Confessions in the Dark (30 page)

“Good?” he asked. He couldn't help the suggestive way his voice dipped. “Sweet enough?”

“Yes.” She set the cup down. “Thank you.”

“You're welcome.”

She closed her mouth and gripped her mug tighter. Reminding himself to be patient, he sat back in his chair and rested his elbow on the arm. He looked her up and down.

Ugh. Forget patience. If he didn't say something soon, they could be sitting here all day. Going with what he knew about her, he gestured in her general vicinity, trying to evoke her total lack of a wallet. “You could report the theft, you know.”

Shaking her head, she drummed her finger against the ceramic. “Not worth it. I wasn't a complete idiot. Only had thirty or forty euros in there. And the police won't do much about art supplies and books.”

“No, probably not.”

The art supplies part fit the profile. Matched the pigment on her hands and the intensity of her eyes.

He let a beat pass, but when she didn't volunteer anything else, he shifted into a more probing stance. Clearly, he'd have to do the conversational heavy lifting here.

Not that he minded. He'd been cooling his heels here in Paris for a year, and he missed speaking English. His French was excellent, but there was something about the language you grew up with. The one you'd left behind. The way it curled around your tongue felt like home.

Home.
A sick, bitter pang ran through him at the thought.

He cleared his throat and refocused on his smolder. Eyes on the prize. “So, you're an artist, then?”

“I guess so.”

“You guess?”

“I just graduated, actually.”

“Congratulations.”

She made a little scoffing sound. “Now I just have to figure out what comes next.”

Ah. He knew that element of running off to Europe. Intimately. He knew how pointless it all was.

Still. He could spot a cliché when he saw one. “Here to
find yourself
, then?”

“Something like that.” A little bit of her reserve chipped away. She darted her gaze up to meet his, and there was something anxious there. Something waiting for approval. “Probably silly, huh?”

“It's a romantic notion.” And he'd never been much of a romantic himself. “If it worked, everybody would just run off to Prague and avoid a lifetime of therapy, right? And where would all the headshrinkers be, then?”

She rolled her eyes. “Not everyone can afford a trip to Europe.”

Her dismissal wasn't entirely lighthearted. Part of his father's old training kicked in, zeroing in on the tightness around her eyes. This trip was an indulgence for her. Chances were, she'd been saving up for it for years.

Probably best not to mention his own resources, then. Mentally, he shifted their rendezvous from his place to hers. Things would be safer that way.

“True enough,” he conceded. “Therapy's not cheap, either, though, and this is a lot more fun.”

That finally won him a smile. “I wouldn't know. But I'm guessing so.”

“Trust me, it is.” He picked up his cappuccino and took another sip. “So, what's the agenda, then? Where have you been so far? What are your must-sees?”

“I only got here a couple days ago. Yesterday, I went out to Monet's gardens.”

“Lovely.” Lovelier still was the way her whole face softened, just mentioning them.

“I mostly walked around, this morning. Then I was going to sit here and draw for a bit.”

Asking if he could see her work some time would be good in terms of making his intentions clear. It was also unbearably trite. He gave a wry smile. “A quintessential Parisian experience.”

“And then…I don't know. The Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay, of course.” The corner of her mouth twitched downward. “Everything else I had listed in my guidebook.”

Ah. “Which I'm imagining just got stolen?”

“Good guess.”

Eyeing her up the entire time, he finished the rest of his drink. She still had a little left of hers, but they were closing in on decision time. He didn't have anything else going on today—he never really had anything going on, not since his life had fallen apart. But was he willing to sink an entire afternoon here, offering to show her around?

He tried to be analytical about it. Her body language was still less than open, for all that she'd loosened up a bit. Given her age, probably not a virgin, but he'd bet a lot of money that she wasn't too far off. Not his usual fare. He preferred girls who knew what they were doing—more importantly, ones who knew what
he
was doing. What he was looking for.

This girl…It was going to take some work to get in there. If it paid off, he had a feeling it'd be worth it, though. When she smiled, her prettiness transcended into beauty.

There was something else there, too. She was romantic and hopeful, and between the story of her lost sketchbook and her delusions about Paris having the power to change her life, she had to be a creative type. Out of nowhere, he wanted to know what kinds of things she made, and what she looked like when she drew.

He kept coming back to her eyes. They hadn't stopped moving the entire time they'd been sitting there, like she was taking absolutely everything in. The sights beyond the window, the faces of the people in the café. Him. It was intriguing.
She
was intriguing, and in a way no other woman had been in so long.

And the idea of going back to the apartment alone made him want to scream.

Decision made, he pushed his chair out and clapped his hands together. “Well, what are we waiting for then?”

“Excuse me?”

“Travel guides are bullshit anyway. Especially when you've got something better.” He rose to his feet and extended his hand.

Her expression dripped skepticism. “And what's that?”

He shot her his best, most seductive grin. “Me.”

   

 

 

Seven Nights to Surrender

Eight Ways to Ecstasy

When the Stars Align

“Jeanette Grey has become a must-read voice in romance. SEVEN NIGHTS TO SURRENDER is lyrical, stunningly sexy, and brings swoons for days.”

—Christina Lauren,
New York Times
bestselling author

“A must read! I couldn't put it down. Jeanette Grey's writing is so refreshingly honest. SEVEN NIGHTS TO SURRENDER is intensely emotional and sexy as hell. I need the next book ASAP!”

—Tara Sue Me,
New York Times
bestselling author

“With its sexy setting and sensual story, Jeanette Grey's SEVEN NIGHTS TO SURRENDER sparkles!”

—J. Kenner,
New York Times
and international bestselling author

“Achingly sexy and romantic—I couldn't put it down!”

—Laura Kaye,
New York Times
bestselling author

“Sensual, sultry, and exquisite, SEVEN NIGHTS TO SURRENDER will sweep you away and seduce you on every page! Crackling with tension and steamy with sensuality, it's a feast for the senses you don't want to miss!”

—Katy Evans,
New York Times
bestselling author

“With her unique flair, Jeanette Grey delivers a deliciously sexy and irresistible romance that keeps you turning the pages for more. You'll savor every word so you don't miss a single sizzling moment.”

—K. Bromberg,
New York Times
bestselling author

“I couldn't put it down! I loved every sentence! The writing is outstanding, the setting entrancing, and the characters stole my heart. Fresh, flawed, and instantly lovable, you'll root for Jo and Adam at every turn.”

—S. C. Stephens, #1
New York Times
bestselling author

“The heat of the island has nothing on the off-the-charts attraction that sizzles between its feisty and fiercely unique heroine and idyllic hero. The journey to being the best you is often equal parts beautiful and tragic, and Grey sets the scene perfectly. A sassy and sexy read full of heart and adventure. This romance is like a breath of fresh air.”

—Jay Crownover,
New York Times
bestselling author

To receive special offers, bonus content, and news about our latest ebooks and apps, sign up for our newsletters.

Sign Up

Or visit us at
hachettebookgroup.com/newsletters