“I own a lot of businesses; restaurants, luxury apartments, and hotels across Chicago, LA, and Europe,” I explained further. Normally, I’d elaborate, but I didn’t want to scare her away. I got the feeling as intrigued as she was, she didn’t care about the wealth, and I didn’t want to come across as being some sort of pompous prick.
“That’s amazing. And you have restaurants? I can’t believe you have restaurants and come to my place every day.”
“How else would I see you?”
Again, her cheeks flushed. “Why didn’t you ask me out before now then?” She smiled bashfully.
Good. She was loosening up.
“Because the word on the street only came out last week that you were single.”
“I have been practically single for the same length of time that you’ve known me.” There was a hint of something sad in her voice that told me she’d had to deal with a lot from her asshole of an ex.
“That’s my misfortune then, for not asking sooner.” It wasn’t like I hadn’t wanted to.
My father was a constant reminder of the kind of man I never wanted to be. He always cheated on my mother. My mother acted like she didn’t know, but I knew she did. She must have and was probably afraid of what her life would be like if she left. It was no way to live, but she chose it.
My brother was like my father too and cheated on his wife shamelessly.
I was no saint and would be the last person to wave any form of flag, but I didn’t see the point. Why get attached to someone, get them to love or trust you, and then disrespect them by choosing to be with someone else?
“No, it’s mine.” Her voice broke into my thoughts. “I shouldn’t have stayed with someone who was so wrong for me.”
“What happened with your ex?” I’d heard the gist of what took place between her and the ex that morning when she came into the coffeehouse upset, but I wanted to know more. “What did he do to you?”
The sad look on her face made me want to get off this plane and find the fucker so I could beat him senseless.
“Messed up everything,” she replied sitting back against the seat.
“Tell me.”
The sadness in her huge, brown eyes was evident, they spoke so much more than I knew she would. I could tell the signs of a lonely person. Sometimes they looked happy, or like they had it all, but really they were just going through the motions. She came into the coffeehouse and like clockwork, ran through the same routine. She’d meet her friend Stella, they’d talk, Stella would leave, and Wren would work.
Sometimes she had enough staff to take the edge off, but often times she didn’t. I’d seen the ex a total of five times, and each time I thought he looked like a loser, an idiot who had his woman running around while he played around doing fuck all.
“Basically, he tricked me into getting a bunch of loans, one of which was to pay for physio for his leg. But it was all a lie. He used the money for prostitutes and strippers, and God knows what else, and left me with the bill. I’m most likely going to lose everything.” Her voice shook as she said that.
“No, you won’t.” I offered a kind smile.
She brightened up and shook her head. “You say that like you know I won’t. Are you going to ask Mr. Jordin to give me some time to sort myself out? If you know him, tell him I could send over a batch of the best muffins he’d ever tasted in his life if he could agree.” She was laughing, and I smiled but felt guilty.
Maybe now was the time to tell her that I was Mr. Jordin and that AJ was a name I’d thought up on the spot so as not to put her off.
Adam Jordin was my name. I’d just abbreviated it for the purposes of our date. It wasn’t exactly a lie.
I’d seen how long it took her to loosen up around me and how uneasy she looked by my wealth, so it was probably best that I didn’t tell her who I was just yet.
I really wanted her to have a nice time on this trip.
“Mr. Jordin?” I did my best to sound clueless.
“It’s a name I saw when I was signing the agreement. I figured that maybe he was the bank manager or someone. It sounds French,” she giggled.
She was right, and more guilt tugged at my insides.
“I’m sure no man in their right mind would pass up a batch of your muffins.”
“You’re sweet.” She smiled.
I almost laughed at the compliment. Me? Sweet? No, I was far from it, but she made me want to try. If only for her, and that was saying a lot. I didn’t think I’d ever gone all out like this for any woman.
“I’m glad you think so.”
“I do, and I can’t believe I’m here.” She brought her hands up to her cheeks and instantly looked quite worried.
“What? You have that deer-caught-in-the-headlights look.”
She laughed. “I’m going to be with you for a week. A week, I don’t even remember the last time I spent a week with Stella. I barely know you.”
I was wondering when she would start freaking out about that and had anticipated this.
“Well this is the part where we get to know more about each other.” I nodded.
She smiled at that and her cheeks colored to that shade of rose I loved.
“Okay… What’s your favorite color?”
I was surprised that she’d ask something so simple. “Green, like the grass.”
That was how our conversation began. Then it deepened, and soon, we were talking about all sorts of things. I’d even moved to sit next to her. Best of all I loved the way she loosened up around me, and she too was starting to flirt.
The eight-hour journey went by in a flash.
The last time I talked that much to anyone was probably back in college. Definitely hadn’t done it since.
It was exactly eight when we arrived at Charles de Gaulle airport.
Like always the air smelled of excitement and food.
Wren reminded me of a kid who’d just gotten what they always wanted for Christmas. First, she was excited, then she got this look of awe and appreciation.
Then excitement again as we got into the limo and set off for dinner.
