Chapter 6 A dangerous curiosity

The following days unfolded with a strange rhythm-calm on the surface, yet simmering with anticipation beneath. Elena busied herself with estate management and business calls, but her thoughts kept returning to Gabriel Stone. There was something different about him, something that stirred her in ways she hadn't felt in years-not even with Julian in their early days.

Gabriel worked quietly on the east wing, overseeing the restoration of the guest quarters. Elena often watched from her office window, hidden behind the sheer curtains. He moved with effortless confidence, speaking to the workers with quiet authority, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows and his strong hands covered in dust and wood shavings. He was both refined and rugged-a dangerous mix.

She hadn't spoken to him since their encounter in the garden, but every time they crossed paths in the halls or on the grounds, there was a flicker of unspoken energy, something just beyond reach. Elena found herself inventing excuses to walk near the renovation site: checking the progress, inspecting deliveries, making "accidental" appearances.

Late one afternoon, as the sun dipped behind the hills and bathed the estate in golden light, she found herself standing once again at the edge of the east wing. Gabriel was alone, crouched near a window, his hands smoothing over a carved panel. He looked up when she approached, his eyes calm and steady.

"Evening, Mrs. Darnell," he said, rising to his full height. "Inspecting the work?"

Elena smiled, her hands clasped lightly in front of her. "Curious, more than anything. I like to know what's happening in my home."

He stepped closer. "You're always welcome to ask. I don't bite."

Her brow arched playfully. "That's reassuring."

But it wasn't just his presence that made her nervous-it was how intensely she felt herself reacting to him. Her body, her mind, even her breath responded to his nearness. She hadn't expected this. She hadn't wanted this.

Gabriel wiped his hands on a cloth and gestured toward the panel he'd been working on. "The details in this house are extraordinary. You don't see craftsmanship like this anymore. It's like every piece tells a story."

"I've always believed this place was alive with memory," Elena replied softly, running her fingers along the smooth wood. "It holds everything-legacy, betrayal, resilience."

He turned toward her, his gaze darker now. "And desire?"

Elena's breath caught. There it was-that word. That feeling. That truth.

"I suppose that too," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Their eyes locked. Gabriel's expression softened, but he didn't move. He didn't need to. The weight of their shared silence said everything.

"You've built walls around yourself, haven't you?" he asked.

Elena looked away. "You don't know anything about me."

"I don't," he admitted. "But I see it. And I think you're finally tired of hiding behind them."

Elena stepped back, heart pounding, but the words struck deep. Was she tired of hiding? Of denying herself? Of pretending she didn't crave connection-not just emotionally, but physically?

The wind stirred around them, and the scent of cedar and dust mixed with something else-an almost electric charge in the air.

Gabriel took a slow step forward. "Tell me to stop."

She looked up at him, unsure of what she wanted more: to flee or to fall. But she didn't say anything. Not yet.

He leaned in, his mouth dangerously close to hers. "Elena."

Her name in his mouth felt like a promise.

And just as quickly, he pulled away.

"I'll see you tomorrow," he said, his voice even.

And then he walked past her, disappearing down the hall, leaving her breathless, confused, and aching with a curiosity that felt dangerous-and impossible to ignore.

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End of Part 6

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