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“And cut!” the director shouted.
Studio staff came out to clean the workstations and make all the tables as a show producer led us over to seating on the side of the stage. Tomas saw me first and approached with a bright smile and kissed my cheeks. He held me out at arm’s length and scanned over my dress. “Oh, this is one of yours?”
I nodded and bit my lip.
“It’s lovely. You should make sure you get photographed in it tonight. You should always be ready to promote yourself.”
I shook my head. “Please, no. I can’t tonight.”
He frowned. “You’re feeling anxious. Why? You’ve got a beautiful body. Cecil and I are upset at Paul. He shouldn’t have been so angry. You weren’t even naked.”
“Paul apologized to me. But it’s not that. I just don’t want more public attention right now.”
“I’ll let it go today, but in Paris you must get over it,” he said, and I nodded. “Let me introduce you to my Cecil.”
A gorgeous tiny woman with slicked-back blonde hair wearing a three-piece suit similar to Tomas’ came close. I bent for her to kiss my cheeks. “So happy to finally meet you, Nadia. Tomas adores you, and I am sure I love you already.”
I smiled. “So wonderful to meet you.”
They greeted Laurence warmly, and they reminisced about the food at the Renault Café. Paul was surrounded by celebrities who were talking to him. He glanced my way, and my pulse sped up. I shivered and touched my smile before turning away.
“You’re in love with him,” Cecil tutted. “Poor thing. With a man like Paul Crane, you’ll never rest. The press, women, men, fans, all working overtime to take him or bring him down.”
Paul’s attention turned to the woman seated next to him. She leaned in with her arm on him as cameras flashed. But she wasn’t the only admirer around him. There were several other women trying to get his attention. Paul put on the charm, speaking to them and smiling. He had to pretend I meant nothing to him to protect me. And it was hard to watch.
There were even people out of their seats, and the security around him worked to keep them back. Paul put a lot of effort into keeping me away from his celebrity status.That will all change. We were leaving for Rome in a week.
“It’s his curse,” Tomas added. “Something has to go wrong for him.”
Cecil nodded in agreement. “We’ll have you at our winery in the south when you come to stay in Paris. It’s such a shame it’s only for…what is it?”
“Six weeks.”
“Honestly, you should stay. You would thrive there. You’ll see.” Tomas was so confident in me, and I loved him for it.
We all sat and watched the rest of the live finale.
Renault crowned Chef Turner—the same that had his cake thrown away—top chef. He received a check for fifty thousand dollars and mentorship at Renault’s New York restaurant. As the confetti fell from the ceiling, the winner’s wife and two kids joined him on stage. It was a sweet ending.
We all clapped, and Renault shook hands with everyone before coming to where we all stood. He spoke in rapid French to Tomas and Cecil, then kissed my cheeks. “My girlfriend. You came. Did you like the show?”
I beamed at him. “I loved it.”
“Well, make sure you have room. I’m cooking tonight.”
Laurence escorted me to the elevators and over a bridge to the restaurant.
My hands flew to my chest in awe as an intense longing and excitement went through me. It was a carbon copy of Café Renault in Paris. It had polished mahogany wood, round tables, and chairs. Even French music played like you’d hear on the streets of Paris. My insides warmed.Oh, how I miss it. Laurence took me over to the windows to see the ice skaters below.
“That, you won’t find in Paris,” Paul’s deep baritone spoke from behind me as his hands circled my waist. We had more privacy here since the guests were only Chef Renault’s friends. Would that be the only moments I could safely touch him in public soon? Without the paparazzi photographing us?
I leaned back against him, and he kissed my neck. “Un Jour De Difference”started to play, and we began to sway. He spun me around and took my waist and started to slow dance.
I laughed as he dipped and lifted me slowly, and our gaze locked. My heart thudded hard in my chest. And at that moment, I knew mountains of obstacles could come, and I’d gladly take them all on if he’d just keep looking at me like he was now. This man meant everything to me.
Je t’aime.I love you.
“Are you ready for Rome, Nadia?”
