Her gaze drifted to Gabriel who was lifting her luggage from the rack.
Soon. But not yet.
His face wore a grimace of concentration, his brows drawn together in his typical, I’m-pondering-something look.
What was he thinking about? Was he weighing the option of confessing about his plans with Aurélie?
Giada had expected him to spill the beans last night. After all, she’d played her part perfectly. She’d cast away his doubts about her potential feelings for him, hadn’t she?
Then why didn’t he tell her that he was getting back with his ex?
Giada shrugged. In the end, it didn’t matter. She’d hear about it soon enough, if in no other way than through Giordano.
In fact, most likely through her brother. Because she was going back to her cleanse as soon as she set foot in the airport waiting lounge.
Only this time, she wasn’t going to just avoid Gabriel when it was socially acceptable. No, she was going to shut him off completely.
All sculptures featuring him would go into the garbage or be sold. Her diaries filled with hopeless fantasies needed to go too. Would burning them help evict the love from her soul? It was worth a try.
Gabriel came over to her, pulling her luggage. “Shall we go inside?”
Giada reached for the handle of her bag. “No, don’t worry, you don’t need to come. I can do the check-in alone.”
Anything to get away from you and your magnetic pull as quickly as possible.
Gabriel’s eyes widened. “No way I’m letting you carry this thing alone. What kind of a gentleman would do that?” He kept his hand on her bag.
Giada’s fingers, trying to snatch the handle from him, closed on his. As soon as her hand touched his skin, she cursed herself for her reckless gesture. The thrills swamping her arms were so powerful that her knees wobbled. “One who parked in the ‘Kiss and Fly’ zone. You can’t park longer than five minutes.”
Gabriel pulled his hand away and let go of her bag. He gaped at her, wide-eyed.
Did he feel the burning too? Was that why he was staring at her like this?
One side of his mouth curled up in a droll amusement. “Ah, right. The kiss and fly.”
It took Giada a second to realize that he was tasting her stupid words on his tongue. Why did she have to put her foot into her mouth? The last thing she needed was to make Gabriel think she was trying to coax him into giving her a farewell kiss or something.
She dropped her head, observing her palms. “Yeah, you know the short parking zone. That’s just what they call it. Probably because when you drop people off you only have time to give a quick peck.”
There was no need to explain any further, but babbling some useless words made her feel less embarrassed.
Gabriel chuckled. “Oh, thanks for clearing this up. I always wondered why they called it that.”
She peeked up and his wide grin made her heart throb. He looked so gorgeous when he smiled like that. Too bad that in this moment he was making fun of her.
She plastered on a smile she didn’t feel. “I’m glad to help. As always.”
At least this bit was true.
“Well, if you really don’t need me inside, then I won’t go in. I don’t fancy a ticket on our rental,” he said, squaring his shoulders.
Giada nodded, relief flowing through her tight muscles. In a minute, she wouldn’t have to pretend anymore.
Should she call Ginny or Bianca and pour her heart out on the phone while waiting for the gate to open? It might be more healthy than sobbing away her soul in an ammonia-smelling bathroom.
She tilted her head. “Of course. No need at all. Let’s say our good-bye here.”
Gabriel swallowed. After a second he opened his arms.
Oh, no. He wanted to hug her. Was she going to be able to withstand his manly cologne and the warmth of his body pressed to hers?
Gabriel didn’t leave her much of a choice. He leaned in and swept her in a tight embrace. He pressed his cheek to hers and kept it there without saying anything. His breathing was choppy and his hands felt slightly moist on her back.
Giada tried to resist the urge to inhale, knowing very well that his familiar scent wasn’t going to do good things to her insides. But he kept her a prisoner, and she couldn’t stand the lack of air any longer. She took a breath and her senses went into full alert as his fresh, woody perfume diffused in her lungs.
Gabriel released her, but before moving back, he placed a small peck on her cheek. His lips only brushed her heated skin ever so softly, but it was enough to start a hurricane of emotions.
