“Why don’t we go downstairs, get our wine, and I’ll make a fire. Did you bring the journal?”

I followed Gael out of the room as he grabbed my hand. “Yes, but there’s still no way I’m reading to you.” 

My face would be ten shades of red if I were to speak the thoughts Sophia had as Daniel made love to her. 

Gael’s deep voice resonated deep within me as he spoke. “Grab the journal. I’ll get the wine and food. I’ll meet you in the living room and build a fire.”

“I’m not reading it. There’s no amount of wine, delicious food or tempting kisses that will change my mind.”

He gave me a quick kiss on the lips. “I like that you think my kisses are tempting. I want to read it to you.”

“Really?” Imagining Gael’s deep voice reading to me had the feelings from earlier in his office returning. The attraction was undeniable.

“Yes.”

That one word spoken had my heart racing with excitement. I grabbed the journal from my purse on  the chair and made my way to the couch in the living room. My thoughts returned to what had happened with Gael upstairs. The fact that he hadn’t slept with me made Gael more endearing. It wasn’t lost on me that Gael had said when we make love to each other. I bit my lip and gave a little giggle. 

Within me, happiness bubbled to the surface. We hadn’t defined what we were doing and I was okay with that. I liked that I wasn’t being confined to a box and left to be free while I became my own person again. 

After a few minutes, Gael came in with the wine and food on a tray. He handed me my glass. 

“Thank you. A girl could get used to this type of treatment.”

He gave me a wink. “Good, it’s only the beginning. Let me start the fire.”

The open-ended innuendos were sexy and left me wanting Gael more. I watched him move with ease as he put the logs in and used newspaper as a starter. Striking a match, he lit the paper before placing it strategically between the logs. There was something about a man who could start a fire versus hitting a button and having instant flames that had me wanting to tackle him on the floor. Down girl. Down. 

He looked at me over his shoulder. “You like what you see?”

“I do. The logs are amazing looking. It looks like they were cut at just the right angle.”

His mouth dropped in shock. I had to set my wineglass down as I became tickled at his lost, self-assured expression. The fire caught as he made his way back to me with a predatory gate. “I hoped maybe there was something you liked in the man who was building the fire.”

I shrugged. “He’s all right.” 

He sat beside me and drew his finger across my lips, leaving a wake of fire in its path. “He better be more than all right to you.” 

“He is.” My voice was barely above a whisper. 

Gael kissed me, but kept it sweet. “Good. That’s what I like to hear.” I could feel his breath on my lips. 

“I’m ready for my story.” 

Gael’s answering grin made my heart skip a beat as he settled in to the couch. He took the journal off my lap. 

Grabbing my wineglass, I snuggled into him. My body fit perfectly against his. Peace and contentment settled over me. I glanced into my wineglass and remembered looking into one at Amelia’s wedding. My feelings were the opposite now. There was hope. 

“Let’s see if Sophia and Daniel desecrated my upstairs office.” 

I shook my head. “Oh geez, I hope she quickly summarizes the deed. I wonder if Sophia ever considered who would read her personal thoughts one day. I’d be mortified.”

Gael laughed as he opened to the journal and removed my metal bookmark. His deep, soothing voice filled the space as he read the thoughts of Sophia.