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Before I can stop myself, I ask, “Who was the man with you last night?”
The smile wipes off her face. “What a wonderful way to find out about what doesn’t concern you. First, give a compliment to soften or butter her up, and then go for the kill.”
“It isn’t like that. I’m sorry. It just came out.”
She looks away.
“So, who is he? And please don’t tell me it’s none of my business. We . . . you and I have something special. You might think being with another man doesn’t concern me, but it does. How would you feel if the reverse was the case?”
She stares at me with an indescribable expression and sighs. “He’s my ex-boyfriend, Pierre. He wants me back.”
“What did you tell him?”
She snorts. “What do you think? Would I be here with you if it was positive? Do you think I hop into bed with every available man?”
“No. I . . .” I drift to a stop and rake my fingers through my hair. Discovering I’m in love with Giselle has made me somewhat unnerved. With an ex-boyfriend on the scene, I’m desperate not to lose her.
“Maybe I should leave now. After all, you’re driving up to the Hamptons for Thanksgiving today.”
I put a hand up to stop her from rising from her seat. “Please don’t go yet. I won’t be leaving until later in the afternoon.”
It’s at the tip of my tongue to invite her to come with me, to meet Ashlyn and my parents, but I stop myself. It would not be fair to Ashlyn to spring another woman on her like that. I’ll speak to her first. My parents will be pleased, but to surprise Ashlyn like this might make her think I don’t remember her mother anymore and that she will be replaced and forgotten by me. Gwen’s death was brutal on her, and I don’t want her to fall back into the long stretch of sadness that engulfed her then.
My fingers run through my hair again as I acknowledge that I have to play my cards right with both Giselle and Ashlyn.
I itch to tell Giselle how I feel about her, that I want a committed relationship, and why I don’t want her to meet my daughter yet, but I hesitate. For one, I don’t know how she feels about me.
“Miles? Are you going to just sit there and stare at me all day?”
I grin. “Why not? You’re so beautiful. I wish I were an artist. I would paint a thousand portraits of you, but I fear they might still not be enough to capture your exquisiteness.”
“Flattery won’t get you anywhere,” she throws at me but smiles brightly.
“Oh, really?” My eyes darken with desire, but she shakes her head.
“Nope. That’s not what I meant.”
I laugh. “How about a game of chess? I warn you, I’m pretty good. Unbeatable, in fact.”
She scoffs jocularly. “You’ll eat your words by the time I’m done with you.”
“Bring it on,” I challenge as I get up from the bench to fetch the chess set.
Thirty minutes later, I blink with surprise. “Damn! You are good.”
“Told ya.” She sticks her tongue out at me, and I find myself doing the same. We burst into laughter.
“Who taught you how to play?”
“My dad.”
“He must be a very wise man.”
“He sure is.”
The conversation leads to her telling me about her childhood, and I do the same. After another game, which she wins, we make love again, and I prepare us lunch before I walk her home.
As I walk away, I feel as if I left a portion of my heart with Giselle. I wish now that I had already told Ashlyn about us. We would have enjoyed the drive to the Hamptons, spent time with my family, and enjoyed Thanksgiving together. I’m more than ever determined to make things right when I return.
