Breach of Trust
Page 27
"Self defense, Cherie?” Philippe eyed his brown haired girl with respect.
Anne nodded, grinning, her face unnaturally pale. “I do listen to you from time to time, you know.” Her voice was hoarse, her neck already turning a nasty purple color.
"Not that often unfortunately.” Having given the gun to Marlow, Philippe's arms were now free to wrap around her.
Anne trembled uncontrollably. “Anne, you okay?” Mais oui, they had an audience, Philippe had forgotten.
She nodded, slowly, like the action pained her. “Thanks to you, Denise. I don't know what would have happened if Suzanne had gotten me out the door."
What would have happened to his Anne, his love. He almost ... A shudder ran through Philippe's body. “Mon amour...” he groaned.
"Philippe.” Anne's eyes sent the same message, the others forgotten. They had wasted so much time fighting their feelings.
"Hey, what did I miss?” Nancy wandered in from the back room.
Philippe's eyes met Stanley's over Anne's bent head. “Come with us, Nance Valance. Beautiful and I will fill you in.” For once, Philippe was in perfect agreement with Anne's carefree friend.
They stood there, clasping each other, Anne borrowing Philippe's strength to supplement her tapped reserves. He was here, Philippe, safe, and he wasn't going to leave.
Anne attempted a joke. “You don't have any more crazy ex-girlfriends that I should know about, do you?"
"I don't know, Cherie. I've dated a lot of women,” Philippe gently teased Anne.
This earned him a slap on the chest. “Bastard,” said with affection.
He held her apart from him, looking down at her with brown eyes glowing gold. “I can promise you that I won't have any new ex-girlfriends."
No new ex-girlfriends ... that would mean. “What are you saying, Philippe?"
"That I'm not going to risk losing you again, mon amour.” His palm cradled her cheek. “Today,” his voice cracked.
"I'm ending the day in your arms,” Anne reassured him. She had never seen him so affected, that the thought of losing her was the cause, well, that meant ... “Are we in contract negotiations? Should I have a lawyer present? Maybe Gregory..."
"Screw Gregory. You're not bringing him into this,” but Philippe smiled that ice-melting smile of his, the one that flipped her stomach and made her toes curl.
"You might claim undue stress.” Anne brushed her lips against his.
"I might if this wasn't clearly pre-meditated. I have the consideration in my pocket.” Philippe slipped a hand into his coat, bringing out a blue leather box.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa.” He was serious. This was actually happening. Plain Anne James was about to be proposed to by the dynamic Philippe Lamont. Perceived weakness or not, her eyes teared up. “You're missing a few steps. We have a lot to settle before that."
Philippe's disbelief reminded Anne of a certain night when she bravely showed him exactly what she wanted in lovemaking. “Comment? Like what, Cherie? I love you. You love me. What else is there?"
"How about my start date? My title?"
"Your title will be Missus. Your start date, tomorrow."
Anne thought of Stanley, Nancy, a wedding dress with rhinestones, a bouquet with roses. Her friends were going to kill her. “I'll need at least a week to tie up loose ends."
"Three days."
"One week and that's final.” Anne pressed an index finger against his lips. “I'm not haggling with you, Philippe."
He nibbled at her skin. “Mais non, mon amour, I can think of better things to do."
"Vraiment?"
"Vraiment." And what Philippe presented needed no counter-offer.
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About Kimber
Aspiring writers are told “write what you know". Kimber Chin took that advice to heart. She knew two things ... business (based on decades in new business development) and romance (based on falling and staying in love with the man of her dreams).
Kimber Chin helped lead product launches at numerous Fortune 500 companies. She enjoys drafting capital winning business plans and assisting start ups. She is an entrepreneur, a blogger, and a wife.
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www.champagnebooks.com
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Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Dedication
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty One
Twenty Two
About Kimber
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