Chapter 42 - The Whisky-soaked Morning (2/2)
Oh, Claire, if only you knew, Gabriel thinks as he stares at her face, so fresh and innocent in the morning. He realizes for the first time that she's one of those beauties who look pretty with or without makeup. ”I got a little drunk, I think.”
”And you spilled all the liquor on me?”
”Yeah,” he says sheepishly. ”Stupid, no?”
”Yeah!” Claire giggles. ”Imagine that? I wouldn't expect that from the CEO of a big holdings company.” She laughs.
”Hold it right there, woman. I might be the CEO, but I'm still human, too.”
”Well, I guess you're right,” she says. ”So what now?”
”What do you mean?”
”We're still in bed so late in the morning. What are your plans?”
He's not sure, but the way she just said ”We're in bed so late in the morning” sends his heart aflutter. Like it's the cutest thing. Like they actually have something, a budding relationship. As though this is their first morning after the honeymoon, or something.
Honeymoon?
What if? Gabriel wonders, as he gazes at her, with the morning light streaming beautifully through the window. What if this turns real? Is it even possible?
”Okay, Miss Virginity, this is what we'll do,” he teases.
”Stop calling me that, Gabriel.”
Gabriel laughs. ”It's funny how you're…” How you're still a vɨrġɨn despite being stunning, is what Gabriel almost says, but he bites his tongue. ”Well, you can take the day off. You probably need some rest. I understand the past few days have been very stressful.”
”That's the understatement of the year,” she says.
”But tonight,” he says, weighing his words, ”you need to be ready.”
Confusion knits her brow. ”Ready for what?”
Gabriel sighs. ”My mom arrives tonight. He'll go straight to this place to confront you.”
Claire almost chokes on that.