Just the mention of it reminded Dominic of his conversation about red wine with Nathalie. Everything reminded him of her. He couldn’t deal with any more pain. “I don’t know, Raoul. I’m lousy company.”
“I’ll take your lousy company over anyone else’s. Come on. We could use some noise and music.” They walked out to the car in the cooler night air. The beginning of the harvest had brought Nathalie with it. Now the grapey fragrance meant the harvest was almost at an end and the fruit was being turned into wine. The thought of it being over with her was untenable. He wanted her so badly, he was in agony.
Soon they arrived at the bistro where many of the Fontesquieu employees hung out. Unfortunately, Nathalie dominated his thoughts. His cousin had the right idea to keep him occupied until he went to bed. But nothing could be done about the empty nights.
“Tonight calls for a celebration.” Raoul called the waiter over. He ordered some tapas and their best rosé wine. Dominic had never seen him so jubilant. After such a tragic marriage, he understood his cousin’s euphoria. But he hoped the family wouldn’t get wind of anything until after the divorce was final. One word about Alain could bring new pain to Sabine and make things uglier.
In a few minutes their waiter came to the table with their order, but he also placed a small goblet of white wine in front of both of them.
Raoul shook his head. “I didn’t order this.”
“It’s compliments of la blonde exquise. She’s over at the bar.”
They both turned around. Dominic almost went into cardiac arrest to see Nathalie walk toward them in a filmy violet dress, holding a similar goblet. His gaze collided with the jewel green of hers.
“Welcome to the Guinguet, messieurs. I thought you might enjoy the special Guinguet wine made by the famous Fontesquieu family. I’m buying this evening. It’s an acquired taste to be enjoyed for a very important occasion. You two fine-looking specimens appear to be able to handle its unique flavor.”
She leaned over to click each of their goblets with hers. “Here’s to a harvest with unexpected bumper crops. Our family historians will be forced to add two new names to our family trees. Salut.”
“Nathalie!” Dominic cried as her words sank in.
She smiled into his eyes. “Drink up, mon amour.”
He watched her put the goblet to her lips before he had the presence of mind to drink his. For the first time in his life, the sour wine tasted like ambrosia.
* * *
With a secret glance, Nathalie wordlessly acknowledged Raoul’s departure from the bistro. Then she slid into the chair he’d just vacated. After she fed Dominic a tapa, she ate one. Suddenly Dominic reached across the small round table for her hands, grasping them for dear life.
“What happened since the last time you claimed you couldn’t be with me?”
“Your cousin spoke to my heart. He said there was a man out there who loved me body and soul. To quote him, ‘Don’t be afraid. Have faith in his love for you. If you don’t, that would be the real tragedy.’ I knew it was true and came as fast as I could to find you.”
Dominic’s black eyes burned with love for her. “Let’s get out of here. I need to hold you so I can believe this is really happening.”
He got up and pulled her to her feet. Still gripping her hand, he drew her through the crowd to the outside of the bistro. “Where’s your car?”
“Around the corner.”
“How did you know I was at the Guinguet?”
“I followed you and Raoul from the tour after I’d texted him earlier. He told me you would be there.”
A painful squeeze of her hand told her how happy that had made him. They were both out of breath when they reached the Peugeot. “Mind if I drive?”
“I want you to. I’m shaking too hard to get behind the wheel.”
Dominic helped her in, then hurried around and got in the driver’s seat. He had to adjust it to accommodate his long, powerful legs. She handed him the keys. Within seconds he’d started the engine and drove out to the street.
Nathalie didn’t care where they were going. She clung to his hand, dying to get in his arms and stay there. As he drove them to the heights of the city, she knew where they were going. The moon shone down on the beautiful site of the white villa surrounded by the dark cypress trees.
“I’ve bought the place, so it means we’re private here.”
“You already did?”
“Yes. No matter how long it took for you to come back to me, I wanted it for us.”
“Darling—”
He pulled into the driveway and drove up to the side of the villa. In the next breath, he turned off the car and reached for her. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting for this? I’m only going to say this once. We’ll adopt as many babies as we want when we decide it’s right. What matters is that we’ll be man and wife. Do you hear me?”
“Yes, darling.”
He lowered his mouth to hers in an explosion of needs they’d had to repress.
She moaned aloud. “Dominic... I love you so much you can’t imagine,” she cried, giving him kiss for kiss until they were devouring each other.
Time became meaningless as they attempted to appease their hunger, but the fire kept building. Over and over again their passion engulfed them. He was such a gorgeous man in every way, no amount of love she could shower on him would ever be enough. Every touch of his hands and mouth ignited her senses.
From the first moment she’d looked into his eyes at the interview, he’d brought her alive. Until then she’d been in a deep sleep, but no longer. He was the answer to her existence.
“You’re the most beautiful thing to come into my life, mon tresor,” he murmured, kissing her with abandon. “I’m so crazy in love with you, I don’t know how long I can wait for our marriage.”
“I feel the same way and never want to be apart from you again.”
