French Escape: From Daredevil to Devoted Daddy / One Week with the French Tycoon / It Happened in Paris...

CHAPTER SEVEN

JEANNE-MARIE prepared a thick soup and crusty bread for their dinner. By the time dinner was ready, Alexandre was in a better mood, but still impatient to see Matt. For that matter, so was she. She hoped it didn’t show as much as it did with Alexandre.

“Tomorrow you’re going to your grandparents’ house for the night,” she said as she set the small table in the alcove for their dinner.

“Can I take my cars?”

“Of course. Your grandfather will want to see them race side by side.”

“Maybe we can go climbing. Do you think Matt would take me again? “

“Maybe.” She wouldn’t mind trying it herself again, as long as it was with Matt. Who would ever think she’d find anything redeeming in climbing rocks?

“Matt!” Alexandre scooped up his cars and ran to the kitchen doorway. “We builded a ramp and our cars went really fast.” He hugged the man’s leg and looked up at him, his eyes shining.

Jeanne-Marie looked as well, wondering if she had that same look of adoration her son wore.

“Fantastic, I want to hear all about it,” Matt said, stooping to be on eye level with Alexandre. “Did yours win?”

“Yes. But Mama said next time maybe Pierre’s will win. But mine’s really fast.”

“Life is not always about winning, but it’s great when we do,” Matt replied, his gaze moving to Jeanne-Marie.

“We’re having soup and bread for dinner,” she said. “There’s plenty if you want to eat with us.” She held her breath, hoping he’d say yes.

The faint flush of color on her cheeks could have been from the stove’s heat, or it could mean something else. Matt nodded and rose, walking with Alexandre to the small square table, three chairs on three sides and the fourth side pressed to the wall beneath the window that overlooked the garden.

In only moments, Jeanne-Marie had served them all and sat down opposite Matt, Alexandre in the center.

The boy talked as fast as he could until his mother said, “Enough. Eat before the soup gets cold. Then you can finish telling Matt about your racing adventures.”

Alexandre scowled but picked up his spoon. “But Matt needs to hear.”

“When you’re done eating,” Matt said. He looked at Jeanne-Marie. “Are you full again? I heard people climbing up and down the stairs.”

“More than full. One couple has a baby they didn’t tell me about. I hope it doesn’t cry in the night.”

“Do you not let rooms to babies?” Matt asked.

Jeanne-Marie nodded, watching to see if he liked the meal. The soup had been simmering all afternoon, so thick with vegetables and beef it was almost a stew. The fresh, crusty bread had been made that morning. It was a simple meal, but one she took pride in. He seemed to like it.

“If I know in advance, I usually give families with small children the end room above the kitchen. There’s a small storage room separating it from other rooms in the back, so crying babies aren’t so noticeable. But they have the room smack in the center of the front, flanked by two other rooms.” She shrugged. “I’ll have a better idea if it’s going to work by tomorrow. Here’s hoping the baby sleeps through the night.”

“I’m all done,” Alexandre said, tipping his bowl slightly so his mother could see it was empty. “Now can I talk?”

Matt smiled at his impatience. Just like Etienne had been. He flicked a glance at Jeanne-Marie, raising an eyebrow in silent question.

She nodded solemnly. “Now you may talk.”

“I have to go to my grandparents’ tomorrow,” he said, almost bouncing in his chair. “Will you still be here when I get back? We could walk along the beach again. Or I could go climbing with you,” he ended hopefully.

“Yes, Matt will be here when you get back,” Jeanne-Marie said.

“You’ll have fun at your grandparents’, right?” Matt asked.

“Sure, we’ll go have ice cream and play in the park and watch movies on television. They have a television. We don’t. Do you have a television?”

“I do.”

Alexandre’s eyes widened. “That’s cool. I wish we had a television.”

“Think what a treat it is when you go to your grandparents’,” his mother said.

“She says I look like my dad,” he told Matt.

He looked up at Jeanne-Marie, a question in his eyes.

“He looks a lot like Phillipe did at that age from the pictures I’ve seen. I’m sure Adrienne is constantly reminded.” She looked at her son and Matt knew she was constantly reminded of her husband as well when she looked at him.

Which was worse, to have purged his house of reminders or to be constantly reminded by just looking at her son?

“Maybe they can take me to ride horses so I can learn. Then I can come visit you, Matt, and ride your horses.”

“Maybe.”

Jeanne-Marie threw him a look that was difficult to interpret.

“What?”

“We’re not coming to visit, so don’t raise his hopes.”

