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She’d turned over, whimpered, and drifted back to sleep when I got out of bed. I was content to leave her there, and whenI’d dressed, she was still asleep. I wasn’t sure if she planned to go into the office or not. I hadn’t called her, and she had not called me. But I had texted her mid-morning and asked if she could get away early and meet me at home.
She agreed and stated that she didn’t have many clients. I’d told her to dress in something comfortable. My day had been hectic as I put all the final steps of my plan into place. I didn’t have time to change while I was at the office, so I’d run into the penthouse and changed and made it to the parking lot just as Giselle was pulling in.
“Where are we going?” she asked as I took over driving her car.
“Can you sit back and relax?” I asked.
“I’m nervous.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know, I just am.”
I glanced at her a few times and then pulled over in an empty parking lot. I turned to face her. “Look, I know what’s going through your head.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Yes, I do. You’re worried about where I’m taking you, and you’re wondering if someone might spot us out and about together.”
She bit her bottom lip and bobbed her head.
“No one knows anything about our past professional relationship, other than Imani and Beth. I somehow don’t think Imani would turn you in, and I can promise you that where we’re going, we won’t see Beth or anyone she knows.”
“Are you sure?”
“I promise,” I replied against her lips. “All I want to do is shelter, protect, and love you.”
A smile teased her lips as we pecked several times before I pulled back. I put the car in drive and pulled away again.
“What were you smiling about, Dr. C?”
“Your comment about loving me. You can’t possibly feel that already. You don’t know me that well.”
“I have a feeling it’s not hard to do,” I replied and glanced at her.
She wore an odd expression on her face, and I knew that she was uncomfortable with me professing anything that sounded like love to her. She would just need to be comfortable because I felt like it might be easy to fall for her.
We pulled up to our destination forty minutes later, and Giselle’s eyes grew wide in her face.
“What is that?” she asked as she climbed out of the car and pointed.
“What does it look like?” I asked as I took her hand and led her to the large field.
“It looks like a hot air balloon.”
“Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! The lady has guessed the correct answer. Her prize will be a new washer and dryer!” I announced into my cupped fist as though I had a microphone.
“Shut up.” She laughed as she punched me in the chest.
“Ouch! You hit hard.”
“Oh, I don’t,” she replied and laughed. “But are we seriously about to ride that?”
“Yes. I wanted an aerial view of Cherokee Springs with you by my side.”
“Oh my gosh. This is so exciting and yet so scary, Cas.”
“I’m just thankful to share this moment with you,” I confided as we approached our balloon operator.