From Paris With Love This Christmas

by Jules Wake

  Jason sighed. His discomfiture amused her. She didn’t think he was uncomfortable with her questions but there was certainly something.

  His eyes turned serious. ‘Siena, it was more than amazing. You’ve turned everything on its head. I spent all that time in Paris trying to keep my distance. It nearly bloody killed me. And the trip to the Stade.’ He shook his head and stroked his hand down her cheekbone to cup her chin, a tender smile on his face. ‘Every time I think I’ve got you sussed, you show another side. I thought I had you pegged,’ he closed his mouth with diplomatic inference but she knew exactly what he thought of her.

  ‘Spoilt, rich, lazy, clueless, naïve, dumb,’ she finished for him.

  ‘That’s a bit harsh. I never thought you were dumb.’

  She planted her elbow in his ribs.

  ‘Oof,’ he grabbed her arm and began to tickle her.

  ‘No, no,’ she tried to push him away but the more she did, the more he tickled.

  After five more sweaty minutes of tussles, wrestling and kisses, he finally pinned her to the bed, his long body pressed into the length of her. The feeling made her heart sing, and she wriggled sinuously and teasingly beneath him.

  ‘Enough, woman. I can’t take any more.’ He kissed her nose. ‘I should have known after today’s performance in the pub that you’d be a demanding woman. You are in the wrong job. You could run the country. But I need to keep my strength up. I need sustenance.’

  ‘Really?’ Pretending to be disappointed she rubbed an idle hand across his chest, but even that was half-hearted. Tiredness had started to seep its way into her limbs.

  ‘Down, woman.’ He caught her hand and then brought it to his mouth peppering it with little kisses. ‘I’m hungry.’

  ‘Me too,’ she purred.

  ‘Enough. Behave.’

  She grinned at him as he got out of bed and pulled on his robe.

  ‘I need my robe.’

  ‘I am not getting you that thing. I’ll never concentrate.’

  ‘I don’t know what you mean.’

  ‘Here,’ he tossed her a shirt from his wardrobe. A soft blue chambray that she’d seen him wear a couple of times and noted because it brought out the blue in his eyes. ‘Kitchen, woman.’ She sashayed down the hall in front of him.

  ‘And for God’s sake, go put some pants on. I’m having trouble thinking straight here.’

  Feeling all the power of a siren, she turned, flicking her semi-dried hair and looked over her shoulder and gave him a long slow sultry look. ‘And there’s a problem with that?’

  He swatted her bottom and pushed her towards her bedroom door. ‘Knickers. Now.’

  ‘Oh my,’ she paused in the doorway of the lounge, ‘you’ve opened the other bottle of wine.’

  Jason shrugged. ‘Thought we deserved it after today.’ A wicked light danced in his eyes. ‘I’m sure Laurie won’t mind.’

  At the price of that bottle Laurie probably would, but Siena didn’t care. Life was to be lived, wine to be drunk and there were too many bad things to be got through not to enjoy the good. One day she’d pay her back, although at this rate not at until she was thirty.

  Jason handed her a glass of the rich ruby wine and sat down on the sofa, patting the seat next to him.

  ‘You OK?’

  ‘Yes, it’s been quite a day.’ She took a thoughtful sip as she sank down, nestling into the arm he’d put around her.

  He touched his wine glass to hers. ‘It has that. Regrets?’

  ‘None, but if you,’ she gestured around the room, ‘you want to stop, it’s OK. I mean I know you didn’t plan on me staying here.’

  Drinking his wine, he didn’t say a word but she felt the tiniest tensing of a muscle in his arm.

  ‘I can see that you might, we might, I might, what is it? We live in the same house. But sharing a bed doesn’t make it living together. And if we were a couple not living together then we wouldn’t share a bed every night or, of course, you might not want to share a bed again.’

  Holding up a hand, he halted her flow.

  ‘To be honest, the bed thing is definitely preferable. My field-with-horses-watching-days are over.’

  She waited a second, hoping he might carry on, help her out here but he leaned back into the sofa, an ambivalent look on his face. Was he doing it deliberately?

  ‘Right.’ Heat seared her face, probably the same colour as the wine. She held the glass against her cheek to try and cool it down. This was turning out to be much harder than she thought. It had seemed so straightforward five minutes earlier when she’d been retrieving a clean pair of silk knickers from her drawer.

