Page 59 of The Billionaire's Wife

And I could look back and see just how well that had gone for me. I sighed and turned off my phone before setting it on the nightstand. I clicked off the lamp on my side of the bed and snuggled down under the covers, scooching as close to the edge of the bed as possible without falling off.

I didn’t know if Jenna was taking her time in the bathroom for me, or if she really had a long evening ritual, but I was ready to sleep. Even on a private jet, flying across the Atlantic wasn’t something I was used to doing.

I was drifting in that not-quite-asleep-but-also-not-awake state when I sensed the room darken fully and heard the rustling of sheets. The mattress dipped slightly.

“Good night.” Jenna’s voice was a whisper.

It would have taken too much effort to respond, so I just let myself sink further into sleep.

“Wake up, sleepyhead.”

I cracked open one eye and scowled.

Jenna laughed. “Get up! You’re in Paris. You don’t want to sleep the day away, do you?”

Paris? I blinked and rubbed my eyes. My brain kicked in and I pushed to a sitting position. Paris. With Tristan. And Jenna and Noah, but that was beside the point.

“There you are.” Jenna grinned. “There’s coffee and pastries in the main room for breakfast. The guys are getting ready.”

I studied her for a moment. Since she was still wearing her pajamas—at least, that was what I assumed they were, since I couldn’t quite picture her heading to a couture bridal appointment in cotton pants covered with frogs—I figured I probably wasn’t too far behind everyone else.

“I’ll throw on some clothes and then go eat. What time do you have to be wherever you’re headed?” I slid my legs out from under the covers and stood, then took a moment to stretch my arms over my head, trying to will alertness into my muscles.

“Couple of hours. I might try to get Noah to stop by the Eiffel Tower first. Or something. We’re in Paris!” Jenna bounced a little with her last words.

I chuckled. “So you said.”

“Oh, come on. You have to be a little excited.”

I shrugged. “I am. More than a little. But also I need coffee.”

I opened one of the dresser drawers and grabbed clothes, then hurried into the bathroom to dress. Maybe I ought to be fine changing in front of other women, but it had never been in my comfort zone. Even in high school, I’d been the weirdo taking her gym clothes into a toilet stall to change. None of the mockery from the other girls had mattered. Of course, there’d been better reasons, then, to make sure no one saw me without a shirt. Dad didn’t care about cuts or bruises when they’d be covered with clothes.

I pushed those thoughts away and finished getting ready.

The bedroom was empty when I emerged and I heard laughter from the main room. I took a deep breath, and headed out.

“Good morning.” Tristan’s gaze snapped to me, and everything in me felt steadier. “Let me pour you some coffee.”

“Thanks.” I crossed the room, consciously keeping from crossing my arms against the sudden awkwardness.

Jenna tipped her head to the side and pointed to a chair. “Sit. You have to have one of these croissants. I’m sure it’s a cliché, but they taste nothing like what we get at home.”

I eyed the tray of golden baked goods and decided on a more rectangular looking one than the typical croissant shape. The first bite confirmed my deepest hope: it was filled with chocolate.

I closed my eyes and savored the sweet and crispy treat.

“Your coffee, madame.”

The scent of the drink had my eyes popping back open. Noah was directly in front of me, the mug held tantalizingly close.

I wrapped my hands around it. “Mm. Thanks.” I took a sip and felt my eyebrows lift. “This is good coffee.”

“Bougie French coffee.” Jenna’s eyebrows waggled.

I chuckled and took another sip. “This may ruin me for breakfast for the rest of my life.”

“You’re easy to please.” Noah slid his arm around Jenna’s shoulders. “A croissant and good coffee and you’re set? I thought Jenna was low maintenance. Apparently not.”

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