by Tracy Reed
“Are you sure about that?”
“Yes. If her mother knew, then maybe she wouldn’t be so against me.”
“Or, she could try and break you two up.”
“You make this sound like some modern day version of Romeo and Juliette. We aren’t talking about feuding families. We are talking about an overprotective mother.”
“If that’s the case, then you need to win over the mother.”
“How?”
“I don’t know, but it’s obvious she doesn’t like you. You need to find out why and deal with it. Could be, you remind of her an ex.”
I thought back to something my father wrote in his journal. I went to her parents and asked what they were looking for in a son-in-law. Could it be that simple? “I think you’re right. I’ll invite her to lunch.”
I picked up my phone and pressed the one number I needed to call before turning in for the evening. I stood in front of the window overlooking the city, waiting for the call to connect.
“Bonjour.” Her voice was soft and music to my ears. I love hearing her speak French. It’s very soothing and sexy.
“Bonsoir. I wanted to check on you before going to bed.”
“Merci.”
“How did things go after I took you home?”
“Can we not discuss it.”
“Pourquoi?”
“Parceque…”
“Pourquoi, parceque…?”
“Phillippe, s’il the plaît, I don’t want to…”
“Je suis désolé…I don’t want to upset you.” There was a long pause. “How do you feel about spending the afternoon with me? We can have brunch and visit some galleries, or we can take a drive and have a picnic.”
“I don’t recall seeing that in your calendar,” she teased.
“Funny. I just wrote it down.”
“Isn’t tomorrow your day with your mother and grandfather?”
“I can see them in the morning.”
“I don’t want you to change your plans just for me. It’s important that you see your family.”
“True, but spending time with you is just as important.”
“I’ll agree to a picnic on one condition.”
“Name it.”
“No talk about what happened today?”
Like I want to relive that disastrous meeting. “I can do that. Text me when you get home.”
“Okay. Bonne nuit.”
“Bonne nuit.” I pressed the button ending the call. I sat on the side of the bed staring at her face on the phone. She is definitely worth all the changes I’m making.
Chapter Twenty-Six
gabriella
* * *
“How was church today?”
Phillippe caught me off guard. I wiped my mouth and looked at him with a slight smile. “It was good.”
“What about your class?” He brushed my hair behind my ear. “You mean my Sunday school class?”
“Oui.”
“They were excited to see me.” I sipped my wine. “You remembered I teach Sunday school?”
“Of course. Come here.” I moved across the blanket to his side and he wrapped his arm around me. “I was thinking, what if I arranged for a private tour at a local artists loft or gallery?”
“What?”
“Or, better yet, maybe you could bring them to my office and show them my collection.”
“You would do that?”
“Oui. I want to share in the things that interest you. I am as passionate about art as you, and this is something we can do together.”
Let me talk with the parents, and I’ll let you know.” I kissed him. “Merci, bébé.” I nestled into his side. “How was your morning with your family?”
“It was good. We had a nice visit. My mother wants to know when she can meet you.”
“What did you say?”
“I told her it was too soon.”
“Merci.”
“You don’t want to meet my moth—-you know what, let’s not talk about parents and meetings. Agreed?”
“Agreed.”
He lifted my chin and kissed me. “There’s something I need to talk to you about.”
“What?” I placed a strawberry in his mouth and watched him chew. God, he has incredibly sexy lips. And those dimples.
“That’s good.” He swallowed and I kissed him. “Are you trying to distract me?”
I kissed him again. “Maybe.”
“Our work schedule is about to get crazier. In fact, we need to go to Seattle on Wednesday for a couple of days.”
“Okay.”
“There’s…one of the perks of your job, is an apartment in the city.”
“What?”
“One of the perks to being my assistant, is an apartment.”
“Is this another gift, because…”
He brushed the side of my arm. “No. I’m serious. It was set up way before I took the position. I think it was so the assistant would be available at a moment’s notice for the President.”
“I don’t…”
“Hear me out. If you stayed in the city, it would be a lot less stressful for you.”
“I’m not…”
“Yes, you are. I see it in your face. You’re fine the first couple of days, and as the week goes…I know the combination of the hours and the commute are getting to you.”
“It’s not like I’m driving. Marcos is…”
“He’s told me that before you leave the garage, you’re asleep.”
“Snitch.” I looked away and he turned my face back to him.
“He did the right thing by telling me. Why didn’t you tell me that it’s a little much for you?”
“It’s not, really. I mean, I don’t want to not see you, but on the nights we eat dinner and go back to the office, I’m…”
“That’s exactly why I want you to take the apartment. Not only will you get a little more rest, but it will allow us to see more of each other.”
“Where’s the apartment?”
