‘Don’t get too big for your boots,’ said Hattie, softening into him. ‘I didn’t like the idea of being on my own in such a big house. It felt a bit lonely.’
‘You mean you didn’t have plans for me.’ He pouted and she laughed.
‘Not then,’ she said with a teasing smile. ‘But I do now.’ She slipped her fingers into his shirt and unfastened the button below his throat, gazing up at him with mischief.
A little while later, spreading her arms on either side of the enamel bath, Hattie said, ‘I love this bathtub.’
Luc sitting opposite her raised his glass of wine. ‘I do now. Funny –’ his gaze dropped to the water line and the bubbles that just about hid her breasts ‘– it’s never held a particular attraction before.’
‘I wonder why,’ said Hattie with a pert grin.
‘You do know we can’t stay in here all night. I’ve booked a very nice restaurant for dinner.’
When he climbed out, she admired the view of his long lean legs and muscular bottom until he caught her looking.
‘Out,’ he said holding up a bath sheet. She stepped out of the bath into the towel that he wrapped around her, kissing her as he did. Would kissing Luc ever get old, she wondered as her mouth softened under his? She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed close to him.
She wanted to murmur, ‘Maybe we should stay in,’ but it occurred to her that it sounded horribly domestic – exactly what she’d been escaping from.
He shook his head. ‘I think I have bred a monster. What happened to the shy girl who was rubbish at this sort of thing?’
‘You corrupted me?’
He swatted her on the bottom. ‘Go and get dressed. I am taking you out to dinner.’
ChapterTwenty-Five
Hattie studied the red candle flickering on the tiny table, her knees wedged up against Luc’s as he took her hand. The waiter beside them uncorked the bottle of red wine Luc had selected. With the necessary pomp, he poured a taste for Luc, who swilled and sipped before nodding.
‘This is lovely,’ she said glancing around at the small low-ceilinged room, filled with other couples. ‘Very romantic.’
‘Of course,’ he said, lifting her hand and kissing her palm, his steady gaze meeting hers, making her shiver a little.
‘You’re not cold, are you?’ The candlelight caught the wicked glint in his eyes.
‘No.’ She pursed her lips primly. ‘We had a hot bath, remember?’ She was still overheating after they’d spent nearly an hour in there, topping up the hot water until it ran out.
‘How could I forget?’
Feeling yet another surge of heat flooding her face, she studied the menu, handwritten on one sheet of paper. It was simple, with a choice of two starters, two mains and two desserts, but she knew that whatever she chose it would be perfect. It was that sort of place. There were probably no more than twenty covers in the restaurant and the small square tables were crammed together with only just enough room to squeeze between them without knocking someone’s wine over – and even then it was advisable to hang on to your glass.
‘I’ve been told the steak frites are the must-have dish, that’s what they’re known for.’
‘Have you been here before?’ Hattie asked.
‘No, but it was recommended by my friend Sebastian who is a chef. If we could have booked his place, I’d have taken you there but even for a friend and an investor he couldn’t squeeze me in today. He’s the current darling of the Parisian food critics.’
‘How do you know him?’
‘I invested in his first restaurant. I met him at a wine tasting when he was a chef and I was working for my father’s wine distribution business. He’s a cocky sod but he knows what he wants and he’s an excellent chef.’
It was such a different world from the one Hattie was used to; her previous existence felt positively humdrum in comparison. She barely went anywhere or did anything. The height of culinary excitement had been occasional fish and chips on a Friday night. Without realising she was doing it, she shrank into her seat.
‘Hey, Hattie. Where do you go?’ The sudden tender expression on his face made her straighten her shoulders. She was here now, with a gorgeous man who made her feel sexy and desirable, and she was going to enjoy every minute of it. In another month this would be nothing more than a memory.
‘I’m right here.’ She picked up her glass and took a good sip, savouring the berry aromas. Hell, yes, she was here in the moment. ‘I’m going to have the steak. Rare. I’ve heard that chefs in France will throw a tantrum if you ask for anything else.’
Luc shrugged. ‘That might be an exaggeration but I think they do take exception to ruining a good piece of meat.’