  ‘So what were you saying?’ he asked it as if he were asking after her health.

  Gritting her teeth, she tried to phrase it better.

  ‘It’s … sort of … it might … you might not …’ The more she tried to put it into words, the more they became mangled and useless.

  ‘Siena.’ He laid a finger on her lips. ‘We can sleep in whichever bed you want, whenever you want, alone or together. We share a house, that’s inescapable. I’m attracted to you. You’re attracted to me. We didn’t plan this but we’re grown adults, admittedly with a few side issues going on. You’ve got to sort things out with Yves and you know my main focus for the foreseeable future is getting the brewery into the black. You’re only here for another two weeks. Anything could happen. Why don’t we take each day as it comes? No promises.’

  ‘OK.’ She smiled.

  Sometimes life was that simple. Tucked in the crook of his arm drinking one of the best wines in the world, Siena decided that it didn’t get much better than this.

  Chapter 23

  ‘Sorry sir, can you repeat that?’

  Working behind the bar and taking food orders wasn’t as good as being in the restaurant where she could build up a bit of a rapport with the customers, but the bar area was busy today and the restaurant quieter.

  ‘Whitaker?’ The man spat the name out so quickly and in such a strong accent, he sounded like a part in an engine. Widddderrrrkerrr. No matter how hard she listened, she still couldn’t get it and it was the third time he’d answered.

  ‘Right,’ her pleasant smile didn’t soothe him, ‘and which table?’

  ‘Table six.’ He spat and stomped off back to the table. ‘Jesus the staff here, half-wits.’

  ‘What?’ she said beneath her breath. ‘I don’t know what his problem was.’ Will with his back to her, shook visibly and Al sniggered into the palm of his hand.

  ‘What?’ she demanded as Jason sauntered up to the bar. He’d taken to coming in at lunchtimes to have his lunch.

  ‘Did you see who that was?’ Jason asked them all.

  Will and Al nodded still acting like idiots and then Will said through wheezes, ‘Yes, b-but Siena. Sh-she asked him. Three times what h-his n-name was.’ He put his head on Al’s shoulder and the two of them howled with laughter.

  She scowled and looked back across the bar at the grouchy middle-aged man. He didn’t look the least bit like a famous person. Scruffy. Cheap shoes.

  Jason winced. ‘He’s John Whitaker, he was a big TV presenter for many years.’

  ‘How was I supposed to know that? Besides, why should he get special treatment? It’s his own fault I didn’t get his name, he needs to learn not to mumble.’ She tossed her head with disdain. Jason caught hold of her plait and gave it a tug before remembering where he was.

  Will shot him an enquiring look, Jason flicked her plait back at her and she stuck her tongue out at him. They hadn’t had the discussion about what they’d say to other people.

  Far from being awkward, things in the house had worked out rather smoothly. They’d settled on Jason’s bedroom, and fallen into an easy pattern of eating in, chatting, sex in the living room, sex before breakfast, after work and taking shared showers every morning.

  As far as Siena was concerned, she didn’t need to say anything to anyone because it was no one’s business who she
was sleeping with.

  ‘So Jay, what’s the plan for next week? You still going up north?’

  ‘Yes. For a couple of days.’ He turned to Ben. ‘You’re OK in charge aren’t you?’

  Ben nodded. ‘Of course, boss.’

  ‘So I can head off at the end of the week. I’m planning to call in and see Cam and Laurie.’ He looked at Siena.

  ‘It’s fine, Hayley’s going to take my shifts. I’ve cleared it with Will.’

  ‘It was fine, General, until you upset Mr Whitaker, so I might have to review.’ Since the Elmsley’s wedding, that had become her nickname. She’d never had one before. She rather liked it.

  ‘Oh but Will, I really want to—’ She couldn’t wait to see Laurie and she’d been bouncing with excitement since Jason had suggested the trip.

  ‘Just joking, although you’d better not decide to stay up there.’ Will grinned. ‘Marcus couldn’t survive without your input on tips.’

  Marcus whipped at his boss with a damp tea-towel. ‘Excuse me.’

  Siena touched his arm with a reassuring squeeze. ‘Ignore him. You know customers love you.’

