by Sierra Rose
“Great! Then let’s dig in. The nighttime shot just needs us and the Tower.”
I blankly stared down at him as he put dip on his cracker, then poured himself a glass of wine.
“Seriously?” he said. “You’re not going to eat any of this delicious spread?”
My stomach had been growling for hours, so I slowly walked over and casually sat as far away from him as I could.
He reached over and held a cracker with cheese. “Try it. It’s delicious.”
“I can feed myself, but thank you.” I took a tentative bite, and it was delicious. “Wow! It’s fantastic.”
He smiled. “I knew you would love it.”
“Thanks for packing this wonderful little snack.”
He flashed me his most gleaming smile. “You’re welcome.”
His messy black hair and bright blue eyes shimmered in the sun. He was so handsome; if I had him on my arm, I would have been the envy of every woman in Paris. I remembered how he used to play with my hair and kiss me deeply, and I couldn’t stop staring at his mouth. I would never forget his passionate kisses or the little picnics we’d shared before, none of which were as innocent as this one. When he caught me looking at him and grinned, I assumed the same memories were scrolling through his mind as well.
“Do you remember how we stayed up all night listening to the waves, watching the stars, and talking about how we’d travel the world?” I asked.
“Like it was yesterday.”
“Maybe that’s why my mother organized this trip. She knew how much we wanted to travel the globe, and a lot of the places she’s forcing us to go are places I told her I wanted to see, places we wanted to see.”
“Maybe she wanted you to have your dream vacation.”
“No offense, but why with you? I mean, what mother would reward a man who broke her daughter’s heart like that, giving him a dream vacation and a load of cash?”
“Your mom never liked me, Ashly, so I’m just as confused as you are about that. I’m not sure why she’d do all this for me, but I plan to enjoy it while it lasts.”
“Well, maybe we’ll find out her reasoning when we collect all the pictures and get them back to my lawyer.”
“Maybe so.”
I thought about checking out some of the Paris boutiques and seeing some of the sights. “Hey, Jake,” I said.
“Yeah?”
“How about we split up and meet back here tonight for the picture?”
He seemed confused that I’d want to ditch him for the day. “Why? You got other plans?”
“Just some shopping and sightseeing. I’ll probably come back early because I’ve got a new novel I want to start on. It’s not often a girl gets to read in front of the Eiffel Tower.”
“If that’s what you wanna do,” he said, shrugging.
I reached for my purse. “Great.”
“But I have to admit, I was hoping we could spend the day together.”
“We’re only required to share a room and take the pictures, Jake. I’ll see you at the next photo shoot.” I blew him an air kiss. “See ya tonight,” I said, then turned to walk off, knowing full well that staying away from him was the only way I could maintain a friendship with him.
“You know, there are a lot of women who’d die to spend a day in Paris with me,” he called out as I walked away.
Glancing over my shoulder I said, “Good. When you get your half of the money, you can bring one back. Heck, you can bring a whole harem.”
He chuckled as I sped off across the park.
The hotel wasn’t far away, so I walked back to put all the flowers in a vase of water. I knew if I didn’t, they’d wilt and die by the time I returned. I really shouldn’t have cared, but for some odd reason, they seemed important to me. The hotel room looked so beautiful and smelled so fragrant with the large bouquet as its centerpiece. It was such a romantic gesture that I had no idea why I’d even accepted them, but they certainly were beautiful.
Chapter 5
I walked straight up to the Eiffel Tower and stared upward at it for a minute. Then I bought a ticket and waited in line for two hours to go to the top. The view was amazing and totally worth the wait. After that, I visited a few shops and checked out all the awesome Paris fashions. I bought a few more outfits and even took a scenic Seine River cruise. Finally, I made my way back to the park and lay flat on my stomach to read my book.
“Love the sunglasses,” Jake said when he crept up behind me, just before twilight.
“They’re all the rage in Paris,” I said.
“I see you did a little shopping.”
“Oui,” I said in my best French accent.
“I heard the boutiques are the best in all the world.”
“They were great. I’m glad I got to visit them. I bought some really cute things.”
