Page 72 of The Paris Roommates: Dean
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
Her eyes lit up with the light from his lucky star, and she wrapped her arms around him in the most loving, tender embrace he’d ever had with a woman.
His heart, which he’d always considered open, seemed to expand even more. His chest was practically tingling with the energy flowing between them, and he felt again the sense that she was at the center of everything. That his “It” idea was tied to her, to the cave, to everything that was happening. It was like sensing snow in the air moments before a blizzard set in.
They continued to hold each other like that as the river rushed by. He didn’t want to move. Not even when another couple settled onto the ground a few yards off. She tunneled deeper into him, as if he was her favorite new den. Inhaling the citrusy scent of her shampoo along with the floral and musk notes from her perfume, he closed his eyes. His dream girl. His “It” idea.
Everything was clicking into place, so sure and strong he could have sworn he heard the key turning in the proverbial lock.
“I didn’t expect to feel this way when I came back to Paris,” she said softly. “I didn’t want to like you at first when I read that article inLe Mondeand saw Pierre with you, but you were kind to me and you made me laugh. You showed me you were good to your friends and to Pierre. That revealed your character to me. Before you have an affair of the heart, it is wise to take such qualities into account. When I have not considered them in the past, it ended badly. I did not want to repeat such a thing. It was a colossal waste of time and energy.”
An affair of the heart…
Yes, he thought, happy and relieved they were on the same page.
He tightened his arms around her. “My friends like to say my motto is breakups suck, which is why I don’t do them anymore. But when I saw you, I just knew you were my dream girl. Even though we’d only met. I go on how I feel, my instincts you might say, and I couldn’t ignore how I felt with you. Despite your initial reserve, which I found sexy.”
She drew back, a warm smile lighting her face as she traced his lips. “Sexy? You must have some French in you to think so.”
His rumble of laughter only added to the supercharged feeling in his chest. “I’d like to think I do, seeing as I love it here and plan to live here for a long time, maybe even the rest of my life.”
They both blinked. Had he just decided that? Yes, maybe so. He knew when something felt right, and this did. Why would he want to live anywhere else when everything he loved was here?
“You do?” she asked breathlessly. “I have to confess, I have not spoken much of San Francisco because I was not fond of it.”
He would pick that topic up another time. “Yeah. I mean, I hadn’t been thinking forever because I’m only thirty, but I have my roommates and Nanine here, and we have a new business that is taking off. Plus, now there’s you.”
He caressed her face, the lines more familiar, sexy, and dear to him with every day. The cave might complicate both their lives, but hearing how she felt made him believe they could work it all out. She couldn’t be very upset once she learned he’d planned to do exactly what she’d ended up asking of him, right?
“Are you planning to stay here for a while at least?” he asked.
She gestured to their view, the soft golden lights making the dark waters of the Seine look as if it were lined with golden ribbons. “I am, yes. I was born in Paris. I plan to die in Paris. I love it here—even after living around the world.”
“Die here, huh?” He shivered as cold trailed over his skin. “You French and your tragic streak. I don’t like to talk about such things. Especially when it comes to you.”
“We are practical. Death is part of life, is it not? There is no escaping it, so fighting its presence seems useless.”
He caressed the line of her back. “You’ll love talking with Sawyer. You two are going to get along. Speaking of…I was wondering if you would like to be my date to Thea’s thirtieth birthday party this weekend. She told me she wanted to include you.”
“She did? That’s very kind of her.”
“She’s the sweetest.” Although she had seemed a little nervous about the whole thing. “It’s a small gathering, which we’re having at her fiancé’s home here in Paris. His family is terrific, and I can’t talk enough about my roommates and Nanine. You’ll be made welcome, I promise. It won’t be one of those stiff and awkward parties where no one talks outside of their social circle.”
Jacqueline tilted her head to the side and regarded him. “How did you know I detest parties like that? That is why I like wine. It always talks to you, no matter who you are. But to answer your question, I would love to come. I am eager to spend more time with your friends.”
A wine whisperer? He should have guessed. “Sawyer would say something poetic about my heart knowing yours or something.”
A low murmur came from her before she touched her lips to his. “Perhaps he is right. Now it seems my body is eager to know yours as well. What does it say in response?”
He fought off a witty response about how his man parts were doing cartwheels because this was a serious step for her. For him too, he realized. “It says yes, of course. How does your body feel about hotel sex? Paris might be the best city in the world for it, but it will be my first time with such an experience so be gentle with me, okay?”
Her laughter rolled out as the wind gusted around them, the branch of the willow tree flying out and wrapping itself over her shoulder. “You will be attentive and humorous in bed. I could not be happier. So we are simply to show up at a hotel for the night? How scandalous!”
Her flirty wink had him flicking the willow branch off her shoulder and standing up slowly. He held out his hand and helped her stand. “Prepare to be deeply scandalized, then. Although I imagine this city has seen just about everything.”
She picked up the bottle and corked it, replacing it in her bag. “I will say this is my only baggage to keep our plans discreet.”
Any hotel staff worth its salt would see the passion dancing between them. He was going to have to control all thoughts of taking her clothes off. Okay, he had to stop right there, or he’d be in serious danger of walking around inappropriately. “Shall we call a cab and be off?”
