Page 111 of Catching Trouble

I opened my hand and looked down at the necklace, my voice barely a whisper. “But she’ll always be there, reminding me I wasn’t the right person to look after your daughter.”

Maxime cupped my face in his hands, his calloused fingers moving against my skin. “There would have been no one more perfect.”

He leaned in and kissed my forehead.

“You’ve added something so good to both our lives. If you let me, I’ll spend every day of my life paying you back.”

I widened my eyes. Did he mean forever? My breath quickened at the idea.

But then he stood, stepping back.

“Where are you going?” I whispered. He couldn’t leave now! My tummy was in a complete jumble, and I couldn’t be certain what he’d done to my legs. What if they’d lost all their strength, and I was stuck on the beach until nightfall?

Maxime looked down at me. “I’m sorry, but I have to go. I promised I’d follow Valerie back to Nice. Sophie’s staying with her for a couple of nights, and she wanted me to help settle her in.” He leaned down, running his fingertips over my cheek. “I’ve said what I needed to. The rest is up to you. Please, don’t take too long. I don’t think I could bear it.”

And with that—he left me on the sand.

I watched him head over the rocks, back to the main beach. My pulse throbbed in my throat. If I stayed with Maxime—if I chose him forever—this was how it would be. He would and should always put Sophie first.

I hadn’t planned on children. Or falling for a man who came with one. But here I was, heart tangled up in both. Ours wouldn’t be a life I’d ever imagined.

But I could share Maxime. Just knowing he was here for me, too, was enough.

So, with the sea glass warm in my hand and the weight of his love in my chest, I stood to face the water. Just one swim. One last act of surrender to Poseidon and his court. Then I’d face whatever the future had in store for us.

32

CHLOE

Istopped at the top of the cliff steps; my breath caught somewhere between my ribs and heart. It thundered inside me, wild and insistent. Not just from the climb, but from the thought of what I was about to do.

I was going back. To Maxime.

To tell him I wanted to stay. In Furze. In his arms. Morning, noon, and night.

After the sea glass and the swim, I’d made a stop at the club to check in with Fifi. She looked edgy and distracted. Maxime had been in with Valerie. She said they sat for over an hour, deep in conversation, while she tried to keep Sophie busy drawing hearts in milk foam.

But then he left. Alone.

My heart stuttered. That must’ve been when he came to the cove. My body still pulsed at the memory of his words—when he told me he loved me.

I absolutely felt the same way about him, but I was relieved he went to Nice to give me a breather. A stay of execution—it was so hard to talk about feelings. His exit had given me time to getmine in order.

After making the lunchtime coffees, I reshot my Chloe Au Lait profile pic—same cheeky grin, less cheeky outfit. I wore my pink dress this time. Had I hitched it up a little higher to show off my legs? Perhaps. But the result was cute and slightly more “respectable part-time mother figure” than the first go-around. I had to keep Valerie from combusting, after all.

I’d miss the original look, though. Based on Maxime’s comment earlier at the beach, he might miss it too. The memory made me smile. If he liked OG Chloe Au Lait, I had no problem giving him a private coffee service. Maybe sooner rather than later.

The garden gate was open, so I knew he was back. Fifi said he’d called, begging for the night off. I’d asked for the same not long after. She granted my wish with a smirk and a wink.

With my bottom lip clamped beneath my teeth, I slipped off my pink dress and reached for the club apron I brought with me. A laugh bubbled in my chest. I’d only worn bikini bottoms underneath. Lord help any passing tourists. I didn’t want to be responsible for any heart attacks.

I paused for a breath at the gate, listening for signs of life. All I heard was the low hum of insects and the soft lap of pool water. A solo bee buzzed past. With my newly discovered immunity, I didn’t even flinch. Instead, I pulled the borrowed chef’s hat over my hair and stepped inside.

It was officially time for “Operation Convince Maxime He’d Made the Right Choice.” I stifled a giggle. It wasn’t a catchy name, and it would never fit on a T-shirt, but it served its purpose.

Closing the gate as quietly as possible, I dropped my dress by the shower, edging around the side of the house. Only the corner of the pool was visible, but when I heard a soft splash and the ripple of water, my heart quickened.

I stepped forward, and the sight that greeted me stole my breath.

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