by Robyn Amos
Both women stopped peeling potatoes to stare at her. “What?” Ronnie asked, looking back at them.
“We didn’t mean for you, child,” Grandma Patsy said. “You’re too young to give up on men.”
“That’s right,” her mother said, shaking her peeler at her. “I need grandbabies. I don’t care what kind of modern woman you are, you’ll need a man for that.”
“Huh? But, the two of you have always said—”
“Oh, Veronica,” her mother said with a sigh. “We talk a lot of mess, but that’s just talk. Do you think I don’t wish for a man every time the lawn needs mowing?”
“And somebody to warm your feet under the covers when it’s cold outside,” Grandma Patsy said.
Ronnie shook her head in shock. In all her years growing up in that house, she’d never once heard her mothers admit that they missed the companionship of a man.
Her mother looked her in the eye. “Listen, Veronica, justbecause our marriages didn’t work out doesn’t mean that you won’t find a good man one day. We may have forgotten to mention it, but the truth is, they do exist.”
Grandma Patsy nodded.
“They’re hard to find, though,” Sadie continued. “So when you come across one, you’d better hold on to him.”
“And ask if he has a single grandfather for me,” Grandma Patsy said, laughing.
“Cara, I can’t believe you’re eating hamburgers in Paris. You should be eating something more French, like croissants or vichyssoise.”
“Here, this is French,” Cara said, shoving a French fry in her mouth.
They were sitting at a café close to the Eiffel Tower. Unfortunately, the trip wasn’t the week-long girlfriend bonding time she’d expected. When Cara told her that she wanted to bring her husband and kids to Paris with her, Ronnie couldn’t say no.
As it was, during the last three days they’d been in France, Cara had sent A.J. and her children off on their own as much as she could so that she and Ronnie could have girl time. But this was the most romantic city on earth, and Ronnie didn’t want to keep her friend from experiencing it with her husband.
“Besides,” Cara said, “you’ve forced me to have rich French food for three days straight. I practically have crème brûlée coming out of my ears. This morning the hotel even served it with breakfast.”
“And you combat rich French food with a hamburger and fries?”
“It’s comfort food. It reminds me of home.” Cara paused, making a face at her. “Have we switched bodies? I’m usually hassling you about eating burgers and fries.
I’m impressed with how dedicated you’ve been to your diet. But when I get home I’m going to have to lose a few pounds.”
Ronnie rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry, fat doesn’t dare stick to your skinny frame. You’ve scared it away permanently from your years of cardio.”
Cara finished her hamburger and wiped her hands on her napkin. “How are you holding up? Are you still upset about Ace?”
Ronnie waved off her friend. “I’m fine. Like I told you, we cleared the air on the plane. We probably won’t be as close as we once were, but we’ve agreed to be friends.”
“That’s a start.”
Ronnie shook her head. “Or maybe it’s a finish. I won’t know until we see each other again. But what matters now is getting through this last leg of the Food Fight.”
Even as she said the words she didn’t quite believe them. Something felt very empty inside her since she’d broken things off with Ace. And ever since the startling revelation that her mothers didn’t hate men as much as they pretended, Ronnie had been more confused than ever.
The truth was, these last few days in Paris had been lonely. Sure, Cara had made a point to spend a day at the spa with her getting massaged with chocolate-infused oils. They’d shopped on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, and that morning they’d gone to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
But the rest of the time Ronnie had insisted that Cara do things with her family. They always invited Ronnie to tag along, but after eating dinner with them the first night, she realized that it was less painful to order room service in her hotel room.
Seeing the happy family looking picture perfect made her realize that she was over thirty and without a family of her own. In the past she’d spent a lot of time with Cara’sfamily and that fact had never bothered her. But somehow things were different now.
In order to keep her friend from feeling sorry for her, she always claimed she was going to do something with LQ. There had been some tension between Ronnie and her sous chef at first, but after a long talk over lunch, things had lightened up between them. Still, when LQ asked her to spend time with her and her husband, she didn’t always go. Right now, it was tough to be a third wheel.
Most of the time Ronnie was on her own—window shopping, sightseeing and sampling French cuisine. While she was lonely, she took the time to sort through her emotions. Her friends meant well, but she didn’t want to have to pretend to be upbeat when she wasn’t.
The competition was in three days, and she’d spent a lot of time thinking about what the judges might ask them to prepare. No one knew what the final Food Fight challenge would be, but Ronnie made sure she was prepared.
She studied French recipe books, visited restaurants and spoke with the chefs, keeping her mind focused on the things she knew she could do best.
When it was time to compete, Ronnie knew she’d be ready. But for the moment, she just wished she could have a little taste of the romance Paris seemed to demand.
Ace got off the elevator and entered the hotel lobby after spending most of the day sleeping. He was in Paris a few days early, but he wished he wasn’t. Unfortunately, he’d taken a leap of faith and booked his plane tickets months in advance, not knowing he’d be so reluctant to tour the city.
It had been only three months since his last visit, and while he’d had a great time tasting the local flavors andmeeting new people, he hadn’t forgotten how lonely the place had made him feel.
