His heart started beating faster. He would've thought that he'd get used to her, having spent his entire life with this woman, but no. Every time he saw her, she took his breath away.
He got out of his car, slammed the door behind him, and leaned against it. Once she stood in front of him, he summoned a smile.
"Xavier came!" She grinned.
He caught his smile before it fell. "I noticed."
"Come inside. Ana has made lunch."
He folded his arms. "Uh, I think I'm gonna head back to work."
She rolled her eyes. "Just take an off!"
"Do you know me?"
Despite the attempt at humor, his heart thumped against his chest. He stared at her as if memorizing her features, though every pore of her face was already etched into his mind.
She frowned. "But..." He waited for her to finish, but she sighed instead. "Fine. As you wish."
She turned to walk away. Chris moved forward, enclosing his hand around her wrist. She stopped and twirled back around, first looking at his grip and then at his face, her cheeks slightly tinted. He gulped.
"What's wrong?" he asked.Don't go.
She blinked twice before saying, "Nothing. You told me that you'd be here."
His brows merged. "Today?"
"No. Generally." She bit her lower lip. Something flipped inside him at the sight.
He licked his lips. "I'm here, Elle. But Xavier is also here... I thought you might wanna spend some time with him...alone."
"Well, sure! But you, too! Just have this lunch with us, please."
He tightened his grip around her wrist unconsciously and managed a smile. "And what about work?"
She let out an exasperated sigh. "You forget your words and I hate you for it." She frowned. "We're not in sync today."
His smile faltered.
"You forgot our conversation, didn't you?" she asked. "Remember when I was jeal—" She cleared her throat. "Remember when I was angry that you'd taken an off for Abby, but you hadn't really, which isn't the point. I'd said that you'd never taken an off for me."
He nodded. He remembered.
"You'd said that I've never put you in such a situation and that I'd see what you'd do for me if I ever asked you to." She smiled triumphantly.
He shook his head, a real smile creeping up on his lips. She had the power to change his mood instantly. She had the power to make him happy. She had the power to undo him.
"So?" she demanded.
"You're such a smart-ass," he mumbled, letting her lead the way inside, her hand painfully slipping out of his grasp.
Once inside, they headed toward the living room. Xavier sat on the sofa, his head thrown back, eyes closed.
"Hey," said Giselle lovingly.
Her boyfriend opened his eyes and looked at them, a small smile forming on his lips at her sight. Giselle sat next to him and he pulled her closer, softly holding her chin and kissing her lips.
Chris looked away as he sat across them on the sofa.