“Benoit … what are you doing here?”
Benoit covered his shock well. “Just helping out Shiloh with her move.”
Heloise turned unfriendly eyes on Shiloh. “Really?”
Oh, dammit.Shiloh smiled brightly at her. “He’s a good friend.”
Heloise gave Benoit a long look which he returned coolly. “Nice to see you again, Benoit.”
Shiloh felt like she was intruding and moved away to give them some privacy. She could hear them talking quietly, from her position in the living room.
“You look good, Heloise.”
“You too, Benoit … a little more gray than when I last saw you.”
Shiloh heard Benoit laugh. “You’re not wrong.”
“How did you and Shiloh meet?”
“Believe it or not, she came to my office to yell at me. It was the start of a beautiful friendship.”
Shiloh smiled to herself. That was sweet. She strained her ears, trying to hear what Heloise was saying.
“I always regret our break-up—how painful it was.”
“Was it? I seem to remember us both deciding that we weren’t suited as lovers, just as friends.”
Heloise sighed. “Still, it was a wrench.”
“You’re a beautiful woman, Helly. I’m sure you have no trouble finding lovers.”
“Hmm. Well, I’d better get dressed.”
“Good to see you.”
Shiloh pretended to be absorbed in packing her stuff when Benoit came into the living room. She looked up and smiled nonchalantly. “The movers will be here soon, so most of the stuff I need shifting is just some private items that I don’t trust them with. Like this fella.” She indicated her beloved dog, Beau, who was lying on top of a pile of boxes looking sulky. Benoit mussed his silky ears and Beau licked his hand.
“Beautiful animal,” Benoit said admiringly, and was rewarded by Beau rolling onto his back and showing Benoit his furry belly.
Shiloh laughed. “My dog is a slut,” she said with mock sadness.
The move went off easily—and Shiloh was sure that Benoit had slipped the movers some extra money because all of her boxes reached her new apartment in record time and in pristine condition. Once there, she set Benoit to work unpacking her kitchen things while she dealt with her personal items.
The apartment was tiny, her queen-sized bed seeming to take up a lot of the studio, but it was compact and homey. Beau dragged his dog bed to a corner of his choice, much to Benoit’s amusement.
“I bet that dog is the most spoiled pooch in Paris,” he said, and Shiloh laughed.
“Try inFrance,” she said, but stroked Beau’s silky head. “He is the love of my life, though.”
“Lucky dog,” quipped Benoit, and she flushed. “Look, shall I go grab us some take-out and bring it back? If we keep going, you could be settled in by tonight.”
Shiloh smiled at him gratefully. “That would be wonderful, thank you. But are you sure I’m not keeping you from a gala or a benefit, or one of your concubines?”
Benoit grinned. “Oh, definitely, but I still prefer to be here with you. Give me an hour and we can eat.”
While he was gone, Shiloh took advantage and grabbed a shower in her little bathroom, letting the hot water stream through her hair, feeling the dust and grubbiness wash away. A feeling of satisfaction had lodged in her stomach; she was home now.
Benoit came back with fresh, warm bread and cheese, a bag of sweet, juicy peaches, and a bottle of cold white wine. They picnicked on the floor of her living area, leaning back against her bed and chatting. Shiloh was amazed that it seemed like the most natural thing in the world for this billionaire to be scooched down on the floor with her.
