flower.
“What would make it right?” He kissed her palm, his lips trailing up her finger to the tip and she shivered with anticipation.
Chapter 6
“Pie.” What? She’d gone over the deep end. No. No. Pastry cream. Feed each other. Hear him moan . Make him something . Christ. Think, Nikki .
“What?” he asked.
She leaned into him again, her mouth a whisper away from his—and used a child’s technique to throw off her confusion. “I know what I want, Gérard. The question is—what do you want?”
Gérard’s laugh drew looks from the other diners. “ Chérie , I don’t think you understand how these negotiations work.”
Nikki sat back, startled. Negotiations? Was he serious? Was he paying her to sleep with him? Before she could say anything else, Gérard stood up. “Time to go.”
The maitre d’ appeared with her cape, which Gérard placed upon her shoulders, giving them a slight squeeze. He guided her, or pushed her, she thought crankily, out the door, his hand at the small of her back. The car waited for them at the curb. Gérard opened the door and gestured for her to get in.
“We need to talk first.” She swayed against his hand, her other hand on the car hood for support.
“We are not going to talk about a sexual arrangement in a crowded restaurant. And I don’t think you want to have this discussion in the middle of the street.” A couple passed by and gave them curious looks.
Nikki huffed and got into the car, sliding as far away from Gérard as possible. Who the hell talked about sexual arrangements ? She wouldn’t trade a job for sex. But he is so damned tempting. Yeah, like a bright, shiny apple from the Garden of Eden.
She opened her mouth to ask Gérard’s opinion on snakes. He held up one finger as his cell phone vibrated. After he texted for ten minutes, Nikki wanted to stomp it under the heel of her new boots. It had begun to rain, fat drops pelting the windshield. Water ran in rivulets down the car window like tears from heaven. She had a fleeting thought of jumping out of the car at the next traffic light. And realized she didn’t truly want to. She wanted to see what he would offer. Oh, naughty girl. Mimi would be ashamed of her behavior. But Mimi was gone. Nikki was all alone. She traced a raindrop’s path on her window, the glass cold under her finger.
“We’re here.”
“Where’s here?”
He smiled. “Home.”
Nikki didn’t budge. She could always sleep in the car. And she was very sleepy.
“We’ll talk inside.”
Nikki sighed. It wouldn’t hurt to see what he had to say. And he could overpower her quite easily. The tiniest bit of excitement niggled through her.
Stupid girl. Why don’t you just lay down on the sidewalk for him?
She stepped out of the car and stumbled over the cobblestones. Gérard caught her in his arms. Nikki caught sight of a grand brick townhome in a private courtyard. The front door opened, the light blinding her.
She still smelled of vanilla. Gérard cursed and set her on her feet, only to have her stumble again at the front step. She’d obviously had too much to drink. He swung her up in his arms. Nikki squeaked in surprise, her arms going around his shoulders, her eyes wide. They were the color of peridots. How beautiful she would look dripping in jewels. He snorted at his fancifulness and bound up the stairs where Didier stood holding the door open.
“Another stray, sir?” Didier drawled.
“Am I so predictable?” The latest acquisition he’d found on the streets curled around his ankles, mewing with pleasure and answering his question. “This one can do more than eat and claw the furniture.”
“I can type,” Nikki piped up. “And I can make a damned fine chocolate soufflé. I told you that . We’re having dessert. I love chocolate.” This last declaration was directed at Didier, who raised his eyebrows in question to Gérard.
Gérard ignored them both. “Is the blue bedroom made up?”
“Of course, sir. Can
“What would make it right?” He kissed her palm, his lips trailing up her finger to the tip and she shivered with anticipation.
Chapter 6
“Pie.” What? She’d gone over the deep end. No. No. Pastry cream. Feed each other. Hear him moan . Make him something . Christ. Think, Nikki .
“What?” he asked.
She leaned into him again, her mouth a whisper away from his—and used a child’s technique to throw off her confusion. “I know what I want, Gérard. The question is—what do you want?”
Gérard’s laugh drew looks from the other diners. “ Chérie , I don’t think you understand how these negotiations work.”
Nikki sat back, startled. Negotiations? Was he serious? Was he paying her to sleep with him? Before she could say anything else, Gérard stood up. “Time to go.”
The maitre d’ appeared with her cape, which Gérard placed upon her shoulders, giving them a slight squeeze. He guided her, or pushed her, she thought crankily, out the door, his hand at the small of her back. The car waited for them at the curb. Gérard opened the door and gestured for her to get in.
“We need to talk first.” She swayed against his hand, her other hand on the car hood for support.
“We are not going to talk about a sexual arrangement in a crowded restaurant. And I don’t think you want to have this discussion in the middle of the street.” A couple passed by and gave them curious looks.
Nikki huffed and got into the car, sliding as far away from Gérard as possible. Who the hell talked about sexual arrangements ? She wouldn’t trade a job for sex. But he is so damned tempting. Yeah, like a bright, shiny apple from the Garden of Eden.
She opened her mouth to ask Gérard’s opinion on snakes. He held up one finger as his cell phone vibrated. After he texted for ten minutes, Nikki wanted to stomp it under the heel of her new boots. It had begun to rain, fat drops pelting the windshield. Water ran in rivulets down the car window like tears from heaven. She had a fleeting thought of jumping out of the car at the next traffic light. And realized she didn’t truly want to. She wanted to see what he would offer. Oh, naughty girl. Mimi would be ashamed of her behavior. But Mimi was gone. Nikki was all alone. She traced a raindrop’s path on her window, the glass cold under her finger.
“We’re here.”
“Where’s here?”
He smiled. “Home.”
Nikki didn’t budge. She could always sleep in the car. And she was very sleepy.
“We’ll talk inside.”
Nikki sighed. It wouldn’t hurt to see what he had to say. And he could overpower her quite easily. The tiniest bit of excitement niggled through her.
Stupid girl. Why don’t you just lay down on the sidewalk for him?
She stepped out of the car and stumbled over the cobblestones. Gérard caught her in his arms. Nikki caught sight of a grand brick townhome in a private courtyard. The front door opened, the light blinding her.
She still smelled of vanilla. Gérard cursed and set her on her feet, only to have her stumble again at the front step. She’d obviously had too much to drink. He swung her up in his arms. Nikki squeaked in surprise, her arms going around his shoulders, her eyes wide. They were the color of peridots. How beautiful she would look dripping in jewels. He snorted at his fancifulness and bound up the stairs where Didier stood holding the door open.
“Another stray, sir?” Didier drawled.
“Am I so predictable?” The latest acquisition he’d found on the streets curled around his ankles, mewing with pleasure and answering his question. “This one can do more than eat and claw the furniture.”
“I can type,” Nikki piped up. “And I can make a damned fine chocolate soufflé. I told you that . We’re having dessert. I love chocolate.” This last declaration was directed at Didier, who raised his eyebrows in question to Gérard.
Gérard ignored them both. “Is the blue bedroom made up?”
“Of course, sir. Can
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