juicy detail, we arrived for Nikki, but she pleaded to spend a few more days with Cousin Jimmy. I usually felt rejected when Nikki chose to stay apart from me, but today I handled it well, kissing her about a zillion times before leaving.
Around six in the evening I heard a knock and knew it was Gabriel before opening the door. Dressed in different clothing than he wore earlier, he hugged me tightly. I inhaled his woodsy scent. “Never open a door unless you know who’s knocking.” He held some gizmo in his palm. “Hell, ya never know when a deranged carpenter might be lurking about.”
“You work on Sundays?”
“Not often. But today I just had to get out of the house.”
“Oh.” My voice sputtered. The reality of him having a house, a wife, and children, resurfaced, making me uneasy.
“Where’s your mini-mouthpiece?”
“Nikki decided to stay a few more days with her favorite cousin.”
“Well, c’mon.” Gabriel pulled me into the entry foyer with him, closed my apartment door and busily installed a peep hole. “That’ll make things a little safer for you two.” He held out one hand and briskly rubbed his thumb across the tips of his four fingers as though trying to get circulation going. Then his face turned solemn. “Cherie, we have to talk. I can’t get you out of my mind. I’ve never felt this way about anyone and I’m not sure how to handle what’s going on here. When I went home this morning, Astrid didn’t say a word and acted like I was merely leaving for a short vacation when I put a few clothes together.” Sadness flooded his eyes. “I just kissed my daughters goodbye, and walked out the door.”
My heart hurt for his little girls and a deeper sense of guilt unfolded. Involvement of children made our actions more injurious than reckless adultery. Shame overshadowed the wonderful emotions I previously felt.
“I brought enough clothes to stay a few days and contemplate my future,” he said shyly still standing out in the foyer. “If you don’t mind having a grouch underfoot for a few days.”
Mind? I was ecstatic. Yet at the same time feeling guilt.
Homewrecker!
Gabriel stood staring at me for an answer. “Just don’t interrupt me when I’m watching
The Mod Squad.
” I pulled him inside.
The evening began on a somber note, but turned passionate as we repeatedly made love and fell asleep in each other arms. I knew I was in love with him. It was a visceral sense that I did not question. Even knowing how great the odds were of getting my heart broken, fear nor guilt could keep me from embracing this experience. Here was a man who listened with undivided attention when I spoke, even about trivial stuff, yet when he spoke, I often lost thought mid-sentence, due to memorizing everything from his head to his toes.
The following morning, I cooked breakfast while Gabriel showered for work. He thanked me for the meal, helped clear the table, and insisted we do dishes together. Seriously? A dream lover and decent dishwasher to boot?
The Jewel Box had become more tolerable after Beau deemed Kat and me as waitresses only, but returning was difficult. I asked Kat if she could handle work without me a few more days and she eagerly accepted, wanting the extra bucks. When Gabriel knocked on my door shortly before six, I met him with kisses.
“You expecting company?” He glanced at lit candles on my dining table.
“My distinguished guest just arrived.” I kissed him. “I think I’ll enjoy some sawdust sorbet before my caviar.”
“I’m distinguished?” He pulled me closer.
“Well, you’ve got a special kind of
je ne sais quoi
.”
“You takin’ French lessons, girl?
“No, I just heard it somewhere and like the poetic way it sounds.”
“Poetic? You’re really into that muse-mush crap, aren’t ya?”
“I enjoy some poetry, but mostly I dig anything French. And despite your vile mouth, you make me feel as romantic as an evening in Paris.”
“Oh girl, you don’t
Around six in the evening I heard a knock and knew it was Gabriel before opening the door. Dressed in different clothing than he wore earlier, he hugged me tightly. I inhaled his woodsy scent. “Never open a door unless you know who’s knocking.” He held some gizmo in his palm. “Hell, ya never know when a deranged carpenter might be lurking about.”
“You work on Sundays?”
“Not often. But today I just had to get out of the house.”
“Oh.” My voice sputtered. The reality of him having a house, a wife, and children, resurfaced, making me uneasy.
“Where’s your mini-mouthpiece?”
“Nikki decided to stay a few more days with her favorite cousin.”
“Well, c’mon.” Gabriel pulled me into the entry foyer with him, closed my apartment door and busily installed a peep hole. “That’ll make things a little safer for you two.” He held out one hand and briskly rubbed his thumb across the tips of his four fingers as though trying to get circulation going. Then his face turned solemn. “Cherie, we have to talk. I can’t get you out of my mind. I’ve never felt this way about anyone and I’m not sure how to handle what’s going on here. When I went home this morning, Astrid didn’t say a word and acted like I was merely leaving for a short vacation when I put a few clothes together.” Sadness flooded his eyes. “I just kissed my daughters goodbye, and walked out the door.”
My heart hurt for his little girls and a deeper sense of guilt unfolded. Involvement of children made our actions more injurious than reckless adultery. Shame overshadowed the wonderful emotions I previously felt.
“I brought enough clothes to stay a few days and contemplate my future,” he said shyly still standing out in the foyer. “If you don’t mind having a grouch underfoot for a few days.”
Mind? I was ecstatic. Yet at the same time feeling guilt.
Homewrecker!
Gabriel stood staring at me for an answer. “Just don’t interrupt me when I’m watching
The Mod Squad.
” I pulled him inside.
The evening began on a somber note, but turned passionate as we repeatedly made love and fell asleep in each other arms. I knew I was in love with him. It was a visceral sense that I did not question. Even knowing how great the odds were of getting my heart broken, fear nor guilt could keep me from embracing this experience. Here was a man who listened with undivided attention when I spoke, even about trivial stuff, yet when he spoke, I often lost thought mid-sentence, due to memorizing everything from his head to his toes.
The following morning, I cooked breakfast while Gabriel showered for work. He thanked me for the meal, helped clear the table, and insisted we do dishes together. Seriously? A dream lover and decent dishwasher to boot?
The Jewel Box had become more tolerable after Beau deemed Kat and me as waitresses only, but returning was difficult. I asked Kat if she could handle work without me a few more days and she eagerly accepted, wanting the extra bucks. When Gabriel knocked on my door shortly before six, I met him with kisses.
“You expecting company?” He glanced at lit candles on my dining table.
“My distinguished guest just arrived.” I kissed him. “I think I’ll enjoy some sawdust sorbet before my caviar.”
“I’m distinguished?” He pulled me closer.
“Well, you’ve got a special kind of
je ne sais quoi
.”
“You takin’ French lessons, girl?
“No, I just heard it somewhere and like the poetic way it sounds.”
“Poetic? You’re really into that muse-mush crap, aren’t ya?”
“I enjoy some poetry, but mostly I dig anything French. And despite your vile mouth, you make me feel as romantic as an evening in Paris.”
“Oh girl, you don’t
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