One Night in Provence Page 3

  “It was.”

  And what if she’d said yes to his dinner invitation? How long would he have carried on the masquerade? Through the meal? Later? “Well, bully for you.”

  “Jenna, wait. I’m not explaining myself well. You think I was playing a game.”

  “Weren’t you?” Her eyes traveled to where he’d caught her hand as she tried to turn away. The gold signet ring on his little finger gleamed against his tanned skin. Ten to one that was a d’Usay family crest engraved on it. She felt like such an idiot.

  “Not the way you think. I did not intentionally mean to mislead you.”

  Jenna raised a brow.

  “All right, it was intentional, but it wasn’t malicious. I told you, everyone in the valley knows who I am. When I realized you didn’t recognize me, it was a chance for me to be simply Philippe, without all the baggage that comes with being a d’Usay.”

  Sure, and Jenna had a Roman bridge she wanted to sell him. The man wasn’t even trying to look apologetic. His eyes twinkled with amusement.

  “You don’t really expect me to believe that line, do you?” she asked.

  The dimples appeared. “It was worth a shot.”

  Of all the... She should be annoyed by the deception. She should be insulted. In fact, she should be a lot of things. Smiling was not one of them. But darn if she couldn’t help catching his good humor.

  “Didn’t anyone ever tell you it’s not nice to lie?” she said.

  “Would you have believed me if I told the truth?”

  That he used to own the castle? No, she would have told him to get lost, because no one owned castles.

  “I rest my case,” he said after she answered. “And then you and I would not have had the opportunity to spend time together. So in the end, my lie of omission was a good thing.”

  “I’m not sure I’d use the word good,” Jenna replied. It was meant to be a grumble, but the corners of her mouth insisted on curving upward.

  “But not entirely bad, either, no?”

  Much as she hated to admit it, he was right. “No, not entirely bad.”

  “Merci, ma chère.” He smiled down through his lashes, the purple a dash darker than before.

  That’s when Jenna realized they were still holding hands. Lightly, but Philippe’s grip had enough firmness to cause a flutter of awareness. Warmth spread to her cheeks.

  “Could I...?” She dropped her gaze down to their hands.

  “But of course.” He released her, stuffing his hands into his back pockets. Her palm suddenly feeling naked, Jenna had to settle for running a hand over the back of her hair.

  “Now, tell me,” he said. “What is it that has you running out of my house in the middle of your tour?”

  Her headache. In her surprise, she’d nearly forgotten the reason she was sneaking away from the tour in the first place. “I wasn’t running,” she told him. “I was heading to the gift shop in search of water and aspirin. No offense, but your lavender gave me a headache.”

  “None taken,” he replied. “The aroma can be overpowering if you are not used to it. But there’s no need to go all the way to the gift shop. Come with me.”

  “Where are we going?” She glanced over her shoulder. Philippe was guiding her past the stairs to a corridor, the end of which was also blocked by a velvet rope.

  “To the kitchen to get you a glass of water,” he said.

  “But...my tour.”

  “Will carry on without you,” he said. “I will make sure you meet up with them in time to return to the hotel.”

  She glanced over her shoulder. The group must have moved to another room; she could no longer hear the guide’s chirp. “Aspirin and water. No more.”

  “Absolutely, ma chère,” he replied. “You have my word.”

  Said the man who’d already misled her once. Apparently Jenna had left her common sense in America, because she followed him anyway.

  * * *

  The kitchen was out of a French countryside fantasy. Big and airy, with an abundance of copper pots and pans. There was a battered butcher-block table and gleaming stainless steel appliances. The stove alone, Jenna decided, would eat up her entire kitchen back home.

  The air smelled of fresh bread and lemons. A wonderful change from the floral notes she’d been breathing all morning. “Were you baking?” she asked.

  “That would be the fougasse. My housekeeper, Henrietta, makes a point of baking it whenever I visit the house. Would you care for some?”

  “Depends. What is it?”

  “Only a slice of heaven wrapped in a golden crust,” he said with a laugh. “Sit down and I will get you your aspirin. Henrietta keeps a bottle in the cupboard.”

  Jenna did as she was told, settling herself on the bench while Philippe opened and closed cabinet doors. A part of her still couldn’t quite believe he owned the château, despite his obvious comfort with the surroundings.

  “Do you come here often?” she asked. The corniness of her question struck her, and she nearly rolled her eyes at her own lameness. “I meant the house. The guide mentioned that you don’t live here full-time.”

  “She is correct. I have an apartment in Arles, near our executive offices.”

  “I’m surprised.”

  “Success! It was with the spices.” He held up a bottle of white tablets. Taking the bottle, Jenna saw the label read aspirine.

  “Why are you surprised?” he asked.

  “Considering how poetic you were about the countryside yesterday, I would have thought you’d spend as much time here as possible.”

  “I also appreciate a fine Beaujolais, but I would get bored drinking it every evening. I much prefer the variety of the city. One can only sit around and listen to the drone of the bees for so long.”

