“Jillian… hopes.”
“Hoped,” Lyndsey corrected.“Not anymore.She’s come to realize she was holding on to us, as we were, out of fear.But she has since realized no one is leaving her.There was nothing to be afraid of.If anything, she’s discovered that you added to the family.Over the holiday, you made things better… her words, not mine.”
Warmth rose in Cat’s throat, as well as gratitude.“Thank you for telling me.”
“Just know I’m rooting for you and Rhys.I hope you two can work it out, and if you do, I promise you never have to worry about me being in the way.”
Jillian returned then, a flush on her cheeks and a joke ready on her lips, and the moment dissolved back into laughter and dessert menus.
The waiter returned with espresso and a towering slice of tiramisu that Jillian insisted theyabsolutely must share.Halfway through, Jillian leaned in, eyes bright with mischief.“Okay, so—I have the mostbrilliantidea about how to get you and Dad together.And it’s not in London, and it’s very romantic.”
Cat blinked.“Now I’m worried.”
“Don’t be.”Jillian straightened.“Daddy offered to take me to Paris for my birthday, and I’m going to accept.”
Cat glanced at Lyndsey, and Lyndsey just shrugged.“Her idea,” Lyndsey said, “Not mine.”
Jillian’s grin widened.“It’s a great idea.Daddy will be shocked.And then he’ll be over the moon.Because Cat, you’re going to meet us in Paris too.”
“Paris?”Cat gulped.
Jillian nodded, delighted.“Yes!I’ll step out of the hotel lobby or the café or wherever we decide to meet, and you’ll step in, and he won’t believe his eyes.”
Cat stared at her.“You’ve been watching too much TV.”
Jillian laughed.“It’s romantic, and perfect, and you have to come to Paris.”She turned to her mother.“Mum, tell her.Tell her that you will be there, too, and that way Daddy and Cat can talk and you and I will go do something together and then Daddy and Cat will fall in love inParis.”
“This is ludicrous,” Cat said, laughing despite herself.“I can’t see your father enjoying any of this.Does he even like Paris?”
“Who doesn’t like Paris?”Lyndsey said, amused.“But in all fairness, I do think he likes Spain better than France—”
“But he invited me to Paris,” Jillian interrupted, “so Paris it is.”She turned to Cat.“All you have to do is show up.”
“And buy a plane ticket,” Cat said under her breath.
Jillian gestured impatiently.“Come on, Cat.That’s the easy part.”
Cat shook her head.“Does your father even know you are in Michigan right now?”
Jillian exchanged a laughing glance with her mom.“No.He thinks we’re having a mother-daughter Jane Austen weekend in Bath.”
Cat’s lips twitched.“And he believed you?”
“What’s important is that he and I are going to have our weekend in Paris in two weeks, and you have to be there.”
Cat wanted to be appalled.She wanted to be sensible and practical, but Jillian was so clever and funny that Cat couldn’t help feeling being drawn into Jillian’s transatlantic matchmaking scheme.
“Say you’ll be there,” Jillian pressed.“Let’s surprise Dad.”
How to say no to Jillian when she had all of her father’s wit and her beautiful mother’s charm?
She couldn’t.“Fine,” Cat said.“I’ll be there.”
Chapter Eighteen
The Parisian caféwas small, the kind of place where light pooled on marble tables and the smell of butter and yeasty bread hung in the air.Rhys had been sipping his coffee, waiting for Jillian to return from the ladies’ room when the front door swung open and a rush of cold air spilled in.
He looked up absently and froze.