“You’d be welcome,” he said. Thinking about it for a moment, he realized he’d like to have her and her son come to see where he lived, where he worked. What would they think of his family’s enterprise?

“Do you want some more soup?” she asked, clearly changing the subject.

“Yes. And more of that delicious bread.”

After dinner Matt suggested a walk along the beach. While he saw no benefit from lying in the broiling sun all day, he did like being by the sea. The air was fresh and invigorating. She wouldn’t go without her son, which suited him. Matt was surprised to realize he enjoyed Alexandre’s company.

“A short walk, perhaps. We have to get ready for Alexandre’s trip,” she said, hesitating.

“Instead of going later, shall we leave in the morning and have lunch together in Marseilles before dropping Alexandre off at his grandparents’?” Matt asked.

Alexandre looked at him. “Are you going to Marseilles, too?”

“I’m driving you to your grandparents’ place,” Matt said.

“Yea!” Alexandre danced around. “And will you pick me up, too? “

“If it’s okay with your mother.” And with that, Jeanne-Marie knew nothing could be better.

“We need to return soon so Alexandre can take a bath before bed,” she said an hour later when they reached the marina. Twilight was near. It would take a while to walk back along the curving beach to get to the inn.

“If I swim in the sea I wouldn’t need to take a bath,” the little boy said, running ahead, then running back to be with them.

“Would you read me a story tonight?” he asked Matt, slipping his hand into the man’s larger one.

It was startling. The child was without pretension. He said whatever came into his mind. Holding his hand, Matt was swept away with a feeling of protectiveness toward the little boy. How unfair life had been, losing his father when so young. Who would teach him how to be a man?

The sun had set only moments before. Twilight afforded plenty of light to see. The soft murmur of wavelets against the sand was soothing. Stars had not yet appeared but undoubtedly would before they reached the inn.

With Alexandre between them, each holding one of his hands, Matt thought how like a family they must appear. The thought came more and more frequently. He railed against it. He was on holiday. That was all.

Looking over at Jeanne-Marie, he was struck by her air of serenity. Content with her life, happy with her child, she cast a spell over him. He wanted that serenity, that contentment.

“Can we go swimming after dark?” Alexandre asked as they approached the inn.

“Not safe,” his mother replied.

“Not dangerous, either. It could be fun,” Matt said. He’d love to go swimming with Jeanne-Marie, to see her sleek body in a swimsuit, to touch her, to kiss her again. To feel her body against his, skin to skin.

He took a breath and shook his head trying to dislodge the images.

She looked dubious. “Maybe.”

“Can we?” Alexandre was thrilled at the thought.

Matt looked at Jeanne-Marie. “Why not?” He could think of a dozen reasons to go, all starting with his motivation for the swim.

“Okay, let’s do it.”

“Yippee!” Alexandre yelled and took off running for the inn.

In less than ten minutes they had changed and were at the water’s edge. Suddenly shy, Jeanne-Marie hesitated to take off her cover-up. The swimsuit she wore was the one she wore all the time. It maintained her modesty, but she felt exposed wearing it in front of him. She knew she was self-conscious because of Matt. Good heavens, it was almost pitch-dark out.

“Hurry, Mama,” Alexandre called, already up to his knees in the water.

“Last one in’s a rotten egg,” Matt murmured, dropping his towel and walking toward Alexandre.

In one movement, she drew off her top, dropped it and ran by Matt, splashing into the water seconds before he did.

She kept going until the water was up to her waist.

“Wait for me, Mama.”

Alexandre swam out to her and grabbed hold of her shoulders. “This is fun.”

There was enough light now from the stars and the establishments along the shore to give some visibility. It was an adventure, however, to find the water so dark. Normally it was as clear as crystal with the bottom clearly visible.

Matt walked over. “Refreshing.”

“Cold, you mean,” she said. It was cool, but pleasant. And the delight of her son made it well worth it.

“Since he can swim, why don’t we paddle a little out and then back?”

“Okay.”

“I want to swim next to Matt,” Alexandre said.

Me, too, was Jeanne-Marie’s immediate thought.

They swam a short way, and because of the gentle slope Matt could stand when they stopped. Alexandre clung to him while Jeanne-Marie trod water beside him.

“If you get tired, you can grab hold of me,” he offered.

She was tempted.

“It’s scary out here,” Alexandre said, looking around.

“No different from being here in the daytime except we can’t see,” Matt said.

Jeanne-Marie brushed against Matt’s arm as she was moving around. He caught her and pulled her close. Resting her hand on his shoulder, she felt the warmth of his skin even though the water had cooled the surface.