He cupped her face in his hands. “Let’s have a wedding as soon as possible with your mother as witness.”
She fingered his luxuriant black hair. “What about your family?”
“I’m afraid we’ll have to leave them out of it. Tell me you understand.”
“Of course I do,” she cried without hesitation. Eleven years away from his family was explanation enough.
“You’re incredible,” he cried, kissing her with increasing hunger.
“Tomorrow I’ll tell Maman we’re getting married right away.”
“How about Sunday, four days from now?”
“If only we could.”
He kissed the base of her throat, then her mouth. “I know a justice of the peace whose funds I’ve managed on the side since my return from Paris. Andre Godin is now a wealthy man. When I ask him to marry us at your house, bypassing the usual waiting time, he’ll do it.”
She hugged him harder. “I’m convinced you can do anything you wonderful, wonderful man.” Nathalie could cry for joy over what was happening.
He gave her another long, hard kiss. “I’m thinking that while we furnish the villa, we’ll stay at a hotel in La Gaude so you’re close to Alain during the transition and can go on working at the pharmacy.”
“Maman will love that.”
“When Raoul’s divorce is final, we’ll have a big party for all our families and friends. Whether my family shows up or not will be up to them. After that we’ll take a honeymoon. For now it will be enough to be your husband.”
It sounded like heaven on earth. Beyond words, Nathalie covered his mouth with her own. Again they were lost in the thrill of knowing they would become one in just a few days. Nothing else mattered.
“I know you need to get home,” he eventually whispered against her lips. “I’ll drive us to the chateau for my car and follow you home.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Let me be the
judge of that. You’re the most precious thing in my life. If anything were to go wrong now, I wouldn’t survive. Do you hear what I’m saying?”
“Yes. Oh, yes!”
CHAPTER TWELVE
ON THE RIDE home from La Gaude, Dominic made a few important phone calls and constructed a list of all the other things he had to do before Sunday. Near midnight, he let himself in the apartment so euphoric over the miraculous outcome at the Guinguet, it took him time to realize Raoul wasn’t there.
Eager to share the news of his impending marriage with his cousin, he texted him. Within a minute his phone rang. He clicked on. “Raoul? I just got home. Where are you?”
“I’ve been in Nice, but I’m back on the estate. See you shortly.” He clicked off fast.
His cousin didn’t sound at all like himself. Raoul’s jubilance of earlier had vanished. Worried about the change in him, Dominic went to the kitchen to make them coffee. They had a lot to talk about.
“Dom?”
“In the kitchen.”
His cousin walked in. “I can’t tell you how happy I am for you, Dom. I knew Nathalie would come around.”
“You had a lot more faith in her than I did.” He put their coffee on the table, but when he glanced at Raoul, he saw a man in pain. “Sit down and tell me what’s wrong.”
“Horace contacted me after I left the bistro and told me I’d better come to his office in Nice because there was a problem.”
“Has Sabine demanded more money?”
“She’s demanding that the two of us go to counseling to try to save our marriage, claiming she still loves me. Her reason is that with professional help we could start over again.”
Dominic sat back in the chair. “Counseling? That doesn’t sound like Sabine.”
“No. It sounds like both sets of parents have gotten together to try to stop the divorce. Hell, Dom!” He shot to his feet, raking a hand through his hair. “No amount of counseling can make me love Sabine. That’s what I told Horace.”
“Does he know about Alain?”
“Not yet.”
“What’s he going to do?”
“Respond with my answer to the judge. But Horace imagines she’ll come back with possibly a hundred million dollars in damages since our family has billions. Horace said he’ll hammer out the best settlement he can.”
“Whatever the judge decrees, you know I’ll help.”
“You’re the best, Dom, but it’s my problem and I’ll have to solve it. One good thing did come out of tonight’s meeting. He’s still asking for the same court date that was set.”
“Good. For Alain’s sake you need to be divorced ASAP.”
A glimmer of a smile broke out on his face. “So when are you two getting married?”
“This Sunday.”
He shook his head. “When you make up your mind about something, there’s no stopping you. How can I help?”
“You already have. Nathalie told me your talk with her reached her heart. None of this would be happening without you. We’re going to have a ceremony at her house with her mom and Minerve. That’s it. Andre Godin will officiate. And within less than two weeks your divorce will be final.”
“God willing, Dom.”
* * *
“Nathalie Durand Fournier, do you take Dominic Laurent Fontesquieu to be your husband in sickness and in health? Do you vow to love and cherish him for all the days of your life?”
She couldn’t believe this moment had come. Her heart was so full of love for Dominic she really did have trouble breathing. With those dark eyes and hair, and wearing an elegant dove-gray suit, he was so gorgeous it didn’t seem possible she’d won the love of this man.
“I do,” she cried softly.
With a smile, the judge turned to Dominic. “Dominic Laurent Fontesquieu, do you take Nathalie Durand Fournier to be your wife, in sickness and in health, always watching over her, loving her and protecting her for as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” he answered in a thick voice.
“Then by the power invested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. What God has brought together, let no man put asunder. You may now kiss your bride, Dominic.”
