A Touch of Passion (boxed set romance bundle)

by Uvi Poznansky

  She headed for the mirrored, glassed-in cabinets and the counters where silver trays of different chocolates battled for attention with the delicious and decadent truffles, tarts and candied delicacies that made the store so colorful. The floor near these shelves always ended up with a certain amount of mess made by the clerks handling the trays of goodies.

  The bell over the door of Beaux Rêves (Sweet Dreams) rang and caught her attention. Her patisserie shop, situated in one of the busier areas in Paris, was always crazy during the day and even into the evening. She wasn’t surprised to see more customers at this time.

  At first, shadows darkened the face of the woman who entered. Though once she stepped into the light, she looked strangely familiar.

  “Hello, Annie.”

  The sweet timbre of her voice brought instant recognition.

  “Rose!” The mop fell to the floor with a bang. Anne rushed to embrace the woman who had been like a mother to her when she was a young girl of eighteen. Leaving home—her first time away—and living as an exchange student in a small Texas town, and experiencing the strange environment of a ranch had been a struggle. This woman had added joy and given her a year she’d never forgotten. “You didn’t write to tell me you were coming. I would have met you at the airport. How very wonderful! Are you here alone?”

  Rose burst out laughing. “You certainly haven’t changed, hon, other than your accent is strong again. You’re still full of questions.” She hugged Anne hard. Then she planted kisses on both of Anne’s cheeks and one on her nose for good measure. It had been a habit they’d started when Anne had first moved into Rose’s house. In those days, she’d been young, scared and rather shy.

  Not so much now! Creating her own business from the ground up had hardened her, and becoming a mother had given her a grown-up role that she played very well. “It’s lovely to see you.” A soft rush engulfed Anne and her cheeks hurt from the large smile stretching her features.

  “I wanted to surprise you. Plus, I knew I’d need to rest after the flight. So I waited to find you until I could handle the excitement. I called the house and your father said you were still at the shop. I gotta admit, my body is all screwy from the oversea flight. Once I woke up, I knew I wouldn’t get to sleep again until much later. Considering your place is right in town, I’d strategically arranged a close hotel so I could walk here.”

  Despite the joy Anne felt at seeing her old friend again, fear also flooded her insides. This was a woman with keen eyes and a very sharp brain. And Anne had a secret.

  But she loved Rose more than anyone, other than her own father and her son. “Come and sit down. How silly of me to keep you standing. Rest and I’ll organize refreshments.”

  “Do you have any of those mango tarts you used to make for us on the ranch?”

  “You know what? I do. In fact, they’re one of my best sellers.”

  In no time at all, Anne had the table set with her lovely embellished dishes and the sweets organized on a tray. Proud of its interior, and the small touches that made her patisserie so unique, Anne’s pride carried over to her vast inventory. Each of the counters and the enclosed glass shelves were arrayed with confections of delight, not only for the eye, but also the stomach.

  During the time she worked, she questioned Rose about the trip. But once she sat down at the quaint, glass-topped table across from her old friend, she stopped chattering and got to the point. “How are you, Rose? I know there’s something wrong. I can see it in your eyes. You must tell me what’s making you so sad.”

  “I never could hide anything from you, could I?” Anne watched as Rose looked around her. A huge smile of pleasure and an obvious pride lit her features.

  “It’s just like I imagined from your letters and the numerous pictures you sent over the years. You must be very proud of yourself, kiddo.”

  Anne felt a lump form in her throat after hearing the special nickname that her surrogate mother had used for the whole year she’d lived with her. “I haven’t been called that for so long. It’s lovely to have you sitting across from me and calling me kiddo again. I’ve missed those times.” She stretched across and lifted the other woman’s hands, squeezing the soft wrinkled, work-worn skin.

  Rose retuned the pressure and finally looked at Anne, letting the younger woman read her eyes. “I’ve wanted to be able to say it for so long; but you never came back. And, I couldn’t leave the ranch long enough to travel any distance, especially from Texas to Paris.”

