Johnny threw Fran a look, his eyebrows arching as it also occurred to her that they would need to pretend they hadn’t broken in and had a look around the inside, too. Their guilty secret made her cheeks burn, and her stomach flip.
This time, as they walked the rooms and corridors, Fran could see how the place might look, fully renovated. If it was down to her, she would retain as much of the character as was possible – and prudent, financially speaking. Some of the cornicing in the main salon was missing or broken, sash windows would need to be serviced and probably have their cording replaced, although the glass looked good. Bobbly and in places distorted to look through, but that simply meant the glass was possibly original to the chateau, certainly original to the installation of the windows.
Other details Fran hadn’t noticed on their last visit came under her scrutiny this time. Some of the painted panels running along the corridors would need to be replaced, but it would be easy enough to match the beading and details. Wallpaper hung off the plaster in places, but it didn’t look as though it was a result of bad water damage or damp, instead was simply age-related. If it couldn’t be restored, it would be fun to replace it with something authentic, although cost would probably prohibit replacing like with like, the current wallpaper looked hand printed.
While she continued looking, Johnny and Monsieur Blanc were talking, some of it was in English – for her benefit, Fran assumed – most of it in rapid French. The agent was delighted to be able to talk freely, although as far as Fran was concerned, his English was pretty darned impressive.
If she moved to France, Fran decided she would do her best to learn as much of the language as she could – it would make sense to try to fit in.
If she moved to France …
Fran swallowed, following on behind the two men as their conversation continued, confusion clouding her thoughts. She was due in the south of France for her next hotel visit in a matter of a few days, she already had a job, already had the prospect of a new life beckoning her. After everything she’d been through with Victor, and then losing her mum, she should be utterly determined to make her new-found father proud of her, should be more than happy with the opportunities he was offering her. Yes, she wasn’t entirely sure where it was all headed, or how much control she had over any of it, but it wasn’t something she should be questioning, should it?
And there was no way of telling how Johnny and his plans to renovate Chateau des Rêves would turn out. If wishes were horses, and all that. Fran was getting ahead of herself, no question.
But as she followed the agent and Johnny up the grand curving staircase, one hand against the smooth warm turn of the wooden banister, Fran had the strongest sensation of belonging somewhere, far stronger than she’d felt for way too long.
Johnny had to admit he was grateful to have Monsieur Blanc with them for this second viewing, especially when they headed upstairs. The memory of Fran ascending the staircase the last time, even though he’d pretended to study the ceiling by the time she’d reached the top, and then that bloody huge four-poster slap-bang in the centre of the first bedroom they’d come across – it had all done serious damage to his sense of self-control.
This time the scenario was less charged, the desire to kiss Fran less overwhelming with Henri in the mix. Multiple participants, or an audience, hadn’t ever been a sexual scene Johnny was turned on by. If he wanted someone, he wanted them all to himself.
And anyway, this was a business opportunity first and foremost, and possibly a place to raise his daughter. His conversation earlier with Noel had done nothing if not cement his decision that complicating things right now with another personal relationship wouldn’t be a smart move.
So why was he so desperate to include Fran in his plans? Every rational fibre of his being told him that if he was going to do this, if he was seriously considering converting all the assets he could liquidate into funds to put towards a move to the Loire, the last distraction he needed was to fall for a woman, however sensational she was.
And Johnny couldn’t hide from the fact that Fran was exactly that. Sensational. And not only in the way she looked. There was far more to it than the soft curve of her neck, the unpretentious and yet desperately sexy way she chose to dress, those elegant fingers currently wrapping their way around the banister. There was something about her unfiltered love for that stray cat, something about her gaze which meant that every time he saw her, he wanted to smile. On top of which, she’d been through hell, had picked herself up time and again, taking herself in a totally new direction when she decided to travel and work her way across some of Europe. A girl not unlike himself, in as much as she’d had a challenging upbringing, had needed to pull herself up by her own bootstraps and hadn’t had anyone to rely on, nobody to write a cheque and make everything all right for her. She hadn’t even had a sibling to look to for support.
Maybe that’s why she might make the perfect partner.Businesspartner, he corrected himself. She was self-reliant, resourceful, practical. Funny. Kind. Cute. No, seriously cute and with a fantastic—
‘So, we are now at the end of our tour.’ Henri claimed Johnny’s attention, startling him out of his reverie as they headed backdown to the main hallway. ‘What do you think? Do you like Chateau des Rêves?’
Noel’s approach to business chose this moment to surface in Johnny’s thoughts. His brother’s ability to talk a price down while still keeping the seller hooked. Now, more than ever before, was the time Johnny needed to channel that ability. He set his face to neutral.
‘It’s certainly got potential,’ he said, then shook his head. ‘But it’s only the first place I’ve looked at. Is there a structural report? I’d need some information on local taxes, water rates, and so on.’
‘Bien sûr. Of course. All these things are not a problem.’
‘And is it listed under the cultural heritage scheme?’ Johnny had done some research after his first wander around, checking out the details of the Monument Historique scheme. Even if Chateau des Rêves was listed, or a part of it was, that might actually be beneficial in terms of gaining grants to help with the renovation. Unlike the equivalent listing scheme in the UK, the French approach seemed stacked rather more in the purchaser’s and restorer’s favour. Which would be good news if he went ahead, took the plunge, and bought the place.
For the first time in a long time Johnny felt a surge of adrenalin. This was madness. This was fraught with difficulties. But far more importantly, this was exciting.
After checking his iPad, Henri beamed again. ‘The staircases are listed, also the front façade and the design of some of the windows. But this is, I think, the best of both worlds. Some help will likely be available, but with little hindrance to any improvements you may wish to make.’
Johnny glanced at Fran. Her expression was inscrutable and didn’t alter under his gaze.
‘What do you think, Fran?’ he asked, unsure what he wanted from her reply.
Before she had a chance to respond, Henri suggested he would leave them alone to discuss their thoughts and withdrew onto the terrace outside the main entrance, closing the huge oak door with a soft click. He remained just visible through the panels of stained glass.
‘You know what I think about this place, Johnny. It’s awesome. But this is your adventure. Your decision. One you make because it’s right for you and your life, nobody else.’
Chapter 22
Fran didn’t mean to sound as though she was back-pedalling on her part in Johnny’s plans, but it landed that way, if the dip in his expression was any measure.
‘You’re not interested, then?’ he said.
‘Interested in what, exactly?’ Fran’s thoughts tumbled, one after another. And perhaps she was back-pedalling. She was only beginning to find her feet with a newly discovered father, was still trying to gauge what all of that meant. And although meeting Johnny had allowed her a glimpse into an aspect of her life Fran had been under the impression was going to remain void for the foreseeable, the possibility of a new relationship wasn’t what was on offer, was it? Johnny simply wanted to employ her renovation skills. Seemed prepared to offer her a full-time role helping to bring Chateau des Rêves back to life, when her skillset in that respect was sketchy, at best.