“Well, it’s important to lavish yourself in the city of Paris.”
“Hey! I only splurged on a couple outfits. I didn’t go all crazy.”
“Heh. That’s another thing I love about you, Ashly. You’re not one of those stuck-up rich girls. You’ve always been so down to Earth, and you’ve always seen me for who I really am. When you loved me, you did it with all you had to offer inside, not just by buying me things and flaunting your money around.”
I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “Thanks, Jake. What else do you like about me? I mean…well, I’m just curious.”
He looked at me, and his face lit up. “I love how sweet, caring, and compassionate you are. You never cheated on me and were always so loyal. You are a great listener and never judge anyone. You are hot, sexy, funny, cool, and so smart. You used to make me laugh, and you really got me.”
“Wow. I’m speechless.”
“I bought something for special for you today,” he said, handing me a small gift bag with gold tissue paper inside it.
I carefully pulled the gift out of the bag, a small snow globe with the Eiffel Tower in the center. “The Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, and Sacre Coeur” was carved around the base. My heart melted at the sight of it. “You remembered!” I said, astonished and touched.
“You said an Eiffel Tower snow globe was the first thing you were going to buy in Paris.”
I smiled, then opened my mouth to speak as the memories flooded through me, but no words would come out. I could picture his arms around me as I snuggled in his arms and we talked about all our adventures late into the night. There I was in Paris with him, just like we had always dreamt, but things were different now. “Thank you, Jake,” I said, my voice trembling. “It’s just beautiful.” I didn’t want him to see how emotional I was getting, so I quickly went into all-business mode. “We should set up for our nighttime shot.” I put the snow globe in one of my bags sitting at the edge of the blanket. When I did, the structure above us burst into a brilliant display that took my breath away. “Whoa! It lights up!”
“Just like I do when you’re around,” Jake said shyly. He then excitedly said, “I’ll set the camera up.”
I stared up at the beautiful Tower in the night sky. It was illuminated with thousands of tiny white lights for the first fifteen minutes of every hour, a breathtaking display. I’d seen pictures in books and magazines and on movies, but I was still in awe of how big and beautiful it was. It was as if every firefly in existence had gathered there, and the lights sparkled like diamonds, lighting up the entire city. Seeing the Tower in person was unforgettable, another magical experience that I would forever remember, and in that moment, I didn’t want to leave. It was pure magic, and I knew that place would hold a special spot in my heart forever. I glanced up at the sky and whispered, “Thank you, Mom. I know you can hear me, wherever you are.”
“Isn’t this memorable?” Jake asked, coming from behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist.
I trembled from his touch, and my breath froze in my throat. I leaned back into his muscular frame and stared up at the beautiful sight before me.
“It’s even more beautiful tha
n what we dreamt,” he whispered, his hot breath tickling my neck.
I turned around to face him, and he looked at me with those bedroom eyes, as if daring me to kiss him. I stared at his mouth, which was just inches away; it would only take a subtle tilt of my chin for me to touch his soft lips with mine, and I knew he’d kiss me back in a heartbeat. I remembered how hot and passionate his kisses were, and I remembered how he used to run his hands through my hair and down the curves of my body. His touch was as magic as the Tower looming above us, and I felt it all the way down to my soul, to the very core of my being. I took a deep breath, let it out slowly, then pushed him away. “Uh, we really need to get that picture,” I said.
“Oh yeah. Right.”
I hit the automatic button and rushed to stand next to Jake. He wrapped his arm around me and, just as the flash lit up the night, he kissed me on the cheek.
I pulled away. “This is strictly business, Jake, not pleasure.”
He stared deeply into my eyes. “I know, but this is a place for couples. I know you can feel it, Ashly.”
“We’re not a couple,” I managed to choke out, “and I assure you I’m not some love-struck romantic—or at least not anymore. That part of me was destroyed several years ago.”
“You’ll get it back.”
I cocked an eyebrow. “What did you just say?”
“I said you’ll be a romantic again. Paris is a city for lovers, a city for people to fall in love or to fall in love again. We just might accidentally rekindle the magic from our past.”
