by Kate Pearce
He shrugged. “Je t’ai dit que j’allais passer.”
“This is not the kind of place you just pass by.” She met his gaze head on. “That’s not an adequate excuse, Paul.”
“Je vois que tu as tojours la meme attitude.” Paul shook his head and reverted to English. “Seeing as I don’t want an argument, I’ll do as you ask.”
“Merci.” He didn’t like her attitude? He hadn’t seen anything yet.
Yvonne turned to Rio and found a smile from somewhere.
“Would you mind showing Paul where the hotel is located, Rio?”
He inclined his head an icy inch, no hint of a smile on his normally pleasant face. “It will be my pleasure. If he comes back, just call me, and I’ll be right over with Nate Turner.”
* * *
Rio didn’t bother to make polite conversation as he led the way down Morgan Street toward the Hayes Historic Hotel. So this was Yvonne’s ex. Paul was good looking in that smooth European way, and had the intense blue eyes of a husky dog.
“This is it? I thought they would have renovated it by now or put in something new.” Paul stopped in front of the hotel. “It’s . . . kind of dowdy.”
“The pride of Morgantown. It’s been here since the town was founded in some form or other.” Rio held open the door. “After you.”
Paul heaved another very French sigh and went into the lobby, which had retained its original Victorian charm and warmth.
“Hey, Tucker!” Rio called out to Avery and Marley’s brother, who was manning the reception desk. “Guest for you.”
“Hey, Rio.” Tucker turned his professional smile toward Paul. “And who do we have here?”
“This is Paul Giresse. He’s supposed to have booked.”
Tucker checked his screen and nodded. “Yup, we have you in the biggest guest suite. I’ll just get your key while you sign in.” He handed Paul a flat-screen tablet.
Paul checked the details and scribbled his signature with his finger before turning to Rio.
“I think I can manage it from here. Thanks for the escort.”
Rio frowned. “Your English is very hard to understand. Can you say that again in French?”
“What?”
Rio repeated his question. “Ce plouc de cowboy aimerait que tu repetes ca en francais, connard. Et aussi, il aimerat que tu saches qu’ Yvonne a beaucoup d’amis a Morgantown, alors ne fais pas le con.”
Paul grabbed his key and practically ran toward the elevators. Rio suspected he’d stay put for the night.
“Wow, Rio!” Tucker’s cheery voice came from behind him. “I didn’t know you spoke French!”
He turned to smile at Tucker. “Obviously neither did that guy.”
“What exactly did you say?”
Rio hesitated. “I’m not sure if you’ll be happy to hear that I insulted one of your guests.”
Tucker lowered his voice. “If he is who I think he is, I’d love to know what you said.”
It was Rio’s turn to shrug. “I said that this ‘cowboy bumpkin’ would like him to repeat what he said in French. And that I’d also like him to know that Yvonne has many friends in Morgantown, so he shouldn’t be a dick.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Nancy, stop laughing. It was embarrassing!” Yvonne spoke into her cell. “I was caught completely off guard in what could’ve been a terribly compromising position by the only man around who knew exactly what I’d been getting up to in that truck just by looking at my face!”
“Classic!”
Nancy cackled for quite a while longer before finally calming down enough to speak complete sentences.
“So Paul’s turned up again. He must want something bad to come all this way unannounced.”
“Well, he did say he might come here, but I wasn’t convinced he would actually go through with it. You know how he is,” Yvonne said. “Maybe he wants to get married to some other woman, and he needs that divorce finalized and the paperwork delivered right into my hands.”
“Which would be great, right?”
“Yes, but I still resent the way he waits until he needs something to happen rather than paying attention to my needs.”
“When did he ever do that?” Nancy countered. “I met him quite a few times when you were setting up the café, and he was always a selfish jerk.”
Yvonne sat down at the kitchen table. “I didn’t see it back then. I was too excited to be home starting a business with the man I loved. His decision to walk out just before the opening took me completely by surprise.”
“I remember.”
