Unable to quite hide her annoyance, his aunt rose to her feet. “We’ll talk about this later,” she said, something Nate didn’t doubt for one minute.
7
Nate watched his aunt fix a smile on her face, ready to welcome the first of her guests, still laughing to himself as he followed her outside.
“Bonsoir, Gigi,” Julia said, ever the consummate hostess with the mostess. “Ça va?”
“Bonsoir, Julia.Bonsoir, Nate.”
Following the customary exchange of kisses, Gigi reached into her vehicle. She had to be as old as the car, and that was ancient, yet despite her years and rather slight frame, she easily pulled out a huge basket of just-baked bread. The smell alone made Nate realise how hungry he felt and taking in the array ofbaguettes, bâtards, flutesandficelles, his stomach rumbled. “Talk about a feast.” He reached forward, attempting to snaffle a piece of bread, but catching him in the act, Gigi playfully tapped his hand away.
“Pour toi,” she said, handing the whole lot over to his aunt instead. She lowered her voice. “Are they here yet?”
Nate smiled. Her warm personality belied a shrewd head for business. An artisanboulanger, Gigi’s award-winning family-run patisserie was renowned across the whole of Brittany for a reason. And with the business acumen to match her extensive bakery skills, she never missed an opportunity to expand their reputation.
“I’m afraid not,” Julia replied.
Seeing Gigi’s disappointment, Nate couldn’t resist teasing her. “Looking to add the new chatelaine to your list of esteemed clients?”
Gigi gave him a cheeky grin. “Of course,mon ami.”
Nate laughed in response. At least she was honest. Then again, he’d always admired her ability to say it like it was. He thought back to when he’d first arrived. Whereas some of Aunt Julia’s friends initially pussyfooted around him, Gigi told him straight, that he needed to stop being such a spoilt brat andse faire pousser des couilles,grow some balls.In France this might be a phrase to make even the most hardened of navvies blush, but not her.
As Julia and Gigi headed indoors, Nate hung back, wondering if he should seize the opportunity to sneak off home. Naturally, Julia would be disappointed by his absence, but he knew she’d get over it eventually. At any rate, if their excited chatter was anything to go by he wouldn’t exactly be missed. Listening to them, the two women were far too preoccupied discussing the chateau and its new owner to even notice he’d gone, at least for a while.
Feeling like a naughty schoolboy, he giggled to himself as he turned, ready to slip around the back of the house and head off home.
“Hi, Nate,” a voice suddenly called out to him.
Nate stopped.Bugger!Jess!
“Where are you sloping off to?” she asked.
Nowhere by the looks of things,he wanted to say but didn’t.
He sighed, supposing a disappearing act would only be delaying the inevitable. Being his nearest neighbour, his and Flick’s paths had already crossed once and were bound to cross again. As much as he wanted to, he knew there wasn’t really any point in hiding, he had to just put himself out there and hope for the best.
Putting a smile on his face he turned back around ready to greet Jess as she tottered towards him. He almost didn’t recognise her. Usually sporting a pair of jeans and flats, it was the first time he’d ever seen her in a dress, let alone stilettoes and whereas her hair was usually tied up in a knot, her blonde locks hung loose. Momentarily forgetting his plight, he whistled to show his appreciation, she’d certainly gone all out.
Jess blushed in response. “I couldn’t meet a real chateau owner in my scruffs now, could I?”
Nate shook his head. What was wrong with everyone lately? “I don’t see why not,” he replied.
She looked down at her attire. “Too much?” she asked, screwing her face up.
“Not at all,” Nate said. The poor woman looked self-conscious enough, he decided, she didn’t need the usual teasing from him. “You look lovely.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Although there does seem to be one thing missing,” he added, unable to completely refrain from their customary banter.
“What?” Mortified, Jess again looked from him, to her attire, and back again.
“Pete,” Nate said.
Jess immediately slapped him on the arm. “You had me worried there!”
