He had competent managers at his software development firm so he was not worried. Still, he knew he couldn’t stay away for too long. He’d get rusty and when it came to business and negotiations you didn’t want to do that. Still, he was enjoying the down time and he knew Mrs. Simpson was glad for the time off to visit her grandkids.
One evening after picking up a steak from the butcher shop Pierce returned to find that the magic bubble he’d been living in had suddenly burst.
As he rounded the corner and strolled toward the cul-de-sac where Celine’s house was nestled he realized that she was standing at the bottom of the gravel driveway and she was not alone.
Standing mere inches away from her was a man, tall and blonde and what you’d call handsome in a ‘Brad Pitt’ sort of way. He was deep in conversation with Celine and as he spoke he moved his hands expressively as if trying to make a point. At one point he even reached out and put his hand on her shoulder. She seemed to flinch and he pulled it away.
Pierce slowed his pace as he approached, taking his time so that he could observe Celine’s reaction to the man he assumed was her ex-fiancé. Her head was down and her shoulders drooped as if she carried the weight of a nation on them. When she lifted her face to respond to a comment Giles made her eyes flashed with anger. Or was that the gleam of unshed tears?
Pierce felt like a hand encircled his heart, squeezing hard, making him feel almost physical pain. Were they going to kiss and make up?
He was almost upon them now and as one they turned and looked at him. Now he could see it. Yes, those were tears in Celine’s eyes. What the hell had the jerk said to make her cry? Pierce turned to him and he knew his face was set in a dark scowl but he didn’t give a damn. If the man was harassing Celine he’d better be prepared for a fight.
He walked up to them and mere feet away. His eyes skimmed Celine’s flushed face and came to rest on the long lean face of the man he now considered her tormentor. He glared at him.
The man took a quick step away from Celine. He frowned as he stared back at the newcomer. He looked back at Celine, his eyes uncertain.
Before Pierce had a chance to think what to do next he felt slender arms sliding round his waist and looked down to see Celine smiling up at him. In her eyes was a look of relief. “Mon amour, what took you so long? I’ve been waiting for you,” she said, her voice sweet and low and seductive.
Pierce almost sucked in his breath but caught himself just in time. God, she sounded sexy when she talked like that. And the look she was giving him. This must be what they called ‘bedroom eyes’. Whatever they called it, it was having a hell of an effect on him. He could feel himself harden in his trousers.
“I came back as soon as I could,” he said and returned the smile. “You know I can’t stay away from you for too long.” Okay, so that was corny but she’d caught him off guard. No time to think of sophisticated lines. But no matter, their act was working. A pink flush began to creep up the neck of Gyles whatever-his- name-was and soon his face was totally red.
“Ex.…Excusez-moi,” he spluttered then backed away and as Pierce held Celine close with one arm and cradled his package of meat with the other the man turned and practically fled down the road back toward his father’s house. As soon as he was out of hearing distance Celine released her breath in a whoosh and pulled her arms from around Pierce’s waist, then she stepped back and out of his reach.
He felt the loss. He’d enjoyed having her warm body, her sensuous curves, pressed against his torso and he wanted more. But short of reaching for her and hauling her back into his arms like he wanted, he had no choice but to abide by the distance that she’d created between them.
“Thank you so much,” she said with a smile. “You came just in time.”
“For what exactly?” he asked, searching her face. What was she feeling at this moment? And what had caused her to put on that act?
“I’m sure you know who that was.”
“Yeah, I guessed,” Pierce replied. “Your ex.”
“Yes. He’s been here for the past hour trying to get back on Maman’s good side. He was so persistent that I could see he was getting on her nerves.” She gave a little laugh. “I thought I’d make things better by suggesting I’d walk him out to the road. That’s when he started bringing up old memories, all the good times, trying to convince me to take him back.”
“Remembering… was that what made you cry?”
She chuckled softly. “How did you guess? I kept telling him not to bring them up but he kept going on and on. My tears were partly out of sadness at what we’d lost but also out of sheer frustration. I couldn’t get him to shut up. I just wanted to smack him.”
Pierce laughed at that. “You? Smack someone? I’d love to see that.”
“Oh, I’m quite capable,” she said with a laugh which told him her cheerful spirit was back. “Don’t try and test me.”
Pierce smiled but said nothing. Oh, he was tempted to test her. He wanted nothing more. He wanted to test those lips so soft and pink and pliable. He wanted to nibble his way down her neck then down lower to those delicious br**sts-
“I’m glad I came on this trip.”
Celine’s words jerked Pierce out of his reverie.
“In spite of the stress?” he asked. Then he said, “Of course, seeing your family makes it worthwhile.”
“Yes, that goes without saying but that’s not I meant.” She gave him a smile, obviously amused when he frowned at her in confusion. “I’m glad I got to see Giles again.”
Pierce felt like she’d kicked him in the stomach. Now what the hell kind of game was she playing? Hadn’t she just said that she didn’t want to talk to him?
“I’m glad because all this time I’ve been blaming myself for our break up. I’ve been so wracked with guilt that half of the time I couldn’t stand myself.”
Pierce gave her a sharp look. What was she talking about now? She was like a pendulum that kept swinging from one confusing side to the other. “Okay, I can see this is going to take some explaining because right now you have me confused as hell. “What say we drop off this meat in the kitchen and head down to the stream?”