“I was an idiot.” Yvonne winced at the memory of her former self. “Looking back, I could see all the signs that he wasn’t happy, but I ignored them because I was finally getting what I wanted, and I thought he wanted it too.” She paused. “That’s what he said to me afterward—that I’d made everything about me.”
“Bull crap,” Nancy said succinctly. “He just didn’t like being in unfamiliar surroundings and not being the center of attention. Everyone liked you more than him, and he couldn’t stand it.”
“Well, anyway, that’s in the past. I just have to work out how to deal with him right now.”
“Be your usual pleasant self. That should do it.”
“I’ll try. I wasn’t very nice to him yesterday,” Yvonne confessed. “But he was so rude about Rio, and so dismissive of my concerns.”
“So I heard.” Nancy started to chuckle again.
“What exactly did you hear?” Yvonne said suspiciously.
“From Avery, who heard it from Tucker, who heard it at the hotel.”
“What?” Yvonne almost yelled.
“Well, apparently, your cowboy speaks French, and he gave your ex a lecture in French about leaving you alone.”
“Rio did?” Yvonne briefly closed her eyes. “Paul called him a hick.”
“So I understand, and Rio told Paul not to behave like someone who rhymes with hick.”
“Oh, God . . .” Yvonne breathed hard through her nose. “Paul’s not going to be happy about that.”
“So what if he isn’t?” Nancy said. “Screw him!”
“You are so not helping here.”
“Do you want me to come and meet Paul with you?” Nancy asked. “I’d be happy to be your wing woman.”
Yvonne paused to imagine how that would go before she replied. “That’s very sweet of you, but I have to speak to him alone.”
“Okay, but I want a full report afterward.”
“You’ll get it.” Yvonne checked the time. “I’ve got to get on. I’m glad I caught you so early.”
“Actually, I was just going to bed.”
“Then sleep well, and I’ll talk to you later.”
Nancy blew her a kiss, and Yvonne ended the call. So, Aurelio speaks French, does he? A slow smile spread over her face as she walked back into the main kitchen. He really was a very interesting man.
She wished she’d had a chance to get back to Chase Morgan and see whether he’d found anything out for her, but she’d been too preoccupied with Rio. Now all she had to do was find out exactly what Paul wanted so that she could use it to get what she deserved—a complete and final parting of ways.
* * *
Rio leaned against the wall of the post office while he waited for Josie to post her letter to their mother, who was back at her ranch in Sao Paulo. It was a beautiful morning with the sky a sheer, cloudless blue, and just a hint of a breeze coming down off the Sierras. He was due back at the ranch after lunch to help Ry and Roy take a group of newbies out on their first trail ride. The three R’s, as they were now nicknamed, were deemed to have the patience and quiet temperaments to deal with the most skittish of the guests.
Sometimes an enthusiastic new rider thought he was in a western, and kicked his horse into a gallop.... That never went well. The Morgan horses had been trained to stop at a whistle, but the occasional one did get away. So far, they’d had a broken collarbone from an overenthusiastic teen w
ho’d ignored every attempt to restrain him and taken off into the pine forest.
BB had been more furious about the damage to the horse, but Ry had taken care of the kid, who had hopefully learned his lesson....
“Hey, mano, shall we go and say hi to Yvonne?” Josie rejoined him at the front of the building.
“Sure! I’ll buy you a coffee.”
Rio straightened up, checked his truck was locked, and walked past the shop that separated the post office from Yvonne’s. The smell of good coffee and melting chocolate reached him and immediately made him yearn for the chance to kiss a certain naked café owner all over her luscious, willing body. . . .
“What’s up, Josie?” Lizzie called out as they entered the shop. “Hey, Rio!”
Rio joined the short line while Josie checked out the pastries and cakes on offer.
“Bonjour.”
Rio turned to see that Paul Giresse had come into the café and wasn’t looking very pleased to see him—which was just fine with Rio. Paul wore some kind of expensive brand polo shirt and pressed jeans. His short blond hair was gelled into spikes.
