CHAPTER
TWENTY
Kyle knew not to push it when Madison didn’t want to get out of bed.
She’d danced a couple of dances with him last night before they’d gone upstairs. Their lovemaking had been raw and filled with a new thread: comfort. But if he never had to comfort her again, he’d be overjoyed.
Which meant he needed a plan to defeat Dassault.
Leaving Madison with a soft kiss, he told her he was going to take Spike for a walk. He checked on Pierre before he left the house, however, and the parrot seemed as depressed as Madison. Not good.
So he left her a note saying he was taking Pierre over to Dean’s and headed out with both members of their animal family. He texted Dean while he was en route, and even though it was early, his friend responded with a thumbs-up.
When he arrived at their apartment, Dean was wearing one of his infamous pairs of boxer shorts that said I’M GOING TO WRECK YOU with a wrecking ball over his junk. Classy.
Dean dropped to his knees as Spike leaped at him joyfully. “So this is the new dog, huh? When Brooke told me Madisonhad arranged for you to pick a puppy, I thought I’d had a stroke. I couldn’t be hearing her right. But man, he’s cute! Madison must be really gooey in love. So are you getting Pierre out of the way for greater frivolities today?”
Kyle closed the door behind them as Jacqueline appeared, dressed in winter white loungewear. “Bonjour, Jacqueline! Sorry to interrupt your morning.”
“You did not.” Jacqueline crossed and kissed him Parisian style as Dean lifted up Pierre’s covering.
The parrot looked asleep, but Kyle suspected he was simply desolate. Like the woman he loved.
“I can’t have my man Pierre getting jealous.” Dean held Spike in one arm while he called out a greeting to the parrot, who didn’t move. “How is he with Spike?”
“We’re still training him not to play with Pierre—I’d suggest leaving him in the cage until we leave.” He couldn’t handle a training exchange this morning.
“Something is wrong,” Jacqueline announced, tilting her head to the side.
“Wrong?” Dean glanced up from cooing at Spike. “Oh, man! Lady Jacs is right like usual. What happened?”
“Let’s go upstairs and make ourselves more comfortable,” Jacqueline suggested, taking Pierre’s cage from Kyle.
“Good idea,” he replied, following her up the stairs to their salon.
The dreary light from their windows seemed the perfect backdrop as they sat down in their seating area situated in front of a closed-up marble fireplace. Dean sat down next to Jacqueline on the couch and tucked an excited Spike against his chest as Kyle took a seat in the adjoining chair. As Jacqueline removed Pierre’s cover, he gathered his thoughts.
He hadn’t been sure how to handle sharing the news, but Dean was part of The Paris Roommates Group. This news affected everyone. Besides, he’d wanted to stop by for another reason. Jacqueline had worked in Michelin-starredrestaurants. She might have some insight. After Madison had finally fallen asleep, he’d stayed awake running through scenarios. The only problem was that he wasn’t sure they would work. He needed insider information.
“Do you remember that Chef Rico guy who used to come by after the restaurant closed, hoping to get with Madison?” Kyle began once they were settled in the living room.
“Oh my God!” Dean cried. “You arm wrestled for her?”
“Jesus, no!” His exclamation made Spike bark. “Where is your mind sometimes?”
“I can’t help being brilliant,” Dean quipped, hoisting the puppy up in the air. “Right, Spike?”
“Chéri,” Jacqueline said, putting her hand on Dean’s thigh. “Kyle, please continue.”
He cracked his neck. “Rico told Madison last night that Nanine’s isn’t winning a star. Nanine’s old lover has seen to it again.”
“Non!”Jacqueline let loose a string of curse words in French.
“That asshole.” Dean slowly lowered the dog. “Madison must feel like a piano fell on her. I mean, I’m suddenly wishing I hadn’t eaten that second croissant. The star was her dream. She’s worked like a dog—no offense, Spike.”
“Madison doesn’t see a way to fight right now, but I’m not letting this go.” He had to pause and take a slow breath. “I’m trying to keep positive, but I don’t think I’ve ever been this upset in my life. Chef Dassault’s silent campaign against Nanine’s getting a star when Nanine was head chef was an outrage, and if I’d been around then, I would have fought for her.”
“So we fight now,” Dean said, tucking Spike back against him and making a fist. “How in the hell do we do that?”
