Page 12 of Alex

“About four years. I only just finished the renovations. It was a wreck when I bought it. I’ve been working on it between missions and finally got it back to how I imagined it could be.” He looked around and nodded. “I’m pretty pleased with it.”

Alex stepped in front of her and slid the balcony door open for her. Stepping out she saw that space had a herb garden in planters and some lavender. It followed a large L shape design, covering the dining room and kitchen aspect and the living room side. The view was breath-taking—curved rooftops in the foreground with the Eiffel Tower in the distance. The sun had risen fully now, and the winter sunshine was glinting off the buildings made everything shimmer.

“Are you hungry?” Alex asked from behind her.

She spun and found herself almost touching his hard chest. Looking up she forced herself not to step back and show him exactly what his proximity did to her. “I could eat but cereal is fine.”

Alex looked down his aristocratic nose and raised an eyebrow at her request. “I’ll make us something.” He turned and moved towards the kitchen. She watched him busy himself opening and closing cupboards. The cold wind moved through the buildings as the winter chill hit her making her shiver.

Walking back inside and sliding the door closed Evelyn moved to the breakfast bar and hitched herself up on a stool. Alex was mixing pancake batter and chopping fresh fruit.

“Can I do anything?”

“No, I can handle pancakes,” he said with a grin. “There’s a phone over there. He pointed with his chin towards the glass coffee table. “It’s secure so if you want to call Roz for an update you can.”

“Thanks.” Picking up the phone she looked at it for a second. Her instinct was to take it in another room away from prying ears even if they were Alex’s ears. You don’t know this Alex! her mind reminded her, but she felt like she did and that was probably dangerous.

“You can use the bedroom at the end of the hallway if you want privacy,” he said as he looked up from pouring batter.

“That’s okay. It seems we have the same goals right now,” she responded and called Roz on her cell.

“Roz.”

“Hey, it’s me.”

“Evelyn, talk to me,” Roz demanded in her usual gruff way.

“I’m with Alex at his place in Paris.” She didn’t say where, as it wasn’t necessary. In any case, if Roz wanted to know she would find out. “Any news on what it is the British Monarchy thinks I have?” She knew Roz would have been working all her contacts to find as much information as she could and wanted to get to the point as she could see Alex plating up. Her stomach was now rumbling as her taste buds salivated.

“We don’t, no. The only thing we know is that they think you have something that would cause them great embarrassment, maybe even bring down the Monarchy.”

“Is that all?” Evelyn sighed. “Honestly I wish I had whatever it is they think I have. At least I could give it back. Is there any news on Petra Chance, the woman I helped?”

“No. Lili is looking for her. As soon as I know more, I’ll contact you but for now stay low and stay safe.”

“What about the people who blew up my chalet?” she asked tucking the grief away at the thought of all the memories that had been created there. That chalet had been the first time she had felt safe since she had left Alex and her home.

“We’re working on it, but we aren’t the only ones. Eidolon is investigating it too. We need to tread carefully. I know you’re with Alex and that Jack owes you, but they can’t be trusted, Evelyn.”

Evelyn felt her tummy knot at Roz’s reminder. Her eyes moved to Alex who was the epitome of domestic bliss as he served her breakfast in her dream home in Paris. Why, oh why, can’t this be real? “I know, Roz. I’ll be careful I promise.” She disconnected the call.

“Breakfast is served.” Alex pulled out a chair for her as if they were on some kind of date. Evelyn ignored it and sat in a chair on the opposite side. She saw him frown but he said nothing as he moved her food across to her before sitting down and tucking into his own.

They ate in silence. Her previous excellent mood was now drooping along with eyes, but Evelyn still enjoyed the fluffy buttermilk pancake and fresh fruit along with the crispy bacon and scrambled eggs. Fresh and fragrant coffee which she knew without a single sip was rich and full of flavour was next to her with cream and milk.

It was perfect and it made her angry that it wasn’t real.

She saw Alex push his plate away and sit back in his chair regarding her. “What did she say?” he asked calmly even though she could see the tension in the stiff way he held his head.

“Not a lot. Just what you said really.” She held his gaze as she faced him and took a sip of the coffee and realised she was correct—it was terrific coffee.

“Bullshit! Before you spoke to her you were relaxed, now you’re tense and quiet. What did she say?” he demanded pushing himself from the chair and rounding the table to her.

Anger vibrated through Evelyn. Slamming the cup down she stood and faced him, her hands on the table in front of her. “I told you she didn’t say a lot,” she returned, her temper flaming as she faced him.

“And I told you that you’re a sucky liar.”

“Fuck you.”

“No, Evelyn. Fuck you.”

All the breath left her body at the seductive edge in his tone.