At that moment, all Gabriel could hear was his pounding heartbeat and quickened breath. "What—what did you say?" he stammered, unsure if he had heard her correctly.
It felt like an illusion, perhaps induced by too much wine.
He stared at Ashley intently and then reached out to steady her by the waist, lifting her onto the dining table.
With his hands planted firmly on either side of her, he leaned in, their noses nearly touching. "Could you... say that again?"
She noticed the sweat beginning to form on his nose and couldn't help but find his nervous reaction rather ridiculous!
He seemed so desperate to disbelieve, to assume he'd misheard rather than accept her words!
"Why? You didn't catch that?" she teased, nudging his thigh with her toe.
"If you didn't hear it, never mind. I don't