“Are you trying to seduce me again, Jake?”
“Is it working?”
“Not one bit.”
He brushed a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “No?”
“I feel nothing.”
“Hmm. Then it seems I have a lot of work to do.”
I pushed him away. “Damn it, Jake. We aren’t two lovers on a stroll. This trip means nothing to me beyond a business deal so I can get my hands on my share of the money. And what did you think anyway? That I’d forgive and forget the cruel thing you did to me just because you’re whispering sweet nothings in my ear here, in Paris? You might be charming, Jake, and we both know you’re gorgeous, but looks and personality can only carry you so far.”
He looked into my eyes. “I was such a fool to leave you, Ashly. I wasn’t happy in Texas, not for one single moment.”
“How did you end up in Texas anyway?” I asked.
“My cousin has a ranch there. I helped him out for a few months, then got my own place. I worked hard at growing up and staying out of trouble. I used to ride the horses for hours to escape all the pain, hurt, and guilt I was feeling.”
I winked. “If you would’ve married me like you promised to, I would’ve kept you out of trouble.”
“I’ve been miserable for the last five years without you. All I could think about was you. You’re the reason I moved back.”
“I’m glad you did, because your friends and family missed you horribly.”
“But you didn’t?”
“No,” I lied as I started to clean up. “Anyway, we got our picture. We better get back to the hotel room.”
He started to pack up the camera gear. “One step closer to our goal,” he said.
“Indeed we are.”
As soon as we stepped into the hotel, Jake pulled me toward the lounge. “Let’s get a drink.”
I laughed.
“What?” he smiled.
“Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker, huh?” I asked.
He smirked. “I didn’t give you any candy…and I’m only asking you to have one drink with me.”
For some reason, I felt drawn to him, but the place was too dimly lit, too romantic, and absolutely too tempting. I knew I needed to walk away, and my brain literally screamed that at me, but I somehow managed to ignore the warning. “One drink, but I’m gonna chug it,” I said.
We walked in and sat down, and Jake ordered a glass of wine for each of us.
After the smiling server brought it back to our table in two tall glasses, I took a tentative sip. “It’s delightful,” I said.
“I thought you were going to chug it down.”
“Meh, I guess the least I can do, since you’re buying me a drink, is to stay with you till I finish this glass.”
“Good, because I’ve got a question I want to ask you.”
I took a much larger sip of my wine, wondering what the heck he was going to ask me.
“What good qualities do you remember the most about me? And I’m not talking about looks or muscles or that kind of stuff.”
I tapped the glass. “Hmm…” I said, acting as if it was hard to think of anything.
“Ashly!”
“Oh, all right.” I looked into his eyes. “I remember your generosity, how hard you used to work at that auto shop with your uncle, then gave half of your paycheck to your mother to help her make ends meet. I remember you spending your last dime to take me to fancy restaurants you couldn’t afford and giving the waiter a $100 tip that probably took you two or three weeks to earn. I remember you paying for a friend’s meal or movie ticket when you were struggling to buy your own. You have a generous heart, Jake. That’s what I loved most about you.”
“Thanks,” he said, smiling sheepishly.
“Excluding me, you’ve always been so kind to others.”
“I’m so sorry for the way I’ve been acting. I will try to be nicer.”
“Trust me. I deserve it. But back to what we were talking about. You were so dedicated to taking care of your grandma. Even when your family hired that nurse for her, you insisted on staying by her side. You doted on that sweet woman and tended to her hand and foot. The bond the two of you shared was like none I’ve ever seen. Instead of hanging out at the local hot spot after school with all your friends, you went to take care of your grandma. You have a heart of gold, and sometimes, you actually let it shine through.”
A tear welled up in my eye and slipped down my cheek. “It was beautiful how you were with her, Jake,” I said, taking my last sip of wine.
Jake touched my back and led me into the elevator. He went to get ice, and I made my way back up to our room. I set the snow globe on the nightstand next to me. I couldn’t stop staring at it; it was the most beautiful present he could’ve ever given me.
