by Bry Foster
“Tease.” I get out before another yawn. I feel Cash shake his head as my eyes slip closed. I’m exhausted.
“Rest,” Cash whispers to me in a deep soothing voice. I want to refuse and tell him I’m fine. However, my brain has other ideas. I’m out before I can even think of another retort.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
When I wake up, I am entirely too hot. I feel like someone has put a heater under my shirt in the dead of summer. I peak one eye open to make sure that I didn’t drift into the flames of hell last night and see an elaborately decorated room instead. I almost jump up, but then I hear light snoring and see the strong arm that is over my own.
Cash. I’m in Cash’s room. In Cash’s bed. In Paris.
If this is a dream, I need to make sure I never wake up.
Then I remember what woke me up in the first place. Cash is the freakin’ space heater. I start to squirm when there are two loud knocks on Cash’s door and then Francesca breezes into the bedroom like a fairy godmother.
“Bonjour!” She says excitedly. I pull the blankets up to my chin even though I am dressed and so is Cash. Wait. Is Cash dressed? Before I can check she breezes over to him.
“Bonjour.” I murmur. She smiles at me and then walks to Cash’s side of the bed and taps him. When he doesn’t wake up she shakes him.
“Uncle, a few more minutes.” He mumbles.
“Aucun Delano ici, cher. Il est temps de se réveiller.” Maybe it is the sound of his native language but, hearing Francesca speak wakes Cash. He removes his arm from across my body and shortly, I notice his absence. He wipes a hand across his face and then converses with Francesca.
She smiles at me before heading for the door. “She says breakfast is ready and the family is waiting for us down stairs.” He sits up and pulls the blankets away from himself sitting up on the other side of the bed. Still only in silk pajama bottoms. What nineteen year old wears silk pajamas? Apparently foreign ones. Cash at any time of the day is hot but, Cash in the morning halfway dressed is the best Cash I have seen thus far. I watch the lean muscles on his back as he stretches. I then notice that I feel really well rested. This bed needs to come back home with me because there can’t be anything else on Earth like it. I fall back dramatically on the bed as Cash gets up to put on a t shirt.
“I think it’s too early for me to deal with your mother and Clara.” I mumble into the pillow dramatically. Cash chuckles and walks over to my side, tapping me on the butt.
“Don’t worry. Besides meal times, we will hardly be here.” I peek up at him from under the blanket.
“Promise?” Instead of answering, he leans down and kisses me. I should be worried about morning breath but, I would much rather have Cash’s lips on me as often as possible. When he pulls away, he looks into my eyes. Mesmerizing me like only he can.
“I promise. I have a friend that we will be seeing at lunch time.” My interest is peaked. And that’s not the only thing. “So get that sexy butt up so I can feed you, woman. Francesca makes the best homemade croissants and omelets you will ever have.” I do as I’m told and go about my morning routine before I allow Cash to drag me down stairs. Everyone is seated around a rather ostentatious dining room table. And I do mean everyone.
Lena’s new husband, Benjamin, sits on one end of the table with his back to the window. Lena sits on the opposite head of the table. Corisande sits to the Benjamin’s right and Clara and— I am assuming —Theo sit across from her. Liz and Jasmine sit on either side of Lena leaving enough room for Cash and I to sit next to each other near Corisande.
A woman in a black and white uniform rushes over to us upon our entrance.
“Bonjour. Please be comfortable.” She tells us and Cash leads me over to our seats.
“Bonjour, everyone.” Cash and I say as he pulls out my seat for me. I dip my head towards Benjamin before sitting and he nods at me in what I hope is appreciation of the gesture. I am not entirely sure about the protocol here and I wish Cash would have gone into more depth of it with me. Just because he doesn’t feel the need to follow his family’s wishes, doesn’t mean he needs to drag me down with him.
Corisande speaks to one of the maids and she curtsies to her before disappearing out of the room.
“It is so good to see you again, dear. I have missed you.” Lena’s gentle tone catches me so off guard that I almost fall out of my chair. Is this the same woman that dragged my family through the mud? “I was hoping to get to see you upon your arrival, but I am aware that you were… entertaining a guest.” Ah, yes. There she is.