  “But you’re here now.” Anne saw her old friend’s sadness envelope her expression, and if she wasn’t mistaken, there was a hint of tears lurking behind her lashes.

  “You look wonderful, Annie. So grown up and chic! You’re wearing your hair shoulder-length now, and it suits you.” Rose tipped her head to the side. “I like the modern style, and your makeup makes you look so different. If I hadn't recognized your beautiful smile; I might have walked out again, thinking I had the wrong place.”

  “Thank you.” Anne grinned her pleasure. “And Rose, I’d love to return the compliment and say you look good, but we’d both know it to be a lie. Something’s wrong, something you’re not telling me. Please share, and let me help.”

  Rose purposely picked up her tart and took a bite in order not to have to answer. And she took her time chewing, motioning that her mouth was full, and she couldn’t speak.

  “You’ll finish it sooner or later, Mama-Rose. And then you’ll have nothing to hide behind. I won’t let you rest until I know what’s wrong.” Then a horrible thought attacked and she felt her heart begin to race. “Is it Clint? Has something happened?” Her voice had risen and she hoped the other woman hadn’t heard the sheer terror secreted behind her words.

  “No, child. No! He’s the same. Well, not the same man you would remember. After his wife Cathy left, he turned bitter and hard-hearted. Only his little girl, Debbie, and I can get a smile outta him sometimes, but we have to coax real hard.”

  “His wife left?” A pole over the head couldn’t do more damage to Anne’s stability than those words.

  “Yes. More’n six years ago, now. I never wrote to you about it because I respected his privacy. We certainly aren’t allowed to mention her name in the house, or anywhere that he can hear it. Otherwise, he’s miserable for days.” Rose sadly shook her head. “Where did it all go so wrong? He thought the sun rose and set on that woman, and all she did was break his heart.”

  Anne squeezed the hand she still held. “I’m so sorry. You never said anything in your letters. Other than writing about Debbie, and the rest of the gossipy news you knew I loved; you so seldom mentioned Clint. I guess I took it for granted that he was happy.”

  After hearing these words, Rose stared at her. Like a laser, she penetrated the hard shell Anne had built around her teenage emotions. Hidden for years, the agonizing crush she’d had for a man, who’d treated her like a lost puppy, had laid buried under a steely determination to wipe him out of her head. The young Clint had strutted around the ranch as if God had built the world especially for him to have a playground. He’d been spoiled by everyone who came in contact with him: his parents, the people in the nearby town of Walsh Creek, and, of course, any female he’d deemed worthy of his attention. Clint Walsh had had it all going on, and he knew it.

  Rose coughed on purpose, and Anne zeroed back in on their conversation. “Annie-girl, you never mentioned him either. At first, I wondered if you were angry with Clint for something he’d done. I even questioned him about it and you know what?”

  Anne stilled. In fact everything inside her body came to instant attention. “What?”

  “It was the first time, in his life, that my boy told me to mind my own business. He didn’t talk to me for a long time afterward. So, I learned my lesson. You were off limits. I often wondered why.”

  Anne picked up the mugs of cold coffee, intending to go where the huge espresso machine sat on the counter. Before she could step away, Rose grabbed her arm. “See! Yo
u aren’t as rude as Clint, but you never answered my question either.”

  “Oh, Rose, please don’t fret about me and Clint. It was all a long time ago. Close to nine years have passed, and I truly wished him only happiness. Hearing that he’s been hurt is horrible news.” This time Anne dropped the veil and let Rose see the sincerity she couldn’t hide. Nothing covered the truth when it was heartfelt.

  A sob escaped, and Rose lowered her head into her hands. Her shoulders shook with an emotion so unfamiliar in the stoic, hard-working ranch wife that Anne used to know. Fear engulfed her, tightening her stomach muscles to a painful intensity. The headache, she’d fought off all day, reappeared with a vengeance. This woman had been the only mother she’d ever known, and Anne loved her dearly. Seeing her in pain was unbearable.

  “Chérie, mon Dieu! What is it? You’re overwrought. You must tell me at once!”

