TouchofaDom (3 page)

“It’s a good kitchen. I think Luc redid it a few years back
to Madame Louise’s specifications.”

Two dishwashers, an eight-burner hob with both electricity
and gas, and a
Lacanche
range, just what had figured into her kitchen
dream but not one she’d expected to have fulfilled. “It’ll take me weeks to
find my way around all this. It’s fantastic.”

“Luc doesn’t spare expense. Makes working here very
pleasant.”

She called her employer “Luc”. They were all so informal.
Not what she’d been used to but never mind. “So what should I do first?”

“Make us both a mint tisane and I’ll try to explain
specifics.”

The first was easy but as they sat at the table, Adele began
to realize the job wasn’t going to be quite as straightforward as she’d
thought.

She was expected to put two meals on the table every day and
leave something cold or to be warmed up on her days off. Easy enough there but…

“What I expect will drive you bonkers,” Helen told her, “is
keeping track of when meals are needed and exactly how many. Madame Louise,
who’d known Luc since he was in diapers, used to scold and fuss at him. It
didn’t make a blind bit of difference so I’d advise you to not waste your
breath. I’m here unless I’m out and trust me, if I’m going to be out, I’ll tell
you.

“But Luc comes and goes like the wind. He’ll say he’s off
for three days and reappear after twelve hours and another time he’ll say he’s
away for a couple of days and come back a week later.” She sounded a trifle
irked at that. “Branko isn’t quite as unreliable and I’ll have to nag at him to
let you know when he’s going to be away. I’ll tell him being new you need to
know that.”

“Does he live-in too?” She wasn’t curious really, just
needed to know. For meals.

“Sometimes, but he has a house in the village.”

Interesting. Perhaps. “So, he eats here?”

Helen shook her head. “It depends. Sometimes breakfast and
usually lunch, if he’s working in the house. Dinner? Well, that varies.”

Adele was beginning to wonder why they needed a cook if so
many seemed to be away half the time. “Sounds as if numbers could be anything.”

“I don’t think it will be as bad as it sounds. I certainly
don’t expect three courses if I’m on my own here. Luc does like good food,
though, so your efforts won’t go unappreciated. As for coping with people
coming and going, I know Madame Louise used to keep soup and a few extra meals
in the freezer for when Luc appeared without warning. I suspect he believes
meals appear by magic and a wave of a tea towel.” Adele had to smile, never
doubting the truth of it. A man who could afford a cook didn’t worry about how
potatoes got peeled.

“I’m happy with an omelet or soup, so don’t fuss when I’m
alone. In fact, if you don’t mind me invading your space—I seldom dared with
Madame Louise as she ruled the kitchen like a dictator—I can often fix my own.
It’s really when Luc is here you need to pull out the stops.”

“What about tonight?”

“With the two of us? A home-cooked meal would be welcome but
I’m not sure what’s in the freezers. You’ll need to check.”

That she could do, and it seemed she was responsible for
ordering from the shops in Nice and Monaco and sending the bills to Branko.
“What about things from the garden?” There could be no way all that abundance
wasn’t going to be used.

“Use whatever you want and as much as possible. Talk to
either Vito, who helped bring up your luggage, or his father Pipo. They’re here
most days, unless it’s raining, of course. They live up in the hills. I can
give you their phone number just in case.”

“What time is dinner?”

“Eight usually. Will you have long enough?”

“I think so. I’ll go through stocks and supplies and see
what’s there.”

“Go and look and to make it easier, since Luc’s out, why
don’t we eat here in the kitchen? It’ll tell Branko. That way we can get to
know you. Anything else you need, there’s a house phone. My extension is 25.
Call me if you have any questions.”

She was gone and somehow the room was vast and empty without
her. Nonsense! It was a fantastic kitchen, would be a pleasure to cook in, and
she had a job to do. Her actual employer might be absent but she’d make every
effort to impress her fellow employees after a bit of foraging through freezer
and pantry.

“We’re eating in the kitchen?” If Helen had announced dinner
would be served in the downstairs cloakroom, Branko couldn’t have been more
astounded. “Did Luc agree to this?”

“Luc is away. If he comes back between now and then, we can
change. Get over yourself, Branko. Food will be just as tasty in the kitchen
and look at it this way, you can chat up Adele while we eat. Don’t you want to
get to know her?” The more she thought about it, the better sense eating there when
Luc was away might make than dining in state in the rather grand
salle a
manger
.

Branko thought about it. “We will see, and now you have
given me good reason to discipline you when we stage our little charade
tonight.”

“Really? What charade?”

He actually had the nerve to feign surprise and confusion.
“Surely, Luc told you. We must perform under her window.”

Just like he and Luc had on her first evening. “You’re
serious?”

