Page 44 of Sparks Fly
Especially when I have a beautiful auburn-haired lady sitting mere inches from me. She peeks over at me occasionally and I try not to look back because I fear if I do, I’ll never look away again, so I lock my gaze on reading the black ink that blurs before me.
Dressed in smart chino shorts,a polo, and loafers, I wait in the hallway for Anaïs. The sound of her bedroom door opening has me watching in that direction and I grind my back teeth down when I see her walking towards me.
Her hair is in a French braid, cheeks pink, lips subtle red, and eyes so bright I can’t focus on anything but them.
“Sorry, couldn’t decide what to wear.” She shrugs and I give her a nod.
She is dressed in a burnt orange sun dress, tanned wedges and large Gucci sunglasses pushed onto her head. A large bag is swung over her shoulder, and I know she most likely has everything she needs for her vlogging in there.
“Not a problem. You look beautiful.” The words spill out of my mouth without a thought, and she blinks at me numerous times, cheeks burning crimson under her skin.
Running my hand through my thick hair, my tongue suddenly feels too big for my mouth.
“Shall we?” Her voice floats through me like angels singing.
I nod like a damn fool, too worried to speak in case I stammer over more words I shouldn’t be speaking, so I nod, again. She leads the way, and I swipe my phone and key card from the side as I do. The ride in the lift is quiet; my brain is still reeling over what happened.
So what, I said she looks beautiful. It was a compliment. I am allowed to say that… aren’t I?
Her fingers are curled tightly around her bag strap as she follows me out to the street. We greet Alexandre and she hovers waiting for my next move.
“Okay to walk?” I look down at her shoes and then towards the narrow path we will be taking.
“Yup.”
“Okay.” I smile, waving bye to Alexandre before we continue to walk. First, coffee and food. I was famished.
Chapter Ten
Anaïs
We sitin a small café calledLe Petit Café Robuchon, and I feel immensely hungry.
Creed orders himself a coffee and a pressed juice, I order the same but ask for a latte instead of an americano. The waiter leaves us for a while, and I feel the awkwardness of last night slip by.
“Have you got much planned before you go back home?” I ask Creed as I bring my coffee cup to my lips and take a mouthful, foam coating my lip and I watch his eyes fall to them. I quickly lick it away and giggle to myself.
“Not really. I have a few work bits, and I am hoping to meet up with Luke from Montcroix and go for dinner and drinks. A few of the CEOs are over, as well as team principals.”
“Sounds good.” I bob my head and place my coffee down.
“What about you?” he asks me, his fingers wrapped around his black coffee, teasing it against his lips.
I try my hardest to focus on his eyes. And not his mouth. Try not to think of what that mouth could do, that tongue… those lips.
“Work,” I blurt out a little too quickly and he blinks at me, cocking his head to the side. “And some sight-seeing, food,shopping.” I wave my hand in front of my trying to act cool when in fact I am not acting cool in the slightest.
“That sounds nice,” he says softly, taking a mouthful of his coffee.
He is very handsome. A little too handsome. Kind eyes, soft skin, stubble, sharp jaw line.
“Yeah, I just needed to get away, needed a little vacay.” I snort a laugh.
“Are you going anywhere else after Monaco?” he asks me, and I sigh.
“No idea, I should really go back home, throw myself back into some form of routine and new life, but at the moment, it all still feels a little too…”
He gives a heavy bob of his head.
