Never get involved with the guy next door. If things don’t work out…someone has tomove.
Jaxson emerges from the kitchen, a bottle of water in his hand. “Here you go,” hesays.
“I can’t stay here, Jaxson. Not tonight anyway. Can you take me and Truffles to a hotel,please?”
“Of course, if that’s what youwant.”
I really don’t know what Iwant.
After I throw some things in a suitcase, and grab some items for Truffles, we leaveChateau DeGrenelle.
It’s close to 10 p.m. now, and Paris is still lively as Jaxson cruises down the road. Couples laughing, playing, loving. How’d they get so lucky? Six years. I’ve been in Paris for six years and I have yet to findlove.
“Where to?” Jaxson asks, his voice like a soothingbalm.
“Hotel De Jour, by my office,please.”
About fifteen minutes later, Jaxson pulls up to the front of the boutique-style hotel. It’s where I stayed when I first came toParis.
“Bonjour,” says the valet as we drive up. “Are you visiting aguest?”
“Uh no, she would like to get a room,” Jaxsonsays.
The valet bends slightly forward, peering at me through Jaxson’s open window , “OhMadame,I do believe they are all sold out. Most of the hotels are. It’s DesignWeek.”
Crap. I forgot about Design Week. The annual event where designers showcase home design, art, very little fashion. Not like Fashion Weekanyway.
And great, nowwhat?
“Okay, have a good evening,” Jaxson tells him, then drivesoff.
He looks over to me, “Where would you like togo?”
“I can just sleep at my office; it’ll be fine. We have showersand—”
“Lauren. I’m not letting you sleep at youroffice.”
“Well, I can’t go back home. Not with—” I pause, thoughts of me being an idiot cause tears to resurface. “Jaxson, I-I can’t go back there. Not tonight. So please, just take me to HC Headquarters. I’ll be fine. Truffles will be withme.”
He lets out a sigh. “How about you come with me to the villa? There is a guest apartment, completely furnished. You can stay as long as youlike.”
“What do you think, Truffles? Should we hang out at Jaxson’splace?”
Truffles sits up in my lap, paw up, and yelps a commanding,arf!.
Jaxson laughs and says, “Does that meanyes?”
I look down at Truffles, then to Jaxson and say, “Yes, definitelyyes.”
