Chapter 63

Gabriela hesitated, then asked in a low voice,"Miriam, do you happen to have any warmer pajamas?"

Miriam's tone stayed light. "No need, dear. The heating's more than enough to keep you cozy."

Gabriela was at a loss for words.

She'd been hoping for something with a bit more coverage, but as a guest, she couldn't bring herself to push. With a small nod, she accepted the slip dress without protest.

"Will you be alright washing up on your own?" Miriam asked.

"Of course," Gabriela answered quickly.

She'd weathered far worse injuries on her own before; this little sprain was nothing in comparison.

Wesley's and Miriam's concern left her a little dazed,the warmth of their kindness pressing in on her.

Miriam gave a reassuring nod. "Go on and freshen up. I'll be right outside. There's shampoo and shower gel ready in the bathroom. Call me anytime if you need something."

Gabriela murmured her thanks more than once before slipping into the bathroom with the slip dress draped over her arm.

Inside, she paused, once again struck by the opulence of the upper class-even the guest bathroom was larger than her entire bedroom.

Though her foot ached, she felt oddly self-conscious about using the bathtub in Wesley's home.

Opting for the shower instead, she turned on the water. Standing was awkward and unsteady, and the process dragged on until she finally finished.

Fresh from her shower, Gabriela slipped into the slip dress, a prickle of self-consciousness creeping over her at how little it actually covered. To her relief, she wouldn't have to step outside the room in it.

She towel-dried her hair as she stepped out of the bathroom-then froze mid-stride.

A tall man stood by the bed, his suit jacket draped neatly over a chair, fingers unclasping the strap of his watch.

At the sound of movement, he turned his head, his hand stalling over the watch.

Gabriela's breath caught. She whipped a hand over her eyes. Her voice wavered. "M-Mr. Moss..."

Why on earth was he in her room? His white shirt hung open, every button undone, revealing a stretch of toned skin beneath.

Wait a second-this was her room.

Why was she covering her eyes like a startled child when he was the one who'd stumbled into the wrong room? Snapping back to her senses, Gabriela folded her arms tightly across her chest, her glare sharp enough to cut glass.

"W-what exactly do you think you're doing?" she demanded.

Wesley, fresh from an intense meeting with his think tank, looked entirely unfazed.

After a full day cramped in an airplane seat, all he'd wanted was to sink into a scalding bath.

Who could possibly explain why Gabriela was in his room?

And why was she standing there in such a skimpy dress, hardly suited for the winter chill?

Those long, delicate legs-how could she bare them so openly?

A sudden rush of heat burned through Wesley,and he jerked his gaze away.

"Care to explain why you're in my room?" he asked. The irritation in his voice made Gabriela falter. Had she somehow wandered into the wrong place?

No, that couldn't be-it was Miriam who had led her here.

She straightened and replied quickly, "Miriam was the one who brought me."

A dull throb began to build behind Wesley's temples.

What on earth had Miriam been thinking?

He refastened his shirt buttons with brisk, precise movements, then draped his 'suit jacket over Gabriela's shoulders before calling Miriam inside.

With a faint edge in his voice, Wesley asked, "She's a guest,Miriam.Why would you put her in here?"

Miriam blinked, genuinely perplexed. "Where else could she possibly stay? You brought her back, so it's only natural she stays in your room."

Massaging the bridge of his nose, Wesley replied with measured patience, "Find her a guest room." Having watched Wesley grow up, Miriam knew all too well that this stony look meant he was genuinely angry.

A flicker of disappointment passed through her.

She'd thought, for once, he might actually be falling for someone-but clearly, things had stalled halfway and now they were in separate rooms.

"Fine," she said at last.

Dragging her feet, Miriam went to prepare a guest room, only to find every available one tucked too far from Wesley's bedroom.

That was the trouble with a house this enormous-sometimes too much space just made things complicated. If there'd only been a single room, she wouldn't be stuck with this dilemma.

After pacing in indecision for a while, she returned and met Wesley's gaze. "The guest rooms aren't ready. How about letting you and Gabriela share, at least for tonight?"

Gabriela gaped at her, stunned by Miriam's audacious proposal.Wesley didn't even like her-yet Miriam had the nerve to suggest something so outrageous.He'd blow a fuse for sure.