  ‘Love him, my arse. He knows how to flirt with all the old ladies.’

  ‘I hope he doesn’t,’ said Al placing his hands on hips.

  ‘See Siena, look at the chaos you’re creating.’

  ‘Me? I haven’t done anything.’ She giggled.

  ‘Hey Siena. I’m glad you’re here. Ben, Jason, Marcus, Al.’ Lisa acknowledged them all, except Will, with a quick nod of her head.

  ‘Lisa!’ Siena darted to the other side of the bar, pleased to see her. ‘I’m glad you popped in.’ She heard Will grunt and didn’t miss the wary, disdainful look Lisa endowed him with. ‘Wait here, I’ve got something for you.’

  She dashed out to the Land Rover and came back with a large Christmas gift bag.

  ‘Here you go.’ Her heart bounced in her chest as she waited for Lisa to open up the bag and peel the tissue paper back.

  ‘It’s not Christmas yet. Although funnily enough I’ve got something for you too. Two things. This one is from Nanna.’ Lisa handed over a small cardboard box tied up with a rather tatty faded orange ribbon. ‘And second, this …’ She dug in her purse and produced three ten pound notes.

  ‘What’s that for?’

  ‘The black dress you altered. I showed to a friend at work and she wanted to buy it. I sold it for forty quid.’

  ‘Thirty pounds? But you only paid ten for it.’

  ‘Exactly, which is why these crisp notes are all yours. I’d rather wear my pink dress anyway. Even if I can’t get shoes to match.’

  ‘You’d better open your present quick then.’

  Lisa squealed so loudly everyone in the pub turned round. ‘OMG. Dolce & Gabbana!’ She held a pink shoe aloft. ‘And more. Siena!’ She nearly knocked Siena off her feet with the force of her hug. ‘These are amazing. Are you sure? This pair hasn’t even been worn.’ She promptly burst into tears. ‘I love them. I love them. I love them.’

  ‘I think they’ll match.’

  ‘Match? You’re frigging kidding me! I’d wear them naked.’

  ‘I’d stick with the dress,’ chipped in Marcus.

  ‘Siena, you are brilliant. I love them.’ Lisa had already peeled her own shoes off and was putting the pink shoes on.

  ‘Don’t quite go with black opaque tights but,’ she squealed again, ‘they are gorgeous.’ She walked up and down. ‘Gorgeous. Gorgeous. Gorgeous.’

  Marcus nudged Siena. ‘I think she likes them.’

  Siena smiled, grateful that everyone had been so focused on Lisa that they hadn’t noticed her own tears. Every second of the sheer perspiration inducing terror she’d felt punching in the alarm code at the apartment had been worth it and at that moment she could burst with joy at Lisa’s reaction. Definitely worth it.

  ‘This is from Nanna. I don’t think it can possibly match these bloody, fricking, gorgeous shoes. I can never thank you enough for helping her. She’s so grateful.’

  ‘Grateful, that old bat?’ Will’s voice held a note of outrage disbelief.

  ‘Will!’ admonished Siena. Did he know Alice? She wasn’t so bad. A touch cantankerous perhaps. She unwrapped the box and pulled out a beautiful antique comb and brush set.

  ‘Yes Will,’ Lisa’s voice dripped shards of ice, sharp and cutting. ‘Some people are nice like that.’

  ‘Now, now children,’ said Marcus.

  Siena turned her back on the whole lot of them. ‘Thanks Lisa, can you thank your Nanna for me? It’s a beautiful present. So nice of her.’ She threw a glance at Will but he seemed totally unrepentant.

  ‘So what did you do to help Nanna?’ Will almost spat out her name.

  Jason sat straighter on his bar stool. ‘Actually Will, she did a lot. Siena put her handbag onto eBay and with the proceeds she’s paid for a new boiler and the installation for Lisa’s gran. I think that’s pretty impressive.’

  Will turned down his mouth. ‘I’d say that’s very impressive. Lisa’s Nanna must tell one hell of an impressive sob story.’ With that utterly mean sentence, he strode out of the bar, nose pointedly in the air.

  ‘Lisa? What was that about?’

