Page 143 of Modern Romance Collection December 2024 Books 1-4

“I’m sorry, do you mind if I check that?”

At his nod, I pull my phone out. Alarm skitters through me.

“It’s Catherine.”

“Go,” he says as he stands, waiting for me to leave before he sits back down.

I walk away from the dining area as I answer.

“Catherine? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong.” My friend’s voice is practically vibrating with excitement. “I’m sorry, you’re probably out to dinner or something naughty—”

“Cate!” I break in with a laugh as my heart rate steadies. “What’s going on?”

“She’s walking again.”

My vision swims as tears fill my eyes. I blink them back and take in a deep, shuddering breath as relief swamps me.

“Thank God.”

“That’s all. She asked me to call, she was exhausted after physical therapy and went to sleep almost as soon as we got her back to her room. But she’s better, Juliette. She’s getting better every day.”

We say goodbye. I linger in the vestibule for a moment. Dessie’s getting better. We’ll have a follow-up with her doctor when I get back and learn more about what the future may hold. But right now, in this moment, Dessie’s walking. I’m in Paris dining in one of the most incredible restaurants in the world. And, shockingly, I’m enjoying Gavriil Drakos’s company.

That’s enough right now.

I’m not going to question it. I’m simply going to enjoy the evening.

I return to the table. Our wines have been delivered. Gavriil is looking out the window, one hand resting on the stem of his glass, his handsome profile in stark relief against the encroaching night.

My breath catches.

Focus on the moment. Just tonight. Nothing else.

“Everything all right?” he asks as I sit.

I nod. “Just an update on Dessie’s physical therapy.”

The waiter delivers the first course: beets folded over blue cheese and Greek yogurt, sprinkled with cilantro and pumpkin seeds, and served with toasted crackers.

I take my first bite and barely bite back a moan.

“Is this how you eat all the time?” I ask as I force myself to go slow and savor every bite.

“Believe it or not, I like burgers, too,” he replies with a grin. “You said Dessie insisted you take a foreign language. Did you live with her after you disappeared from Rêve Beach?”

Thankfully, I had just slid a cracker into my mouth, giving me a moment to think about how much detail I want to share. He already knows so much about me.

On paper, I think as my chest tightens at how he looked down at me with disgust right before touching me so intimately.

Good enough for a quick fling, but not good enough to spend his money or trusted to keep my end of our bargain.

Stop.I’m not going to let anyone else ruin my evening. He’s playing nice right now. I can do the same.

“When things with my dad went downhill, I moved in with Dessie in Seattle.”

His lips flatten into a line. “I’m sorry.”

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