Page 72 of Too Much In Common
“Best guess is she enjoys playing Cupid.”
“I can’t believe you’re here.” She placed her palm in the center of his chest and felt his heart beating.
His chuckle rumbled through her. “I guarantee you are not hallucinating.”
“How did you get here? When?” She would have noticed if Chris showed up on the manifest.
“I flew with the Ogilvies on a different carrier. I didn’t want you to be distracted.”
“This is crazy. How did you have vacation so quickly?”
“I didn’t. This is a working trip. However, I am only on active duty on the plane. The rest of the time, I am the on-call reserve.”
The boat slowed, coming into another stop. “Brit, Simone. I forgot about them. They’re lost.”
“Oh, I was supposed to tell you not to worry about them. They will find alternate transportation back to the hotel.”
“They were in on this?”
“Your mother and father know too.”
The boat docked. Chris took Tian’s hand. “Come on. Our dinner awaits. Unless you have something in your suitcase you’d rather eat.”
“Are you kidding? This is Paris. I am not eating one of my frozen meals when I can have a croissant with marmalade or a crepe from a corner vendor.”
A car awaited them in an area beyond the dock. “A car?”
“Candace’s cousin knew someone...I’ve never seen anyone so excited to plan a date as Candace was.”
“She planned this?” A chauffeur opened the door. Tian looked down at her jeans. She wasn’t dressed for anything fancy.
“It was a fifty-fifty split. Which reminds me, do you have any food allergies? The friend suggested a dinner to order.”
“No allergies.” The interior of the car was everything one would expect from the French equivalent of a limo. “I feel so underdressed.”
“The friend—her name is Gina—told me this place was not dressy. Your jeans and sweater will be great. I was hoping for the Eiffel Tower, but even with their connections there was no way.”
They stopped at a little cafe. The chauffeur held the door for them. “Tell them Gina sent you.”
Chris nodded. Inside they were led to a corner table. A single red rose lay across her plate.
“Your idea?” Tian brought it to her nose.
“I wanted more, but Candace pointed out you were flying back, and customs didn’t like fresh flowers.”
“Oh, Chris. You’ve gone to so much trouble. I feel so bad. Instead of coming up with a plan to keep us together, I’ve taken a job that will take me away from Chicago.” Tears formed in her eyes.
* * *
Chris’s heart sank. Everything had been going according to plan, but now this? “What job?”
“With Mrs. Ogilvie’s charity. I’ll be flying the planes. I haven’t signed anything.” She wiped away a tear. “I can turn it down. We are more important.”
He held her hand. “Sign. This is the best news I’ve had in days.”
Tian’s eyes opened wide.
“What do you mean?”
