‘N-No,’ she stammered.

‘Good.’

‘Is it?’

‘After all.’ He took her elbow. ‘As a result of I don’t remorse having met you, even when it’s been a multitude at occasions. That picture Jean took, Liselle’s moodiness and jealousy, having to look at my father drooling over you… Now this, understanding there’ll be images of us throughout social media by now. You want this,’ he nodded in the direction of her sodden, clinging gown, ‘and me having to face by and watch whereas different males rescued you.’

‘I’m glad you didn’t danger your personal neck,’ she remonstrated.

‘It’s not in my nature although to sit down idly by when the girl I…’ One thing flickered in that onerous, good-looking face, then Leo blinked and hurriedly shifted tack, ending, ‘When the girl I’m with falls into the river.’

A reminiscence slammed into her and he or she stopped lifeless, groaning out loud.

His hand launched her elbow. ‘What’s it?’ Concern drew his brows collectively. ‘Have been you harm, falling out of the boat? You advised the paramedic you had been okay.’

‘No, I’m fantastic, I simply remembered… I’m meant to be assembly my grandmother for the primary time this afternoon.’ Maeve struggled together with her moist gown, its folds clamped to her thighs. ‘I used to be so cautious to attempt to look my greatest at this time as nicely… Now have a look at me.’ She was normally good at staying calm underneath stress, however the shock of her mishap had shaken her confidence and it was arduous to not burst into self-pitying tears. ‘What.. No matter will she suppose?’

‘I think about she’ll suppose you fell within the river,’ Leo mentioned, his mouth quirking with humour.

She glared up at him. ‘That’s not very useful.’

‘Possibly not. However there’s nothing you are able to do about your gown. Or your hair.’

‘Oh, my hair!’ She ran her fingers by its tangled strands, however it appeared to be weed-free eventually. Small mercies. It nonetheless felt damp and bedraggled although, slowly drying within the sunshine to a frizzy mess. ‘Maybe we must always name it off. See her one other day.’

‘And if she alters her thoughts about assembly you?’

He was proper. Her grandmother may nicely contemplate it intolerably impolite for her to cancel their assembly final minute. She clapped her arms over her face, despair nearly swallowing her. ‘That is simply essentially the most terrible dangerous luck,’ she wailed.

‘True, however you’ll be able to solely work with the state of affairs you’re given. What would you favor your grandmother to see when she opens the door to you?’ he requested, gently pulling her arms away from her face and peering down at her. ‘A younger lady in a multitude, laughing at her personal foolishness? Or somebody depressing, riddled with concern and uncertainty?’

‘I’m not riddled with concern and uncertainty,’ she mentioned stiffly.

‘I’m glad.’ He moved a humid strand of hair out of her eyes. ‘In that case, why don’t you attempt seeing the humorous aspect of the state of affairs?’

‘As a result of there’s nothing humorous about this.’

He gave her sodden determine a fast up-and-down look and his lips labored with amusement. ‘Is that so?’ Then he gave a shout of laughter. ‘When you might see your self…’

‘You, Leo Rémy, are an entire brute.’ She stamped on forward, however the impact of wounded dignity was slightly misplaced, given the loud squelching of her moist trainers.

He hurried after her. ‘I’m sorry,’ he mentioned, and put an arm about her waist. She felt herself go inflexible, her head jerking again, her large gaze capturing to his in shock. ‘It’s humorous,’ he insisted. ‘However I’m not laughing at you. I’m laughing at what occurred. On the manner they needed to fish you out of the river… And as for the look in your face proper now –’

‘Sure?’ she whispered when he stopped lifeless, her eyes on his face.

‘I’m sorry,’ he repeated in a low voice, ‘however I’m going to kiss you once more, though I do know I shouldn’t.’ His arm snagged her nearer, his darkish head bending in the direction of hers, eclipsing the brilliant dazzle of daylight alongside the Seine. ‘Since you are fully irresistible.’

CHAPTER TWENTY

Maeve’s head swam underneath his demanding kiss. She had been so drained and bewildered the final time they’d kissed, her mind had not correctly processed the state of affairs. Or so she’d advised herself, confused that she had even allowed such inappropriate behaviour from a person she barely knew. Although she knew him slightly higher now, or felt she did. It was unusual, she mused, how a number of electrically charged days with one particular person might go away you understanding them higher than individuals you’d recognized for months, even years…

After all, this time she had fallen right into a river first. She was soggy and shaken. However the sudden dunking had left her alert and her mind was working simply fantastic. So it was much more of a shock when she didn’t immediately push him away as she most likely must have accomplished, however as a substitute linked her arms about his neck and stood on tiptoe to deepen the kiss. Identical to final time. Simply as if she’d learnt nothing within the interim…

His mouth moved on her persuasively. Goodness, he smelt so good. Clear and male, his aftershave tangy with citrus. Whereas she most likely smelt of… No, greatest not to think about that. In addition to, Maeve wished extra, and he or she by no means wished extra. That primal urge to go additional left her surprised, in order that when Leo pulled again to gaze down into her face, she discovered herself unable to talk. She merely gawped at him as if drunk.

‘I apologise,’ he murmured, nonetheless holding her far too shut, which slightly undermined the entire apology factor. ‘I appear to be making a behavior of this. Kissing you, I imply. Not saying sorry. I’ve by no means been one for apologising if I can keep away from it. However on this occasion, I most likely ought to. You’re our visitor at Château Rémy. It’s not proper.’

‘I, erm… Sure, I…’

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