“Sounds great,” Carla agreed.
Falcon proved to be a wonderful tour guide. The treelined avenue was home to some of the most coveted fashion names in the world-Louis Vuitton, Mont-Blanc, Guerlain, Ferrari, etc. Carla recognized some of the more familiar brand names like Banana Republic, Abercrombie, and Sephora. Her head spun with an overload of sights that she heaved a sigh when they stood outside the premises of L’Atelier.
Being in the most romantic city in the world with Falcon by her side was hard to wrap her head around. Never in her wildest dreams, she thought. And that kiss after the light show at the Eiffel? It made her glow inside. But her stomach reminded her she hadn’t had a bite to eat except the canapes served in his private jet.
“You hungry?” Falcon asked.
Carla nodded her head enthusiastically. The cocktails were delicious and Carla knew her chicken burger was the most delicious she’d ever tasted. Falcon asked for an assortment of short order dishes – escargot, truffles, fish soaked in butter and peppered with garlic, ravioli and pizza, all exquisite in their preparation.
“This is delicious,” Carla said through mouthfuls of ravioli before drowning it down with sweet lemonade. “I’m such a pig,” she giggled as Falcon reached out and wiped sauce dripping down the side of her mouth.
“Paris has that effect on most people. You literally want to gobble up everything,” Falcon laughed.
After dinner they strolled over to the Arc de Triomphe. Carla was glad for the exercise because she knew she ate too much. The steps leading to the top of the Arc made her pant but it was all worth it. The view of Paris at night from the top of the Arc was truly amazing.
It was an experience Carla knew she would never forget. Paris has so many sights to offer it was impossible to see them all in just one night.
“Its way past midnight. We should be heading back to the hotel,” Falcon announced. “We leave for Alsace early tomorrow morning.”
Carla tried to suppress her disappointment. She didn’t want the night to end but Falcon was right. She was here to do a job. She vowed to return someday.
Falcon was quiet on the way back to the hotel. Carla sensed a certain formality about him that wasn’t there earlier. It was almost like he was withdrawing away from her.
“Good night,” Carla said as he dropped her off outside her bedroom door.
“Good night, Carla. Sleep well,” Falcon replied before heading towards his own room.
In the solitude of her suite, Carla wondered if Falcon would cross the door of the adjoining rooms. Right now, she knew she wanted that. She was willing to accept whatever little he had to offer.
“To hell with the consequences,” she thought staring longingly at the door.
As the minutes ticked by, Carla kissed the wishful thinking away, blaming herself entirely for allowing him to think that what happened between them in the past was nothing. He probably didn’t want to risk wounding his ego.
But Paris had cast its spell upon her. Although she tried to deny it, a tinge of optimism had sprouted in her chest. She wasn’t really sure how to label it, but it felt like there was some kind of hope in the future, a future that would include both her baby and Falcon.
