Chapter 10 Giselle #2
“It’s not obvious?”
“Not even a little,” I said.
“Will you stay in here tonight?” she asked, her voice even fainter.
“Whatever you need, G.”
She sighed and, before long, her breathing slowed. I could almost feel a calmness wash over her before she fell asleep.
I lay awake for a long time, savoring the feel of her in my arms and in the sentiments she’d uttered.
So many times over the years, I’d envisioned holding her in my arms. In my bed.
But never in a million years had I envisioned it happening after she’d been bound and held at gunpoint.
It had clearly messed with her. I mean, even I wasn’t foolish enough to think she actually prayed that I’d come to her rescue that night.
Nor did I believe that any other time she would’ve allowed me to be this close to her.
That night fucked her up. This was just a glowing reminder of that.
As sleep began to pull me under, I sent up my own little prayer. Please don’t let Kason show up to check on her. Please don’t let him find me in her bed.
Giselle
Even with my eyes closed, I could feel the sting of sunlight casting through the skylights in the room.
I cracked my eyes, instantly blinded by the brightness.
It took a minute to adjust, and then I glanced to my right.
Thayer lay sound asleep with his arms locked around his pillow like it was his favorite stuffed animal.
I didn’t know when he finally moved away from me in the middle of the night, but lying in his arms had made me feel so safe.
Before Kason walked in and suspected anything, I climbed out from under the covers, careful not to wake Thayer as I crept slowly from the bed.
I threw on a hoodie, padded to the closed door, and cracked it open, listening to see if anyone was up yet.
It was quiet, so I tiptoed down the hallway and moved downstairs to the kitchen.
The security guard was in the living room.
He nodded toward me in acknowledgement, but went back to watching the screens he’d set up with views of the entire exterior of the home.
Within minutes, I had a dozen pancakes made and more cooking on the griddle, the coffee brewed, and enough space between Thayer and me to try to forget I let him comfort me. Hold me. See me so vulnerable.
When he’d asked me if I wanted him to leave, I didn’t know what to say. I should’ve said yes, but the way I felt in his arms wouldn’t allow me to let him leave.
Footsteps nearby had my senses prickling. I knew it was him before he spoke.
“Morning,” he said quietly, probably trying not to startle me or wake the rest of the house.
I twisted around, trying to act normal. But, the way his jeans hung low on his hips and his navy Henley hugged his muscles had me swallowing before responding. “I didn’t want to wake you. You looked so peaceful.”
He glanced over his shoulder, making sure no one had stumbled upon our conversation. “You sleep okay?”
“Thanks to you.”
He shrugged. “Your boyfriend’s not gonna kick my ass or anything, is he?”
I shook my head because I’d never tell Gino. What he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. “As long as your girlfriend doesn’t kick mine.”
“I don’t have a girlfriend.”
“Does Masie know that?”
“We’ve been on two dates.”
“Three,” I corrected.
His lips slipped into an adorable smirk. “You keeping track?”
My eyes flashed away from his, embarrassed that I’d been paying attention to what he did and who he did it with.
“Maybe I’ll have to take her on a sleigh ride for our fourth date,” he offered.
I smiled. “That’s so cliché.”
He chuckled.
“I made pancakes. You hungry?”
He sat on a stool at the massive island. “Starved.”
I stacked pancakes onto a plate and placed them in front of him.
“These look great.” He picked up the nearby bottle of syrup and covered them with it. “You gonna eat with me?” he asked, slicing into the stack with the side of his fork.
I removed more pancakes from the griddle before they burned and then put two on a plate for me. I slipped onto the stool next to him. It was strange being so close to him now that I knew what it felt like to sleep next to him—wrapped in his arms. Wrapped in his arctic scent.
“They’re good,” he said with a mouthful.
“Don’t give me too much credit. There was a box of mix in the cupboard.”
He laughed as he shoveled more into his mouth and chewed. “Well, then you really know how to mix things.”
I smiled.
“Morning,” Kason called as he bounded down the steps. “Smells amazing down here.”
I jumped up and rounded the island, plating pancakes for him—more so to avoid being next to Thayer than to cater to my brother. I handed Kason the plate, and he started eating as he leaned against the counter.
“Where’s Jesse?” he asked.
“He went pretty hard last night,” Thayer explained. “You may need to wake his ass up or he’ll sleep ’til noon.”
“You guys gonna be gone all day?” I definitely felt more at peace being surrounded by a lot of people—at least people who I knew cared about me.
“Probably,” Kason said as he chewed. “Why don’t you and Shay head to the lodge later. We’ll meet you for lunch, and then catch back up with you after our afternoon runs.”
“Sounds like a plan,” I said, careful not to look at Thayer.
“You good with that, Thayer?” Kason asked.
“Sure. Whatever.”
Whatever? Did he really not want to spend time with us?
Was he trying to act as cool as I was in front of Kason?
Was I reading way too much into this? It wasn’t like anything happened between us.
I needed someone, and Thayer was there. We didn’t kiss.
He didn’t even really touch me other than hold me until I fell asleep. That didn’t really count.
But Kason would think it counted.
And so would Gino.
“Morning,” Shay said, rubbing her eyes as she walked into the kitchen in a one-piece footy-pajama set and her hair all disheveled.
We greeted her as she eyed our plates. “Smells good.”
I moved around the island and placed a couple of pancakes onto a plate and handed them to her.
“Thanks.”
Kason cleared his throat. I glanced to him. He held out his empty plate.
“You’ve got two legs,” I said.
“Come on, sis,” he whined.
I pulled the empty plate from his hand and got him more pancakes. “You’re such a big baby.”
“And you all love it.”
“We all tolerate it,” I said, handing him the plate.
“I’m hurt. Seriously hurt,” he said.
Thayer stood up. “Let’s go shred.” He moved to the sink and rinsed his plate.
“I’ve got that,” I said, moving beside him to take the plate. My fingers brushed his as I grabbed it, and a ripple moved up my arm. I didn’t dare make eye contact for fear of my eyes betraying me.
“So, you’ll help him willingly but put up a fight to help me?” Kason asked.
“Wow,” Shay said. “You really are a big baby.”
I smiled, appreciating the back-up. “Thank you, Shay.”
Kason placed his plate on the counter with his half-eaten pancakes. “I’m outta here.”
“Try not to stomp your feet on the way out,” I called to him as he grabbed his coat off a hook.
Thayer laughed, and the warm sound burrowed its way deep inside of me. Getting along with him was so much better than arguing with him.
“I’m up,” Jesse called as he raced down the steps, almost missing one but catching himself on the railing.
“You’re lucky. We almost left your ass behind,” Kason said.
“Thayer wouldn’t have left me,” Jesse said, looking at the remaining pancakes. “Did I miss breakfast?”
“Here,” I said, rummaging through the drawers until I found a freezer bag. I dropped some pancakes in, squirted them with some syrup, closed up the bag, and handed it to him. “For the road.”
“Wow. If you weren’t taken, I’d shoot my shot,” Jesse said.
“I’d like to see you try, perv,” Kason threatened.
“Perv?” Jesse challenged.
“My sister’s off limits to guys like you,” Kason continued.
“You mean, handsome and athletic?” Jesse asked.
“I mean, I know where your junk’s been. Keep it away from Giselle.”
I instinctively looked to Thayer who was looking directly at me. I wondered if he was thinking the same thing as me. I was off limits—in more ways than one.