“Breakfast,” I call to her, and she leaves Birdie’s cage and climbs up into her seat.
Gigi stands between the kitchen and living room, watching as Emma digs into the breakfast I just made.
“Mama needs to eat too,” I rumble, as I leave Emma to eat her toast and eggs, and head back to the pan to fix Gigi her plate.
“Would it stop you if I told you that I’m not really a breakfast person?”
“No,” I answer spooning out eggs onto her plate. “After last night, you need some protein.”
I see her grin before she covers it with her coffee mug.
But I lean over and kiss her again, bringing her plate to the table. “I’ll be right back with some fruit.”
Gigi slides into her chair, pushing up the sleeves to my shirt. Jesus, I want to bring her back to bed.
But I’ve got a full day. I’m so close to closing this deal and cutting Vigo Sinclair out. It’s the opportunity I’ve been waiting for, my way of proving to my brothers that I am just as smart, tough, and savvy.
Starting this branch of the company was everything to me.
But looking at Gigi, I already know I care a little less.
I could take her back to bed, let Gris and Killian do what they came here to do, which is help me. Jesus, she’s even softening my competitive drive.
I’m letting her distract me.
But what a perfectly lovely distraction she is. I have this dark thought that maybe it’s what she came for.
But who would send her? Who would know she’d be my perfect cocktail of femininity? Then again, maybe it wasn’t that hard to guess.
Gigi is the sort of woman whom any powerful man would crave.
I blow out a breath, bringing the bowl of fruit over to the table. Emma’s eyes light up as Gigi scoops some of it out onto her plate.
“Thank you for breakfast,” Gigi says as she looks up at me, her big brown eyes open and sparkling.
The sight pushes my darker thoughts aside as I cup her jaw with my hand, stroking my thumb over her cheek. “I’ve got to shower and get downstairs. But I’ll see you in the office.”
She nods, nipping at her bottom lip, a sure sign she’s nervous. “I won’t be long.”
“Take your time,” I say and then drop a kiss on her mouth. As her boss, I’m supposed to get as much work as possible out of her. But as the man who plans to bed her, it’s my job to help her relax. Feel safe.
I start for her bedroom to collect the rest of my clothes.
“Did you…” She stands starting to follow me, before she stops in the middle of the living room. “Did you want your shirt?”
I turn back, taking in the sight of her. Her hair is messy again, her body draped in my collared shirt, her long legs exposed to my view.
I move toward her, not in a hurry, as I stare. I don’t know that I’d ever get tired of looking at her. When I get close, her arms open to me, her face relaxing.
I pull her close, whispering against her ear, “I’ll get my shirt tonight. After work.”
Her fingertips dig into my shoulders, as her torso presses to mine. “That sounds perfect.”
I kiss her mouth, a lingering kiss that’s meant to comfort. Whatever my concerns, when faced with her need for my strength, I can’t help but give it to her.
Then I let her go and head into the bedroom to get dressed. I leave two minutes later, kissing the top of Emma’s head before I go and grab my phone.
But I’m no more out the door, when it rings in my hand. “Where are you?” Killian demands. “Still at Gigi’s?”
