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“They are lovely but…” the beauty staring at the rows of Chanel handbags gave me a melting look. “I don’t want one.”
“What woman in her right mind doesn’t want a Chanel?”
“Honestly, I liked some of the bags we saw in that little ally.”
I stared at her, honestly confused.
“Is it about the money?”
“No. Well, not entirely. I’m not… I’m not this fancy,” she said, looking around with a helpless look on her face. “I like nice things as much as the next girl, and I do love all the things you have bought me, but this is…”
“Not you,” I said, finally getting it. I took her hand and kissed the back of it. “Got it.”
“You do?” She asked, looking relieved.
“I do. But you will allow me to buy you whatever I want to. As long as it isn’t this.”
“Well…”
“There are plenty of skilled leather workers in Paris. It doesn’t have to be couture. But I do love buying you gifts.”
“Okay,” she said hesitantly as we headed back to the street. “But I don’t need so many things. You already bought me an entire wardrobe.”
“Well allow me to spoil you a little bit then. One or two things.”
She nodded happily, clearly relieved that I wasn’t going to force the issue. I was learning, I realized. I wanted her to be happy, even if that meant restraining myself.
Little did she know, that I’d already bought her a very large gift. It was waiting for us in the suite, tucked away in the hidden safe until later.
Tonight, I was proposing to Theresa. But I wasn’t going to leave anything to chance. I would make sure she said yes.
“Why don’t we eat before heading to the Louvre?”
An hour later I was sipping wine, watching the love of my life daintily eat a crepe. We lingered over lunch in the outdoor cafe, watching the glamorous denizens of Paris walk by. We played a game, guessing who lived there and who was a tourist.
Under our breath of course.
It was the nicest lunch I had ever had.
And that had nothing to do with the food, even though it was delicious.
We spent the next few hours walking through the hallowed halls of the Louvre, her looking at the art, me looking at her. I took pictures of her, wanting to remember the child like joy on her face forever. I would take her everywhere, I decided. One trip every month. If her school work allowed it, I amended.
I knew how important her education was to her. I had to remind myself to respect that.
We were back in the hotel to shower and change for dinner. I laid out evening clothes for us both and used the other bathroom to shower alone, quickly assessing the safe when she was getting ready.
“Ready?” I asked, admiring the way she looked in the black sheath dress and high heels. Her hair was pinned back at the temples, falling in graceful waves around her beautiful face.
She nodded and we were off, taking the limo to one of the most well kept secrets in Paris: a bistro with no name, merely an address. High quality, but not too fancy, just like my girl liked it.
My girl.
By this time tomorrow it would be official.
I saw no reason to wait.
The chef came out personally to meet us, then showered us with small portions of everything. I had a feeling Theresa’s charming accent and pretty manners had more to do with it than my personal notoriety, though that didn’t hurt. He prepared a private tasting menu just for us. We tried everything, drinking wine, and telling stories about our lives.
“No more,” she begged wide eyed, holding her stomach as the waitstaff approached with more desert. But she was laughing. We both were.
“Can we walk home? I need to get some air.”
I hesitated then decided the proposal could wait. I wanted to make sure she would say yes. There was only one way I could think of to make that happen.
“Of course,” I said, kissing the back of her hand. We walked slowly back towards the hotel, the limo and guards trailing closely behind.
But not so closely that we couldn’t enjoy each others company and the cool Paris night.
Chapter Thirty
Theresa
“Feeling better? Should I order some alia-seltzer? The French must have soothing similar. La seltzer, I suppose,” he drawled with a teasing grin.
I gave Michael a look, allowing him to unzip me.
“Ha ha. No, I am fine. Maybe a cup of herbal tea…” I pondered as I slipped out of my dress.
“Tired?”
“A little.”
“Hmmm,” he said, trailing his fingertips over my collar bone. I got the breathless feeling I always got before he kissed me. But he just nodded.
“Let me see about that tea. Put on your nightie.”
I did as he asked, then slipped between the cool linen sheets. I closed my eyes for just a moment. When I opened them, I could tell immediately it was hours later.