We hit traffic and were slightly delayed, but she enjoyed being stuck.
Her eyes were trained on the city lights and everything around us as we passed by.
The journey took just over forty minutes.
Her face lit up when she saw the restaurant. I knew she wanted dinner on top of the Eiffel Tower, but I had that planned for tomorrow as I didn’t manage to get my usual table at Le Jules Verne. Although it was on the second level of the Eiffel Tower it offered private terrace dining I knew she would love. It would be worth the wait.
For tonight we would be dining at the haute-cuisine restaurant of the Shangri-La hotel, L'Abeille.
This place was a must for any member of my family. Mom always came here first before she went anywhere else. For her she couldn’t do anything else until she stopped to eat here. That’s how amazing the place was.
I loved the way Wren’s face lit up when we got out of the car, but as we headed inside she stopped mid stride on the pavement and looked around. Wonder and admiration washed over her beautiful face.
I panicked when she seemed like she was going to cry.
“Wren, hey. You okay?” I pressed my hand to the small of her back, loving the delicate feel of her.
She tucked a wayward strand behind her ear and turned to face me, those beautiful eyes searching mine and when a tear ran down her cheek I instinctively reached out and caught it.
“I’m okay. I’m sorry. It’s … I just can’t believe I’m here. Or, that you did this for me.”
“You deserve it.” I offered.
It wasn’t that I felt sorry for her. That was a different feeling altogether. It was more the case of I was sorry she’d been through so much.
“Thank you for thinking that.” Another tear ran down her cheek which I wiped away.
“It’s true.”
Her gaze was filled with gratitude then her eyes dropped to
my lips and I couldn’t help but look at hers too. The glossy pink called to me, it lulled me into a sense of longing and desire.
Wasn’t I the one who told her she could do what she wanted to?
Twice today I’d wanted to kiss her. This time was more intense, and I didn’t want to resist.
She pressed her lips together and her gaze flicked back up to mine.
The same desire mirrored my own.
She moved too when I lowered my head to get closer. Good, that was all I needed.
I cupped her face and lowered my mouth to her awaiting lips, claiming her mouth.
The spark I always felt when I was with her ignited and licked across my skin like
wildfire set ablaze by gasoline. Strawberries and cream came to mind as I tasted her. Sweet and virtuous as I imagined.
She moaned into my mouth, making my pulse quicken and I deepened the kiss. Slipping my hand behind her head I angled her mouth so I could have more, hoping she’d forgive me for being greedy and wanting to possess her.
But then I stopped. Had to. We were at the Shangri La. Our family always had a room reserved here. As far as I knew it was only me in Paris today. So, the room had my name on it.
It wouldn’t take much for me to take Wren right there and I didn’t want to cut the night short.
“Later.” I whispered in her ear.
“Later.” She breathed with a sweet, sexy smile.
We’d been walking side by side before, but now I reached for her hand to hold it.
That kiss just changed the game.
I’d held back a lot on this trip, controlling my wild thoughts of her and her perfect body. From the looks of things, there was a chance I might not have to control myself much longer.
Chapter 10
Wren
* * *
Like many things today I couldn’t believe I was sitting in the world famous
L'Abeille at the Shangri La. I’d heard many fabulous things about the Two Michelin starred French gastronomy.
Me.
Jesus Lord, as Stella would say. First, I wanted to run around, and jump up and down from the intensity of the excitement of just seeing the place. Then I got that overwhelming happiness that sent me to tears.
I didn’t mean to cry but I was so damn happy I couldn’t stop it.
It was like walking around in a dream.
Literally.
I expected nothing less than the best when we were served up the finest cuisine imaginable, better than what I could have dreamt up.
Steak haché with pommes frites & cheat's Béarnaise sauce for AJ, and chicken marengo for me.
Divine, divine. Food fit for God himself and his heavenly host of angels. Again, as Stella would say.
I savored the food and I couldn’t stop looking around at all the finery.
It was all amazing but there was one thing– one man – that topped everything.
AJ.
We kissed, and that wasn’t any old kiss either. It was one of those kisses that felt like it was a long time coming, and to kiss him forever wouldn’t be long enough.
Not for me.
It was the kind of kiss that held an unspoken promise then he confirmed it with his whispers of later.
When was later?
It was late now, and we’d been talking.
Being with him topped being in Paris.
As wonderful as it all was, being with him surpassed being here in this amazing restaurant, and being in Paris.
I dared not tell him I would have been just as happy sitting with him in the park back home eating marshmallows or something mundane like that.
Being with him in this moment, this day, was perhaps the best thing that had happened to me in years.
There was so much to him, and so much more I wanted to know. Our conversation on the plane was the beginning of the standard getting to know you questions and answers, but then somehow, we started talking about mobster films. Turned out he was into them as much as me.
The Godfather, Scarface, Goodfellas. We talked about them all.
Then we were here, and I guess I could still continue the ‘get to know you’. Especially since I now knew what it was like to kiss him.
“AJ.”
“Yes, My lady.”
God could he be any more perfect?
