Page 61 of Dirty Pool

She was starting to think she loved him, too. No, that was a lie. She didn’t think it at all. She knew it, deep down in her heart that raced whenever he was near, and the way he made her feel just by looking at her. She knew he was in a room simply by the way her skin prickled in the best of ways. It was crazy—she would never deny that.

But love didn’t make sense, right?

Love was supposed to be insane.

Nonsensical, even.

People started wars over love. They died for it. To keep something they cherished so very much, they would do anything for it.

So would she.

The lump in her throat was back again. It had disappeared for a time, but now that her mind was running crazy … it was back to keep her silent again.

“You okay?” Michel asked.

Gabbie smiled. “As long as you’re here, I’m grand.”

She could tell him another time.

They would have more days.

Her father said it, right? He was going to make sure this didn’t happen again. Charles would stop this stupid feud so that it didn’t get any worse. Surely, that meant she would have a lot more time with Michel, so this could wait.

“I’m here for as long as you want me,” he said.

“I like that.”

Michel sighed, adding quieter, “Well, at least until early in the morning, and then I’ll slip out again. Don’t want anyone having a fit seeing me here, right?”

Gabbie scowled. “Yeah.”

“Don’t do that. Only smiles with me, babe.”

Her laughter colored up the room. “Get in this bed with me, then.”

“Whatever you want.”

Michel wasted no time crawling into the bed, and while there wasn’t nearly enough room for them both, somehow, they made due. Both ended up on their sides with Gabbie tucked into Michel’s chest, and his arms locked around her form like bars keeping her away from the rest of the world.

Exactly like she wanted.

He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

All the exhaustion that had been teasing her right before Michel came into the room was back in a blink. Her eyes drifted closed, but she didn’t mind now that he was here. No doubt, he would wake her up in the morning to say goodbye, too.

That was all that mattered to her.

In her dreams, she swore he whispered, “Ti amo, cara bella mia. Sempre.”

She didn’t know what that meant.

It still sounded lovely.

• • •

“All right, into the car you go, lass.” Charles bent down just enough that he could stare at the man driving. “And you, you feckin’ wagon, you best make sure you drive like you know how to. You understand me?”

“Yeah, boss. I got you.”