Cash smiles up at his mother, stiltedly. “Our flight was lovely mère. And yes, we were all very tired when we arrived and did not wish to wake anyone.” Even his mother is affected by his charm. I try to remember the stories that he told me about the relationship between he and his mother. My eyebrows dip as I try to gage what he’s feeling.
Lena smiles kindly at him. “Still, I think she may have been more comfortable in her own room-“ Lena is interrupted by the sound of the door swinging open followed by a plethora of women who bring in platters and set them in the middle of the large dining table.
Francesca comes out last carrying a large tea pot. She sets it in the middle and then speaks to the table. Corisande catches her attention and they converse back and forth before she rubs her shoulder gently in a gesture of appreciation and then she bows out of the room. I tap Cash. What the heck just happened? He whispers to me, “She just said that she hopes we enjoy the meal. My mémée said it is difficult not to enjoy a meal that contains her homemade croissants and she asked us not to spoil her with compliments. It is a song and dance that they have been doing for as long as I can remember.” He tells me and I nod in understanding.
“So, I am happily surprised to see that you have made an attempt to bring your fiancé here before the wedding. Did you want to introduce her to your brother?” Lena asks as we all pass bowls of fruit and plates of croissants around.
“Actually, I was just hoping to show Khloe and Liz around the city.” Cash says casually and I notice that he and his brother’s eyes never meet. Clara on the other hand can hardly keep her eyes away from him it seems. Every time I look up I catch her trying to look away or looking at Cash. I don’t know if she’s trying to catch his eye or not, but it is far too early to be this irritated with someone.
“Cashel.” Corisande reprimands him in a hushed tone. He exhales in exasperation and without looking at Theo, in fact, he continues to butter a croissant.
“Theodore, this is Khloe. Khloe, Theodore.”
Theo glares over the table at Cash and then his eyes flicker to me. He seems to blink in surprise either at me catching him glaring at his younger sibling or because this is his first time actually looking at me—which I find hard to believe since Cash and I were the last ones in the room.
“It is nice to meet the woman who has entranced my brother. I hope that you are able to keep his interests.” He nods at me.
“Thank you?”
“Let us not start this today. This is a joyous occasion, we are expanding our family.” Corisande admonishes.
“This is the first time my sons are seeing each other in nearly two years, certainly there are some things that need to be discussed.” Lena says.
“But not at the breakfast table.” Corisande reprimands.
“No worries. I have no intention of being in Theodore’s way at all during our brief stay-“
“-I am more concerned about whether or not you will be in my wife’s way-“ Lena gasps. “-Hopefully now that you have your own I will not need to concern myself with your whereabouts when I am not here.”
“You should be more troubled by your wife concerning herself with my whereabouts. Not the other way around.” Cash expounds with imperious intent.
“Here we are with your lies again. Clara has no reason to be after you.”
“Yes, I guess that is why her eyes have been attached to me like a magnet since I stepped into the room.�
�� Cash takes a bite of his croissant. Theo drops his silverware onto his plate causing a loud clanking noise and he glares fiercely at Cash.
“Just for once in your life tell the truth! You tried to sleep with her!”
“Well, this just got uncomfortable.” Liz says.
“Believe me, if I wanted to I could have, but I cared about you too much to do so. You’ve seen the lies she published about my relationship. You’ve seen the disgusting things she did to Khloe’s family. God, what an idiot you must be to believe some tart over your own blood.”
“Those were not lies! I heard her, Cashel! She does not deserve you! She is not fit for this family!”
“You are not fit for this family you little b-“
“Enough! Everyone, calm down!” Lena bellows catching everyone off guard. Cash and Theo continue to glare at each other as do Clara and I. I want to rip her throat out like the wolves in the wild. She is such an annoying little pest.
A phone rings in the dead silence of the breakfast and I realize that I have only taken two bites of my meal. The tension is so thick in here that I don’t think I’d be able to swallow any food.
“Excuse me. I need to take this.” Jasmine says as she ducks from the room with her still ringing phone. Lucky.