  He returned with a glass of ice water and an earthenware platter on which Jenna saw a flatbread sculpted to look like an ear of wheat. Sitting next to her, he immediately tore off a chunk and offered it to her. “I promise, you will not be disappointed.”

  “And if I am?”

  “Then you have no soul.”

  Jenna tasted the bread. The warm crust broke away to reveal a soft inside that tasted of rosemary and orange.

  “See? I told you,” he said, tearing off a piece for himself. “No one makes fougasse like Henrietta.”

  For a few moments, they ate in silence. Whether it was the aspirin or the change in aromas or both, Jenna could feel her headache receding. Food helped, too, just as Philippe suggested. Every so often she stole a look sideways to watch him. He didn’t eat the bread; he experienced it. His eyes would close and a contented smile would curl his lips upward as he savored each bite. The sight was almost as pleasurable as tasting the bread.

  A thought struck her. “Why were you certain we’d see each other again? When you were on the stairs, you said you knew we’d meet again.”

  He was in mid-savor when she asked her question, so he pried open one eye. “What can I say? I believe in fate. And...” A hint of pink crept into his cheeks. “I may have asked the front desk to call me when you signed up for the hotel excursion.”

  “What?” No wonder the girl at the desk kept smiling at her. She was in on the joke.

  “I did not want to take a chance on missing your visit. Tours come and go all day long.”

  “So you asked for advance information.”

  “I prefer to think of it as arranging for fate to be on my side.”

  Jenna narrowed her eyes. “You could have called my room and asked me.”

  “But that would have spoiled the surprise. And you were surprised, no?”

  “Hmm.” She continued to stare at him with narrowed eyes. Honest to God, she’d never heard of someone doing such a thing. Asking a clerk to tip him off. Certainly no one interested in her had ever gone to such lengths. “Y
ou’re incorrigible. You know that, right?”

  “Oui.”

  He leaned closer, the gap in his shirt treating her to a glimpse of the smooth skin beneath. “And you are flattered. I can see it in your eyes.”

  Jenna was flattered—immensely—but she wasn’t about to let him know. “How do you know it’s not amusement at your arrogance?”

  “Amusement doesn’t make a woman’s skin flush.”

  Flashing a smug smile, he sat back in his chair. “I am sorry about your headache. That was not part of my plan. Is it better?”

  “Getting there.”

  “Good. I’m glad. I forget how pungent the smell of lavender can be. When we were children, my brother Felix and I complained incessantly about the aroma.” While speaking, he reached for her glass. The ice clinked as he lifted it high for a drink.

  “You have a brother? Yesterday on the tour you said you were...” Jenna paused.

  “The last of the line? I am. My brother died of cancer several years ago.”

  He spoke with nonchalance, but Jenna caught a shadow in his eyes as he raised the glass to his lips for another drink.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “So am I. He was a good man.” He fell silent for a moment as a shadow darkened his features. Only for a moment, though. Jenna would have missed it altogether had she not been watching closely. “Let us talk about something more pleasant, shall we?”

  He’d made a similar request yesterday. It was obvious he didn’t like dwelling on his family. “What would you like to talk about?” she asked.

  “How about dinner? Clearly, since fate has reunited us, we are destined to enjoy a meal together.”

  “You mean fate and a front desk clerk.”

  “A technicality. I knew we were destined to share each other’s company as soon as I saw you on the terrace.”

  He was smooth. Charming, too. Much as she hated to admit it, Jenna enjoyed his company. He kept her on her toes. Dinner could be fun, as long as she kept her wits about her.

  “Well, a girl does have to eat,” she told him. “I might as well have some company.”

  He grinned like he’d won the lottery. “Ma chère, a woman needs to do more than eat. You need to experience French cuisine. Tonight, I shall make sure you have an experience you’ll never forget.”

  “We’ll see about that,” Jenna replied. “I don’t impress easily.”

  “Is that so? In that case...” He leaned in again, the purple in his eyes taking on a dangerously mischievous glint that made Jenna’s insides flutter in spite of herself. “I look forward to meeting your challenge.”

  * * *

  You know I was kidding about having a fling, right? All I meant was don’t be your usual picky self.

  I’m not having a fling; I’m having dinner.

  Despite what Philippe d’Usay might think, her “French experience” was beginning and ending with dinner.

  I don’t do flings, remember?

  You don’t do anything.

  That’s not true. I do plenty.

  Since when?

  Since...

  Jenna paused before hitting the backspace button. So it had been a while. Big deal. She was taking a dating hiatus. All the sweet talk and pretend interest in commitment that ended after a few weeks? Who needed it. She was trying to break her family pattern, not contribute to it.

  Excuse me for being selective.

  She leaned back against the headboard. Shirley’s thoughts didn’t need a phone for her to hear them. Her friend had given her the tough-love speech a half dozen times over the past couple years. You’re too picky. You never give anyone a chance. You rule guys out before you ever get a chance to know them.

  Maybe, Jenna thought, she was picky because she wanted more than a guy who claimed to want a relationship only to bail when he got bored. Of all people, Shirley should understand why.

  Her phone buzzed. Shirley had replied.

  This guy must be something if you are giving him the time of day.

  He’s okay.

