Page 56 of The Billionaire's Wife

We all boarded and I swiped a keycard and then pressed the button for the Grand Palais Suite. They didn’t label the buttons by floor. Each one had a little plaque with the names of suites on the given floors. Ours was all alone beside the button. Ooh la la.

When the doors opened, an older man in a somber black suit greeted us. “Welcome.”

“Thank you.” I waited for the ladies to exit, then followed behind Noah. I looked around and tried to keep my jaw from dropping.

“Your luggage is just here. I can unpack for you, if you’ll inform me of the sleeping arrangements.”

“We’ll let the ladies choose their room. Noah and I will share the one they don’t choose.”

“Very good.”

Maybe it was because of his refined French accent, but it sounded like he meant the opposite. I couldn’t say why. Possibly I was paranoid.

I trailed behind the group as they went into the main living area. There were burgundy velvet tufted sofas and coordinating leather chairs. Tables that looked antique were covered with little dust catchers and stacks of books. The whole thing was like walking into a palace.

“This is gorgeous.” Faith ran a hand over the back of a velvet sofa. “Tristan. It’s too much.”

I shook my head. “Go choose a room.”

Faith frowned slightly.

“Come on.” Jenna hooked her arm through Faith’s and dragged her off.

I tucked my hands in my pockets and turned to Noah. “Is it too much?”

“No. This is fantastic. And honestly, I can’t imagine that either room is going to be less than the other.” Noah strolled to the large window that ran along one wall of the living area and looked out. “Man, you can see the river.”

I came over and looked out. The cars down below zipped and zoomed like every driver had a personal vendetta against the others. Maybe the limo driver hadn’t been so bad after all. I looked farther out and caught the glint of light on the water. It wasn’t really a river view, but it was still impressive.

Faith’s laughter preceded her into the room. “We want the corner room. You can see the Eiffel Tower!”

“I’ll take care of the bags. Will you be eating here this evening?” The butler hovered in the doorway.

“We’re going to walk and find a place. Maybe you have a recommendation?” Jenna beamed at him. “Something casual?”

He seemed to thaw. Jenna had that effect on people. “Of course. There are many options if you turn right as you leave the front door. I recommend you go the few blocks to Rue Marbeuf then continue toward the river. There are many lovely cafés there.”

“That sounds perfect. Thank you.” Jenna turned to look at the rest of us. “Everyone ready?”

“I’m set.” Faith hooked her purse strap over one shoulder.

Noah nodded.

I gestured toward the doorway that would take us out to the elevator. Faith hung back and waited for me. She took my hand and squeezed it. “This is amazing, Tristan. Thank you.”

My heart felt like it might explode. I tugged her close. “Thank you for letting me.”

16

FAITH

Istepped out of the bathroom and hesitated. The afternoon and evening in Paris had been beyond my imagining. We’d walked the route the butler had suggested, stopping to admire architecture—apparently that was Jenna’s thing—or anything, really, that caught our eye. Closer to the hotel than what he’d indicated, there was a street branching off that had a whole row of different Asian restaurants. We’d almost stopped there, but in the end, the lure of a French café was too much for us to resist.

It seemed necessary, somehow, for a first night in Paris.

And we’d found one with little tables out front behind a wrought iron railing and under a striped awning. The servers wore black with small white aprons. Honestly, it was like something out of a movie. And the food?

Sublime.

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