“Yes, well, I believe I will take my company out.” Cash says as he stands. Liz and I rush to follow his lead, pushing our chairs in behind us. Lena stands.
“But, I am only just seeing you.”
“I think it best to have a little distance. Perhaps we can spend some time together later, mère.” Lena looks crestfallen but she nods in acceptance of Cash’s offer. He leads us away from the room and I feel like I can breathe easier and easier with each step we get away from the dining room.
“I’m surprised Corisande let us leave.” I mumble to Liz as we walk up the marble staircase.
“I am just glad we got out of there.” She mutters back. When we reach the top of the stairs Cash turns to us.
“My friend Noa is on his way to get us. He will be serving as a fellow travel guide in Paris during our stay.” He has a tight smile and I can tell he is trying very hard to show that he is comfortable but he isn’t. I don’t push it.
“Ok. Sounds fun.” We hear footsteps and all turn to see Jasmine sporting a smile.
“Tomas is here. I need to get dressed!” She shoots passed us and opens the wrong door before finding the room she and Liz are sharing. Liz rolls her eyes and then looks at us. “I guess I’ll see you guys in a bit. I’m sure she will want my help to pick out an outfit or do her makeup.”
When the two of them disappear Cash sticks his elbow out and I thread my arm through it, walking next to him down the hall to his room.
“So, how did you sleep last night?” He just pretty much had a verbal WWE match with his family over croissants and preserves and he wants to talk about how I slept?
On impulse, I reach up and pull his mouth down on mine. He’s stiff at first, but eventually he relaxes into the kiss. The familiar heat that his lips on mine bring is comforting as Cash envelopes me in his arms. When I pull away we are both breathing heavy. “Honestly, I can’t say I’ve slept that well in a long time. If ever.” His smile is genuine this time, his green eyes that much brighter.
“Good. I am glad you enjoyed yourself.” His mood is much lighter. “It appears to be a nice day today but whatever you wear, make sure it involves jeans.”
“Jeans?”
“Yes.”
“Why? What are we doing?”
“That is for me to know and for you to find out.” He gives me a wolfish smile.
I raise an eyebrow. “How can I find out if you won’t tell me?” Another smile and then he escapes into his walk in closet to get dressed. “He is going to be the death of me.” I say under my breath but I can’t deny the downright goofy smile that stretches my lips as I think it.
Noa is hot. Like, hot hot. He is opposite of Cash in almost every way and still I want to run my fingers through his hair just once. His build is not as nice as Cash’s and his hair is a bit too long for me. But none of that does much to hide the natural, boyish charm he carries. The dimples that appear when he smiles or his chocolatey eyes. Blonde hair hangs almost passed his shoulders in slight waves and thick brownish blonde eyebrows sit above his face. Where Cash looks more brooding, Noa is very relatable.
Currently, Liz and I are riding around with the boys in Noa’s little black car. He told us what kind it was but I can’t remember. I was too busy watching his mouth move. I think Liz has even put her confusion about whether or not to stay with Tyler on hold to hit on and admire the view.
We still have no idea where we are going and when we question it the boys speak amongst themselves in French while looking back at us often enough to make us aware that we are who they are talking about. I wish Liz and I had the luxury of speaking another language so that we could discuss her drooling all over Noa. I’m all for a best friend love connection. We always used to talk about them when we were younger and I see the possible embers of a budding romance here.
When the car finally comes to a stop, I frown. All I can see for miles is dirt of various elevations.
“Where are we?” I ask in confusion.
“I hope we’re lost.” Liz mutters. I want to ask her when she became such a girlie-girl but the looks on the boys faces is a little frightening. Both of them have wide grins and eyes that gleam with excitement.
“This is the track we had built a few years back when we got into racing.”
“And became bored of being hounded by paparazzi to just hang out.” Cash nods in agreement.
“This is on private property. It doesn’t always keep the papz away but it deters them a bit.” The guys climb out of the car and Liz and I let ourselves out into the muggy heat. Rays of sun seep through my top and warm me up as Liz and I close the back doors of the cars.