“Are you still looking at that thing?” he teased as he walked in the door.
“I can’t thank you enough.”
“It’s just a trinket. Gee, I can’t imagine how you’d react if I gave you something expensive.”
“You don’t remember my response to the diamond ring?” I asked.
“I’ve never seen anybody so excited, and I couldn’t even afford a fancy one like you deserved.”
“When it comes to engagement rings, size doesn’t matter to me, Jake.”
“I tried my best. I worked tons of overtime at my uncle’s car shop and—”
“I was excited because you picked it out for me. It came from your heart.”
He sucked in a deep breath as emotion overwhelmed him. “I’ve never ever met anybody like you, Ashly, and I’m sure I never will again. Damn. I should’ve held on to you as tight as I could and never let go, but I screwed up.”
“Right…and now it’s too late.”
“I don’t believe that,” he said.
Unnerved by yet another serious moment, I threw a pillow at him.
He laughed.
“Goodnight,” I said, “and this bed is off limits. Got it?”
“You think I’d try something sleazy like that?”
I threw another pillow at him. “I know you would. Try it, and you won’t be walking right for a week.”
“I don’t have to sneak into your bed. When you’re ready, you’ll come to me, sweetheart.”
“Sweetheart? Jake, just how many drinks did you have?”
“Ha-ha.”
I jumped under the luxurious covers.
Nowhere near as shy
as he was the first night of our trip, Jake slipped off his shirt, showing off the manly muscles in his chest and arms. I couldn’t help but watch him, wondering how he’d gotten so buff. He’d never had such physique when I’d dated him. He stripped off his pants and climbed out of them. Then, without an ounce of shame, he peeled off his underwear.
I couldn’t help but stare at his absolutely magnificent nude perfection. My heart pounded as a particular memory flooded my mind. I remembered running my fingers across his chest as his lips brushed across mine in a long, slow kiss. Oh, how I missed that.
When he caught me staring at him, he just stood there, naked as the day he was born, and smiled at me. “Sensual, huh?” he mocked.
He was classic eye-candy.
Heat burned in my cheeks, and I turned over in the huge bed, trying to forget about Jake in all his naked glory. “You don’t leave much to the imagination. Do you think showing off the crown jewels is gonna earn you an invitation into my bed?”
He let out a low, deep laugh. “I don’t know. Are you sleeping naked too? If you are, that’d be quite the invitation.”
I tightened the covers around me. “Too bad you’ll never find out.”
He shut off the lights, and I fell fast asleep.
Chapter 6
I woke up swaddled in the softest bed linens I’d ever felt. When I glanced around, I didn’t see my temporary roommate anywhere. “Jake!” I called out.
He walked in and kissed me on the cheek. “Breakfast is served, milady!” he said, smiling.
After I wrapped myself in a robe, he led me out through the French doors to the balcony. On the table was a huge spread of eggs, toast, bacon, and orange juice, with a dozen white roses for the centerpiece.
“You put this on the credit card, I take it.”
“Well, it’s the thought that counts,” he said.
On my mother’s dime, I thought. “Are you still trying to woo me, Jake? Romancing me with omelets and OJ?”
“That depends.” He smiled. “Is it working?”
“It’s a very nice gesture. Thank you.”
He pulled out a chair and motioned me to sit down.
The birds chirped merrily, and the morning view of the Eiffel Tower was spectacular. We enjoyed a nice breakfast and somehow managed to avoid arguing or having any awkward conversations. I felt like I was dreaming, sitting there with the love of my life in Paris, but I knew we weren’t a couple anymore. I was still furious with him, but being in such an amazing place helped me to forget about that for a while. I knew Jake still felt some of the magic we once shared, and The City of Love was majorly affecting him. I, for one, wouldn’t fall for his charm and good looks. I’d done it once, and I’d learned from my mistake. I just wanted my part of the inheritance and then to put as much distance between Jake and my past as I could. He was tempting, but all I had to do was recall the anger of my wedding day, and all that temptation quickly dissipated. Jake will never get in bed with me again, I silently vowed. I’d rather dine on shards of glass.