“This will probably sound nosy, but can you tell us why?”
Michel looks angry as he listens to me talk. I don’t usually tell people my business, but Michel and his siblings make me feel safe. And I want them to know, it’s easier than when I was telling my parents and siblings.
“This morning I had a class that was cancelled, so I went home early. I found Julian in bed with a woman he works with.”
“Merde,” Michel growls.
“Mon loup. That’s what our parents call him. Because he growled when he was born. And he continues to growl as an adult.” Amélie sighs as she looks at Michel.
I chuckle as I listen to them. They remind me of me and my siblings. Even though Céline has moved out and has her own family, we’re still really close. I really want them to meet Michel and his family. I wonder if his parents will like me? Whoa. Wait. Why does that matter?
“Were you with Julian for a long time?” Noëlle asks.
“We met when he came to my town, he was there for two weeks. Then we did long distance for about six months. I applied to the college here and told myselfthat if I was accepted, it was a sign. I’ve been here for seven months. I know it seems fast, but I never thought he would cheat on me. Especially after I moved here for him.”
Michel is growling again. I know it shouldn’t be, but it’s sexy as hell. It’s like I can feel it in my soul. He walks over to me and wraps his arms around me. I lean into him and breathe him in. He makes me feel safe, nothing like I felt when I was with Julian. There was always something missing when I was with Julian. But now I feel like all those pieces of me that were missing are found.
“I let the front desk know that he’s not to be given any information about you. We don’t give out any information about guests anyway, but I felt like I needed to make sure the front desk knew this applied to you specifically,” Michel says to me.
“Thank you. I wish he would just walk away. He created this mess and yet he thinks I should just let it go.”
“Well, fuck him. You’re safe here. Has he ever been violent towards you?” Henri asks.
“He’s never hit me, if that’s what you’re asking. But we’ve gotten into some really bad fights. In fact the first one was a month after I got here. I should’ve known then that he wasn’t the one for me. He was mad because my class ran late and I didn’t call him to let him know.” I frown.
“Sometimes it takes time to figure things out,” Michel says as I look up at him.
“Cheating is the one thing I can never forgive. Nomatter what. He knew that, and he still did it. And in the bed we shared.”
And there’s the growling again. I’m beginning to realize that he doesn’t like hearing about me being with Julian. Which is fine with me, the sooner I can get him out of my head, the better. I feel Michel’s arms tighten around me.
Michel
I hate listening to Genevieve talk about Julian. And as much as I hate that she’s been hurt? The selfish part of me says that it’s a good thing because now she’s mine. And I will take care of her the way she deserves. After an hour of hanging out, I kick my siblings out, then tell Genevieve I’ll be back at six.
“Henri is usually around the pool area if you want to swim. Also, if you need me? Just text me and I’ll come find you.”
“The pool sounds nice. I never asked, what do you do here?”
“I’m the head of security, and I oversee all the employees. That’s why I said I put out a memo about what to do if anyone sees Julian.”
“You’re like my guardian angel. Or guardian wolf?”
I growl at her as she giggles.
“My maman is going to love you.” I smile. “I hate to leave, but I have some things I need to do. But I’ll see you in a few hours.”
I take the chance and lean down to kiss her. I feel her hesitate at first, but then she lets me in.
“That was better than I imagined,” I whisper to her.
The smile on her face tells me that I made the right decision. And I can’t wait to do it again. I head down to our security room to make sure the guys that are on shift know to keep an eye out for Julian. I got a weird feeling about him. I’m not sure what it was. But there’s something about him that I don’t like.
I call Sebastiano Mancini, he and Francesco Bastianini are the best IT guys I know. I need to know everything about this Julian.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Sebastiano, it’s Michel Rousseau.”
