Chapter 23 Giselle
GISELLE
I grasped the strap of my cross bag as I stepped through the boarding bridge, scanning the crowd of people waiting for their loved ones in the terminal.
I stilled, spotting Thayer leaning against a pole.
His eager eyes were on me as he pushed off of it and met me halfway, wrapping his arms around me.
I all but collapsed into him, my tears falling as soon as I was in his arms.
“You’re safe,” he said, kissing the top of my head. “I’ve got you, and I’m not going to let anyone hurt you. Okay?”
I nodded, unable to form words.
“You’re safe, G.”
I let him hold me for a long time. I couldn’t put into words what it felt like to have Thayer’s support. I just knew I was safe when he was with me. “I broke it off with Gino.”
He pulled back and looked me in the eyes. “You’re all mine?”
I smiled up at him through teary eyes. “I should have always been all yours.”
He stared down at me. “Good thing I’m patient.”
“Good thing.”
We held each other tighter, both of us reveling in the notion that we were finally able to be together. “Let’s go. You’re coming home with me.”
Once I was in his truck and he closed the passenger door, I sighed with relief. He slipped into the driver’s seat and reached over, linking his fingers with mine. He held my hand in his lap and squeezed it gently.
Darkness had moved in, and there weren’t many cars on the road as we travelled on the long stretch of highway.
“I spoke to my father,” he said, glancing between me and the road.
“How was that?”
“Weird. But we need his help. You know he was in the FBI, right?”
“You never really talk about him.”
“When I was growing up, I hated that he was so into his job. My mom said he was off doing something important, but we never talked about what he did for the FBI.”
“I never would have asked you to reach out to him. I know how you feel about him.”
He squeezed my hand. “G. When it comes to you, I’d do anything.”
Butterflies took flight in my belly. I don’t know what I did to deserve his unwavering loyalty, but I’d take it a hundred times over if it meant I got to keep him. “Does he think he can help?”
“He’s going to look into Gino’s background to find Carlo. And, he’s going to have someone look for similar crimes.”
“You don’t think this was the first time?”
“For Carlo or Gino?” he asked, surprising me. “Gino’s one big mystery. You must see that now.”
I closed my eyes. “I hope he didn’t know about it.
” I’d been so foolish. I never asked questions.
I never pressured him to bring me around his friends or family.
I was busy running the boutique. It didn’t give me time to question anything.
But hindsight was definitely twenty-twenty.
I peeked over at Thayer. “What was I doing with him for so long?”
“No idea,” he said matter-of-factly.
“I feel so stupid.”
“He charmed you.”
“And I fell for it. He probably knew I was gullible and an easy target.”
“I don’t think it was all a lie.”
“No?” I asked.
He kept his eyes on the road as he said, “He couldn’t have helped but fall for you, G. You’re pretty damn irresistible.”
I stared at him, admiring his sharp profile and shaggy hair. He was the complete opposite of Gino and exactly my type. “My mom knows about us.”
“She does?” He sounded surprised.
“She saw you on the camera when you snuck in.”
“And?”
“And…” I stalled, making him sweat it out. “She’s all for it.”
A small chuckle slipped past his lips. “Of course she is. She knows I’m one of the good ones.”
I rolled my eyes.
“So, is she all for me sleeping in your bed? Because I plan on doing it every night. But tonight, because we have my whole house to ourselves, I plan on taking advantage of that.”
“Is that so?”
He smirked. “I’m fine just holding you tonight. But tomorrow night…”
I laughed.
I stepped out of Thayer’s bathroom with a blue towel wrapped around me and my hair in a wet knot on my head.
He’d stripped down to his boxers and was sitting on the edge of his bed, looking at his phone when I walked into his room.
He glanced up and immediately placed his phone down and stood up. “Feel better?”
“A little.”
He came over to me and wrapped me in his arms. “I could get used to this.”
“What?” I asked, slipping my arms around him.
“You being here in my house. Smelling all girly and perfect.”
“I used your shampoo, so I actually smell like you.”
He smiled. “Even better.”
We stood in silence for a long time. I wondered if he’d get sick of having me around now that I was ultimately unemployed, living with my parents, and had no direction in life.
“We’ve got to tell Kason,” Thayer said. “I can’t keep lying to him.”
“Can’t we just enjoy being together? I don’t want him to hate us.”
“You think it’ll be that bad once he knows?”
“Don’t you?”
“Compared to the loser you were with, I’m a score.”
I glanced up at him.
“Too soon?” he asked.
I shrugged.
“Kason’s my best friend. And having to pretend I was into some other girls in Park City was the final straw. I don’t want him pushing me to other girls when the only one I want is right here.”
Flutters swelled in my stomach.
“I know what I want, G, and that’s you.” His lips lowered to mine, and the kiss was slow and sweet. He probably thought that’s what I needed after such a messed-up twenty-four hours.
But his words set a fire inside of me. One that heated me from the inside out.
Without breaking the kiss, I walked him backward until his legs hit his bed.
I urged him down and straddled his lap. I could feel the hard length of him through his boxers, and he moaned into my mouth as I shifted my hips to rub against him.
“G,” he said against my mouth.
“Thayer,” I said back.
He pulled back, leveling me with his eyes. “I don’t need this tonight.”
“Well, maybe I do,” I said.
Indecision flashed in his eyes.
I wouldn’t let him say no. I let my towel fall to the floor.
“Fuuuuuck,” Thayer breathed.
“You make me feel safe,” I said, tunneling my fingers through his hair. “And beautiful,” I said as I slipped my hands to his cheeks. “And wanted,” I said before leaning in and kissing him.
He leaned back on his bed, and I followed him down. His hands encircled my back, and his fingertips glided gently over my skin. “God, G, you feel so good.”
“Just think how good this will feel now that there’s nothing standing between us.” I kissed him, wanting him to see how much I needed him and wanted him.
“I can’t believe you’re in my room like this,” he said.
“Naked?”
He burst out laughing. “In my fantasies, we worked our way up to that point.”
“I guess I’m just making up for lost time.”
He tightened his arms around me before we got lost in each other for the next few hours.
There was something to be said for not having to be quiet or worry that someone may discover us.
It gave us all the time in the world to explore so much more.
Then, when we were exhausted, we fell asleep in each other’s arms.