  Actually, he was everything Jenna claimed to detest. A guy like Philippe wasn’t interested in depth. She wondered if he even knew what the word meant. And yet as bad an idea as the man was, he intrigued her in a way she hadn’t felt in a long, long time.

  After their conversation in the kitchen, Philippe had walked her through his back garden to the gift shop.

  “Until tonight,” he’d said, kissing her hand. Affected as all get-out, it still managed to set her entire arm aflame. The entire bus ride home, she found herself reliving the moment. If a kiss to the hand could set off her inner fireworks, she’d wondered, what would a real kiss do? Or...?

  Her phone buzzed.

  Just okay?

  Maybe a little more than okay.

  If her friend could only see him.

  In that case, you know what they say. What happens in France...

  Ha-ha.

  All I’m saying is keep an open mind. A little fun never hurt anyone. Remember, Beatrice wanted you to have an adventure.

  Somehow she didn’t think Beatrice meant falling into bed with a sexy stranger.

  Since when are you so invested in my sex life, anyway?

  Since I’m home with shingles and no one wants to come near me. One of us ought to have a good time.

  Jenna shook her head.

  Sorry, babe. You’re simply going to have to use your imagination.

  Killjoy.

  Yep. I’ve got to go get ready. TTYL.

  She exited the application before Shirley could respond with Do what I’d do or some other nonsensical words of encouragement.

  Tossing the phone on the bed beside her, Jenna stared at the black silk dress currently hanging on the door of her armoire. It was a simple wrap dress, modest by most standards. It was also the only fancy item she’d packed, since she hadn’t actually planned on any dating or dining alone in super-fancy restaurants. Was it fancy enough for wherever Philippe intended to take her? He’d said he’d pick her up at eight, but he hadn’t said where they were going.

  All of a sudden, Jenna felt nervous. She was being silly. What did she care whether her wardrobe was appropriate? Wasn’t as though any of the people in the restaurant would see her again. And it wasn’t as if she was trying to impress Philippe. Then again, she didn’t want to embarrass herself, either.

  “Clothes, schmothes,” Beatrice had said once. “Like anyone cares.” At the time, she’d been insisting on wearing her silk robe—just her silk robe—to the dining room. “I’ll have you know I ate naked once when I was in Bali.”

  Good old Beatrice, feisty and independent until the end. She didn’t care what people thought. Married thirty years to her partner in crime, she’d told Jenna. Until he wasn’t a partner anymore. Then she moved on. “No sense wasting your time on something that’s not working,” she’d said. What she would think of Philippe, Jenna could only imagine.

  Never trust a man who’s prettier than you, she immediately thought in Beatrice’s raspy voice.

  It was a good rule. Especially since Philippe was prettier than everyone.

  * * *

  Philippe entered the hotel early. Usually he didn’t pay attention to time, as the women he called on always kept him waiting. Instinct told him Jenna was the kind of woman who appreciated promptness. He chose not to think about the fact that he’d spent the last thirty minutes dressed and watching the clock.

  He smoothed the front of his dinner jacket. Funny, but he was actually anxious about the evening going well. He’d spent the entire afternoon planning the perfect dinner, which was one afternoon more than he’d spent planning any of his previous dates. Why bother when a table at the hottest club or restaurant would suffice? Tonight, however, required more. Mademoiselle Brown had a cynical streak, meaning she wouldn’t be easi
ly impressed. That required he put an effort into the evening.

  Which was good. Planning kept him from brooding, and he despised brooding. There was nothing he could do about the tragedies life dealt him. He hated that he was forever dodging a shadow of sadness. It was far better to distract oneself with living.

  Or a beautiful woman.

  Simon and Antoinette greeted him on his way to the elevator. He stopped to say hello, as he always did when visiting. They greeted him with their usual haughty stares.

  Did his ancestors approve of how he was running their empire? He’d like to think he was doing a good job, but he was also aware that he was never meant to be the one running D’Usay International. Felix was the one who’d been groomed to walk in their father’s footsteps, and they both left very large shoes. Philippe did the best he could, but there were times when he wondered if they would approve of the changes he’d made. The expansion. The move beyond French flowers. Were they staring down in disdain or relieved their empire would continue even when the company no longer had a d’Usay in charge?

  He supposed he wouldn’t know until it was all over for him.

  And there he went, thinking maudlin thoughts when he had a beautiful woman waiting upstairs.

  Considering what Jenna had worn on their previous two meetings, he expected to see her wearing something bright and touristy. The woman who opened the door, however, was gloriously sophisticated. His eyes skimmed her length appreciatively. The black cocktail dress was classically elegant, modest but revealing in all the right places. Arousal curled through him. “Tu es belle.”

  She smiled appreciatively. “I’m going to assume it was a compliment.”

  “It was. I said you look beautiful.”

  To her credit, she took the compliment in stride, without the faux modesty he’d come to expect from his dates. “Thank you.”

  “No, thank you.” He held out his arm. “Shall we?”

  “Where are we going?”

  So suspicious. He would definitely need to work if he wanted tonight to end successfully. The challenge was exactly what he needed.