Page 44 of Coulda

“Really? We have to get ready if we’re going tomorrow. I don’t think I have the right clothes,” she worried. Pushing his shoulders away, she sat up to look at him.

“We can buy anything we need, Little girl. Unless you plan to go to L’Opera, I think you’ll be fine in jeans. A couple of nice dresses for dinner would be appropriate.”

Amber flung herself over Rio’s body to scatter kisses on his face. “I’m so excited.”

“I can tell, Ella. Shall we get up and make some plans?”

“Yes!”

Flinging the covers off, Amber instantly shivered as cool air enveloped her nude body. She dragged the sheet back over herself as Rio chuckled. “I usually wear pajamas.”

“I’ll keep that in mind when I tuck you in bed at night,” he promised, sitting up to pull her to his warmth. “Although I don’t mind having your skin next to mine all night.”

“I liked it, too,” she admitted before grinning at him. “Paris!”

“Let’s get up and order tickets before you explode, Amberella. I can’t wait to show you Paris.”

* * *

Three days later,Amber sat next to the most handsome man in the world at a café on the Champs-Elysées.

“Et voila, Madame,” the indulgent French waiter pronounced as he poured a large amount of rich cream into her coffee cup to create thegrande crèmethat she had become quite fond of already. Amber had been concerned that she wouldn’t be able to doll up her coffee with her customary four creamers and sugar, but leave it to the French to have the perfect concoction already, and for her Daddy to know what to order.

“Merci, infiniment,” Amber thanked him with her very limited French that Rio had taught her. She didn’t miss the glance he exchanged with her Daddy as he turned to leave.

“Don’t tell me… He’s a Daddy?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Quite possibly, Little girl. Or perhaps just a Frenchmen who appreciates beautiful women. This is the city of love after all.”

“Thank you for bringing me here. Paris is all I dreamed it would be.”

“I’m glad, Ella. I have enjoyed seeing it through your eyes.”

“What are we doing today, Rio?” Amber asked before changing the name to “Daddy?” when he looked at her sternly.

“I thought we’d visit the bar I worked at when I was here years ago after we head up there.” He pointed to a white building perched on a high hill. “Montmartre provides a gorgeous workspace for many artists.”

“Will we get to visit the Louvre?” she asked, leaning forward eagerly. “I want to see theMona Lisa.”

“Of course. I think we’ll see that tomorrow. Then, I’ll take you to a smaller museum I prefer. There are a couple of rooms there I know you’ll enjoy.”

“Really? More than theMona Lisa?” she asked.

“I think so,” he said with a small smile that made her expect he would be right. Even after years apart, Rio knew her at her core.

“I’ve been thinking about those plans you showed me on the way over,” she said hesitantly.

“Yes. Did you think of something we need to change?”

“Is there any way my playroom could be off the master bedroom?”

“You’d feel more comfortable having it be more private? Just for you and me to know about?” he asked.

Amber nodded and waited.

“I think that is a very good idea. I will ask the architect to put in an extra-large dressing area attached to our bedroom. I’ll send him a note today and ask him to revamp the floor plans to allow for that.”

“Can it have a window seat for me? I always dreamed of having one to sit and read in.”

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