Page 33 of Love on the Vine
My cheeks flamed under the scrutiny of the café’s customers. I could only pray Jake and his beautiful companion hadn’t noticed. But then I heard a familiar voice say, “You know, it’s better ifyouride the bike rather than the other way around.”
Jake’s warm hand circled my arm gently, and he helped me to my feet. His eyebrows quirked up in amusement.
“The lock got stuck and I tripped,” I explained stupidly.
“Wow, Jake, what a surprise! What are you doing here?” Callie interjected, faking astonishment. She was not about to win an Academy Award that’s for sure.
“Drinks with a friend.” He gestured toward the table where the woman gave a little wave. “I was going to bring her back to the house so she could meet you, but then I noticed the bikes and figured we’d wait for you here.”
“Oh, right. I suppose the hot pink bike is hard to miss,” I agreed. I’d been surprised to find it in his garage until I’d learned it belonged to Jin. So much for sneaking by unnoticed.
“Come join us,” Jake said, heading back toward the table with Callie gleefully following at his heels. At least she was enjoying this. I lagged behind, carefully attaching the bikes to the railing. In my tired sundress I felt woefully un-put together, and I did not particularly want to meet Jake’sfriend. With adefeated sigh, I flung my raffia bag over my shoulder and joined them.
“Lucie, this is Callie—I’m sorry I don’t know your last name,” Jake said.
“McGinn,” she offered.
“Callie McGinn and Olivia Peterson. Ladies, this is Lucie de Villiers.”
Lucie. Why did that name sound familiar to me? Then I remembered: this was one of his ex-girlfriends.
Lucie stood and pressed her soft cheek against mine. I still wasn’t used to doingbisesand had quickly learned that the number of times one kissed and how much contact was made with the actual cheek was very aleatory. Michel, for example, gave four lip smacking kisses in the center of the cheek while Callie’s friends in Paris had settled for two cordial cheek presses with air kisses. Lucie was more of the air kiss variety, which suited me just fine. I could smell her perfume as I leaned in, spicy, subtle, complex. As Jay Gatsby would say, she smelled like money.
“So this is Olivia. Jin told me about you.” A huge smile spread across her face.
“He did?” Jake and I said at the same time.
Her laugh sounded like wind chimes. “Yes, he said he could finally relax because you hired an assistant for him.”
“He loves to exaggerate.” Jake shook his head. “I hope he hasn’t been making you do too much.”
“Just the heavy lifting,” I assured him. “On the positive side, lugging all those bottles around has given me arms of steel.”
“Lucie, are you part of the food and lifestyle de Villiers?” asked Callie once we were seated and had ordered drinks.
“Yes, I run a food magazine calledVatel. We just launched last year. Maybe you’ve heard of it?”
“I have a copy of the summer issue in my bag! Do you hear that, Liv?” Callie elbowed me hard in the ribs. “She used to talk about becoming a food writer. She had a column in our college newspaper. And even had something published inThe Washington Post.”
“You never mentioned that.” Jake stared at me.
“She wouldn’t. She doesn’t like to brag,” Callie responded. “I can send you a copy if you want.”
“Yes, we’d both like to read it. Wouldn’t we, Jake?” Lucie’s dark eyes sparkled with interest.
“If you’d like. It’s been a couple of years since I’ve written anything.” I stirred a spoonful of sugar into mycitron presséto hide my discomfort. I hadn’t reread any of my old essays—some of them were just too personal—and I wasn’t sure I liked the idea of sharing them now. But they were probably just being polite. They wouldn’t really read them.
“How do you two know each other?” Callie asked innocently.
“We met years ago when Jake first arrived in France. His first job as a buyer was with my family’s department store. He was so cute. No scruff then.” She reached over and pinched his cheek and then went on to share a series of charming anecdotes about Jake’s early years in France while he scowled at her.
I was impressed by how he’d followed his passion against his father’s wishes. We weren’t so different in that respect, and I wondered if that was why he had offered to let me stay with him this summer.
I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t realize Lucie had asked me a question until everyone was staring at me expectantly. “I’m sorry?”
“I said Jake suggested I meet you today to see if you might be interested in spending part of the summer in Paris, helping me with our annual White Picnic in Versailles. It’s a big deal. Lots of industry insiders.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” I replied, taken aback. Jake had suggested I go to Paris? Did he want to get rid of me? Oh God, was this because he thought I’d told the entire village we were a couple? Across the table Callie looked as crestfallen as I felt. “I suppose I could . . .”
