AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Next, comes hot smoked salmon with an orange glaze, served on a bed of mango tapenade. The side dish includes new potatoes and baby vegetables. It’s like being in a five-star restaurant.
I almost turn down dessert until Claudia announces it’s Eton mess. Not the dessert I would have expected, but one look at Gabriel let me know it was his choice after the conversation we had whilst playing a game of Scrabble.
As the plates are cleared away, I show my appreciation. “Thank you.”
“I hope you enjoyed it.”
I grin over at Gabriel. “Every minute. It’s quite the experience.”
The captain announces we’ll be landing at Nice International Airport in an hour.
“I have some emails to check. I want to take the weekend off,” his voice is apologetic.
“Gabriel, stop. It’s okay. Remember, I work for you. I know what your job entails. You do what you need to. I’m happy to sit here and read my book.”
He nods and pulls out his laptop, placing it on the table in front of him. I reach into my bag and grab my e-reader. I’m pleased that the book I’m reading is electronic, and Gabriel won’t be staring at a semi-naked man on the cover. Vince always complained about the trashy romance novels I read. Well, now I’m free to read what I want and where I want.
I jerk awake as I feel a finger run down my cheek. Gabriel has sat himself in the chair next to me. “Wake up, sleepy head, we’ve landed.”
Oh god, my hand flies to my mouth. Have I been snoring, or even worse, drooling?
“It’s okay. You only let out a few snorts,” Gabriel says, his lips twitching. “It was quite a cute sound.”
I slap his arm gently. “Oh, don’t,” I say. “How embarrassing.”
I notice my e-reader is back in my bag. Gabriel must have followed the direction of my eyes.
“It was going to slide under the table, so I rescued it. Interesting literature you’re reading, Ms Walker.”
Ground swallow me up.
I think back to the part I was reading, my hands flying to my cheeks. “Er, well.”
Gabriel tilts his head. “Is that what a woman really wants in the office? To be ravished over a desk?”
I gawp at Gabriel, knowing another rush of colour is flooding my cheeks. It’s bad enough he now knows my little secret of loving romance novels, but to have fallen asleep while reading a sex scene and then have him pick it up.
Ground double swallow me up.
Luckily, I’m saved from answering by Claudia’s reappearance.
“We’re ready to disembark,” she says.
Gabriel gets up and holds out his hand. I grab my bag, glaring at my e-reader.
“Have a wonderful weekend,” Claudia says.
“Thank you, you too,” I say as I pass her.
She grins at me.
CHAPTER 31
GABRIEL
The warm, dry air hits me as we exit the plane, and I pause, letting it wash over me. Even though it’s nighttime, summer has unmistakably arrived according to the temperature. She turns to face me, her eyes twinkling with excitement, her face softening as the tension and stress of the working week melt away. I hold out my hand, surprised when she takes it, interlocking our fingers. I enclose her smaller hand in mine, and lead her down the steps towards our waiting car.
The driver steps forward.