“You have to tell me what AJ stands for.” I’d forgotten to ask, and it just popped into my head.
I wondered if he had a long name or just thought it was cool to go with the abbreviation.
When an uneasy look washed over his handsome face I started thinking that maybe he had an embarrassing name.
Then there was his silent contemplation.
“Oh my goodness, it’s something like Archibald Joubert.”
“Joubert?” He narrowed his gaze and smiled.
“I can’t think of anything embarrassing.”
“Why do you think it’s embarrassing?”
“The way you look.” I wagged my pointer at him and giggled. “Jupiter. Archibald Jupiter.”
“Do you want me to be Archibald Jupiter? You seem to like it.” He raised a dark brow and tilted his head to the side.
I laughed but leaned forward resting my hands on the table.
He didn’t want to tell me what AJ stood for. Why?
I didn’t care. It didn’t matter. It was just nice to laugh with him.
“You’re giving me the choice to name you Archibald Jupiter?”
“You can call me whatever you want.”
I pressed my lips together, hiding my smile, and trying not to blush like an idiot. That was all I did today, and pretty certain every other day I’d seen him.
“Are you ever going to tell me?”
“If I tell you, I’ll…” he leaned closer and brushed his fingers over my right hand.
“You’ll have to what?”
“Kill you.”
Oh my God. I burst out laughing. “What the hell?” I attempted a straight face, but couldn’t stop laughing.
“Wren, that’s not funny. If someone says that you run like hell.”
“You want me to run like hell in these heels? Come on.”
He chuckled and moved his chair next to me. When he sat back down his shoulders brushed against mine. I watched him and leaned into him as he placed his arm around me.
“I’ll kill you by spoiling you. You won’t have to run anywhere, except to me.”
“I’m dreaming.” Had to be because this wasn’t real.
“No, you’re not, but I could be.” I lifted my head to meet his gaze and smiled. “How about I tell you what AJ stands for on our last day here.”
“Okay, mysterious.” That was fine by me. “In my head you’ll be Archibald Jupiter until then.”
He planted a kiss on my forehead. When he pulled me even closer and our lips met I melted into his teasing kiss.
Tender with heat. That was how I would describe it.
Unlike earlier this kiss continued unbroken and I lost myself in him.
Consumed by the desire that coursed through me, I returned the heat of his kiss.
“Let’s get out of here.” He breathed against my lips. Voice heavy with need. The same need I felt.
All I could manage to do was nod.
Looked like later had arrived.
As soon as we got back in the limo his merciless mouth captured mine with savage kisses that reflected my own desire.
Passion pulsed through me, fueling my arousal.
This was all so bizarre.
Me in Paris with nothing but the clothes on my back and my little purse, all in the care of a super-gorgeous guy who wanted to make sure I had a great time.
Everything he did so far was perfect. Everything.
I had gone from loser Billy, who drained me out, to amazing AJ who’d rejuvenated me. And I really liked him. Sure, I knew it was easy to like someone who looked as dreamy as him, but this was different. He’d gone all out and made sure everything was exactly as I’d d
escribed to Stella, with a few additions.
Seduction rippled off him and I wanted him. Just having him would be enough spoilage for me.
We continued to consume each other, not caring the driver could probably hear us.
Before AJ pounced on me he’d made sure he closed the little window that separated us from the driver, but I was certain that didn’t block out the sounds of passion.
It was like we couldn’t get enough of each other.
Every nerve in my body responded to him, hungry for more. Greedy for more of Mr. Delicious.
When I smoothed my hands up the hard walls of his chest he ran his fingers through my hair pressing my mouth harder to his, showing me he wanted me. All of me.
That was what it felt like. Like he wanted every piece of me. I’d never felt that before. Not with anyone. My heart pounded in my chest at the thought and the currents of pleasure that swept across my body.
My nipples tightened painfully when he smoothed his hands up to my breasts and gave them a gentle squeeze. His tongue tangled with mine, devouring me, creating a delicious suction. Then suddenly the heat turned up. Our kisses became carnal. Hot. Raw.
I moaned at the intensity and desire pooled between my thighs, making my panties wet.
It became too much.
I thanked God when the car stopped, because damn I would have allowed him to take me right here no matter that we weren’t alone.
It was actually the driver’s voice that broke into the enchantment that held us together.
I gazed out the window, and my breath slipped away at the sight of the castle-like house that looked like it was transported from a fairytale. It stood before us, beautiful and magical in the picturesque mingle of the moonlight and amber lights that lit up the grounds.
Holy shit. That was no villa. AJ said we’d be staying in a villa.
This medieval fortress that looked more fitting to the Renaissance era was more along the lines of a château. I’d seen houses like this on TV in shows like Lifestyle’s of the Rich and the Famous, and in Beautiful Homes magazine.
If this was what he called a villa, I would be intrigued to see what his actual house looked like.
I couldn’t wait to get inside and I couldn’t believe there was anything on earth that had been able to tamp down the desire that had consumed me for AJ only seconds ago.
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