Her new husband pulled her into his arms and kissed her with such hunger her legs started to tremble.
When he finally let her go, the judge said, “You may now present each other with rings.”
Dominic drew a diamond ring out of his jacket pocket and slid it home on her ring finger. It had a dazzling sparkle as she took the gold band from her little finger and put it on his ring finger. The engraving said Mon Bien Amie.
He kissed her deeply again before relinquishing her once more.
The judge beamed at them. “It has been my pleasure to marry a man I’ve highly esteemed for years.” He gazed at Nathalie. “How I envy him.”
She felt the heat rise into her face. “Thank you, Your Honor.”
He shook Dominic’s hand, then said a few words to her mother before leaving the house.
“Oh, darling.” Her mother ran to her and they hugged. “It was a beautiful ceremony and you look so lovely.”
“So do you, Arlette,” Dominic murmured. “Now I know where Nathalie gets her fabulous looks.” He gave her a hug.
Alain made some noises that caused them to turn around. He was getting restless. Minerve had been holding him during the short ceremony. Nathalie’s mother reached for him so Nathalie could hug Minerve. She’d been a part of their family for a long time.
“I’m so happy for you, Nathalie.” On a whisper, she said, “If he were my husband, I don’t think I’d ever be able to let him out of my sight.”
“I won’t if I can help it.”
Dominic hugged Minerve. “Thank you for supporting us and for being so good to Raoul. You’ve made all the difference while he’s been bonding with Alain.”
The older woman’s eyes filled. “This has been a happy time for all of us. I hope his divorce is final soon. I know he wants to show off his son to everyone.”
“It’ll happen before long,” Nathalie chimed in. She looked at her mother. “Now we’re going to leave, but I’ll be at the pharmacy in the morning as planned.”
“It doesn’t seem right that you can’t go off on a honeymoon, but I understand what’s at risk here.”
After knowing how difficult Raoul’s life had been when he’d met Antoinette, her mother knew it was vital everything stay secret for a while longer. None of them wanted anything to go wrong at this point.
Nathalie gave Alain a kiss and hug, then hurried out the door with Dominic carrying an overnight bag.
* * *
The Soleil Hotel was only two minutes away from Nathalie’s house. That was good because Dominic couldn’t last any longer before he got his bride all to himself. She looked a vision in a white silk and lace wedding dress that came to the knees of her shapely legs.
He parked the car and walked her inside to their room down the left hall. Each room had a balcony that overlooked La Gaude. Earlier that morning he’d procured the card key and had arranged for flowers to be put on the dresser and table.
Once inside their room, he lowered their overnight bags to the floor and caught her around the waist from behind. “You’re trapped now, ma belle. There’s no escape.”
She whirled around, her green eyes burning with love for him. “I have news for you, mon amour. I told Minerve I’d never let you out of my sight and I meant it.”
Slowly he unpinned the gardenia corsage he’d given her. After he’d unfastened the buttons of her wedding dress, she slipped out of it while he removed his suit jacket and tie.
“I love you, Dominic. You’ll never know how much.”
He studied her exquisite features, taking his time. “We have all day and night to show each other. I can’t wait any longer.”
/> “I don’t want to wait,” she cried.
He picked her up in his arms and carried her through the sitting room to the bedroom. Once he’d followed her down on the bed, he lifted a lock of hair to his lips. “Do you know you have strands of gold and silver? You’re like a princess come to life with your hair splayed around you. And you have a perfect mouth. When we met in the tent, I couldn’t take my eyes off you. You beguiled me.”
“You enchanted me.” She kissed his jaw. “When I left the tent, I wasn’t the same woman who’d gone in. I didn’t know a man like you existed.”
“By some miracle we’ve found each other. I swear I’ll love you forever, mon coeur.” Burning with desire for her, he lowered his head to kiss her seductive mouth. At the first touch he was gone. Her response enraptured him, sending him to a different world where all that mattered was to love and be loved.
* * *
The sun was going down by the time Nathalie became aware she was lying against her husband’s rock-hard body. Dominic’s legs had trapped hers and his arm lay across her hip possessively. No woman on earth would ever know this kind of joy because there was only one Dominic. Being loved by him made her feel immortal.
Nathalie wanted to know his possession again and started kissing him. They’d married a lot sooner than many couples, but that was part of the fascination of loving him and learning new things about him.
“Nathalie,” he murmured. Suddenly he’d come awake and pulled her on top of him. “No man ever had a lover like you. To think you’re my wife!” He started to kiss her again, filling her with rapture.
* * *
The room had grown dark by the time they came awake again. She eased reluctantly out of his arms. “It’s almost ten o’clock, Dominic. We haven’t eaten all day. You must be starving. I’ll call for room service.”
While she reached for the house phone and put in an order for meat crêpes, crème brûlée and coffee, he’d gone in the other room for their bags. When he returned, he was wearing a striped robe, and he answered the door to bring in their food.
Falling For Her French Tycoon (Escape To Provence Book 1) Page 14