"Oh, okay then. Would you like me to cancel all your appointments for today?"
"Perfect. You're a lifesaver. See you." He cut the call, threw it to his left, and turned toward his right where Giselle looked at him with heavy lids.
"Good morning," she croaked, her voice heavy with sleep.
"Hey, gorgeous," he murmured.
She smiled, snuggling up to him. "This is new."
"You've lost your memory, Giselle. This is old."
"It's too early for lame jokes." She vibrated against him as she chuckled, making him want to keep her in his bed forever. Moving back, she looked into his eyes. He smiled down at her.
This was the most intimate they'd ever been, and Chris couldn't control his scandalous thoughts. Licking his lips, his gaze shifted from her eyes to her mouth, making her gulp in response. He didn't know he could affect her this way.
He leaned in a little, but then closed his eyes and stopped. This moment, sure, was too perfect to ruin, but Abby's face flashed in his mind, and he pulled back. This wasn't right. He had to break up with Abby before proceeding with his intentions toward Giselle. It was unfair to Abby, and he didn't want to start his relationship with Giselle by being unfaithful.
And then it hit him.Abby.Date. He had a date half an hour ago, and she was probably waiting for him in the restaurant for their brunch.
Cursing under his breath, he untangled himself from Giselle, feeling instantly cold.
"What's up?" she asked, as he searched through his closet for something to wear.
"Uh, I had a date." He glanced at her once.
Her smile faded a fraction. "Oh, right. Abby."
"It was half an hour ago and—" He froze as his doorbell rang. "She's gonna kill me," he said.
"Are you okay?" Giselle asked, a hint of amusement in her words. "You look worried. Like deer caught in a headlight. Hey! You're Chris-eer."
He looked at her with narrowed eyes.
"You know?" She sat on the bed, grinning. "Chris and deer? Chris-eer." Then she laughed at her own joke.
He shook his head, suppressing a smile, and said, "It's too early for lame jokes."
He made his way toward Abby, closing the door of his room on the way.
"What?" she called from behind, "It's funny!"
As soon as he opened the main door, he saw Abby standing with her arms folded over the brown jacket she wore, glaring at him.
"Hey!" Chris smiled. "Sorry, I overslept."
Shaking her head, she entered.
He wasn't planning on inviting her in, knowing all too well how it would look if she saw Giselle there, but thankfully she'd stayed inside the room.
Abby turned around to face him in the hallway. "Am I even important to you?"
Was she?
He didn't know. She'd lost her respect in his eyes the day she'd suggested scamming Giselle, but that didn't mean he had the right to disrespect or hurt her. So, he stayed silent.
"Am I?" she pressed. "I've never, in my entire life, been treated like this! Sometimes I wonder why I even bother wasting my time with a gutless man like you who can't give a girl the importance she deserves!"
His teeth gritted at the insult, but he gulped down his retort.I probably deserve this for wasting her time,he thought.