Shiloh looked up at him. “What?”
“I’m telling you how I feel about you, Shiloh. But listen, I can see you’re upset, and I think I know why. Let me put your mind at rest. When it comes to us, I’m in, Shiloh. We’re a partnership. A team. You make me a better person. My heart is yours.”
Shiloh looked pale and shaky. “And you’re not just saying that because … .” Her hand fluttered over her belly, and his big hand covered hers.
“No. But I am excited about the future, for the three of us. I don’t know if we can work it out, but I’m willing to give it a try if you are?”
His lips found hers then, and he felt her sink into his arms. They lay back on the bed and began to make love slowly, Benoit tracing his lips along the fine planes of her body, noticing, despite the baby, that she had a lost a little weight, her delicate limbs curving around his body.
He gazed down at her as he moved inside her. God, this woman … he knew he was falling in love with her. He had never felt this connection before with anyone. A child? Benoit had been staggered to find himself excited at the prospect of being a father. Kids had never been part of his plan. But now, with this remarkable woman … yes. He hadn’t lied to her. He was in.
Later they ate together, using room service. Benoit returned to the subject of the website. “I think it’s pretty obvious now that someone is targeting us. Ori’s been attacked twice now. We’re all scared that the next time it happens, she won’t be so lucky. Have you noticed anyone following you?”
Shiloh shook her head. “But then I haven’t been particularly vigilant.”
“Time to change that.”
“Yes.” She ate in silence for a time. ’Benoit, what do you think I should do? I mean, I’d be sorry to leave here before I even started to make a difference.”
Benoit nodded. “And why should you be driven out of the country by this coward? I agree; stay, be defiant, make a difference. The one thing I ask is that you let me provide you with security. Better safe than sorry. I know you don’t like to be around people all the time; they’ll be discreet.”
Shiloh sighed, her body slumping, but she nodded. “Okay. I know you’re right. Benoit,” and she suddenly flushed. “What about you? Will you … come back and see me?”
Benoit smiled and took her hand. “All the time. I wish I could be here permanently for you, but you know my work is in Paris.”
“I do. It’s a heck of a commute.”
Benoit laughed. “It is that. And look, not to pressure you, but doesn’t the baby kind of put a time limit on this job?”
“It does. I worked out that I have about six good months. Even if I just get the ball rolling on some cases, I will have felt that at least I achieved something.”
Benoit squeezed her hand. “Should we talk about living arrangements when you come back to Paris?”
Shiloh hesitated. “I don’t know. How about we say not yet’ and see how this thing progresses?”
Benoit lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her fingers. “Agreed.”
Shiloh smiled at him. ’Hey. How’s Maceo? And Ori?”
Benoit’s smile faded. “Maceo is bearing up. Ori … Alex took her out of state, to his place in Vermont.”
“Alexdid?” She sounded skeptical, and Benoit frowned.
“Concerns?”
Shiloh raised her eyebrows. “Hasn’t Alex got a pretty major crush on Ori?”
Benoit half-smiled. “I don’t think that’s anything to worry about. Maceo wanted her protected while he was in jail.”
After a pause, Shiloh said softly, “You don’t think he did it, do you?”
“Maceo? No way.”
“But if he caught Tyson in the act of trying to kill Ori … it could have happened.”
Benoit inclined his head. “True, but Maceo would have admitted it, that’s what I’m really saying. Maceo is a terrible liar, so he doesn’t bother. He would take responsibility. Besides, Janek was killed some time after Ori was attacked. Maceo has an alibi—some artist in Queens—but the authorities, for some reason, don’t believe this guy. They say Maceo is the only person with a motive other than Ori herself. What a fucking mess.”
“I should call Ori,” Shiloh said, thinking about the lovely young women she’d only met once but had liked immensely.
