Barbara Wallace - One Night In Provence

“Oui.”

He leaned closer, the gap in his shirt treating her to a glimpse of the smooth skin beneath. “And you are flattered. I can see it in your eyes.”

Jenna was flattered—immensely—but she wasn’t about to let him know. “How do you know it’s not amusement at your arrogance?”

“Amusement doesn’t make a woman’s skin flush.”

Flashing a smug smile, he sat back in his chair. “I am sorry about your headache. That was not part of my plan. Is it better?”

“Getting there.”

“Good. I’m glad. I forget how pungent the smell of lavender can be. When we were children, my brother Felix and I complained incessantly about the aroma.” While speaking, he reached for her glass. The ice clinked as he lifted it high for a drink.

“You have a brother? Yesterday on the tour you said you were...” Jenna paused.

“The last of the line? I am. My brother died of cancer several years ago.”

He spoke with nonchalance, but Jenna caught a shadow in his eyes as he raised the glass to his lips for another drink.

“I’m sorry.”

“So am I. He was a good man.” He fell silent for a moment as a shadow darkened his features. Only for a moment, though. Jenna would have missed it altogether had she not been watching closely. “Let us talk about something more pleasant, shall we?”

He’d made a similar request yesterday. It was obvious he didn’t like dwelling on his family. “What would you like to talk about?” she asked.

“How about dinner? Clearly, since fate has reunited us, we are destined to enjoy a meal together.”

“You mean fate and a front desk clerk.”

“A technicality. I knew we were destined to share each other’s company as soon as I saw you on the terrace.”

He was smooth. Charming, too. Much as she hated to admit it, Jenna enjoyed his company. He kept her on her toes. Dinner could be fun, as long as she kept her wits about her.

“Well, a girl does have to eat,” she told him. “I might as well have some company.”

He grinned like he’d won the lottery. “ Ma chère , a woman needs to do more than eat. You need to experience French cuisine. Tonight, I shall make sure you have an experience you’ll never forget.”

“We’ll see about that,” Jenna replied. “I don’t impress easily.”

“Is that so? In that case...” He leaned in again, the purple in his eyes taking on a dangerously mischievous glint that made Jenna’s insides flutter in spite of herself. “I look forward to meeting your challenge.”

* * *

You know I was kidding about having a fling, right? All I meant was don’t be your usual picky self.

I’m not having a fling; I’m having dinner.

Despite what Philippe d’Usay might think, her “French experience” was beginning and ending with dinner.

I don’t do flings, remember?

You don’t do anything.

That’s not true. I do plenty.

Since when?

Since...

Jenna paused before hitting the backspace button. So it had been a while. Big deal. She was taking a dating hiatus. All the sweet talk and pretend interest in commitment that ended after a few weeks? Who needed it. She was trying to break her family pattern, not contribute to it.

Excuse me for being selective.

She leaned back against the headboard. Shirley’s thoughts didn’t need a phone for her to hear them. Her friend had given her the tough-love speech a half dozen times over the past couple years. You’re too picky. You never give anyone a chance. You rule guys out before you ever get a chance to know them.

Maybe, Jenna thought, she was picky because she wanted more than a guy who claimed to want a relationship only to bail when he got bored. Of all people, Shirley should understand why.

Her phone buzzed. Shirley had replied.

This guy must be something if you are giving him the time of day.

He’s okay.

Actually, he was everything Jenna claimed to detest. A guy like Philippe wasn’t interested in depth. She wondered if he even knew what the word meant. And yet as bad an idea as the man was, he intrigued her in a way she hadn’t felt in a long, long time.

After their conversation in the kitchen, Philippe had walked her through his back garden to the gift shop.

“Until tonight,” he’d said, kissing her hand. Affected as all get-out, it still managed to set her entire arm aflame. The entire bus ride home, she found herself reliving the moment. If a kiss to the hand could set off her inner fireworks, she’d wondered, what would a real kiss do? Or...?

Her phone buzzed.

Just okay?

Maybe a little more than okay.

If her friend could only see him.

In that case, you know what they say. What happens in France...

Ha-ha.

All I’m saying is keep an open mind. A little fun never hurt anyone. Remember, Beatrice wanted you to have an adventure.

Somehow she didn’t think Beatrice meant falling into bed with a sexy stranger.

Since when are you so invested in my sex life, anyway?

Since I’m home with shingles and no one wants to come near me. One of us ought to have a good time.

Jenna shook her head.

Sorry, babe. You’re simply going to have to use your imagination.

Killjoy.

Yep. I’ve got to go get ready. TTYL.

She exited the application before Shirley could respond with Do what I’d do or some other nonsensical words of encouragement.

Tossing the phone on the bed beside her, Jenna stared at the black silk dress currently hanging on the door of her armoire. It was a simple wrap dress, modest by most standards. It was also the only fancy item she’d packed, since she hadn’t actually planned on any dating or dining alone in super-fancy restaurants. Was it fancy enough for wherever Philippe intended to take her? He’d said he’d pick her up at eight, but he hadn’t said where they were going.

All of a sudden, Jenna felt nervous. She was being silly. What did she care whether her wardrobe was appropriate? Wasn’t as though any of the people in the restaurant would see her again. And it wasn’t as if she was trying to impress Philippe. Then again, she didn’t want to embarrass herself, either.

“Clothes, schmothes,” Beatrice had said once. “Like anyone cares.” At the time, she’d been insisting on wearing her silk robe—just her silk robe—to the dining room. “I’ll have you know I ate naked once when I was in Bali.”

Good old Beatrice, feisty and independent until the end. She didn’t care what people thought. Married thirty years to her partner in crime, she’d told Jenna. Until he wasn’t a partner anymore. Then she moved on. “No sense wasting your time on something that’s not working,” she’d said. What she would think of Philippe, Jenna could only imagine.

Never trust a man who’s prettier than you , she immediately thought in Beatrice’s raspy voice.

It was a good rule. Especially since Philippe was prettier than everyone.

* * *

Philippe entered the hotel early. Usually he didn’t pay attention to time, as the women he called on always kept him waiting. Instinct told him Jenna was the kind of woman who appreciated promptness. He chose not to think about the fact that he’d spent the last thirty minutes dressed and watching the clock.

He smoothed the front of his dinner jacket. Funny, but he was actually anxious about the evening going well. He’d spent the entire afternoon planning the perfect dinner, which was one afternoon more than he’d spent planning any of his previous dates. Why bother when a table at the hottest club or restaurant would suffice? Tonight, however, required more. Mademoiselle Brown had a cynical streak, meaning she wouldn’t be easily impressed. That required he put an effort into the evening.