“Hey.” Rio nodded. “Did you sleep well?”
“The hotel was comfortable, I’ll give them that,” Paul said grudgingly. “Do you live around here?”
Rio wanted to say he lived with Yvonne, but he knew that wouldn’t go down well with her, or her ex.
“I’m working at the Morgan Ranch this summer.”
“Oh, you’re a seasonal worker. Do you go back home for the winter?”
“Home as in?” Rio pretended to look confused.
“You know, to wherever you come from.”
“Nah, Boston’s too damn cold for me. I prefer to stay on the West Coast, or visit my mom in Brazil.”
“So you were one of those . . .” Paul paused. “Let me think of the American phrase—anchor babies? Do I have that right?”
“Wow.” Rio shook his head. “I can see why Yvonne let you go back to France.”
Paul laughed. “I’m just kidding, my friend.”
“Right.” Rio moved forward in the line. “When are you going back to France?”
“When I’ve finished my business meetings here, and settled things with Yvonne.”
“So pretty soon, then.” Rio didn’t add the good, but suspected Paul would pick up on it.
Paul lowered his voice. “Are you and Yvonne a couple? She hasn’t mentioned you at all.”
“We’re just good friends,” Rio replied evenly.
“Looked like more than that to me. Perhaps you have a thing for her and she isn’t interested, yes?”
“I can’t comment.” Rio shrugged. “You’ll have to talk to Yvonne.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I will.” Paul nodded toward the counter. “I believe it is your turn.”
“Thanks.” Rio caught Josie’s attention as she came up to him. “Hey, have you chosen what you want?”
She smiled at him. “Yup, Lizzie’s got my order. I’m going to find us a table, okay?”
Rio ordered his usual coffee and, after a brisk nod to Paul, went over to where Josie had already sat down. The table gave him a good view of the café, and the entrance to the kitchen.
Paul smiled at Lizzie. “Yvonne’s expecting me. Will you tell her Paul’s here?”
Josie nudged Rio. “Who’s that with the fancy French accent?”
“Yvonne’s ex-husband.”
“He’s definitely prettier than you.”
“And I could definitely take him in a fight,” Rio muttered.
“For a man who won’t even confirm that he’s going out with Yvonne, you sure are a dog in the manger,” Josie murmured back. “Look! Yvonne’s coming out to see him. She doesn’t look happy, and she hasn’t even noticed us.”
Rio had already noticed that.
Paul was speaking, and after a long hesitation, Yvonne turned to Lizzie.
“Can you cope for a few minutes while I talk to Paul?”
“Sure!” Lizzie said brightly. “Just don’t leave me alone to face the lunch rush.”
“I won’t be that long.” Yvonne took off her apron, and held the door into the kitchen open. “Come on then, Paul.”
Rio was only aware that he’d risen from his seat when Josie tugged on his sleeve.
“Sit down, tiger.”
“I don’t trust him.”
“Yvonne won’t let him do anything she doesn’t like.” She tugged harder. “Sit down. People are staring at you.”
He sank back into his seat and picked up his coffee. It wasn’t like him to feel so strongly about anyone. When women he’d dated in the past had moved on, he’d kissed them good-bye and sent them on their way with a smile. Now he wanted to chase Paul down and keep him as far away from Yvonne as possible.
There was no longer a way to deny it. His feelings for Yvonne went far deeper than the casual. And what the heck was he supposed to do about that when they’d both decided to steer clear of anything complicated?
* * *
Yvonne led the way up the stairs to her apartment, and waited by the countertop, her arms folded for Paul to join her.
“It looks great up here!” Paul took a long look around her home. “I was convinced it would be too small and cramped, but you really opened the space up.”
She resisted the urge to say, I told you so. They’d lived in a rented apartment down the street while the café was remodeled. She’d shown him her design for their upstairs space, and he’d claimed not to understand what she was trying to achieve and constantly criticized her choices.