He straightened and smiled. “There. The kiss part is done. Now you need to do the flying. Be brave on the plane and don’t think of anything bad during the takeoff and all will be fine.”
Giada was having a hard time taming her heart rate into a pattern that didn’t make her feel like she had to rush into an emergency room. But Gabriel’s words still managed to warm her chest.
This was the reason it was so frigging hard to forget him. He was just too kind, too considerate…too, well, too Gabriel. A delightful mix of manly and affectionate, soft and hard—yes, he was everything that a man should be.
Except honest. He wasn’t honest with you about Aurélie.
Finally. The always-tempting voice of her inner goddess said something wise for once. Giada was grateful for it. She needed this counsel in this moment more than anything. She had to build some resentment toward Gabriel, otherwise forgetting him would be mission impossible.
She gave him a short nod. “Thanks. I’ll do my best.” She reached for her bag and waved good-bye to Gabriel. She turned and strolled toward the airport’s departure hall without looking back.
Chapter 18
Gabriel climbed back in the car, but as his hands touched the wheel, he realized he wasn’t able to drive just yet. His heart was pounding in his throat and sweat prickled down his back.
He put the key in the ignition and turned it so that he could roll down the windows. As the soft breeze entered the Renault’s cramped interior, he closed his eyes and sighed.
She’s gone.
He should’ve felt relief, but he didn’t. As hard as it had been to play the part of a friend this morning, he could at least look at Giada and silently admire her. He had the feeling somehow that he wasn’t going to see much of her in the future. He wasn’t sure if he would personally conjure the strength to avoid Giada’s company, but he couldn’t shake the thought that she would take care of it for him.
She must’ve realized Gabriel was in love with her. She pretended that she didn’t and that their kiss was a detail not worth mentioning. But he knew her well enough to know it was an act. Gabriel had shocked her, and she was pulling back from him because of it.
He rubbed his face with both hands.
It was probably the only solution. He had to get his life back on track. Seeing Giada regularly would only make it more difficult.
Giordano’s undercover job was going to be an ally in this. It was usually his friend who organized their get-togethers, and Giordano wasn’t going to be able to do that now. At least not as long as he was running his investigation.
Gabriel opened his eyes and took a deep breath.
Fine. So today was the first day of his new life. A life in which he was finally ready to admit he was a fool. He’d done so many things wrong.
He constantly backed his father who didn’t deserve his help.
He kept satisfying his grandmother who obviously only cared for the family’s business and not her grandson’s happiness.
He hid from his vocation, because he was afraid to accept that he could make mistakes and face the fact that he might commit others in the future.
Above all, he’d been blind to the woman of his dreams. Even though she’d been there all along…
Yes, the record of his errors was substantial. But today he was going to mend things. He couldn’t fix the most important one on his list—he couldn’
t make Giada fall in love with him—but he could at least take care of the others.
With fresh determination, he reached into his pocket and grabbed his phone.
He chose his father’s number from his contacts and hit dial.
His father’s hoarse grumble greeted him. “Son. Ça va? Did you get the money from Mother?”
Huh, his dad wasn’t beating around the bush. Nor would Gabriel this time. He hit the loudspeaker and put the phone on the passenger seat. He straightened and folded his arms behind his neck. “No, ça va pas, Dad. I spoke to Mémère, and she isn’t willing to pay off your debts. And I won’t do it either.”
A loud cough, then his father’s voice trembling from suppressed rage. “What do you mean she won’t pay? And you? You can’t leave me hanging like this. Charlie came by yesterday. He said that his boss decided to file a case against me. They’re not going to beat me to pulp. They’re sending me to jail, Gabriel. I’m looking at eleven months at least. You can’t let that happen.”
Gabriel’s shoulders relaxed. He didn’t want his father hurt physically. But going to prison for a few months? That would finally teach him a lesson. “I think it’s your best option, Dad. It’s actually your only option.”
