After the Interview

by Laurent, Coco

  The look of panicked surprise on Zoe’s face was like a punch to his gut. Not able to watch more of the couple’s interaction or meet Zoe’s gaze, C J turned and headed to the Metro station even though he knew his hotel was nearby. What a fucking idiot I am, was all he could think. I show up in Paris and find out Zoe still has a life with another man. Feeling the rain start to run down the back of his neck from his wet hair, C J entered the station, slid his pass over the card reader and headed down the tunnel to his right. Not caring where he was headed, C J got on the first train and rode it two stops then got off. Exiting the station he noticed the rain had stopped and that he was on the Champs Elysees, looking in the direction of the Arc de Triomphe. It was now dark and the Arc was alight. Why not, C J thought as he headed down the street, then the trip won’t be a total fucking waste.

  Reaching the Arc via the under-street tunnel, C J purchased a ticket and climbed the 300 some-odd steps to the top. As he walked along the Arc’s rooftop level and saw the city of Paris spread out before him, C J wasn’t able to enjoy the beauty or grandeur of the distant sites. After walking down the hundreds of steps and surveying the neighborhood, C J decided to find a bar, get some food and then walk back to his hotel. Hell, if I change my mind I’ll have the bar call a cab. Using the Eiffel Tower as his landmark, C J headed down a main street and found a bar in about five minutes. He sat down, pointed to the plate of food the man next to him was eating and ordered a Scotch neat. The food and the Scotch were both good but C J still felt like shit, so he ordered another Scotch. After the third Scotch, C J decided it was time to head to his hotel and make plans to leave the city. Deciding he had walked enough in this damned city today, C J asked the bar man to call him a cab. Twenty minutes later he was stepping out of the cab and entering the Hotel Muguet.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Zoe, seeing the stricken look on C J’s face, knew what he was assuming. She shot out of the chair, pushed her way to the entrance of the café and through the street side tables. Marc called after her and apologized to the waiter as he grabbed Zoe’s coat and followed her.

  “What the devil are you doing, Zoe?” Marc asked, perplexed. “I thought we were celebrating.”

  “C J was standing outside the café and he saw us together. I saw the look on his face and know what he thought was happening,” Zoe answered.

  “Mon dieu,” Marc said in response.

  “Who would know where he is staying?” Zoe said, thinking out loud.

  “I have to find him,” she said, looking at Marc.

  “How did he know where to find you, Zoe?” Marc asked.

  “Jeff. I bet Jeff told him,” Zoe said as she took her purse from Marc’s arm and started to pull out her phone.

  Not ten minutes later, Zoe had confirmed that Jeff indeed had told C J where she was staying but not whom she was visiting. Zoe was sure if C J had known she was at Jean’s old friend, Marc’s, apartment he would have understood. How in the world could this have happened? That damned romantic man had shown up to surprise her and now he was off somewhere believing she was a liar. What if he was already on his way back to Houston? Zoe wanted to be mad that C J could even think she was capable of being a cheat but she would deal with that later.

  Now she sat in an armchair in the small reception room by the front desk of the Hotel Muguet. Luckily, Jeff had recommended the hotel to C J and Zoe felt sure C J was staying here. Not because the concierge had told her so but because of the look he gave her when she had mentioned C J’s name. The man’s recognition of the name had registered on his face even when he had told her he could not divulge any information on the hotel’s guests. Zoe smiled, remembering another concierge in another hotel. This man has a way of making me do things I would never believe imaginable, she thought.

  The door to the hotel opened and C J stepped up to the concierge, asking for his room key. Zoe, elated to see he had not left the city, now steeled herself for whatever was to come. As C J headed past the elevator to the stairs, Zoe softly called his name. He turned to face her, and the look on C J’s face made Zoe’s chest tighten. She could tell he was distraught yet wanted so badly to reach out for her. C J did not answer, so Zoe rose from the chair and walked toward him.

  “May I come up to your room and talk to you?” Zoe asked quietly.

  “No,” C J said with no emotion.

  Zoe turned and asked the concierge if there was a more private place they could sit and talk and the man pointed to a small unlit breakfast room adjoining the reception area.

  “C J, listen to what I have to say and if you don’t like it then I’ll leave,” Zoe said as she started to walk into the adjoining room.

  C J watched Zoe walk into the room and then followed her to a small table in the back.

  “I’m tired, so please be to the point,” C J said.

  “I can only imagine what you think you saw earlier this evening. The man I was with is Marc, Jean’s friend who was with him when he died in Syria. Marc suggested we celebrate the fact that I’d finally found love again. He’s felt responsible for Jean’s death, and knowing I am happy again lessens this burden for him. The man’s like a brother to me,” Zoe said, tears starting to flow down her cheeks.

  “Damn, this is the second time today I have started crying over you and I’m not so sure right now you’re worth it. How could you ever believe I’m a liar and would be unfaithful?” Zoe said.

  C J wanted to speak, but his own throat was tight with emotion. Zoe reached for her phone and held it up in front of C J’s face. He saw a photo of Marc on the website of a French magazine with his name in big bold letters.

  “There is the proof in living color,” Zoe said angrily and started to rise.

  C J looked at Zoe and said, “I’m an ass and I was wrong; forgive me?”

  Zoe stood, put out her hand and said, “Let’s go someplace more private and finish this discussion.”

  C J smiled and said, “My room is a bit small and I doubt the walls are too thick, so knowing you we had better find another hotel.”

  Zoe laughed and said, “It’s your call. The George V should have some pretty nice suites.”

  The End

  Second Chances

  Logan Fairchild was trying hard to stay cool while talking to her big brother, C J. She had been listening patiently to the latest screw-up in his love life, knowing Jack was down the hall in her bedroom.

  “Great plan, so now you can leave because I have my own business to take care of before I head to Africa on Wednesday,” Logan said, starting to lead the way out of the room.

  Jack edged closer to the partially open bedroom door to hear C J’s response and tripped over his shoe, sending him careening into the wall. Son-of-a-bitch I will catch hell if that was as loud as I think it was. Jack stood still and waited for any sign that C J and Logan had heard the clunk of his body colliding with the wall.

  Hearing the sound of the lock on the front door turning, Jack gazed upward in a ‘thank you, Lord’ expression until the words, “Goodnight, Jack”, reached him.

  “Ah shit,” Jack murmured under his breath. Shrugging his shoulders and smiling he yelled back, “See you, C J, and good luck.”

  Since he had been discovered and had nothing more to lose, Jack moved forward and peered around the doorframe, eavesdropping on the end of the brother sister conversation.

  C J was facing Logan as she raised her voice, “Don’t say a word C J. I was nice and let you come over so no brotherly advice or I swear I’ll…” Logan’s words were cut off as C J hugged her and kissed the top of her head.

  “You know what to do. Just decide what you want. After all, you set me straight,” C J said as he exited the door.

  Jack eased back from the bedroom doorway as Logan secured the front door bolt. The sound of her footsteps coming down the hallway gave no clue to her emotional state but Jack figured his best defense was to take the offensive and head off any chance of an argument. As Logan entered the bedroom she was met
by a familiar alluring smile, flashing green eyes and then she heard Jack’s voice.

  “Ah cher, now let’s finish what we started,” he said, walking up to Logan and loosening the robe she wore.

  Jack didn’t just push the robe off of her shoulders but followed its path with his hands as it slid over her body. They lingered on her breasts just long enough to caress them into arousal, making Logan ache for more. Then they moved to the small of her back before stopping to cup her buttocks. Jack pressed his body into hers. Logan felt the force of his erection and let out a deep sigh. How long had it been since she and Jack had last made love?