“I’m happy here.” She moved to the refrigerator. “Would you like some water?”
“That would be great.” He walked over to the big window that looked out over the street and then sat in her favorite chair. “Ice and lemon if you have it please.”
She took the drinks over with her and placed them on the coffee table between the small couch and his chair.
“So what can I do for you, Paul? Did you come to deliver my divorce papers by hand?”
“Well, as to that.” He took a sip of water before placing the glass back down. “It’s still in progress. I’ve been thinking about you a lot.”
“In progress?” The hairs on the back of her neck rose. “Meaning?”
He raised his gaze to hers, his expression solemn. “I keep wondering whether I bailed on you too easily.”
Yvonne just stared at him, her thoughts in turmoil.
“We were both young, and I was so homesick that I suspect I didn’t give our relationship enough attention.” He sighed. “I didn’t give you enough attention. All I cared about was getting back to France, and when you didn’t want to come with me, I blamed you, and ran away.”
It was so not what Yvonne had expected to hear that she had to check her mouth wasn’t hanging open in shock.
“The last four years have been great for me financially and professionally, I can’t deny it, but personally?” Paul stared right into her eyes. “Life has never felt the same since I left you.”
“Hold on a minute.” Yvonne finally found her voice. “Is this you finally apologizing to me after four long years of nothing?”
Paul leaned forward and reached for her hands. “Not only apologizing, but hoping that you’ll give me another chance?”
“Hell, no.” Yvonne yanked her hands free. “You didn’t just leave because you were homesick, Paul. You left because I wasn’t the malleable teenager you married, and I no longer did every single thing you told me to do. You left when I began to challenge you, and you told me I was the problem, that I’d grown angry and aggressive and opinionated, and that wasn’t my place in your world.”
Paul shifted in his seat. “I think you’re being rather harsh, Yvonne, I hardly—”
“Whether you agree with my assessment of what went wrong or not, and whether that’s what you meant, is irrelevant now, isn’t it? We’ve both moved on. We’re both different people, and maybe that’s what was meant to happen.”
“But I’d like the chance to get to know you again,” Paul said earnestly. “As you said, we’re both different people now. I think we could appreciate each other’s strengths and successes. I can certainly appreciate what you’ve achieved here.”
“I’m very proud of my café,” Yvonne said. “And I’m sure you’re proud of your chain of restaurants.”
He shrugged. “I had more financial help than you did. If we were together again, I could—”
She held up her hand. “Thanks for the offer, but I don’t need your money.”
“But if you want to expand the business, I have the resources to help you in the USA. That’s one of the reasons why I’m over here—to discuss finances for a new restaurant chain.”
“I’m really not interested in that kind of enterprise,” Yvonne said. “It was never my dream, but I know it was always one of yours.”
“Something of a family tradition.” Paul smiled. “How could I resist the temptation to make my own fortune?”
“And you’ve succeeded very well.” Yvonne finished her water. “I really need to get back to work. One of my staff is sick, and we’re shorthanded.”
“Will you at least think about what I’ve said?” Paul asked.
“About my business opportunities? I’m quite happy right here in Morgantown.” Yvonne stood up and took her glass over to the dishwasher. She wasn’t about to mention the Tasty Treats TV thing.
Paul followed her over, trapping her in the small galley kitchen. “Not just the business deals, but about us.”
“There is no ‘us,’ Paul.” She looked him right in the eyes and felt nothing, no rage, no jealousy, just a hint of sadness. “I wish you all the best with everything in the future, but I’ve moved on. I couldn’t go back and be the girl you married again.”
“I wouldn’t want you to.” His voice softened. “I want you to think about me as a new man who wants to get to know you, the new you. Please, Yvonne, think it over and give me your answer before I leave. Surely you owe me that?”
His pleading blue gaze met hers, and she slowly let out her breath. “My answer will still be the same.”
“But I’d still like to hear it.” He stepped in and kissed her on each cheek. “Thank you for at least listening to me.”