Page 101 of Chloé

What does that mean?

She’d been planning to lounge around in front of the fireplace and do, well, not much until she went in to work later tonight. But it seemed that was off the table now that she had other plans. Plans that apparently involved her parents, and if she had to guess, a conversation about why she still hadn’t told them what she wanted to do about Paris.

The thing was, she knew what she wanted, had known all along. But being brave enough to take it?

She tipped her head back under the spray and closed her eyes, trying to push aside all the noise that had been in her head this week. Because when things went quiet, when she was sleeping, she was dreaming of Paris—and that was the answer. It always had been. Now she just had to be brave enough to follow through.

She got dressed and downstairs in record time, and when she stepped into the living room, she fully expected to see Ethan and Zayne in there with her fathers.

Instead, the room was empty, and it wasn’t until she looked outside that she saw her fathers sitting by the outdoor fireplace. Before heading out there, she quickly popped her head into the kitchen and Ethan’s office, and still there was no sight of him or Zayne.

Chloé frowned, and was about to head outside when she spotted Isla and hurried over to her.

“Morning, Isla.”

“Good morning, Chloé.”

“Have you seen Ethan or Zayne?”

“Yes, they left just a few minutes ago for a walk by the lake. Did you want me to call them?”

“No.” She shook her head. “That’s good. I was just checking.”

“No problem. Let me know if you or your fathers need anything.”

“I will, thank you.”

As Isla disappeared into another room, Chloé headed back to the doors that led outside knowing that Ethan and Zayne had left to give her some privacy.

That was what she loved most about them. They were always able to anticipate what she needed—and right now, she needed to talk to her fathers.

Chloé opened the door and stepped outside, and her fathers turned at her approach. Varying expressions of love and happiness crossed their features as they got to their feet and welcomed her with hugs and kisses enough to spare.

God, this is what had been making this decision so hard. The thought of being so far away from them.

“Bonjour, mon ange.”

“Bonjour, Papounet, Dad, Papa.”

They all sat down while Chloé poured herself a cup of coffee from the freshly brewed pot on the table.

“You haven’t been waiting too long, have you?”

“Not at all,” Dad said with a bright smile, then looked out at the gardens beyond. “But I’m not sure I would’ve cared if we had.”

“I agree,”Pèresaid. “We knew this estate was beautiful at night, but during the day it’s even more so.”

“I know. It’s so relaxing. Ethan’s office overlooks these gardens and the lake. I swear, I don’t know how he gets anything done.”

Papa patted the spot beside him, and she went over and took a seat. “We didn’t get here too early, did we?”

“No, I was just taking advantage of having nothing to do.”

“And we ruined it.”

She laughed and shook her head. “You know that’s not true. I love seeing you, and if you hadn’t come here, I probably would’ve tracked you down today anyway.”

“Oh?”