He wasn’t looking forward to dining alone in spots better suited to couples or strolling along the Seine by himself. Taking out his phone, he searched for Marcel’s number. He knew he’d brought Simone along for the final leg of the competition, but at this point, being a third wheel would be better than being on his own.
As he scrolled through his contact list, he almost ran into someone headed toward the elevators. “Excusez-moi,” he muttered without looking up.
“My, aren’t you fancy, with the French just rolling off your tongue.”
Surprised at the familiar female voice, he looked up to see Ronnie standing before him. Immediately, his spirits lifted. “Ronnie, I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there. Where are you headed?”
“Back to my room to order room service.” She held up a shopping bag. “I was out buying souvenirs for my staff back home.”
Ace felt like a teenager, with his heart hammering in his chest at the sight of her. “I’m headed out to find some place to eat. I—” He swallowed, almost changing his mind. “I don’t suppose you’d like to join me?”
With the words out, he braced himself for her rejection.
“Uh, sure. Do you mind waiting while I dump this stuff in my room and freshen up a bit?”
She said yes! “No problem. I’ll wait for you here,” he said, almost feeling giddy.
To his relief, Ronnie was only gone only a few moments. Because during that time he’d managed to convince himself that she wasn’t coming back. When had he become so vulnerable?
Coming toward him she looked great in her dark denim jeans, purple camisole and long black sweater. Her hair was pulled back from her face, but fell long around her shoulders. She looked soft and pretty.
He wanted to kiss her.
Blinking rapidly, he pushed those thoughts aside. Just because she’d agreed to have dinner with him didn’t mean she would let him kiss her. She’d made it clear that all she wanted from him was friendship.
; “So where are we going for dinner?” she asked when she reached his side.
“When I was here a few months ago, I found some great places we could try. What are you in the mood for?”
“Why don’t you surprise me?”
They left the hotel, and Ace hailed a cab. He enjoyed the chance to show off his French. He instructed the driver to take them to a little bistro owned by a well-known French chef.
If Ace was afraid the dinner conversation would be awkward after all they’d been through recently, he was wrong. They’d fallen back into the rhythm of the lighthearted banter they’d shared in culinary school.
The food was amazing, the company was wonderful and Ace felt happier than he had in a while. The only thing hanging over him on the cab ride back to the hotel was that it would be over soon.
The sky was darkening and they were nearing the Eiffel Tower. “Have you been to the Eiffel Tower yet?”
She nodded. “Yeah, Cara and I went this morning.”
“Have you seen it at night?”
“No,” Ronnie said, laughing. “Is there much to see at night?”
“They light it up. Do you want to see?”
She shrugged. “Yeah, okay.”
Ace told the cab driver where to go. There was a concrete viewing area between two buildings across the way from the Eiffel Tower. From there they had a perfect view of the tower twinkling at night with white sparkling lights.
“This is a great view,” Ronnie said. “I never would have guessed that it would be worth seeing at night even more than during the day. Thanks for not letting me miss this.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, standing a bit behind her. For a moment they just stood silently, staring at the twinkling tower. This was one of the romantic activities that he’d had to do alone the last time he was here.
He wanted to wrap his arms around her and rest his chin on the top of her head. But he also didn’t want to ruin the moment by doing something she didn’t want him to do. Still, the urge in him was strong. Inching forward, he moved up until her back was against his chest. She didn’t move away.
Taking a deep breath, he slipped his arms around her waist. He felt her lean back on him, covering his hands with hers. Smiling, Ace tightened his arms around her, letting his chin drop onto her head.
They stood there watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle for several more minutes. Finally, he pulled back and Ronnie turned in his arms. Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Ace leaned down and kissed her.
When the kiss broke, he said, “We can probably walk back to the hotel from here. Do you want to?”
She smiled up at him. “Let’s do it.”
As they entered their hotel lobby, Ronnie’s heart began to race. She’d had a wonderful evening with Ace and she wasn’t ready for it to end.
For the last couple of hours she hadn’t had to thinkabout the competition or relationships. And best of all, she’d finally been able to appreciate the inherently romantic atmosphere that Paris had to offer.
They walked back to their hotel, holding hands while Ace tried to teach her key phrases in French. Soon they were back at the hotel and the only thing left to do was say good-bye.
Ace hit the up button on the elevator and they stepped inside.
“Do you want to come up to my room for a little while?” Ronnie asked. “The hotel gave me a complimentary bottle of champagne.”
A wide smile broke out on Ace’s face. “Yes, I’d like that.”
Ronnie let Ace into her room, knowing in the back of her mind that she was treading on dangerous territory. But she ignored that nagging feeling because being with Ace felt so good at the moment. And after so many days of feeling bad, she wasn’t ready to give that up.
If she stopped to examine the situation, she’d be forced to admit that this was her old pattern. She chose what felt good over what was good for her. That’s how she’d woken up and found herself overweight one day.
But that was a problem for another time.
Ronnie opened her minibar and pulled out the champagne. She turned to find Ace standing over her. He took the bottle out of her hand and placed it on top of the bar.