Clinging, she smiled at her son.

“We’ve never done this before, have we?” She dared not look at Matt for fear she’d forget Alexandre was here and be caught up in Matt’s spell. Would he kiss her again?

“I want to go back,” Alexandre said.

When Matt put his arm around Jeanne-Marie’s waist, she gasped. He drew her against his sleek body, the cooling effect of the water evaporating. She stared at him, wishing she could see him better. Her heart pounded as every inch of her became attuned to him. Heat matched heat and had her aware of him like never before. Her hands skimmed against his bare chest, feeling the muscles, his skin heating when she rested her palm against him.

For a moment she wished Alexandre was home in bed and just she and Matt were swimming in the darkened sea. Touching, kissing.

“We should go back,” she said in a low voice. If it had been the two of them, she knew nothing would have stopped kisses and caresses.

So slowly she knew it was an effort, he released her, trailing his fingertips across her bare back, sending shivers up her spine.

“Race you, Alexandre,” she said to cover her confusion. In a moment she was splashed by the little boy’s wild swimming technique. This was her reality.

When they reached the shore, Matt right beside them, Alexandre ran onto the sand. “I beat!” He danced around and laughed. “That was fun!”

As Jeanne-Marie slowly climbed out of the water, heading for her towel, she could feel Matt’s gaze on her and wished she dared turn around to feast her eyes on him. A spotlight on the beach would have been perfect. But first things first. She had her son to think about.

“No warm sun to dry us off,” Matt commented, standing near her, watching her as she toweled off her body. She glanced his way, captivated by what she could see of his broad chest and muscular arms. He needed a lot of upper body strength to lift his body by his hands on climbs. She wished she had the courage to reach out and feel that strength. She looked away, yearnings firmly squashed.

“Can we do that again?” Alexandre asked.

“Not tonight. Time you got to bed. Tomorrow will be a big day,” she said, pulling on the short cover-up. She wrung water from her hair and then looked at Matt again, vaguely disappointed he’d pulled on a T-shirt. So much for fantasies in the moonlight.

The next morning Alexandre bounced on the backseat of Matt’s car. He seemed almost more excited to be in Matt’s car than about his visit. Going to Marseilles with Matt felt like a big adventure to her, so she could empathize with her son’s excitement. They’d deliver Alexandre to his grandparents after lunch and then she’d spend the rest of the afternoon and evening with Matt. Anticipation built. She wanted to rein it in, but no matter how much she tried, she couldn’t squelch her excitement.

It was not a date. Not precisely. They’d have Alexandre with them for part of the day. It was the kindness of a guest to his hostess.

She didn’t believe that for one second.

After lunch at a family-style restaurant, they arrived at the small home on the outskirts of town where the senior Rousseaus lived. Matt parked in front.

“Shall I carry his bag in?” he asked, turning slightly in the seat to look at the house.

“No. I’ll just be a minute,” Jeanne-Marie said. She could just imagine what spin Adrienne would put on seeing her with Matt. She didn’t want to force her into acting like a gracious hostess. She’d deliver Alexandre and let his grandparents spoil him. While she went on her own adventure. “Tell Matt goodbye.”

In seconds she took her son’s hand and headed up the short walkway to the front door. She rang the bell. When she and Phillipe came to visit, he’d always walked right in, but she didn’t feel comfortable doing that, though the Rousseaus had told her time and again she didn’t need to stand on ceremony.

“Ah, Alexandre, you’re here!” Adrienne threw open the door and greeted her grandson with a bright smile and big hug. “I thought you might be here earlier. I called the inn to get an exact time and your clerk said you’d already left.”

“We ate lunch with Matt,” Alexandre said, turning to wave at the car.

Adrienne looked beyond them to the car, her smile fading. “I see. I thought he was a guest at the inn.” She looked at Jeanne-Marie with worry in her eyes.

“He is. He offered to drive us here today. He has a friend in Marseilles also vacationing,” Jeanne-Marie said, feeling guilty.

“So you don’t wish to come in,” Adrienne said.

“I don’t think I should keep him waiting,” Jeanne-Marie said. This was more awkward than she’d anticipated. What if Adrienne thought she was dating again?

In a way she was.

Her mother-in-law looked at the car again and then shook her head. “Well, we’ve planned such fun things to do, Alexandre. If your mother’s made other plans, we need to tell her goodbye.”

Jeanne-Marie looked at her closely. “It’s not a date,” she said, not wanting to hurt her mother-in-law. She did, however, have the right to see anyone she wished. And if she did start dating again, it didn’t mean she’d ever forget Phillipe.

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