Champagne and French Kisses: A fish-out-of-water sweet romantic comedy (Falling in Paris Book 3) by Elsie Woods

Author:Elsie Woods [Woods, Elsie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9782492606335
Publisher: Puppy Love Books
Published: 2023-09-18T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

Benoit

With a cool trail of seawater still lingering on my skin, I fall onto the expanse of my bed, my damp bathing suit pressing against the crisp, cool linens. I sigh, unfurling into the silence of the cabin, a lone testament to the thoughts roiling inside me. The faint, steady sway of the yacht, now securely tied to the dock at Carry-le-Rouet, helps me catch my breath.

I cover my eyes with my hands, replaying the earlier scene with Gina on an endless loop. It was a close call, one more moment and we might have…

I shake my head, trying to scatter the images.

I've kissed girls before, many of them. But this was palpable, a spark so bright it was impossible to ignore. The way her eyes widened when I moved closer, the quick breaths, her lips slightly parted. We were in our own world, right there on the deck under the clear blue sky.

I've never been one to back down from a challenge, but this is uncharted territory. The words we haven’t spoken, words that lingered in the silence between us. The way she looked at me, with those bright, trusting eyes makes something clench in my chest. She must be feeling the same.

There's only one way to find out, but the prospect both arouses a feeling that at once can’t be ignored and terrifies me.

A knock at the door is the lifeline I didn't know I needed. The distinct sound echoes through the otherwise quiet room, providing a reprieve from the turmoil of emotions set off by a pair of bewitching hazel eyes.

The door swings open and in walks Samuel. He's got a careful look on his face, a mirror image of the trepidation twisting my stomach into knots. He's seen enough and been through enough with me to know when I'm off-kilter, and even though I try to pull off nonchalance, I can't fool him.

"Hey, Benoit?" he starts, hesitation lacing his tone. His eyes scan the room, finally landing on my still damp form sprawled across the bed. A flicker of understanding crosses his face. "Rough swim?"

"Something like that." My response is curt, the words slipping out before I can soften them.

Samuel doesn't wince. Instead, he ambles further into the room, leaning casually against the wooden dresser. "Ran into Gina on deck. She seemed… preoccupied." The mention of her name sends a jolt through me. My gaze sharpens on him, but he holds up his hands, the picture of innocence. "What? I didn’t do anything. Though you know I have my concerns about the girl.” His voice trails off, looking wary. "How did it go with the family?"

I grimace. How to explain the unexplainable? The intensity between us, the burgeoning feelings, the complicated dance between work and the pull of something more. All in the complication that is my family.

"I'm… managing." I try to sound convincing. My palms are clammy against the crisp cotton sheets, betraying my true state. "It's a work in progress."

Samuel nods, thoughtful, the silence in the room stretching out.

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