Page 10 of Madam Alana

“I’d say if you were gambling, you’d have won all thechips.”

He laughed heartily as we made our way outside where a whitestretch limousine was idling.

“Congratulations!” a bunch of giggling young women dressedin cocktail attire hollered as we exited.

“I’m getting married this weekend too!” another one of themscreamed.

“Highly recommend it!” Christophe boasted to the stumblingwomen perched on incredibly high heels and short minidresses.

“Woo-hoo!” they cheered in return.

Christophe held open the door of the limo. “Moncoeur.” He gestured for me to enter the vehicle.

I hiked up the small train on my dress and slid along theleather seat until I was on the opposite side, leaving room for Christophe. Hefolded his hulking frame inside and shut the door.

“Take us to Marino’s,” Christophe instructed the driver.

“Marino’s?” I asked.

“My favorite Italianplace. It’sowned and operated by a family man. The food is superb. I always try and eatthere when I’m in town.”

“When you’re in town?” I repeated. “Where do you normallylive?”

“The city of love,cheri.Paris, France.”

My eyes must have widened to twice their size, because at mynonresponse, he laughed heartily. It seemed my new husband laughed a lot, whichI had to admit was deeply refreshing, but also made me feel like a stick in themud. Everything that was happening felt like a new, uncertain experience for meand I tended to wade into those type of things with caution, not jumping inheadfirst. I didn’t think Christophe took the same approach.

“Will you be taking me to France?” I gulped, thinking howvery far away that was from Celine. Then again, I had no idea where she’d begoing.

“Of course. It is to be your home. When we’re not travelingfor work. Alas, that will depend on what you want to do,” he added.

“What I want to do?” My brows pinched together in confusion.What in the world was he talking about?

“Do you always answer a question with a question?” One ofhis brows cocked almost as though he was teasing me.

“I apologize, husband. I’m very uncertain what it is I’m supposedto do. I know I am your wife, and Angus made it clear we do whatever ourhusbands tell us. So, when you say, ‘what I want to do,’ my only response canbe whatever you wish for me to do.”

Christophe frowned and made an ugly sound as though he was disgusted.“Fucking hell,” he cursed. “I will admit I only scanned the contractdetails upon entry with my associate Darren Holt. I didn’t enter the auctionplanning on bidding at all. Frankly, I was surprised they let me in. And I amcompletelygobsmackedthat I ended up purchasing yourhand.”

My mouth fell open, but I quickly clamped my lips shut.

“I don’t understand,” I whispered, fear and uncertainty atwar within me. Would he send me back to Angus when he realized that he’d madean error? How could he commit to a woman for five years without having plannedto get married in the first place?

“I don’t either.” Christophe reached out and took my hand,interlacing our fingers. “I just saw you up there, and I knew.”

“You knew what?” My question sounded weak and thready.

“That I’d found my muse. The great love of my life.” Helifted our hands and kissed the center of my palm. “God, or perhaps the universe,has mysterious ways of providing what we need exactly when we need it,oui?”

“You think I was sent to you by God?” I gasped in disbelief.“I am nothing.”

His head jerked back as though affronted.

“You do not see what I see,moncoeur.And you could never be nothing. You sithere, by my side, beaming with such a great light, it almost blinds me in itsbeauty. I cannot wait to create art in your likeness. It will be my best work.”

“This makes no sense,” I croaked. “You’ll change your mind.I’ll end up back on the streets.” The waterworks threatened to fill my eyeswhile thoughts of being abandoned pummeled my nerves.

He shook his head frantically and pulled me up and onto hislap sideways. His long, strong arms wrapped around me as he tucked his faceinto the crook of my neck. “No, no, no. I promise you are safe. I am a man ofmy word, Alana. Just because I let miraculous things occur naturally doesn’tmean I would forsake such gifts. And that is what you are. A gift to me. Mymuse. From the second I laid eyes on you I had this need to create. To mold. Tocraft. I haven’t felt that in over a year. I was stuck,cheri.My art collecting dust. My inspiration gone. I was walking through life awakebut lost.”

---