When she reached her room, she slammed the door behind her. What had just happened? Had she reacted too strongly? They’d had a fantastic evening. Didrik was nicer than she’d thought, and somewhere deep down she knew that his taking the initiative with aspects of the show was a sign of his commitment. Of course she wanted him to be fully involved. But he was already the natural star. He would obviously take the lead role when the show was launched. But now? No. The whole thing was her idea. Couldn’t she at least be the one to pull the strings when it came to the production?
With a sigh, she went over to the balcony, opened the doors, and stepped outside. She thought about the bar, the wine, the heat. And about Didrik’s knee touching hers. The look that had been in his eyes. She hadn’t been imagining things.
She went back inside and slammed the balcony doors.
Had she made a fool of herself?
15
I know you had to leave the other day, but I really need to talk to you. Have you got time for a phone call?
The message woke Didrik the following morning. Lovisa had sent something similar the night before, making it three messages in total. She was obviously keen to talk to him. God, was she dying?
He put down the phone, pulled the soft, thick coverlet up to his shoulders, and closed his eyes. He didn’t want to think about Lovisa and whatever she had to say.
Instead he thought about the evening. It had been fantastic—up to a point.
He and Bente had had an interesting and rewarding conversation. He had been curious about her, and she had listened to him. He realized that he had felt listened to for the first time in ... months.
After a while, he got up and went for a run beside the Seine to clear the wine from his body, and while he ran he thought more about the evening’s conversation. About Bente. About those green eyes that almost always sparkled, and about how she had shownherParis to him and Elnaz with such enthusiasm.
He had meant it when he said that she was unexpected and interesting. His first impression had been that she was a determined person, perhaps a little cold. But in fact they had discussed things thatmeantsomething. Bente had shared her thoughts and feelings. Most of all, she had allowed him to talk about his failed marriage.
There had been something there, hadn’t there? Until he sabotaged it all by marching into her territory.Shit.He stopped to catch his breath, then stretched and gazed out across the river. An early tourist boat glided slowly by as the water sparkled in the morning sun.
What must Bente think of him after he had behaved with such a lack of concern? That he was an arrogant TV star who was used to getting his own way? Didrik set off again.
He vowed that he would think before he acted in the future. He didn’t want Bente to feel as if he had walked all over her. He knew how much she cared about this show.
Bente sat in the hotel’s inner courtyard wearing a dark-blue dress and low-heeled black shoes, her auburn hair loose.Le Mondelay open in front of her, next to a cup of coffee and a croissant.
Didrik went over to her table and said a cheery “Good morning!”
She smiled—not coldly, but with a certain reserve. “Morning.”
Elnaz emerged from the restaurant carrying a tray laden with bread, orange juice, and a large café au lait.
When Bente didn’t say anything else, Didrik turned and went in to the generous breakfast buffet. He loaded up his tray with a fresh-baked baguette with salad and thick slices of rustic French cheese, a large café au lait, and freshly squeezed orange juice. He could eat breakfasts like this for the rest of his life.
Back in the courtyard, he sat down on the white cast-iron bench by the wall, where lush green ivy scrambled up the white-rendered facade.
Bente was laughing at something Elnaz had said.
“There’s been a slight change to today’s schedule,” Bente informed him.
At last,Didrik thought. She seemed ready to get back to work, and ready to talk to him again; now maybe they could leave the awkwardness behind them and move on.
“Frederic contacted me,” she continued. “Apparently he has some information that might be useful, and he wondered if I had time to see him so he can tell me more.” Those green eyes sparkled. “I thought I’d meet him for lunch, so could we maybe postpone the visit to the museum?”
Didrik nodded. “No problem.”Ithought I’d meet him for lunch, she’d said. Clearly she intended to go alone. “Or I could go to the museum by myself.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Just to stick to the schedule.” He took a bite of his baguette, which was perfectly crusty. “If I find anything helpful at the museum, we could go back tomorrow?”
It annoyed him that she wanted to change their plans for the sake of that unreliable guy.
Elnaz nodded. “Sounds good. We really need a breakthrough—we have no time to lose.”