“You ungrateful son of a…you little spoiled brat! Who raised you? Who put a roof over your head? If it wasn’t for me, you’d be nothing. You should be thankful to me. You and your mother—”
Gabriel’s blood boiled. How did his father even dare to speak to him like that? But he forced his voice to remain even. He wasn’t going to descend to his father’s level. “Cut it, Dad. This act of disdain doesn’t suit you. You know as well as I do that it was Mom’s salary that kept us afloat all those years. Your shady earnings always ebbed away fast due to your booze and gambling. The only thing I can thank you for is teaching me who I don’t want to be.”
There was a silence on the other end.
Gabriel waited for his father’s answer with a dry throat. He’d never really told him what he felt. It wasn’t just because he was afraid of him. He believed that the bond of family was unshakable, that he was supposed to support him no matter what. But now he saw that, by mending his father’s mistakes, he was actually enabling him to lead his messy life. Gabriel didn’t want to do this anymore.
“Dad? Are you still there?”
His father inhaled. “Yes, I’m here. I don’t like the way you spoke to me.” His voice was calmer though still hostile.
“I don’t like speaking to you like this either. But you don’t deserve better. I’m sorry.”
His father sighed. “Right. Maybe I don’t. But I don’t want to go to prison.”
“You need to start taking responsibility for your actions. The establishment in our town has a great program for addicts. It would force you to finally attend those meetings.”
“And your mother?”
Gabriel’s hand rolled into a fist. He had to remain strong. “Mom will need to deal with it. I think it’ll do her good, too. All of us.”
“Easy for you to say. You’re not the one who will have to sit behind bars for months.”
Gabriel couldn’t argue. Also, he didn’t feel like dragging on this conversation any further than necessary. He’d said what he had to say; now it was time to move on to his next mistake.
He picked up the phone, switched off the loudspeaker, and pressed it to his ear. “Dad, I think we’re done here. I’ll be back home in a few days. I’ll come by and we can discuss how you want to handle your case. Until then, I’d advise you to find a lawyer and prepare to plead guilty.”
His father scoffed. “Just the program I had in mind.”
Gabriel chuckled. “Do it. I’ll call when I’m back. Say hi to Mom.”
Without waiting for a further grumpy remark, he closed the line.
He lowered his phone and stared at it in disbelief.
It wasn’t so difficult, was it? He wasn’t the young child anymore who should be afraid that his father would slap him. From now on, he would always behave like an adult man and not a meek, intimidated son. Perhaps it would have a positive effect on his father. Who knew? For sure, it was making Gabriel feel much better about himself.
The wish to share his small victory with Giada surged in him, but he suppressed it. She couldn’t be a reference point for him anymore. He wasn’t strong enough to accept that they could only be friends. So he needed to stop thinking of her. Period.
Maybe in a few years they could reconnect.
Even if the uneven cadence of his pulse suggested that not even a lifetime would be enough to forget the feelings she’d unearthed in him.
He sighed and turned the ignition a bit further, till the engine sprang to life. He steered the car out of the parking. He paid his ticket which, due to his chat with his father, was expensive.
He drove to the main road leading to his grandmother’s mansion. In a few hours, he’d be able to have another long-overdue conversation. His stomach tightened in anticipation.
Chapter 19
Giada lifted the bucket from the floor. “How could they leave such a mess behind? I don’t get it.”
Her friend Nathalie gave her a grimace. “You get what you pay for, Giada. The company we hired to repair the broken pipe was the cheapest we could find. You can’t expect these folks to do the clean-up once they’re done.”
Giada shook her head. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here when it happened. I could’ve added a bit more to our fund from my savings.”
“No, no. Are you crazy? The atelier isn’t supposed to drain all our cash, remember? We all have unexpected events. Look at Greg’s dad. You need to keep that money for emergencies.” Nathalie pulled her hair back in a ponytail and tied it with a pink elastic. Her two pointy ears popped out, making her look like a tiny elf.
