I Promise You This (Love in Provence Book 3) by Patricia Sands Page A

walked. “ Brrr! It’s bloody frigid here! I’m expecting polar bears to come out of the shadows. Is your winter always this cold?”
    Her breath coming out in frozen puffs, Katherine explained they were having an unusual subzero cold spell and that sometimes conditions were quite mild. “Not this year, though. Sorry!”
    Welcoming the warmth of the restaurant, they were seated quickly. Crispy bread pulled straight from the oven, and two glass containers of olive oil and balsamic were set on the table immediately. After they had chosen their meals, Nick asked, “White or red, Kat? What’s your pleasure?”
    Katherine agreed with his choice of a bottle of Amarone and settled back in her chair.
    “That was a big sigh,” Nick exclaimed.
    Katherine looked surprised for a moment and then answered with a wry smile. “I wasn’t aware it was so obvious. This feels like the first time I’ve relaxed since I got here.”
    The waiter arrived with the wine and, after Nick approved the choice, poured each a glass. Raising his, Nick said, “Here’s to Molly and to the friendship we all share. Yours with her has been so long and meaningful, and ours has been very short, but meaningful in its own way. May all of this long continue.”
    Katherine raised her glass in return and nodded. They continued talking about friendship and how life works in unexpected ways to bring people together. Kat inquired about Nick’s close friend, Graham.
    “Ah, the dear bloke and his family are all well. I’m hoping they will all come to France this summer. Just think, it was thanks to Molly that Graham and I got to meet you ladies that fateful night in Antibes!”
    Laughing at the memory, Kat agreed, “Too true!” Then her expression changed to a concerned frown and she took a sip of her wine.
    Nick reached over and took her hand. She could feel the emotion in his touch and his voice. In spite of his bravado, she knew he was a man who cared deeply. “It’s so hard to see someone you love in Molly’s situation. Trust me, I truly feel optimistic after meeting with the doc.”
    He patted the back of her hand and then changed the mood by giving her a wide-eyed look of delight as a plate of delicious-looking antipasto arrived.
    They declared themselves ravenous and dug in as the focus of conversation switched to food. Kat reminded herself she needed to pay better attention to what she was eating. Her diet the past few days had been muffins and mochas.
    The lighthearted combination of great conversation, laughter, and wine brought back memories of times they had spent together in Antibes. The intimacy of some of those moments caused Kat to avert her eyes and quickly change the subject. She felt unsettled as to whether it was embarrassment or remembered pleasure that was making her squirm.
    We did share some moments . . .
    After a decaf cappuccino, Nick called his driver, who was waiting outside when they left the restaurant.
    “Katherine, this is Mohammed. He will get you home safely.” Pointing across the street, he said, “I’m staying at the Marriott and have a conference call to make, so I’ll dash.”
    As the driver held open the car door, Nick kissed Kat’s cheeks lightly, in the French way. “This was a lovely evening, Kat. I’ve missed you.” His eyes held hers, saying more than his words.
    Kat glanced away briefly but smiled warmly. “Thanks for coming to Toronto, Nick. It’s wonderful to see you. I appreciate you being here . . . and I know Molly would too.”
    “Hey. What are friends for? Call me when you’re ready to leave home tomorrow morning and Mohammed will collect you.”
    As she began to protest, Nick put a finger to her lips. “Shhh . . . let me do what I can.”
    On the way home, she chatted with Mohammed, who told her he traveled with “Monsieur Nicholas” everywhere he went these days. At her urging, he disclosed he was from Syria and still had family in the midst of the raging conflicts. When she asked