Seducing the Wolf (59 page)

“
Mon Dieu
,” Gabby breathed, staring up at Manning as he stood behind Taylor.

Smothering a laugh, Taylor made the introductions. “Manning, I’d like you to meet my best friend Gabby. Gabby, this is—”

“Manning Wolf.” She grinned from ear to ear as she eagerly shook his hand. “
Enchanté
.”

Manning smiled warmly. “Pleasure to meet you, Gabby.”

“The pleasure’s mine,” she gushed. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

He winked. “All good, I hope.”

“Oh, but
of course
.”

Taylor gave her friend an amused look. She hardly recognized this fawning schoolgirl with the fluttering lashes and breathy giggle.

Taylor playfully bumped her shoulder. “We came for breakfast, woman. Feed us, or we’re going to the bakery down the street.”

“
Oh-laaa,
” Gabby cried in mock consternation. “Cruel, heartless woman! You see how she treats me, Manning?”

He grinned, holding up his hands. “I’m staying out of it.”

Gabby and Taylor laughed.

“What would you two like to have this morning?” Gabby asked them.

Taylor smiled whimsically. “I don’t know. You pick for us.”

“I can do that.” Gabby grinned. “Of course, I don’t know if a strapping Southern boy like Manning will be satisfied with the typical Parisian breakfast of coffee and a croissant.”

Taylor grinned. “We’ll stop for an early lunch.”

“Good idea.” Gabby nudged Manning and winked. “I saw you looking at my chocolates. Do you want some?”

“I do, actually,” he drawled. “I have some special ladies at home who’ll enjoy them.”

“They certainly will.” Gabby motioned to one of her employees behind the counter and rattled off instructions in French. When the girl nodded briskly, Gabby beamed at Manning. “Just tell Cécile what you want, and she’ll take care of you.”

Manning winked. “Cool. Thanks.”

As he sauntered away, Gabby leaned close to Taylor and whispered breathlessly, “Oh, my God! No wonder you never got over him. He is
hot, hot, hot!
”

Taylor grinned. “I know.”

“Seriously! I think I’m actually drooling.”

Taylor chuckled. “No surprise. He has that effect on women.”

“And you say he has four brothers?”

“Yup.”

“And they all look like him?”

“Almost exactly.”

“
Mon Dieu
.” Gabby fanned herself. “I’m going to America.”

The two friends laughed.

Most of the small tables outside the
pâtisserie
were already filled with patrons sipping coffee, reading the newspaper and chatting with friends. After getting their food, Manning and Taylor grabbed an empty table, then spent the next hour leisurely enjoying their delicious pastries and espressos.

As they ate and laughed, Taylor couldn’t help noticing the appreciative stares and smiles Manning attracted from different women strolling along the sidewalk. When she teased him about his admirers, he seemed genuinely oblivious. He was used to women checking him out, of course, and he hadn’t been paying much attention to his surroundings. Despite Taylor’s efforts to engage him in Parisians’ favorite pastime of people watching, he was more interested in watching her than anyone else.

“I’ve got an incredibly beautiful woman sitting next to me,” he reasoned. “Why would I want to stare at complete strangers instead?”

Taylor shrugged. “Because.”

“Because what?”

“Because it’s the thing to do. When in Rome and all that.”

Manning raised his coffee cup to his mouth, his eyes glittering with amusement over the rim.

Taylor grinned sheepishly. “Sometimes I make up little stories about the people I watch,” she explained. “Based on the way they’re dressed, I might try to guess their occupations. Is the man in the business suit a banker? Does he hate his job? Does he wish he could quit and become an artist? What about the tall, skinny girl rushing to the Metro? Is she a model on her way to a photo shoot? Or is she an aspiring one who’s hoping today will be the lucky day she lands a modeling contract?” Taylor smiled, soft and reflective. “Human beings are such fascinating creatures. Even the most seemingly mundane among us are part of life’s rich tapestry.”

“I certainly hope you’re not calling yourself mundane,” Manning drawled.

“No. Not really.” She chuckled. “All I’m saying is that I enjoy observing people. It gives me a wellspring of visuals and emotions to draw upon when I compose music.”

“That makes sense.” Manning smiled softly, his eyes roaming across her face with quiet fascination. “So what do you think people see when they watch you? What stories would they make up about you?”