True enough, his brow knit tighter, anger flashing in his eyes.

Wrapped in his jacket, Gabriela inched farther away,hoping to slip out of the blast radius.

She sighed at the awkward situation, aware she was partly to blame.

She'd sensed something was wrong the moment she stepped into the room, so why had she gone ahead and showered?

First, there'd been that beachside misunderstanding where she assumed Wesley was interested in her,and now this disaster.

If he so much as got the wrong idea, he would think she was an employee with ulterior motives.

Her well-paid, twenty-eight-grand-a-month job suddenly felt as if it were dangling by a thread.

Wesley caught the flicker of emotions crossing Gabriela's face and let out a quiet sigh before declaring coolly, "I'll take the study tonight."

Gabriela blinked,momentarily thrown.

This was his bedroom-she couldn't just sprawl here as if it were hers, even if he wasn't using it.

Seeing her teeter on the verge of tears, Miriam assumed Wesley's sharp tone had rattled her. She stepped closer, her voice warm with reassurance."It's fine, dear. I should've planned the room assignments better. Sleep here for now, and l promise the best and largest guest room will be ready for you by tomorrow."

Gabriela stared at her, stunned. Tomorrow? She was expected to stay here another night?

Spending even a single night here had her pulse hammering so wildly she could hardly breathe.Another day under this roof and she might not make it to the end of the holidays-never mind the return to work.

"No need to trouble yourself.."

"It's fine." Miriam cut in with brisk warmth. "Just get some sleep. I'll run an extra quilt over to Wesley."

Quilt in hand, Miriam stepped out, a nagging thought tugging at her.

Earlier, her gaze had drifted to Gabriela-those elegant curves, that unmistakable hourglass frame.Her face was another kind of rare beauty entirely,the sort that lingered in memory.

And yet, with such a breathtaking woman right here,Wesley had still chosen to sleep in thestudy.

Could the rumors be true-was Wesley really not interested in women? Was that the real reason he had never shown the slightest spark of interest in Gabriela?

The servant who was responsible for parking Wesley's car vowed to hunt down the source of the rumors. Crouching around the corner, he caught every word of Miriam's under-the-breath musings.

The shock nearly knocked him backward.

Miriam and Wesley were practically family. He never imagined the rumors about Wesley had started with her.

Well,he wasn't about to invite trouble. With a wary glance over his shoulder, he melted into the shadows and slipped away.

Meanwhile, Miriam smoothed the thick quilt across the study, her brow faintly furrowed. After a pause,she asked with quiet insistence, "Why not just stay in the same room with Gabriela?"

Wesley let out a slow, measured breath, his gaze steady as he answered, "Keep things natural, Miriam.And for heaven's sake, don't frighten her."

Miriam's brows lifted in surprise.

From the sound of it, he hadn't managed to win Gabriela over-so that was why he was choosing to sleep in the study.

A spark of inspiration flashed through her mind,bright and sudden.

Unaware of any schemes brewing beyond the door,Gabriela remained frozen in place, hesitant to move.Only after several long moments did she dare inch toward the bed.

She could still picture Wesley standing there not long ago, sliding off his jacket with unhurried ease.

Though he had left, the cool, commanding air he carried seemed to linger in the room, wrapping around her like an invisible shroud.

A charged, almost tangible energy clung to the air-the sheer presence of Wesley, the man who had set her pulse racing only hours earlier.

Forcing steady breaths, she lowered herself to the bed's edge, her tender ankle allowingno other option.

The mattress cradled her in decadent softness, far more luxurious than she'd imagined.

After battling the pull of sleep for half an hour, her resistance faltered; with her eyes drifting shut, she surrendered to the comfort and let herself sink into slumber.

The moment she did, the earlier scene replayed vividly in her mind-Wesley's shirt hanging loose,revealing the firm, sculpted lines of muscle that carried both strength and an unspoken sense of safety.

Even his waist had looked strong and lean.

She pressed her palms over her face, a ripple of regret tugging at her. Why on earth had she covered her eyes with her hand?

Would it really have mattered if she had stolen a few more glances?