  ‘Long story. Family feud. Boring. Will’s being an arse. Nothing new there. I gotta go. Fancy getting together on Friday or Saturday? Katie’s around. We thought we’d get a takeaway this time and attempt a film or maybe chill. And I wanted to talk to you about an idea.’

  ‘Sorry, I’d love to but not this week. Jason’s going to give me a lift up to Yorkshire to see my sister Laurie, so I really need to get a few extra shifts in.’

  ‘Oh that’ll be lovely. Didn’t she use to go out with that bloke Robert? His mum lives a few doors up from Nanna.’

  ‘I never met him. Cam’s her boyfriend now; you wouldn’t forget him.’ The image of him, hovering protectively over her sister in the grand hall of the Chateau, the very first time she met him had imprinted itself on her brain. Sexy, gorgeous and utterly smitten with her sister, and her with him, although neither of them seemed to know it at the time. So romantic.

  ‘When was the last time you saw her?’

  ‘Two years ago,’ said Siena without even thinking about it. Texts, Facebook, emails, that was all a lot more contact than she’d ever had before two years ago.

  ‘Whoa! That’s a long time.’ Lisa looked appalled at what she’d said. ‘Sorry. I forgot you lived in France, can’t have been easy.’

  ‘No, it should have been a lot easier. And I should have made the effort more. We don’t really know each other that well.’

  She couldn’t wait for this weekend.

  Chapter 24

  ‘This must be it,’ said Jason, as he hauled the Land Rover through the gap in an old lichen covered wall topped with a pair of carved stone pineapples. The tyres crunched on a short gravel drive.

  Siena bit her lip; she’d never understood why Maman had been so cross but now she did. Merryview wasn’t anywhere near as big or as grand as the Chateau but it was so pretty and English. Maman made a lot of her English heritage.

  The façade of the house, no not a house, a mansion, had diamond lead lined windows, like sparkly eyes and an ancient gnarled climber covered most of the stone walls, tracking across the house and framing the lower windows. Not a single memory stirred. Apparently she’d visited as a child but there wasn’t a flicker of recognition.

  ‘No wonder Laurie would rather be here than back in the house,’ observed Jason, looking curious. ‘Ten times the size of our place.’

  ‘It’s lovely.’ Romantic. She could imagine roaring fires and four-poster beds. For a minute her gaze lingered on the house before she turned back to face Jason.

  ‘Bitch to heat in winter I would think.’ Jason winked and her heart warmed, looking at him. ‘Your home improvement company would have something to say about those draughty old windows. Whip ’em out and put nice double glazed units in.’

  ‘Sacrile
ge,’ said Siena.

  ‘Until we get another snowfall.’

  ‘I wouldn’t know,’ she teased him with a lazy smile and a shrug, ‘I’m usually tucked up in a ski lodge in Verbier with a nice vin chaud.’

  ‘See, there’s the problem with shacking up with high maintenance women,’ he gave her a mournful look, ‘you have to keep them knee deep in thermal vests. Not that sexy.’

  The narrowing of her eyes threatened retribution but he grinned.

  ‘You didn’t seem to find my thermal vest that off-putting two nights ago. Besides I’ve heard body heat is as effective.’ She lifted a lazy brow and laughed when he shook his head and rolled his eyes.

  He joined in, leaning over and smoothing back a strand of hair that had fallen over her face. ‘I’ve created a monster.’

  She turned her face and where his hand cupped her cheek, pressed a kiss into his palm.

  He groaned, when she touched the tip of her tongue to his salty skin.

  ‘Behave.’

  The word turned husky as she took the tip of his thumb into her mouth, but the rest of his fingers caressed her face and he didn’t put up much of a fight.

  Warmth started to build and she knew she was teasing herself as much as him. Forcing herself to be good, she nipped the pad of his thumb with a promise and straightened up.

  ‘You are a wicked, wicked woman.’

  ‘I know.’ Happiness danced low in her belly.

  ‘And your sister got an eyeful of that.’

  Siena’s head shot up.

  ‘You sod!’

  ‘Five seconds earlier and she would have.’

  Opening the door, relieved that Laurie must have only just appeared in the porch, Siena jumped down.

  She launched herself at her sister and threw her arms around her, all the fear and uncertainty of the last few weeks poured into the hug that she gave Laurie.

  Siena couldn’t help herself, she burst into happy tears.