  Chapter Two

  Rose struggled to get at her handbag. Once opened, she reached inside for the tissues tucked away and wiped away her grief. “I’m sorry, Annie-girl. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I’m a silly old woman who should know better. But I’ve carried around a huge passel of guilt about you and Clint, and I guess it finally broke open.”

  “Goodness! Why would you feel that way? I was almost nineteen years old when I left you—a grown-up.”

  Rose smiled. “You always did stress that you were nearly nineteen the whole year you were with us! It made me chuckle every time. In fact, having you live as an exchange student with us ranks as one of the happiest years of my life. You know, I’d always wanted a daughter.”

  “And you were the best maman a motherless girl ever had. All my life, I’d prayed for my father, André, to remarry; and in all those years, he showed no desire to do so. It wasn’t until I moved in with you that I truly experienced what it was like to have a mother. And I’m thankful for having experienced your skill, now that I have a son of my own.” Anne knew they hadn’t yet broached the subject of her boy. It was like a tsunami heading in their direction that she didn’t want to acknowledge.

  Rose latched onto the topic like a mosquito on bare flesh. “I hope you’ll let me spend time with your son, Max, while I’m here. He’s one of the reasons I came all this way. I’ve been dying to meet him.”

  Anne hid her trembling knees by pushing her feet down hard on the floor. “Why, of course. Max will adore you, and so will my father. In fact, you must move from the hotel and be our guest.”

  “I’d love to, hon. I’m only here for a few days, and then I gotta go back home. While I’m away, Clint has organized one of the women from town to do the cooking. Since the heavy work now tires me out, he’s had a housekeeper cleaning the ranch house for months. But I know Debbie will grieve, and for me, that’s the hardest part of all. She’s such a sad little thing.” Rose inspected her clasped hands that were gripped together on the top of the table. “Sometimes she breaks my heart with her neediness. Mostly, I just feel blessed that she’s part of my life.”

  “She’s the lucky one, Rose. That little girl is very fortunate that you’re there to look after her. Trust me, I should know.”

  These words created a huge reaction. Rose shuddered and tried to stop her chin from wobbling, but to no avail. A storm broke loose, and this time nothing could stop the deluge. Sorrow flowed from her eyes non-stop and her words made no sense. “You m-must come home. You’re the only one. We n-need you so badly.”

  Shocked, Anne asked, “I’m sorry, Rose. I don’t understand. Why would you say such a thing?”

  Rose squared her shoulders and mopped her face. “Annie, I’m not well. Clint tries but he can’t seem to get through to Debbie. She’s such a lost soul. I won’t be able to help her for much longer. The little angel needs a soft-hearted woman.”

  Anne froze. “Is Cathy completely out of the picture? She used to be so crazy for Clint. In those days, I thought they made a wonderful couple.”

  “So did everyone else, especially Clint.”

  “Then what happened? I know when he found out she was pregnant, he married her. I’d think that must have thrilled him after wanting her so much.”

  “Sure. Clint did right by the girl. You know he was crazy for her. Not surprisingly, he was over the moon when she agreed. But Cathy never was the marrying kind, and she hated being pregnant.”

  Anne instantly felt for the other girl. “Some women are terribly sick. It can’t be fun for them.” Herself, she’d felt wonderful during the whole nine months waiting for Max to appear. In fact, she’d zipped through her time, healthier than she had any right to be. But she knew others who’d suffered, and sympathy welled.

  “It’s the weight gain that almost killed her. You know that girl always did strut around like Miss America. Once she started to show, she turned mean and became really miserable. From my point of view, it was hell living with her. I can’t imagine how Clint put up with the crazy girl. But he did. He used patience even I never knew he had. Didn’t do any good. She was determined to make everyone around her suffer.”

  Anne bit her lip and took a few seconds before answering. “After Debbie’s birth, things must have gotten better, yes?”