Giada pointed at the floor, which was still covered in a thick dust despite the five hours they’d been working and rubbing it clean. “This, in my book at least, almost qualifies for that. We’re going to spoil the materials if we can’t store them properly. Some of the substances I bought are light and heat sensitive. I need this room up and working again.”
“Then let’s continue.” Nathalie grabbed her shovel from the floor. “I think we’re actually making progress. I’d hate if you couldn’t finish your constellation. It’s your best work yet. We need it ready for the fundraiser party next month. Just imagine how cool it will look in the front room of the gallery.” A wide grin spread on her face, which moved her ears even closer to the ceiling. “Where did you come up with the idea again?”
Giada’s throat swelled. “In Gordes.”
Nathalie gave out a soft whistle. “Fancy place for inspiration. I wish I could travel to Europe. Then maybe my paintings would sell better.”
Yes, it’s a great place for falling in love too. Or in her case, re-falling.
She tightened her grip on the bucket. No, this thought has to go. Erase, erase, erase.
Apparently, three was the magic number when it came to programming the mind. Or so claimed the book she’d received from Bianca. Her cousin sent her a guide on self-hypnosis after they’d talked. Her sister, Ginny, had sent special Australian chocolate from her trip—she was visiting Down Under for a few months with her husband and his son—which Giada had appreciated even more.
But the yummy chocolates were finished, so last night Giada finally thumbed through Bianca’s gift. It was actually full of useful advice that sounded legitimate enough to try.
For now, Giada had only used the “identifying and promptly canceling inappropriate ideas” section. The only problem was that, since this morning, she had spotted seventy-eight of them.
Well, seventy-nine with this last one. Of course, all connected to Gabriel.
The bell in the gallery sounded.
Giada dropped the bucket and jerked up. Who could it be? They were closed for restoration.
Nathalie put up a hand. “I’ll go and check.”
In a few minutes she came ba
ck. “It’s your brother. Go take a break. I’ll continue while you guys talk.”
“Giordano? Is he back?”
Nathalie shrugged and went to fetch Giada’s bucket.
Giada brushed the dust off her shorts and walked to the front of the atelier.
What’s Giordano doing in town? Since Giada had returned from Provence, she practically hadn’t seen her brother. She couldn’t speak with him because he was working on a case that required him to impersonate someone else, and he couldn’t have his sister calling him.
Giada stifled a snort. Playing pretend seemed to be the theme of their family now. At least Giordano was getting paid for it.
Giordano stood in front of the half-ready constellation that Giada was working on. When she entered the exhibit room, he glanced up and smiled. “Is this yours, sis? It’s amazing. I love this color.”
Giada’s cheeks warmed at the compliment. Yes, the magenta came out as vibrant as she’d seen in Gordes. It had been tough work to get it to stick on the limestone, but she’d managed. “Thanks, Gio.”
He stepped over to her and they hugged.
When her brother pulled back, Giada noticed dark circles beneath his eyes. “You don’t look that good. Have you been sleeping enough?”
He waved with his hand. “Oh, let’s not waste words on my poor sleeping habits. Work is rough. I didn’t expect an undercover mission to be this exhausting.”
Something in his tone rang an alarm in Giada’s ears. “Are you having problems with that woman? Is she guilty?”
Giordano’s eyes widened and his breath hitched. “With Ruby…? I mean, with my subject? No, no. It’s all fine. I managed to get close to her.” He rubbed his neck and turned away. “I can’t discuss the outcome of my investigation with you, as you know. Anyway, I’m not here to speak about my work.”
Huh, dismissive much? There’s something odd going on. Giada wanted to inquire further, but her brother whirled around, his arms folded across his chest.
Saving The Brother's Best Friend (Gems 0f Love Book 4) Page 12
