Page 37 of The Paris Roommates: Dean
“You should enter a barista competition, Madison.” He extended the cup so the others could see her handiwork, inciting more laughter. “I’m never going to tolerate a mere heart in my café again.”
“That’s a pretty good ass,” Sawyer said, peering way too closely at his café. “Madison, are you sure you don’t draw?”
“I plate food for a living, Sawyer,” she told him, gesturing to the kitchen. “Nothing artistic beyond that.”
“I think it’s a really great-looking butt too,” Thea said, practically blushing. “You underestimate yourself.”
“Fifth Course always has,” Nanine said, “and I agree on it having an uncanny resemblance to the word of the day.”
Yeah, even Nanine was smirking.
Dean drank the café and licked his lips slowly. “Delicious.”
“Délicieux.”Pierre gave another cackle.
“Gross, Dean,” Kyle said as Madison and Sawyer snickered.
“Sorry, Nanine,” Dean said, blowing her a kiss. “I hope my uncouth friends haven’t offended you.”
“Unlike some, I actually knew what a booty call was in French,” she said with a mysterious grin.
Sawyer slapped his hands over his ears. “I’m not sure I want to hear this.”
“I say ‘you go, girl,’” Brooke added with a smile. “Dean, we’ve had more calls about the restaurant after your post went viral than we did after the article inLe Monde. One British man asked if Pierre might be called upon to sayun plan culagain when he brings his girlfriend to the restaurant. They want a video.”
“You didn’t tell me that,” Kyle said, rubbing his forehead with a groan. “We’ve created a monster.”
“The Michelin gods won’t like the theatrics,” Madison said with a frown.
“Maybe, maybe not,” Nanine commented.
The happy train was heading into negative town fast, so Dean punted. “Hey, Jean Luc.Broooo…How’d you get that cut near your eye? You didn’t ding yourself trying to put on those designer sunglasses of yours, did you?”
Mr. Pinstripes’ lips twitched, but it was Thea’s sharp intake of breath as she swung her head to look at him that had Dean’s radar going up.
“I fell in the kitchen,” he said blandly.
But Thea was wringing her hands. Suddenly the others were all exchanging looks. He had to do it. The opportunity was too good to pass up. “You two didn’t fall to the kitchen floor together, did you?”
Thea’s cheeks went red in zero to sixty. “Of course not!” she protested.
“Thea, I love you,” Brooke said, pointing her finger at her, “but you’re a terrible liar. If you and Jean Luc had a sex accident in the kitchen, I’m buying you a new pair of shoes. Your choice. I’m so proud of you!”
“Again, not sure I want to hear this,” Sawyer ground out.
“I believe I will leave you to this subject,” Nanine said with a quiet laugh as she walked out.
“Oh my gosh!” Thea exclaimed, holding her hot cheeks. “I can’t believe you went there. It was a misunderstanding. Like theplan culthing. I thought Jean Luc said he was dropping to the ground…”
“She cannot keep her hands off me,” Jean Luc said matter-of-factly, taking her hand. “That is all you need to know, Dean.”
They stared at each other for a long moment while the rest of the roommates went quiet. Huh. Jean Luc was drawing a line and insisting on discretion—so French of him. “Fine. Let me know if your mother buys that story when you see her next.”
Thea groaned, but Jean Luc put his arm around her and whispered into her ear, making her flush even more.
“I’m never going to live this down,” she whispered.
“Now you know how I feel,” Dean said, opening his arms. “Best own it. I mean, who knew Jacqueline would find it that funny? On the plus side, she did agree to go out with me again. On a real date! But before you ask, we didn’t talk about the cave. The conversation wasn’t what you would call broad and encompassing. But the lovely Jacqueline did enjoy the food. The bread was a hit, no surprise. Thank you, Thea. But I have to say I was a little shocked to discover a surprise addition in the basket. Madison?”
