Page 18 of Sparks Fly
I spin and give her a quick look up and down. Blonde. Blue eyes. Freckles. Mid-twenties, maybe?
“Just browsing.” I smile and turn my back to her.
“If you need anything…” She trails off and I glance at her over my shoulder.
“Thank you.” I continue looking through the romance section of the shop.
“Holiday?” She moves across the floor and leans against her counter, her eyes skimming over me.
“Kind of.” I turn to face her, my own eyes flitting. “Just needed a break from life,” I admit.
“Sorry to hear that.” Her voice is a whisper.
My eyes widen as I shake my head. “Please don’t be sorry. It’s a good thing… I think.” I laugh softly and she laughs with me. “I just needed a couple of weeks away and well, Monaco sounded perfect.”
That’s a lie, I didn’t choose Monaco. Nora did.
“Monaco is thebestplace,” she agrees, stepping towards me. Warmth radiates from her, and I know she has a good heart and a beautiful soul. Some people you meet you know that they’re going be just who you needed.
“Honestly, meant what I said.” She places her hand on the top of my arm. “If you need anything…” Her voice slips off for just a second before she continues. “Then please ask, or if you need a friend, or an ear…”
“Where’s a good place for lunch?” I give her a smirk, and I can see she’s a little taken a back by my question.
She stammers over her words for a moment before she steps back, tucking herself back behind the till. “All the places are pretty amazing.” She licks her lips, but her voice is small. “Are you fancying anything in particular?”
“Something light, maybe with a nice coffee… or a glass of wine.” My smile grows as I tighten the grip on my heavy tote bag. “A place where two people can chat about things and enjoy nice food.” I’m hoping she can sense that I would like her to come with me.
“I know just the place.” She wiggles her eyebrows and twists her wrist towards her to look at the time. “Care for some company?” she asks.
I mull over her question for a moment before the corner of my lips lift into a smile. “I would love some company,” I admit. Her grin widens as she skips towards the door and I laugh, dropping my face for a moment, my laugh fading into a smile.
She opens the door and I crinkle my nose, my brow furrowing. “What about…”
“It’s my shop, I can close for lunch.” She winks and swipes her bag from the hook, her eyes finding mine.
“I’m Rue.” Her blue eyes glisten like the Mediterranean ocean, and her steps bring her closer to me.
“I’m Anaïs.” I push my hand out and she shakes it.
“Nice to meet you.” She walks beside me as we move towards the exit of the small shop, her fingers twisting the open sign to closed before she locks up.
“Ditto,” she mumbles before slipping the keys into her bag and hooking her arm through mine. “I have a good feeling about you.” She gives a heavy nod as she leads me down the opposite end of the cobbled street and I follow her happily.
We sitdown at Cafè Milano, our table under the warm summer sun, the marina to our left. Rue orders us two coffees whilst we look over the menu.
“What are you thinking?” Her eyes pop up to look at me, and I twist my lips.
“I think I might go for a salad with some fries on the side.” I bob my head up and down.
“That sounds good. I might do the same.” She places her menu down and looks around for our waitress.
She begins to speak in French and asks for two Caesar salads and two sides of fries with a bottle of champagne. She passes the menu to the waitress and thanks her before her full attention is on me.
“So.” She places her elbows on the table and rests her chin on her hands. “Tell me about you. What brought you to Monaco?”
I suck in a breath.
Did I really want to offload? But then, maybe it would be good to speak to a stranger about it.