“I missed you,” he said simply, and Ronnie felt herself break.
“I missed you, too,” she said. Then their mouths came together urgently.
Chapter 17
Ace slid his hand behind Ronnie’s neck, tilting her face so he could deepen their kiss. His other arm locked around her waist, holding her tight and close.
He slipped his tongue between her lips. He’d missed the heat of her mouth. His hands slid down her body. He’d missed her soft, supple curves. She moaned his name.
Afraid a false move or stray word would shatter this fragile moment, Ace pulled Ronnie over to the bed and began undressing her. But as her fingers burrowed under his T-shirt to help him pull it off over his head, he saw no sign of second thoughts in her eyes.
Ace didn’t waste time questioning this unexpected good fortune. He lay back on the bed and lifted Ronnie over him. He wanted her to take the lead.
Relishing the opportunity, she surprised him by leaning over until her lips grazed his chest. Then they made a whisper-soft trail over the planes of his stomach. Hisabdomen contracted as her tongue circled his navel and continued downward.
When she reached the apex of his thighs, she cupped him in her hands and lowered her mouth over him. Ace squirmed against the sheets as she licked from the base to the tip like an ice cream cone on a summer day.
Ronnie worked him with her lips and tongue until Ace thought he’d go out of his head. Hoping to take back control, he dragged her up his body, groaning at the torturous friction.
Rolling her beneath him, he began his own assault on her senses. First he used his teeth to lightly nip at her breasts, then soothed his bites with the suction of his mouth. Before long she was writhing against the bed just as he’d done moments earlier. But Ace wasn’t done with his sensual torment.
Taking the same journey down Ronnie’s body that she’d taken over his, he found her sensitive folds. Lovingly, he kissed and licked her until she was nearly screaming his name. Despite her protests, he didn’t quit until he felt her body quiver with pleasure.
Then, knowing he’d held on as long as his body could, he put on protection and buried himself inside her. Their bodies rocked together in several long strokes, and Ace knew he was about to fall over the edge.
Thankfully, Ronnie began to tremble, freeing him to enjoy his own release. Exhausted, they fell asleep in each other’s arms.
Ronnie awoke in the middle of the night disoriented. She shivered, not sure if it was a bad dream or something else that had caused her to sit straight up in bed.
Then it was as if all her demons and insecurities came to haunt her at once—worries over the competition, pressureto stay thin while surrounded by some of the most decadent food in the world, questions about whether it had been a mistake to be with Ace again.
Ronnie shifted to climb out of bed and a pair of steel arms slipped around her. Ace pulled her close, letting her rest her back against his chest as he held her.
“What’s wrong? Did you have a bad dream?”
Ronnie felt like a fool. She couldn’t find the words to express the fears that plagued her, so she shook her head.
“It wasn’t a dream? Are you just overwhelmed?”
Sighing, Ronnie nodded.
He squeezed her tighter. “I know the feeling, but you can’t let this competition get to you. It’s just food. In the grand scheme of life, how much is this really going to matter down the road?”
She leaned back against his chest. “Probably not much.”
“That’s right. And I’m sure your mom and your grandma Patsy are proud of what you’ve achieved so far.”
“Yeah, I think they are.”
“Then take a deep breath and relax. You’re an amazing, funny, beautiful woman and a talented chef. That’s all you need to remember.”
Ronnie sighed again. “Thanks, Ace. You always were good with words.”
He laughed, squeezing her again. “Good with words, good with food, good with the ladies. You need to recognize. you’re in the presence of greatness right now.”
His words were so cocky and out of the blue, Ronnie found herself laughing out loud.
“That’s more like it,” he continued. “Stop and think about where you are right now. You’re in Paris, France. About to cook in a television competition with two otherworld-class chefs. You’re one of the best. How many people get opportunities like we have right now?”
“I know you’re right. And I’ve tried to take it all in. I’ve toured the city, I ate in some of the most amazing restaurants, I talked with the chefs…. But there must be something wrong with me, because it left me kind of cold.”
Actually the first time she’d begun to feel like she was truly enjoying herself was tonight. Having a simple meal with a man she liked, visiting the Eiffel Tower and strolling home made her finally feel a part of the romance of Paris.
“I know exactly what you’re talking about. The last time I was here researching my cookbook, I was on my own. Suddenly everything seemed made for couples. It’s much easier to appreciate this beautiful city when you have someone to share it with.”
Ronnie nodded, feeling her heart rate picking up. She didn’t want to think about how much she was letting herself lean on Ace. She didn’t want to acknowledge the feelings that were chipping away at the walls around her heart.
“I have an idea,” he said suddenly.
“Yes?”
“Why don’t I show you Paris tomorrow. Now, before you tell me that you’ve already seen it, let me show you Paris my way. Some of the funky little places you may not have seen yet. We can do some of the things that I couldn’t do on my own last time I was here.”
Ronnie felt warm and safe in Ace’s arms. And for now, she didn’t want it to end. She’d just have to face the consequences later.
“That sounds like fun,” she whispered. Then they both laid back and eventually drifted off to sleep, wrapped in each other’s arms.