Page 21 of Leo

“What time is it?”

“After midnight.”

She blinked at him. “And we’re having breakfast?”

“Not hungry?”

“I am starving. It must be the change in time and the setting. I am going to take this excellent coffee inside that kick ass bathroom or head or whatever the hell it is called and soak in that huge tub.”

An image of her naked and surrounded by bubbles, kicked him straight in the crotch and had his breath strangled.

Clearing his throat, he returned to his screen and tried to keep his mind off her naked body. “Take your time.”

Waiting until she had left his office, he pushed the laptop away and closed his eyes. He was going to have to find a bloody way to keep his control.

*****

Paris at midnight was stunning as she well knew after spending more than two months taking a Cordon Bleu course and an extensive one in pastry making. But she would never tire of seeing the romantic city shrouded in lights.

It was cold and she was thankful that Leo had prepared for everything. The thick cashmere jacket enveloped her in warmth. A car had picked them up at the private airfield, the driver dressed in black and snapping to attention as soon as they deplaned.

She listened in fascination as Leo snapped out orders in fluent French and within minutes they were on their way.

“You speak French.”

“Yes, I do.”

She eyed him curiously. “What other language do you speak?”

“Italian, Spanish and a smattering of Chinese and Japanese.” His lips quirked at her raised brows. “It helps when you can communicate directly without using an intermediary. Words sometimes get lost in translation.”

“I suppose that makes sense,” she remarked, her eyes still wide with curiosity. “I’m impressed.”

“I’ve always believed in the power of language,” he replied with a modest shrug, “it opens doors that might otherwise remain closed.”

They drove through the quiet streets of Paris, the cityscape unfolding before them like a glittering tapestry. The Eiffel Tower stood tall and majestic in the distance, its lights twinkling like stars against the midnight sky. It was a sight that never failed to take her breath away.

The pied a Terre was in the heart of the city, surrounded by towering structures, stores she recognized. Romano’s France was a stone’s throw away and she was delighted to see several café’s tucked away from the street.

As they continued their drive, she could not help but feel a sense of awe at Leo's effortless command of languages. It was one of the many facets of him that intrigued her. Despite his sometimes-aloof demeanor, there was a depth to him that she found endlessly fascinating.

“Leo,” she began hesitantly, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between them, “how did you learn so many languages?”

He glanced at her, a faint smile playing on his lips. “It was a necessity,” he said simply. “My business requires me to travel extensively, and I found that learning the local language always made things easier. I also had a tutor when I was younger who instilled in me a love for languages.”

“That’s incredible,” she murmured, her admiration for him growing. “I wish I had the same talent for languages.”

“You could learn,” he encouraged, “it’s never too late to start.”

She smiled at his encouragement, feeling a warm glow inside. “Maybe I will,” she said softly.

The car came to a stop in front of an elegant building, and the driver quickly exited to open the door for them. Leo stepped out first, then turned to offer her his hand. She took it gratefully, stepping out of the car and onto the cobblestone street.

“This is it,” Leo said, gesturing to the building before them. “Our home away from home.”

She looked up at the building, its facade illuminated by soft lights. It was beautiful, and she could not wait to see the inside.

“Come,” Leo said, guiding her towards the entrance. “Let’s get you settled in.”

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