Page 74 of Craved

I set down the wineglass to take his hands. We air-kissed each other’s cheeks, European-style.

“Happy birthday, my dear.” He pressed my fingers and released them.

“Thank you.”

“My felicitations. I hear you’re taking a mate.”

My nape tightened. “Nothing’s been decided.”

“No? But Victorine said you and Étan are—”

“Did she? Perhaps she misunderstood. As I said, nothing’s been decided.”

“Ah.”

I formed my mouth into a flirtatious smile. “You’re not mated, are you?”

He didn’t want me in that way and we both knew it, but it was never a bad idea to stroke Philippe’s ego.

He chuckled. “You tempt me.” He glanced at Aubin. “Leave us.”

The butler nodded and left, closing the door behind him. I winced inwardly. Rafe wasn’t going to be happy about being left on the other side of the door.

Philippe drew me to a silk brocade sofa and sat down nearby. “Is Victorine pressuring you? I can speak to her for you.”

“No, no.” The last thing I wanted was for Philippe to contact Victorine. “Everything’s fine.”

He nodded and laid an arm along the sofa back. “So, what brings you to Paris? You must have boarded a plane the moment the ball ended.”

“Not really. I arrived last night.”

“You came alone?”

I darted a look at him. Why all the questions?

But he gave me a relaxed, just-making-conversation smile.

“Yes,” I said.

“Except for Jean-Michel, of course.”

“Of course.” A wary tingle touched my spine, like an unseen trap was closing around me. I got to my feet and retrieved my blood-wine.

Philippe crossed one leg over the other and watched me, still relaxed. But it was starting to feel like the stillness of a tiger about to pounce.

I sipped my wine and told myself not to be so jumpy. “No party tonight?”

“I have a few people coming in. You’ll stay?”

“I’d love to. But—” I indicated my T-shirt and jeans—“I’m not dressed for a party.”

“I’m sure Aubin can find you something in your size.”

That’s what I’d hoped he’d say. It would give me a chance to sneak into the lowest level.

“Then, of course. Anyone I know?”

“A young pianist, very talented. Five or six others. They should be here in a few minutes. I wanted some time alone with you first.”

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