“To come home with me. To Monaco.”
Hannah sat up and pushed her hair off her face. “You are insane. Do you not remember our conversation downstairsin the parking lot? What am I going to do in a palace? I don’t know any French. I have to be here. I have to find another salon to work in.”
“It’s not insane. And why do you need to find another salon? You hate your job. Come to Monaco with me. We’ll look into colleges for you together, figure out what you want to do with the rest of your life.”
“That is no way to build a relationship. I can’tjust mooch off you and your family. I need to be able to stand on my own two feet.”
“You wouldn’t be mooching. You’re an invited guest. Besides, it’s not my family—it’s me. We’ll stay at my house, and I won’t pressure you to meet my family until you’re ready. We’ll do it on your terms but my euro. How does that sound?”
“It still sounds like too much, too soon. We’ve only known each other a fewdays, not even a week, and you want me to just pick up and go to the other side of the world? It’s insane, Luc.”
“It’s not insane. I want you. I’m falling for you.” My heart pounded in my ears, but I had to get the words out. This was too important. “For the first time in my life Iwantto be in a relationship. I want you to have anything you need, be able to reach for the things that’ve beenbeyond you because of circumstances. And I want to be next to you when you make your dreams come true.”
Hannah looked at me with shining eyes. Her lips quivered as she fought her tears.
“Because that’s when the sex will get really good.”
“Oh, my god, Luc.” Hannah slapped my arm in annoyance. “You say the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard in my entire life and then you follow it up with that bullshit.”
“It’s not bullshit—it’s the truth. You think what we have now is amazing? Wait until you graduate college. Graduation sex is ah-mazing.”
“Are you seriously comparing hypothetical graduation sex with me to whoever you slept with when you graduated? While we’re literally naked in bed?Really?”
“I didn’t sleep with anyone when I graduated university. I got falling-down drunk with my brother becauseI knew it was the last night we would be in the same place for a long time. The next day I was hungover and on the train to Basic Training. But that last night with Julien, that was one of my best memories of him. We were both young and dumb and so fucking carefree. That can be you, too, Hannah.”
“I’m glad you had that with him. I love my brother; I couldn’t imagine losing him. I mean, it’s notlike we’re twins, I know it’s different, but he’s been my big brother my entire life. He put off college, too, so he could help my parents with my medical expenses, because that’s what family does. That’s what my family does. I can’t just pick up and move to the other side of the world because you’re good in bed. We’ve only known each other less than a week. It’s insane.”
“But it feels right.Where’s that girl I met the first night? The one who threw caution to the wind and decided to spend time with a stranger? You live for the moment, and that’s all I’m asking you to keep doing. I’m not asking for a commitment; I’m just asking for more time. We live on opposite ends of the world. One of us has to compromise for this to work, and unfortunately I can’t give up my job. It’s kind of a permanentposition—at least until Bastien has a son and the kid makes it to maturity.” I could see the indecision in Hannah’s expression so I relented. “Just promise me you’ll think about it. I still have a few days in Vegas—you can give me your answer later. The decision is completely in your hands. Promise me you’ll think about it.”
“I’ll think about it,” Hannah dutifully whispered back.
“Thank you,mon chou.” I kissed her quick and hard on the lips. “I’m leaking all over the sheets. I’ll go take care of the condom, then—”
“Then you’ll get your assistant working on dresses for tonight. I can’t believe I only have a few hours to find a dress and get ready for a formal dinner. What are you standing there for? Go! Get moving!”
“Oui, mademoiselle. And might I just say you look gorgeous whenyou’re all frazzled.Ooomph.” The first pillow hit me in the stomach, but I dodged the second. I laughed all the way to the bathroom.
