that might be.Even though I have no clue if she feels anything for me.It was either this or nothing.
Tucking my phone in my pocket, I set off for home. If worst came to worst, it would be the same as me doing nothing at all—and never seeing someone who brought unexpected light into my life again.And that feels terribly wrong.
* * *
I waiteduntil the next morning.
It wasn't that far so I walked, mulling over my nonchalance about her to Reid, and feeling annoyed with myself. Why couldn't I have admitted that I'd had a great time with Giselle and wanted to see her again? What was the big deal?
Instinctively, I avoided answering my own question. Something told me I wouldn't like the answer. Already, the lengths I'd gone to see this French girl again was unsettling. I didn’t pursue. I didn’t put myself out unless it was for my business.So, why her?
A quick ten minutes later I was walking down Bluff Lane, grinning as I took in the pastel, low-lying structures. Of course Giselle would be staying on Rainbow Row. I should've guessed.
I'd made it to 10 Clair Creek when I saw her. Headed straight for me and looking just as beautiful as I remembered.Because the memory of her is something permanent now.She was wearing a short yellow dress instead of a blue one, but her long lovely legs looked just as gorgeous regardless of the color.I had my cock buried between those lovely legs.The frown she also wore once she recognized me didn’t retract from her beauty.Don't fuck this up. No matter what.
"Giselle."
"Gage."
Her cheeks had a sun-kissed hue.
"I am—"
"I know I—"
