“I’m a stand-in. Max broke his ankle two weeks ago and asked me to go so it wouldn’t be money down the drain.”
“What unfortunate timing.”
“Lucky for me,” she says. “You know I was apprehensive about coming here alone but so far, turns out traveling alone is actually pretty relaxing.”
“Is Max your boyfriend?” I ask, casually, but apparently not casually enough. Good thing Jackson is the brother who got into acting, I’d be a laughingstock.
“Is this your way of asking if I’m single?” She narrows her eyes at me and raises her eyebrow.
“Yes,” I say without hesitation and grin.
“I am.” She seems almost surprised that I didn’t dodge the question. “Max is my brother. How about you, Reed?” Her big blue eyes blink at me curiously. “Are you single?”
“I am.” I raise my glass again, not able to keep a smile from forming on my lips. “To being single.”
She laughs, her cheeks turning red as we clink glasses again. Then her stomach growls, loud enough to make her freeze.
“Good thing our food’s coming,” I laugh, and she hides her red face in her hands.
Something changed. Lunch was great, with amazing food and easy conversation, but now there’s this quiet tension hanging in the air between us. Not bad, just… charged.
Like a magnet, my hand found the small of her back again, my heart thundering as I felt her relax into my touch. The way she’s walking beside me now is quiet, thoughtful, like she’s trying to figure something out. How I wish I was able to read that brain in her beautiful head, eager to know what she’s thinking. Of me. Of today.
Of how inclined she’d be to join me in my room. Honestly, I’m having way too much fun with this though; the buildup, the teasing, theflirting. What if all of it went away after only one night?
“I hope I’ve redeemed myself today,” I say with a chuckle as we walk along the Seine. We took the bus for about half the way and decided to walk the rest, watching as the sun reflects on the water like glitter, the usual hustle and bustle of Paris around us.
“I have to admit, I was skeptical,” she starts amused. “But ultimately yes, I think you did.”
I let out a breath, surprisingly relieved at basically a stranger's opinion of me. “Great. Then there’s only one more thing to do. Wait here for a moment, please.”
I know I have a bad habit of acting before letting people answer, but she just looks after me amusedly as I duck into a small shop and head straight for the wine aisle.
The wine selection is giant, especially for a shop of this size, but I quickly find a decent wine, one that’s expensive enough that André and Julia won’t think ‘what a cheapskate,’ but still inexpensive enough that it’s not awkward for them to accept it. I grab two bottles, then head back out. Abby is still standing where I left her, turning her head to try and peek inside.
“Can you hold this for a second?” I hand her the wine so I can tuck my wallet back into my coat.
“Do you plan to court someone on the way back?” she teases, inspecting the label curiously. And again, I wonder what she’s thinking. Maybe she’s hoping it’s her I’m looking to court?
“You told me to apologize to the two receptionists from yesterday,” I remind her, grinning when her cheeks turn the prettiest shade of pink. “Do you think they like wine?”
She shrugs and I take the bottles out of her hands again to carry them. “They’re French, so probably?”
“Well, even if they don’t, I hope the message comes across.” I tuck it under my arm as we walk, keeping the other in my hand.
“Do you know if they’re even working today?”
“Yeah. I asked at the front desk before I left. She said they’re on the afternoon shift and gave me a pretty hostile look.”
I glance over when I hear her giggle. “I bet that was because your little outburst has made the rounds among the team.”
I raise an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve worked in hospitality,” she says, clearly amused. “Rude customers are always backroom gossip. I bet they’ve watched the security footage at least twice, probably while munching popcorn. And I just know they were cheering when André put you in your place.”
“Deservedly,” I say and shake my head, feeling my cheeks heat. It really wasn’t my best moment. “As long as they cheered for you too. If you hadn’t gotten your upgrade yesterday, I’m sure you’d have it today.”
We reach the hotel, and she greets the concierge and security guard with a polite smile and a soft “hello.” I watch her step into the revolving door, and for a moment, I’m caught up in the memory of how clumsy those things always feel.