“Oh, goodness. I don’t know.” Taylor giggled. “It’s always uncomfortable to turn the lens inward.”

“Indulge me.”

She grinned, glancing around. “Well, based on some of the envious looks I’ve been receiving, I’d venture to guess that most people watching me see a very lucky woman who’s having the best sex of her life with an insanely hot guy. And if they’re into insanely hot guys, the only thing they’re probably imagining is how they can trade places with me.”

Manning chuckled, wagging his head at her. “You took the easy way out.”

She gave him a cheeky grin. “I know.”

Finishing her almond croissant, Taylor reached for one of the
choux à la crème
Gabby had added as a special treat. It was totally inappropriate for breakfast, but Gabby knew Taylor could eat her pastries any time of the day.

As her teeth sank into the delicate pastry filled with lightly sweetened custard, she groaned with pleasure.

Manning’s eyes darkened as he stared at her. “God, I love to watch you eat. Turns me the
hell
on.”

She blushed, stomach quivering. “Want some?” she offered shyly.

“No.” His voice was a low, husky growl. “I want you to eat it so I can watch.”

Taylor smiled, easing the rest of the pastry into her mouth. As she licked her fingers, Manning’s nostrils flared.

“You got a little powdered sugar right there.” He wiped at the corner of her mouth and sucked his thumb, then leaned close and kissed her. She shivered as he parted her lips and slid his tongue between them.

“Mmmm,” he murmured, tasting her mouth with lush, lazy licks that hardened her nipples. “
Taylor à la crème
.”

She let out a breathy laugh and glanced around, blushing self-consciously when she encountered several amused gazes. “People are staring at us,” she whispered.

“So what?” Manning grinned. “Isn’t this supposed to be the most romantic city in the world? Isn’t Paris for lovers?”

“Well, yes, but—”

“But what? Are you telling me that you and Aidan never made out in public?”

Her face grew hotter. “We didn’t.”

Manning arched a skeptical brow. “Never?”

“Never.” Taylor hesitated, biting her lip. “Aidan was very…reserved. Public displays of affection made him uncomfortable.”

“Good,” Manning grunted. “The more he kept his hands and mouth to himself, the better.” Pause. “I don’t suppose there’s any chance you two had a sexless relationship?”

“Um,
no
.”

“Damn.”

Taylor laughed, shaking her head at Manning.

“So what’s up with you and ol’ boy?” he asked.

She shot him a puzzled look. “Who?”

“Your neighbor.”

“Olivier?”

“Yeah. Him.”

Manning’s surly tone made Taylor chuckle, even as she lowered her gaze to the table. “Nothing’s up with us.”

Manning’s eyes narrowed on her face. “What aren’t you telling me?” he pressed suspiciously.

She stalled, taking a careful sip of her coffee.

A muscle pulsed in Manning’s jaw. “Please don’t tell me you used to sleep with that asshole.”

“Okay. I won’t tell you.”

Manning stared at her, then covered his face with his hands and groaned. “You’re killing me, Tay.”

“Sorry.” She grinned. “You’re the one who brought him up.”

“Only because I could tell something was up between you two.”

“It was a long time ago. How could you tell?”

“The way he looked at you. Like he’d been with you before and he knew exactly what he was missing.”

“Hmm.” Taylor sipped more coffee.

“I knew I shoulda kicked his ass when I had the chance,” Manning grumbled darkly.

Taylor choked out a laugh. “Why would you kick his ass? You weren’t even in my life when I met him.”

Manning glowered at her, his jaw tight. “I’ve never made any secret of the fact that I’m insanely jealous when it comes to you and other men. The thought of you with Aidan, Olivier or any other motherfucker drives me crazy.”

“And you think I enjoy thinking about you with Caitlyn and legions of other women?” Taylor shot back.

He scowled. “Legions?”

She gave him a look. “Come on, Manning. Let’s not sit here and pretend you haven’t had numerous sex partners over the years. When we ran into each other at the hotel two weeks ago, you had just spent the night with some woman. I could smell her perfume all over your clothes, remember?”

Manning held her reproachful gaze for a long moment, then hung his head and exhaled raggedly. “You’re right,” he conceded. “I’m being unreasonable.”

“Yes. You are.”