“Most definitely. Luc was very clear in his directions. You
and I will perform an erotic tableau for her delectation. After dark, of
course. I am to be in charge of the choreography. You must agree. Luc was
counting on your participation since he cannot be there. If I am on my own, it
will not pique her interest in the same way.”

True, but mixed feelings was putting it mildly. And why had
Luc omitted mentioning this before he left? She knew the answer to that because
he liked throwing her for a loop even if he did it in
absentia
. Much as
she had enjoyed witnessing the Luc /Branko, or perhaps Branko/Luc, exhibition
on her first evening, did she really want to do the same? “Let’s talk about
it.”

“But of course.” Taking her at her word, he pulled up a
chair for her and smiled. “So, Helen, what may I do to you?” Their eyes met and
he smiled.

“Branko, I’m not so sure about this.”

“Why not? Didn’t you enjoy the little exhibition we put on
for your benefit?”

He darn well already knew the answer to that. “All right.
Let’s get this sorted out.”

He leaned over and stroked his fingers down the side of her
neck. “One thing I will insist on, you must wear a collar and lead. A velvet
one.”

Dear heaven! That would be hard to refuse. “What color?”

“Red. Bright, glorious, sexy red. And nothing else.”

“Wait a minute, I’m not walking barefoot over the gravel and
stones.”

“Then it is a good thing Luc bought you some red boots.”

News to her, but it would save her feet. “And if I have to
kneel or lie down, I’m having some nice thick blankets.”

“How about an air mattress?”

That would do. “Sort of like a bouncy castle or a
trampoline?”

“Oh, you are so impudent, Helen. Your chastisement, at my
hands, will be truly deserved.” And truly enjoyed if past experience was
anything to go by. “There will be no air mattress, but a soft pad that I will
place on the stone bench under the pergola. I will spread-eagle you on your
back and tie down your wrists and ankles with velvet straps and you will lie
there helpless and submissive whilst I do whatever I want to your pliant body.”

Helen saw Luc’s signature in that little scenario. She took
a deep breath, only too aware of tightened nipples inside her bra and the
dampness between her legs. “Okay,” she said, “if you insist.”

“Oh I do, my dear Helen. I most certainly do.”

* * * * *

Adele wasn’t sure if having meals in the kitchen would be
easier or harder. Easier really, from the point of serving, but she wasn’t too
sure if she wanted the other employees invading her domain. All right, what
would be her domain once she settled in.

Meanwhile, she set about delving into the basket of salad
and vegetables Pipo brought in from the garden along with a request that she
tell him what she needed in the morning. Although, with just three people to
feed, including herself, the pile on the table looked enough to last a couple
of days.

Several beautiful eggplants caught her eye. They were firm,
small and still warm from the sun. Baked with garlic, basil and some of the
bottled tomato sauce from the deceased Madame Louise’s larder they’d make a
perfect first course. Adele ran her hands over the shiny flesh and smiled.
There was something gloriously voluptuous about a purple eggplant.

“
Bonjour.
” Adele looked up. A man stood in the
doorway. Branko. He was rather sexy, with a wicked spark in those dark eyes.

“Hello again. I’m glad you’re not permanently injured by my
bashing into you.”

He smiled. “Not at all, Mademoiselle.” He held out his arms,
palms uppermost. “As you see I am undamaged.”

Good thing too. She’d hate to have been responsible for a
permanent injury. “I’m glad. Is there anything I can do for you?”

The way he grinned, she half-expected him to make a couple
of interesting suggestions.

“I came to welcome you to Les Santons.” As he spoke he held
out his hand. His was a very nice handshake, strong fingers, his grasp just
firm enough to make her wish he’d held hers a little longer.

“You will be here for dinner?”

“Wouldn’t miss it, but Helen tells me we’ll eat in here.”

“She suggested it. Does that suit?” It had better. She was
not serving here and in the dining room.

“Of course. We can eat together and get to know each other
better. Since we all serve the same master.”

He put such a clear but very subtle emphasis on the word
“Master” that Adele wondered if she was hearing more than intended. “He seems a
very generous employer.”

“When he wishes to be.”

And what was she to make of that? Was Monsieur Prioux not
always so open-handed?

Branko sauntered into the kitchen—no other word for it—and
reached for one of the eggplants. Running his fingers over the shiny purple
skin, he asked,
“
Are we having these beautiful fruits of nature for
dinner?”

She was tempted to tell him no, salad of prickly pears, but
couldn’t help smiling back. “Yes, baked with garlic, to start, and after that
some veal chops I found in the freezer.”

“I look forward to dinner, Mademoiselle. If you need me, for
anything, call me. My extension is 22.”

That was far too obvious for her taste. “I feel sure I can
manage. Later I may need to start ordering fresh supplies.”

“I will be at your disposal. See you at dinner.”

