Chapter 183
Gaston was already awake. He lay on his back with one arm tucked behind his head, watching her with lazy amusement. His hair was disheveled, his jaw dark with morning stubble.
“Comfortable?” he rumbled. His voice was rough with sleep, dropped an octave lower than usual, and sent a shiver straight down her spine.
“I moved in my sleep!” Jocelyn stammered, pulling the duvet up to her chin. Her face was burning. “I invaded your space.”
“Clearly,” Gaston said, the corner of his mouth curving. He sat up and stretched. His t-shirt rode up, revealing a strip of tanned skin and the definition of his abdomen.
Jocelyn looked away. Stupid, infuriating, confusing man. It’s profoundly unfair to look like that.
“Where’s Aaden?” she asked, seizing the first available distraction.
“Watching cartoons in the living room,” Gaston said, nodding toward the door. “He abandoned ship at six. Said we were ‘boring sleepers.’”
Jocelyn flushed deeper. “I’m going to shower.”
𝗜ո𝘀𝘵a𝗻t aс𝖼𝖾𝗌ѕ о𝘯 g𝖺𝗅𝗇o𝗏𝗲l𝘴.с𝘰𝘮
She gathered her clothes and nearly ran to the bathroom, locking the door behind her. She pressed her back against the cool wood, heart racing.
Gaston watched the door close. The amusement faded from his face, replaced by something rawer. He looked down at his chest, where her head had rested for hours. He could still feel the phantom weight of her.
“Damn it,” he whispered.
Forty minutes later, the smell of pancakes filled the kitchen. Jocelyn stood at the stove in a pencil skirt and blouse, her armor reassembled and firmly in place.
Aaden sat at the island, swinging his legs, bent over a napkin with a purple crayon in his fist.
“What are you drawing, bud?” Jocelyn asked.
“A map,” Aaden said, shielding his work with his forearm. “Top secret.”
Gaston walked in. The domestic spell broke at once. He was dressed in a charcoal suit, tie knotted with precision, every inch the CEO. A leather overnight bag hung from his hand.
“My assistant just called,” he announced, checking his watch. “There’s a hostile bid on one of our subsidiaries in Chicago. I have to fly out and handle it. I’ll be back tomorrow night.”
Jocelyn turned, spatula in hand. A sharp pang of disappointment moved through her before she could stop it. “Leaving us so soon?”
She aimed for light. It came out sounding wistful.
Gaston paused and looked at her. “Business doesn’t wait,” he said, his voice quieter than usual. “And someone has to pay for Aaden’s gummy bear addiction.”
He crossed to the island and crouched beside his nephew.
“Be good for Jocelyn,” he said firmly but gently. “No spy missions. No escaping.”
Aaden shoved his napkin swiftly into his pocket. “Yes, Uncle G.”
Gaston straightened and turned back to Jocelyn. There was a moment of hesitation. Then he stepped into her space.
She held her breath. Was he going to kiss her again?
.