“It’s a floor below mine.”
“I thought you said this wasn’t a gift?”
“It’s not.”
“What other employees live in the building?”
“Tony, Marcos, Gil and his wife, the pilots and the other flight crew, several of the vice-presidents and the corporate physician and head nurse.”
“Oh. I thought…”
“You thought what?”
“Never mind.” I smiled.
“We have an agreement. I’m not doing this so I can get you into bed.”
“I know. I just thought you were trying to give me…never mind.”
“Although, you’re staying in the apartment, you’re responsible for the monthly maintenance fee.”
“What?”
“Everyone staying in the building has a monthly maintenance fee based on the size of their apartment.”
“How much?”
“Meet with the manager and she’ll go over everything with you. If you agree to the terms, you can move in when we get back.”
“That soon?”
“Yes.” He kissed me. “I really think it would be the best thing for you work-wise and for our relationship.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Mon amour, if it makes you feel better, only stay there during the week, and go back to your parents on the weekend.”
“That’s an option.”
“But I hope you will make it a full-time arrangement. I really want to get to know you and…do you know the most time we spend together is when we are on the road?”
“That’s not true.”
“Yes, it is. I want to get to know you away from work.”
“Me, too.”
“Then it’s settled.”
“I guess we’re going to be neighbors.”
“Oui.”
* * *
phillippe
* * *
This is a good idea. That’s what I told myself before I called and arranged
this meeting. I repeated those words again after she confirmed our meeting, and I’ve been saying them every day since then. If Gabriella knew what I was doing, I think first, she would be angry, then she would be happy. I know how important it is to her that her mother and I get along, so I am going to do whatever I have to to give her what she wants.
I can do this, I can make this woman like me.
I pulled up to the curb, turned off the car and sat still. I tossed my head back, closed my eyes and did something that had now become my new normal. Father God, I hope I didn’t make a mistake requesting this meeting with Mrs. Townsend. I don’t know why there is so much animosity, but I really care about Gabriella. and I know how important it is to her that her mother and I get along. Please give me the right words to say, and help me to keep my cool. My father went through something similar and You helped him. I’m asking that you do the same thing for me. Amen.
I got out of the car, adjusted my clothes and closed the door. I walked around the car and headed up the walk way. I was right back where I was just a few days ago. I took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.
The door opened and there she was, my girlfriend’s mother. “Hello, Mrs. Townsend.”
“Hello, Phillippe.” She smiled. “Come in.”
We are already off to a much better start. “Thank you.”
I stepped inside and stood to the side waiting for her to lead the way. She closed the door and I followed her. I tried not to stare, but it was like watching Gabriella walk in front of me, with a little less wiggle in her hips. I wiped my forehead and tried pushing thoughts of Gabriella out of my mind as much as I could.
“I know you offered to meet in the city, but I thought we would be more comfortable with some privacy.”
“I agree.”
“Have a seat.” I pulled her chair out and helped her get seated. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” I walked over to the other chair and sat down.
“I thought we’d keep it simple.” I looked at the nice meal she had on the table…poached salmon, sautéed spinach and roasted potatoes.
“Thank you. It looks delicious. Gabriella said cooking is your therapy.”
“I never thought of it that way, but I guess she’s right.” She placed her napkin in her lap. “Before we start,” she bowed her head and said grace. Another thing I have grown accustomed to as a result of dining with Gabriella.
“Amen,” we said in unison.
“Help yourself.”
“Thank you.” I fixed my plate and I was able to get a couple of bites in before she started with the questions.
“Phillippe,” she wiped her mouth. “I’m glad you wanted to meet.”
“You are?”
“Yes, I owe you an apology for my behavior the other day.”
“Apology accepted.”
She put another forkful of food into her mouth and chewed. I followed her lead. She swallowed, wiped her mouth, and the main event started.
“With that said, I want to know what your end game is with my daughter?”
“Excuse me?”
“Why my child?”
I wiped my mouth. “Gabriella is not a child.”
“She’s my baby.”
“I’m not sure what it is you want me to say.”
“You’re a very mature, somewhat older man than my daughter.”
I think she just called me old. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I am not that much older than Gabriella.”
“Let’s put age aside. You’ve experienced life, and she’s just getting started.”
“I’m aware of that.” I sat up straighter. “Madame, I think I know what you want to know.”
“You do?”
“Yes. Gabriella and I are not sleeping together.”
“I know that.”
“Of course, she would probably tell you if we were.”
“Before meeting you, I would have said yes. However, I don’t think that’s so any more.”
“Excusez-moi?”
“That right there…the French.”
“Pardon. When I get excited or confused, I have a tendency to switch languages.”