When he left, the kitchen seemed sort of empty. Just as
well. He was an incorrigible flirt and a distraction and besides, it was so
much easier to work on her own.

* * * * *

Adele was pleased with herself over her first meal at Les
Santons but even though the food went well, she sensed a tension between Helen
and Branko. Why? She so hoped she hadn’t landed deep in some household feud.
Helen was friendly enough, and given she was American, appeared to appreciate
the cooking. That was unfair of Adele. What did she know about Americans? This
one had, after all, given her a job.

“Where in America are you from?” Adele asked. Curious, yes,
but…

“Virginia,” she replied. “I lived there all my life, until I
came here. I needed a change. My husband died,” she added.

“I’m sorry. I did not mean to intrude.”

“No intrusion. It happened. What about you?”

“I grew up near Lille and when my mother died recently, I
decided to come south for sunshine.” Curiosity getting the better of her, she
asked Branko, “Where are you from?”

“Croatia,” he replied, after a pause. “I was born in Zagreb
but when I was a boy, my family moved to Italy and then France. There was a lot
of turmoil when I was growing up.”

Of course, there would have been. “Seems we make a mini
United Nations,” Adele said.

“I hope,” Branko said, “you will find us interesting.”

“I do already.” He was particularly intriguing.

They didn’t linger over coffee, much to Adele’s relief. She
cleaned up, made a rough list of groceries she’d want to order in the morning
and made her way back to her quarters. Although “quarters” was a pretty sparse
way to describe the very spacious and comfortable apartment across the
courtyard.

She needed an early night if she was to be up in time to
have breakfast laid out by eight. She should have asked about bread but had
forgotten. Another thing to add to her list. But she’d found brioche in the
freezer. The late Madame Louise had stocked up well and they’d manage for one
morning.

As she got ready to turn in, Adele couldn’t help wondering
about her new, and as yet unmet, employer. What sort of person owned property
like this? And enjoyed a lifestyle that included his own librarian and
secretary as well as cook and gardeners and, according to Helen, a cleaning
crew to take care of the house?

Sooner or later she’d find out.

Mind you, Branko wasn’t half bad but perhaps there was
something going on between him and Helen. The tension between them had to
signify something. Meanwhile, she was ready for bed. She’d traveled a good
distance—in more than one way—since she left Lille that morning.

* * * * *

“So, we are agreed?”

Helen looked at Branko and shrugged. “I guess so.”

“You do not sound too certain. Have you never performed
before?”

Thank gave her pause. She had… “Yes, but it was with Sam and
a group I knew well.”

“You know me, Helen. We have played before and I think you
found it pleasant, didn’t you?” More than “pleasant” and he knew it. “Tonight,
there will be no group, familiar or otherwise, just the two of us in the
moonlight.” And Adele at her window. Maybe.

“What if she doesn’t get up and watch?”

“I think she will. You were curious, weren’t you?”

True, but she’d been a horny widow at the time. “Okay, so
she wakes up and sees us. What if she’s shocked and horrified and calls the
cops?”

“My dear, according to Luc’s report, she will be far from
horrified and will see us in a new light at breakfast. You did after all.”

No point in denying that. “Okay, you win.” And she would too
in the end. Branko was darn good and well worth all this palaver. “So, you need
me naked. What time?”

“I will alert you. Fifteen minutes after her light goes
out.”

“You’ll watch her room?” What a silly question. Of course he
would. “Okay, let me know and I’ll be ready, but better make sure it’s a nice
warm blanket on that bench. Nothing like cold stone to ruin the mood.”

His chuckle was downright lascivious. “My dear Helen, you
will not be cold, I promise.”

Might as was well get ready. She wasn’t about to shower and
go out into the night air but she stripped, rubbed her body with rose-scented
lotion, slipped on the so-called “boots” that were not much more than
firm-soled slippers and wrapped herself in a warm robe to sit and read until
Branko summoned her.

She left the collar and lead on the dresser. He could put
that on. It would help get her in the mood.

It was just after eleven when he came up to her room.
“Ready?”

“Pretty much.” She put aside her book, stood, took off her
robe and turned to look at him. And gaped. He was out to get Adele’s attention,
no two ways about it.

He was wearing black thigh-high boots that fitted like a
second skin and a matching thong, for want of a better word, long gloves and
that was it.

“Nice getup.”

“Luc chose it.” Why did that not surprise her? “You’re not
wearing the collar.”

“I thought you might want to put it on.”

“
Coquine!
” He smiled. “Come here and bring it with
you.”

Easy enough to oblige. His fingers were warm against her
skin as he fitted the velvet around her neck. She gave a little shiver as he
kissed her shoulder. “You will perform well for me, Helen. I feel sure of it.
Now, follow me downstairs.”

He took up the looped end of the lead and led her down the
main staircase, across the entrance hall and out the front door into the
moonlit garden.