  “Nope.” Rose shook her head sadly. “They got worse—much worse. The silly twit began running around on Clint. She’d take off from the ranch and he’d have to drive into town to go and get her. I think she had other men—he wouldn’t tell me—but I’d hear them arguing. They were at it all the time.” Rose used her tissues again and let out a long sigh. “Many’s the night they’d get their dander up. Her yelling her hate, and him trying to calm her. Got so as I’d have to use earplugs to stop myself from overhearing.”

  “That’s a shame, Rose.” Heavy-hearted, Anne spoke sincerely. “Poor Clint! He doesn’t deserve such unhappiness.” Anne’s seriousness rang in her softened tone. “Considering he was so full of life, always teasing and laughing, to hear how he’s changed breaks my heart.”

  “Not anymore. You wouldn’t recognize my boy now. He’s a bitter, divorced man. Since his pa passed on, he’s had to take over the running of the ranch. Now he works from morning till late at night. Hardly says two words to anyone, and he never relaxes.”

  Anne stilled. “I meant to tell you how sad I was to hear that Jake died. I would have come home then, but it was just the day before Max was born, and I wasn’t allowed to fly. By the time it was safe, I had invested in the shop and I couldn’t leave my partner, or the business, during start-up. After that, life kept getting in the way. Rose, I’m so sorry.”

  “Me too. I’d promised myself a visit with you here in Paris before my time came to join Jake. That’s why I’m here now.”

  Fear burst inside Anne. She’d sensed something had distressed Mama-Rose; had known it from the first moment she’d looked up and recognized the woman from her past. “Please! Don’t say that.”

  “No need to beat around the bush. I have lung cancer, child. Now don’t go filling up like that. It’s my time.”

  “They can operate.”

  “Too late for that! Kept putting off going to see ol’ Doc Shultz. Guess I shouldn’t have. Now he says I have a few months left. Soon as he gave me the bad news; I booked my flight here.”

  Anne slipped to her knees, moved closer and hugged the other woman. Then she stayed on the floor by the chair and kept her arms around Rose’s shoulders. “What can I do, chérie?”

  “I have no right to ask this, especially now that I’ve seen your incredibly avant-garde shop. It’s must be so gratifying.”

  “Yes it is. But that’s not what you were going to say.”

  “No, that’s true. I had a request. Except, I realize I have no right to make it.”

  “Tell me.”

  “Kiddo, I love our little Debbie. She kinda reminds me of you. If ever there was a little girl who needs a mother, it’s her. And your Max, he needs a father. May I ask why you didn’t marry his father?”

  The question shocked Anne. Lying didn’t come easy,
but when it came to her son she’d lie, steal—probably even kill to keep him safe. And so the fib rolled off her tongue. “I didn’t want to.”

  Rose gave her the eagle eye and Anne melted.

  She’d forgotten that this woman could always tell when she tried to pull a fast one. And Anne knew she’d been caught yet again. “Ooh-la-la! I never could get anything past you. Fine! The truth is; he never asked.”

  “If he had, would you have accepted his proposal?”

  The blush spreading over Anne’s face forbade her to even try lying again. “I don’t know.”

  “Is there any chance you might still come together?”

  “No. He’s married. Besides, I don’t believe I love him. Or that I ever did. It was just a one night, I’m-so-lonely kind of fling. Neither of us meant for it to happen.”

  “Okay, that’s all I wanted to know.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’re not attached to Max’s father. In your last letter, which brought me here, you said you weren’t dating what’s-his-name any longer, right? That means you’re free.”

  “Yes.” Anne didn’t know what Rose’s ultimate plan was, but apprehension blossomed to out-and-out fear. Where was this going?

  “I’ve come to ask you—no beg you.” Rose’s beseeching smile wavered. “I want you to come back to Walsh Creek. See me through the next few months. And most of all, be there with me at the end so you can help Debbie deal with my passing.”

  Chapter Three

  To say Anne was in shock equaled saying that a huge tidal wave had disrupted swimmers on the beach. By the time she’d closed shop, seen Rose back to her hotel and walked to her apartment, a ton of weight had settled on her shoulders.