“My daughter came back from her first trip to Paris and she’s speaking French, and looks like something out of a French movie. What did you do to her?”
“I didn’t do anything to her. All I did was expose her to my culture.”
“And that’s what scares me.”
“I’m trying to follow you, but I don’t know what you’re…”
“When my daughter told me she finally got her dream job, I was excited. Then she told me who she was going to be working for. I did what any other mother would do. I went to the internet, but I couldn’t find out anything about you. Why is that?”
Oh crap! She and Gabriella are more alike than I had imagined. I refrained from making any kind of movement. If she is as observant as I suspect, she would quickly read something into the slightest body change. “What do you want to know?”
“Who are you? How did you get here? And, why my daughter?”
“Is that it?”
“What’s going to happen to my daughter once you’ve grown tired of playing with her?”
That question hurt the most. I am not playing with Gabriella. I have a very large and expensive diamond ring in my safe that would answer that question. “I do not appreciate being insulted.”
“Insulted?”
“Oui…yes, in a matter of four simple questions, you have accused me of constructing a very sophisticated plan of seduction that will end in breaking your daughter’s heart, and her losing her job. Not to mention you have concocted some nefarious preconceived idea of what kind of man I am, and that I am only interested in taking Gabriella’s virginity.”
“I apologize if I insulted you, that wasn’t my intention.”
“I’m not so sure it wasn’t.”
“And yet, you haven’t answered any of my questions.”
I wiped my mouth, folded my napkin and placed it on the table next to my plate. “I am the only child of Francois and Elizabeth Marchant. I was born in Paris. Because my mother is American, my family divided our time between France and the United States. I earned both my undergraduate and graduate degrees from Stanford. I have never been married or engaged, and I do not have any children. Yes, I have been involved with a few women. However, that is in the past. I am dating your daughter because I like her. She is unlike any other woman I have ever met or been involved with. Her energy, honesty, compassion, zest for life and faith intrigue me. As for the details of our relationship, what goes on between Gabriella and myself, is none of yours or anyone else’s business. Not that it will assuage your concerns, I am not playing a game with your daughter. I am doing what any man with half a brain would do who met her. I am getting to know her.” I stood up and adjusted my jacket. “I would say it has been a pleasure. Unfortunately, the only thing that has been pleasant was the food. Thank you for lunch.” I started toward the door.
“So, how long have you been in love with my daughter?”
I stopped and turned around. She played her trump card, and asked the one question I wasn’t ready to answer.
* * *
vivian camille townsend
* * *
The way Phillippe read me answered every question I had about him and his relationship with Gabriella. As hard as it was for me to believe, this young man was in love with my daughter, and prepared to do something about it.
I was fine when it seemed like Gabby’s infatuation was one sided. But looking at the reaction on Phillippe’s face confirms what I have long suspected. This isn’t an infatuation, but love. Oh crap! What’s even worse, my sister might be right.
* * *
The End
About the Author
A California native, novelist Tracy Reed pushes the boundaries of her Christian foundation with her sometimes racy and often fiery tales.
After years of living in the Big Apple, this se
lf proclaimed New Yorker draws from the city's imagination, intrigue, and inspiration to cultivate characters and plot lines who breathe life to the words on every page.
Tracy's passion for beautiful fashion and beautiful men direct her vivid creative power towards not only novels, but short stories, poetry, and podcasts. With something for every attention span.
Tracy Reed’s ability to capture an audience is unmatched. Her body of work has been described as a host of stimulating adventures and invigoration expression.
For more information
www.readtracyreed.com
[email protected]
Also by Tracy Reed
Generational Curse
Intentional Curse
The Alex Chronicles: Girlfriends & Secrets
The Alex Chronicles: What My Friends Don’t Know
The Alex Chronicles: What My Friends Need To Know
The Good Girl Part One
The Good Girl Part Deux
Love Notes…Words For Lovers
The Fix Up
The Fling
Tease
Miss Match
The Night I Fell In Love
A Southern Gentleman
First Encounters of Love
God’s Bombshell
Unexpected Love
For a complete listing of Tracy Reed books, visit
www.readtracyreed.com
Thank You
Thank you for reading FALLING FOR HER BOSS! I hope you enjoyed spending a little time with Gabriella and Phillippe.
In the mood for something a little spicer, check out DESPERATE DESIRE.
Corianne Abernathy never envied her older sister Kyla until she got married. Prior to her marriage, Corianne secretly referred to her sister as the family tramp. Now they were equals. Both married to successful men. Only difference, Kyla knew where her husband spent his nights and Corianne didn’t.
After two years of being a desperate, lonely housewife, Corianne is about to take matters into her own hands courtesy of a distraction from her husband.