Page 40 of All the Gossip from Paris
He’d just decided to go find his parents again, when a firm hand landed on his shoulder. Liam spun round. Standing in front of him was a tall guy in a tuxedo. But it wasn’t the man who caught his attention. It was the woman in a long golden gown standing next to him that had Liam doing a double take.
Is that Chloe Fisher, the popstar?
If it wasn’t then she was a doppelganger for the world’s biggest recording artist.
The guy held out his hand. “Hi, I’m Jordan Royal. I’m one of New York Royals. And this is my wife, Chloe. Ryan asked us to come find you, make sure you’re having a good time.”
Liam accepted the offered hand. While it was good to meet someone else who spoke English, he was still lost for words. It wasn’t every day that you met one of the most famous people on the planet.
“I think Liam might be a bit starstruck,” said Chloe.
Liam gave her a nod of confirmation. “It’s nice to meet you. I. Well. I…”
Jordan laughed at Liam’s stuttering response. “She has that effect on most people.” He turned to his wife and smiled at her. “Including me.”
So this was the American contingent of the family. Ryan had explained that there were some Royals who lived in New York. They owned, and managed the US operations for Royal Resorts. The CEO of Royal Resorts USA, Bryce Royal, was an investor in Camille’s fashion label.
“How are you finding Paris? I love coming here. This is the first time I’ve actually visited France and not been in the middle of a concert tour,” said Chloe.
Stirring from his starstruck stupor, Liam gathered his thoughts. “I’ve been to Paris a few times. Camille’s sister Sophie showed me around some new places earlier in the week. She brought me out here and we took a look inside the atelier up on the rooftop.”
Chloe’s eyes grew wide. “Oh my god. I didn’t think François would let you within ten feet of the door. I’ve been trying to get a peek inside his workshop for months, but he won’t let me near the place.”
Jordan rolled his eyes in mock outrage. “Now I’m going to have to go and talk to my uncle. Demand that he let us in before we fly home or else there’s going to be trouble.”
Chloe nodded her approval. “Damn straight there will be.”
Another couple now joined the chat. The family resemblance between Jordan and the male stranger was unmistakable. This other man had to be another one of the American Royal brothers.
“Hi, I’m Matthew Royal,” he said holding out his hand. Liam took it and they shook. Matthew then turned to the blonde woman who’d arrived with him. “And this is my fiancée, Rachel.”
Rachel gave him a tiny wave. “You look as overawed by all of this glamor as I do. Which considering that this time yesterday morning I was standing up to my knees in mud and sludge on a construction site, isn’t the least bit surprising.”
Matthew chuckled. “Rachel and I are the lead architects on the new Royal Resorts eco development in Aspen Colorado. We had a drainage issue. I was in New York, so my poor colleague was the one who had to go deal with the problem.”
“Colleague? That’s a strange way to describe the woman who only two hours ago had her lips wrapped around your…”
Matthew swiftly pulled her into his embrace and kissed her soundly. Everyone in their little group laughed.
No prizes for guessing what she’d been about to say.
Liam grinned as he took it all in. The American branch of the Royals were fun. He was still smiling when a hand was pressed gently to his back. The familiar scent of Sophie’s perfume filled his senses.
A shiver of delight raced down his spine as Sophie moved closer and spoke seductively into his ear. “I’m glad to see the American cousins have found you. I’d be sad if you were standing here all alone.”
Chloe one of the world’s most beautiful women was standing a mere foot or two away, yet she didn’t hold his attention the same way Sophie did. It wasn’t just Sophie’s perfume which filled his senses. It was her mere presence.
She had changed from the pantsuit she’d worn to the wedding service, and was now rocking a long black evening gown. And while there was a demur halter neck at the front, the back of the gown was completely open. A pleasing amount of female flesh was on display. Liam wanted to run his hand down Sophie’s naked back. To see if his touch affected her the same way her mere presence moved him.
The way Sophie makes me feel is something else.
He wasn’t sure how to describe that feeling other than to say she was pure temptation. The way she was dressed tonight was fucking fantastic.
The lustful vibes he was rocking from simply being this close to Sophie had Liam’s body thrumming with unsated need. For a moment he was jealous of Matthew Royal and his ability to simply grab the woman he loved and kiss her in public.
“Liam tells me you took him upstairs earlier this week,” said Chloe.
“To your father’s workshop,” Liam said, in further explanation. He didn’t want any of the Royals getting the wrong idea. And especially not when he and Sophie had already been that wrong idea. His libido was still writing checks his body was in no position to cash.
