Page 60 of French Martini

“We can go tonight if you’re ready,” Lowen says, and my stomach flutters.

“Tonight?”

“Then you can start the work week without a long drive to the city. Unless you want to be alone today before the craziness starts.”

“Today is good. What time do you want me to pick you up?”

“Check-in is at three.”

“I’ll be there at two-thirty.”

“See you then, Oakley.”

“See you then, kitten.”

After ending the call, I race to my bedroom to start packing, and an idea hits me. Fuck yeah. I plop down on my bed and open the internet on my phone, scrolling for options available at short notice. Oooh, this looks viable.

I press the call button and wait for it to be answered. When it is, I cross my fingers.

“Hi. Would you happen to have any available reservations for the week I could pick up in the next hour or so?”

The guy on the other end clicks on his keyboard, then confirms. “We do. We could have it ready by two. Would that work, sir?”

I smile. “It sure would.”

This week is my chance to woo Lowen and prove to him that I’m the man he’s been waiting for. If he doesn’t fall in love with me when this is all over then… I laugh. Who am I kidding? Then I’ll just keep trying until he does.

I may be his fake fiancé now, but I’m aiming to become the real thing.

SEVENTEEN

LOWEN

There’sa knock on my door while I’m busy packing. “Come in.”

I look up as Indy and Salem enter my bedroom. “Hey, Low,” Indy says. “We just came to check on you. Ridley told us about the article.”

I nod, folding my cashmere sweater over my arm. “I had hoped interest in me would’ve died down after all this time, but I guess it’s a slow news day.”

Salem scrunches his nose. “I can’t imagine what it feels like.”

“It feels like being in a fishbowl and being watched from all angles. It’s so stupid too. I’m just a man living my life. I’m not doing anything newsworthy. I left Paris so I could find out who I am again after all that happened. I needed to figure out what parts of my aesthetic were my own and what parts were influenced by Alain. It’s ironic that I’m being honored for the solo work I did while married to him.”

“Doesn’t that just prove that you were fantastic all along?” Indy asks.

I shrug, perching on the edge of my bed. “Maybe. I want the award. I do. I just wish I didn’t have to go back into this environment to get it.”

“But you’ll have Oakley with you,” Salem says. “That helps, right?”

“A lot. I couldn’t do it alone.”

“You never would’ve had to, Low.” Indy smiles. “None of us would’ve let you.”

“I know.” Smiling, I stand and continue packing. “Apologies in advance if they infiltrate Moby’s looking for me.”

“We can handle it,” Salem says. “Also, might bring in some business.”

I huff. “Or scare locals away.”

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