I follow him until we’re standing in front of a grouping of modern leather white benches.Olivier slips around the coffee table and three people part letting him sit down.He scoots to the side and pats the bench while looking at me.“Pardonnez-moi,” I say, stepping over their feet and squeeze in next to him.
After introductions they start talking, but it’s loud, too loud to really hear what they’re saying and I don’t think I would understand anyway.And here I thought a quick semester of basic French would get me by.I didn’t realize how submerged I’d be in the culture.I feel fortunate to see the ‘real’ lives of the French people and a little embarrassed of what I imagined their lives to be.I pictured everyone leading glamorous lives.They are just like my friends back home.I giggle to myself and Olivier bumps me.“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing really.”
“I like seeing your smile.”
I turn to look at him.“Really?”
“Yes.Really.”His eyelids dip closed before slowly reopening.“I think you’re—”
He’s grabbed by the girl next to him before he finishes his sentence.Her hand remains holding his arm as I wait patiently.I watch as he leans in and she presses her mouth to his ear.He nods and smiles.She laughs with a head toss of her hair.I touch my own hair wondering what it looks like and hoping it’s not gone frizzy.
Olivier laughs, his attention still on the other girl, but then his hand lands on my leg, giving me a little squeeze.He says something to her, then sits up bringing his body closer to mine again.“My apologies,” he starts.“As I was saying, I think you’re very beautiful, but you know this, Kandace.”
He may have said that before, but it will never get old.When I look down, my face heating from his sweet attention, the side of my head rubs against his cheek.I stay, momentarily, liking this too much, liking him too much.When my eyes meet his again, I see the devil.Trouble never looked so tempting.My breath weighs down on my chest and I lick my lips in preparation...
His gaze lands on my mouth and I can almost feel the sweet pressure of his lips kissing mine.“Drink?”he asks, holding his empty glass.
“Olivier?”the guy on the other side of me calls him, shaking his empty beer bottle.
They chat a moment and he stands.The moment is lost, so when he looks to me again with questioning eyes, I reply, “Oui.”Meaning yes to anything and everything with him, but I’ll take a drink for starters.
As soon as Olivier is gone, the guy next to me leans closer.“Only English?”
“Juste un peu de français.”I smile and use my hands to show just a little French.
“My name is Savi.”His own smile is big, but a little on the smarmy side.“I’ve been to LA and Las Vegas.”
“I’ve never been to either.I’m an East Coast girl.Are they nice?”
“They are fun.Pretty women.”He holds his hands in front of his chest to signal big boobs.Fortunately, he doesn’t say it.
Feeling uneasy, I shift.“I should help Olivier carry the drinks.”
His words are rushed, but I hear him say, “Do you like sex?”
Shocked, I ask, “What?
“Make love.Have you let a Frenchman make love to you?”
I stand.“I’ve gotta go.”Working my way out of the group, I head toward the bar.I find Olivier just as he turns.His expression coats my insides, making me wonder if it’s possible to fall in love with someone in less than forty-eight hours.Maybe anything is possible in Paris.It is the most romantic city in the world, after all.
With the drinks between us, he leans in and whispers, “One more drink, then we go.”
“Yes, that will be good.”
Dropping the beer off to Savi, Olivier takes me back to the bench to sit.The next thirty minutes is like a sexercise in patience...I mean exercise.The sparkling wine makes me feel lighter than I’ve felt in ages.Looser too, but I blame that on Paris, not the alcohol.
The group is friendly.Savi is more friendly than most.I giggle when he flirts with me and Olivier possessively wraps his arm around my shoulders.Leaning back against his chest, I say, “J’adore Paris.”
His warm breath hits the shell of my ear, and he replies, “Paris t’adore.”
Awww.Paris adores me.“What about you?”
“I find you utterly irresistible.”His arm tightens.“Ready?”
“To go?Yes.”