He shot her a sullen look, and she laughed.

She thought he’d drop the subject after that, but she was wrong.

“So how long did you and Olivier…?”

“Sleep together?”

He scowled. “
Date
. How long did you date?”

“We didn’t. Not really.” Taylor smiled. “When I moved into my apartment eight years ago, Olivier was the first neighbor I met. He dropped by one evening to welcome me to the building. He brought wine, cheese and chocolates.”

“Smooth,” Manning muttered.

“He
was
smooth. Very suave and charming. He
is
French, after all.” Taylor chuckled. “But I made him chase me for two months before I gave in to his charms. By then I knew he was no choirboy. He wasn’t a total manwhore, per se. But I had seen enough women coming and going from his apartment to know he wasn’t exactly the ‘settling down’ type. But I wasn’t looking for that. I enjoyed his company and, well, I found him very attractive. One night he took me out to dinner. The conversation was good, the wine was flowing—”

Manning held up his hand, looking grim. “I get the picture.”

Taylor grinned, then heaved a dramatic sigh. “Anyway, our liaison lasted all of three weeks.”

“Why so long?”

She laughed, shaking her head at Manning. “I told Olivier we should just be friends. My career had really taken off and I was traveling more frequently. I didn’t have room in my life for a relationship, nor did I need the stress of worrying about what Olivier was doing while I was away.” She paused, her tone sobering. “It takes a very strong, committed man to remain faithful to a woman who’s on the road all the time.”

Manning nodded. “I know.”

“Do you?”

Holding her intent gaze, Manning reached across the table and took her hand in his. “I want you to understand something,” he said quietly. “It’s true that I’ve slept with many women in the time we’ve been apart, and I’m not proud of that. The truth of the matter is that I’ve been lost. So goddamn lost without you, Taylor. I’ve spent all these years bartering away pieces of my soul, trying to numb my pain and misery with possessions, and with women who could never hold a candle to my memories of you. When you came back into my life, sweetheart, you literally saved me. You’re the only woman I’ve ever wanted, the only woman I’ve ever loved. Believe me when I tell you that you
never
have to worry about me straying while you’re on tour doing what you love. I have never cheated on you, Taylor, and I never will.”

His impassioned words filled Taylor with immense joy and relief. As tears rose in her eyes, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him so tight he laughed, even as he returned her fierce embrace.

Taylor wasn’t surprised to hear applause from several nearby tables. Parisians could always appreciate a heartwarming display of
amour
, and as romantic declarations went, Manning’s had been pretty damn good.

After making plans to meet Gabby and her boyfriend for breakfast tomorrow, Taylor and Manning left the crowded
pâtisserie
and embarked on their sightseeing adventures. It was a gorgeous summer day, perfect for exploring the vibrant, historic city that Taylor had adopted as her home. She wanted Manning to get the full Parisian experience, so she insisted that they walk everywhere. No idling away in traffic in the backseat of a cab, and no summoning a private car to rescue them when their feet started aching.

They strolled hand in hand along the cobbled streets, passing beautiful fountains and monuments and busy cafés with menus scrawled on chalkboards out on the front sidewalk. They peered into shop windows and wandered inside a pungently scented
fromagerie
to sample different cheeses. Only in Paris could one find a gourmet cheese shop on the same block as a Greek eatery run by North Africans.

They roamed through the Marché Saint-Germain, a covered market filled with specialty shops, restaurants and bars, and the food market where Taylor did some of her grocery shopping.

They walked from Saint-Germain-des-Prés to the bustling Place St. Michel, stopping to watch a talented quartet play swing music. They applauded warmly for the old gentlemen, who beamed with pleasure and gratefully accepted a generous wad of euros from Manning.

Taylor had enjoyed these familiar sights and sounds for many years, but never had the City of Light seemed more enchanting to her than now, when she had Manning by her side.

She couldn’t let him leave Paris without taking him to Jardin du Luxembourg, which was her favorite park. They roamed the immaculately manicured gardens, soaking up the beauty of lush flower beds, gorgeous fountains and romantic statues. They lingered to watch small children aboard the merry-go-round, smiling at their squeals of delight.

When they passed two teenage couples making out beneath a tree, Manning cocked an amused brow at Taylor. “Tell me again why you were worried about people staring at us this morning?”