“You brought us here to show off, didn’t you Cash.” He shoots us another mischievous smile and we hear a motor rev. We all turn at the same time to see a navy blue bike rushing toward us. On it, a girl wears a tank top, jeans and a blue helmet, black hair blows around behind her.
When she gets close to us she turns the bike so that it kicks up dirt and Liz and I move out of the way.
“Really? Let’s be kind to our new friends.” The mysterious rider takes her helmet off and we are met with a really pretty girl. Besides her long dark hair, she has deep blue eyes and eyebrows that are a bit thick for a girl but still look attractive on her. She grins at us. One of her front teeth sits slightly on top of the other.
“Sorry. I thought I had more control of the bike. I’m Wyatt.” She sticks her hand out first to me and then to Liz and we introduce ourselves. She turns to Cash. “Wow, you must be Cash. Noa’s told me so much about you.”
“Wyatt?” Cash repeats as he reaches for her outstretched hand. “When you said she was a bit of a tomboy I didn’t think it was to this extent.” Cash chuckles and Noa slaps him on the back laughing as well.
“Ladies, this is my girlfriend Wyatt.” Well there goes my happy best friend plan.
“Nice to meet you.” Liz grumbles and I stifle a laugh.
“So what are we gonna do?” I ask the boys as I stick my hands in the back pockets of my jeans.
“We are going to teach you guys how to ride.” Cash retorts. His eyes catch mine and glint. I blush at the double meaning. This time his grin is so big, his smile can rival the sun. Everyone starts to walk off when suddenly Cash pushes me up against the car. His arms on either side of me caging me in as he leans down. I gasp.
“Were you checking out my friend?” I gulp but straighten my spine and shoot for haughty.
“If I was?” His eyes bore into mine. So intense. He leans closer, dipping his mouth to say in my ear,
“You keep those pretty eyes on me or I won’t relieve that ache for you later.”
“What ache?” I whisper and he leans back to smile. The pull in my belly seems t
o know exactly what he’s talking about. “Oh.” I say and he laughs. Cash pulls away from the car, tugging me by the arm so that I get off of it too.
“You lovebirds coming?” Wyatt yells.
Cash keeps staring at me. He gestures to his eyes. “Eyes on me.” He tells me before swatting my butt and laughing when I yelp.
What a cheeky bastard.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
It turns out that Wyatt is actually pretty cool. I’m not used to pretty girls that hang out with wealthy people being nice to me at all. There was only one awkward moment when I asked her what she did that caused a small blip in the experience. Oddly, the energy changed a little but she gave me a small smile and told me that she was a child star turned model/actress.
Later, Cash pulled me aside and reminded me that in France, asking someone what they did was pretty much the same as asking how much money they made so it was a matter of etiquette. I immediately apologized and Wyatt accepted without problem, letting me know that her mother is American so she understands the difference in cultures.
The guys and Wyatt went over everything about the bikes with us repeatedly and when the boys got anxious and wanted to race each other around the track Wyatt stuck it out with Liz and I as we moved slowly over the humps and lumps of the tracks and squealed with excitement when we did a small jump and didn’t fall off. I was happy that I had put my hair in two braids because helmet hair would have been apparent after our sweaty afternoon on the track. When we finished we were all covered in dirt and a little exhausted.
Afterwards, we all piled into Noa’s car and headed out to eat where we were bombarded by cameras of all kinds at the end of the meal once word got out that we were at the quaint little restaurant. Luckily the family body guards were there to help escort us all back out
Most of the trip is filled with awkward family meals and exciting times away from the chateau exploring the beauty and vibrance that is Paris, France. Cash, Noa and Wyatt are the world’s best tour guides and one day we even meet up with Jasmine and Tomas to hang out at a theme park which was both the greatest moment of my life and the craziest. It was hard to enjoy the rides when so many cameras were being pointed at us all of the time. I was so nervous to use the bathroom that Cash emptied it out and had one of the security guards stand by the entrance while Liz, Jas, Wyatt and I used the restroom. In between rides Liz was complaining about being a fifth wheel but refused to flirt with anyone at all.