Page 20 of Meet Me in Paris

“And if he wasn’t?”

That stopped me. If Hunter were single, it would change everything. I could tell him how much his rejection hurt and give him a chance to mend it. I could reveal the real reason I hadn’t come to Paris, and we could start over. But he wasn’t, so it didn’t matter.

Jillian sighed. “I’m not convinced heisengaged anymore. We haven’t seen his intended once. Seems weird that he hasn’t mentioned her, either, doesn’t it?”

“Not if he’s spending time with us behind her back.”

“Kennedy,” Jillian said sternly. “Hunter is not that kind of guy, and you know it.”

I shrugged. “Do I?”

“Yes, you do. It’s time to find out if he’s available, once and for all. I have an idea for the ultimate test. You’ll be our bait.”

Oh, great. This sounded like something I should run from, stat. “Why not you?”

“Because he’s been staring at you ever since we arrived, and if you haven’t noticed, you’re an idiot. Now we’re going to make you look stunning tonight. You’ll descend the stairs and see what his reaction is at the bottom. If he doesn’t care, he’s taken. If he goes all stupid, it means he loves you.”

“Men can love two women,” I pointed out. “Henry the Eighth had six wives.”

“He’s, like, the worst example you could possibly come up with. I’ll forget you said that. Anyway, Hunter isn’t in love with anyone else, and I’m going to prove it to you. Now turn around so I can fix your hair, becauseit’s atrocious.”

I only obeyed because Jillian was in one of her stubborn moods. There may have been a curiosity as well, because it did seem odd that Hunter hadn’t mentioned his fiancée once. If he was single, I needed to know it.

But I didn’t want him to know that Iwantedto know. Because that implied all sorts of things I didn’t want to imply. And I didn’t want Jillian to simply ask, because he would assume it was really me asking.

What a mess.

So I sat there and put up with Jillian’s fussing over my head far longer than I should have.

It wasn’t until we faced the stairwell that I remembered that item on my romance list—descending the stairs in a fancy gown as a man watched. This was a trick at the very least and a test at the most, but it was also as good a time to check off that item as any.

Alexis pushed her way past me toward the elevator. To my surprise, she wore a deep-red velvet gown that rose to her neck in front but exposed her entire back. She looked positively stunning.

“Wow,” I said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you wear red before.” It didn’t look like a dress you’d find at the mall, either. Sometime between junior high and now, my sister had become a woman.

“I had a rich boyfriend in Maine,” Alexis said, punching the down button in the elevator. Jillian had just enough time to leap inside before the elevator doors closed, sending me aquick wave. She wore a deep blue dress with pleats in a modern flapper style. It looked adorable on her.

And Alexis, with her rich boyfriend comment. I’d have to ask her more about that later.

I turned to the stairs—yet another staircase battle in my future, it seemed—and picked my way carefully down, clinging to the handrail and praying I wouldn’t pull another head-over-heels Eiffel Tower tumble. And heels they were, at least four inches—tall for me. Stairs and I weren’t the best of friends lately. I didn’t want to take any chances.

Finally, I neared the last flight of stairs, my stomach fluttering at the thought of Hunter waiting at the bottom. Was Jillian right? Was his engagement over? Or was he simply being polite in showing us around the city? He did show me more attention than the others, but there could be an element of guilt there too.

We’d find out soon enough. I took a deep breath and turned the corner.

The landing sat empty.

I cleared my throat, hearing familiar voices in the direction of the lobby just around the corner. No answer. I cleared my throat again as loudly and obnoxiously as I could.

“Oh! Um, Hunter,” I heard Jillian say. “I think Kennedy might need your help on the stairs.”

Thank you, Jillie.

“Why?” Hunter’s voice asked. “Did she fall?”

“No, I don’t think so, but her dress is really long.”

I pictured his incredulous expression and cringed. That explanation made no sense.

---