Page 12 of Love in Bloom

“Awfully bold of you, Tristan. Maybe I like my privacy.”

“Perhaps. But I thought I was doing you a service by saving you from boredom.”

She unsuccessfully tried to restrain a smile. “You do make a great distraction,” Camille conceded. “I’ve hardly thought about work this morning. I haven’t wondered if the research team solved the sticky problem or if the marketing duo added the final touches to the campaign or if the right models were booked for the photo shoot next week.” She felt her stress level rise and fingered her phone. The itch to call Connor overwhelmed her.

Tristan’s hand covered hers. “It’s hard, isn’t it? To be on the outside, in the dark about all you’ve worked for and built. You’ve been booted from your empire for your own good. It’s a tough pill to swallow.”

Camille drew strength from his simple touch. “You sound like you know something about that.”

“I do.”

“Will you tell me?” She stared into his light brown eyes.

He looked away. “Perhaps another time.”

Obviously he wasn’t ready to trust her on that level yet. Tristan had something in his past he didn’t want her to know. That sent her curiosity level through the roof, and her thoughts sped through all kinds of possibilities, but she didn’t ask. She respected Tristan. He’d let her know in his own time, if that ever came. She looked out over the water. When did she cultivate the desire to know so much about her former school chum? They were on vacation. He owed her nothing.

Tristan’s fingers tightened around hers. “Meet you in the lobby in an hour?”

She nodded.

“Bring your good walking shoes.” He rose to leave.

“Wait, you never gave me the options for ascending to the castle.”

“Ah. We can walk up the cobblestone paths, take the train, or ride the elevator.”

“The train sounds nice. Maybe we’ll walk down after.”

“I look forward to it. Now I need to go persuade the kitchen staff to pack a picnic lunch.” He winked and walked away, whistling.

Camille shook her head at the old Welsh folk song. It was about willowy women and burly men in arms trying to conquer love together.

♥ ♥ ♥

Tristan held the basket as they strolled down the streets of Old Nice. It was a refreshing change from the streets of India he’d called home for the past year. The woman beside him was an unexpected bonus. Camille had always been willowy, and while she maintained her slim frame, she’d added a little more curve since they left university, making her even more attractive than he remembered. Her straight blonde hair fell a little past her shoulders and gave her an angelic look that contrasted with the more angular features of her face and her pert upturned nose. More than all that, it was her aura of self-assurance mixed with the tiniest bit of innocence that hooked him. He needed to keep things on the friendly side and not stray past that boundary. He’d already flirted too much.

He and Camille were more alike than he wanted to admit. Their differences worried him. He’d been tempted to share why he kept his shirt on, but what was the point when they’d part soon? Plus he didn't relish all the stares of the other bathers on the beach.

Camille nudged his shoulder as they stood in the queue for the train. “You’re lost in thought. Are you nervous about taking the train? It looks safe enough. I imagine if tourists frequently fell overboard or were run over, then the accidents would be on the news, and the French government would’ve required updates. It looks very quaint and charming. It’s nice to be off the beach and exploring again. I don't know why I didn’t start exploring after arriving. There’s so much to be seen and tasted. I could spend my whole month walking through the Cours Selaya Market every day or traveling a little into Provence to see the lavender fields. I should definitely do that. I’d love to incorporate more lavender into our products. So many people have difficulty sleeping these days. Do you have trouble falling asleep?”

“As much as the next person I suppose.” He smiled at her to cover up the truth. Peaceful slumber eluded him on a nightly basis. He loved Camille’s prattle. It was one of the first things that had charmed him in their chemistry lab. He knew from their mates’ remarks that others found it annoying at best, but he loved seeing how her brain worked. Everything spilled out of her, and he was never in doubt about Camille’s thoughts.

The train arrived.

“Oh, I love it!” Camille clasped her hands under her chin. “It’s adorable. The crisp white, the wooden roof. It looks part train, part tram, and utterly charming. This was a wonderful idea.” She wrapped her hands around his elbow.

Little tendrils of warmth crept around his skin, radiating from his elbow to his wrist and shoulder. He enjoyed the sensation far too much and sought the opportunity to have her slender fingers around his arm as often as possible. He’d miss it when they parted.

The train wound through the streets, leading them up to the castle. Upon arrival, they took in the view from the overlook of the castle jutting out of the mountainside.

“You can see the world from up here!” Camille’s hat bumped the side of Tristan’s face, and he caught a whiff of her perfume. She smelled of lilies, with a hint of vanilla and … he couldn’t place the third aroma, but all of it combined to give Camille a signature scent he imaged he could place anywhere. He wondered how her scent would mix with the exotic spices and smells of India. He pictured them strolling hand-in-hand through the market, and savoring her hand in his. He shook his head to clear his thoughts. He was letting his imagination run away again. The last time he’d allowed a woman to affect him so much, it had ended in disaster both personal and professional. He wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

Camille tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow while they stared out over the red tile roofs of the town. The winding cobblestone streets drew their eyes to the cerulean blue of the Mediterranean. “It almost feels like you could swan dive off this tower into the water below. Sounds refreshing and worth the plunge, don’t you think? Of course you do. You’re glowing as much as I am.” She indicated the perspiration on their faces. “As beautiful as this view is, we’d better find some shade before we melt. Any ideas of where to go for our picnic?”

“Are you hungry already?”

“Yes, the train ride left me famished. It was well worth the euros we spent, and the audio tour was so informative.”

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