Page 30 of All the Gossip from Paris
“Well then, a day spent exploring some of the sacred places that are at the heart of fashion in this city would be a great way to expand your knowledge. You never know—it might lead to something more,” she replied.
The moment she’d said those last words Sophie regretted them. When it came to resisting the lure of Liam, and something more, she really was her own worst enemy.
“Let me go get my camera,” said Liam.
He was gone in a flash, leaving Sophie standing just inside the doorway of the hotel suite. How was she going to get through the day? The months and many miles which had stood between them had done nothing to dull her desire for this man.
Playing with fire would only get her burned. The thought of Liam setting her flesh ablaze with his scorching touch was enough for Sophie to know, given half a chance, she’d gladly walk with him into the flames.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Liam raced back to his room and grabbed his smallest handheld camera. He didn’t want to lug his whole kit around with him today, but he still wanted to capture the life of the city. The cameras in mobile phones were good, but they couldn’t hold their own against a proper piece of photographic equipment.
When he returned to where Sophie was waiting, she took one look at his small satchel and said. “A lot of the designers won’t allow photography at their workshops, but we could still find some other places where you can take photos.”
“Speaking of photos, we need to discuss the bargain that we struck in New York. The one where we agreed I’d photograph you.”
The color drained from her face, and she stammered. “Oh. Oh no. That was just something I said that night. You know, a joke. I didn’t really mean it.”
He wasn’t going to let her squirm her way of their deal. “You gave me all those expensive clothes. I intend to hold you to your word, Sophie.”
“But not today. I mean we have places to go.”
Liam slowly nodded his agreement. The last thing he wanted was for Sophie to spend the day worrying about him and his camera.
“Today I’ll just take photos of the scenery. But our deal still stands.”
He really shouldn’t push the whole photo pact that they’d made—he should just let it go. They’d agreed to let everything else that had happened in New York stay in the past. Why was he so hell bent on taking her picture?
Because you want to show her how beautiful she is. Make her understand.
Sophie might well be dressed to kill, but Liam sensed it was all part of a carefully created façade. A cover she used to hide the real Sophie from the world. He’d caught a glimpse of that woman during the night they’d spent together in her hotel suite. And he wanted to see more. To capture her essence.
But if there was one thing he’d learned during the bitter fallout from his failed engagement, it was that a wise man paid close attention to the obvious signs a woman was sending him. The sudden tightening of his chest was a reminder of the heavy cost he’d paid for not having paid closer attention to the warnings of his heart.
Spend the day with her, and just roll with it. No pressure.
“Let’s discuss our agreement at another time. We really should be going. Our first visit is only a short walk from here, but I’d hate to be late,” said Sophie.
They would be walking. After the long flight from the US, Liam was keen to get out and stretch his legs. “How cold is it outside?” he asked.
“It’s three degrees Celsius. I’ve no idea what that is in your terms, but it is cold. When I drove in from home just now, there was black ice on some sections of the road. The traffic getting onto the A13 was super slow. You should put something on your feet with decent traction—I’d hate for you to slip.”
Liam chuckled softly. “I’m from New Jersey. There was snow on the ground when I left my apartment yesterday. Let me go grab my boots, and jacket.”
Sophie was embarrassed. Of course Liam would know how to dress for the winter. He was from the other side of the North Atlantic, not from the bottom of the world.
When he returned, he was dressed in a navy blue puffer jacket and had on a pair of dark brown hiking boots. With his camera strap slung over his shoulder Liam looked the epitome of a world travelling photographer.
His morning stubble which completed the rugged and sexy look, had her mind racing back to the morning he’d rolled out of her hotel bed. Bed mussed Liam was a thing of masculine beauty.
The things they had done as they tangled in the sheets. It was going to take some effort to keep her thoughts from straying to those hot memories.
“After we have been to the Musée Yves Saint Laurent, I thought we could go to the Palais de Tokyo. The Palais is where many of the fashion shows are held during the Paris Fashion, and Haute Couture weeks. Then we can move onto the design houses of Givenchy and Balmain, which are both a short walk from the Palais. Then finally Dior. And eventually back here.”
Liam’s eyes grew wide as she rattled off the list of places she had planned for them to visit. “That’s a big day,” he mused.
Now that he mentioned it, yes it was a full itinerary. But in the run up to fashion week, she’d expect to visit ten or more different places on any given day, and not think twice about it.
