The Frenchman's Bride. Rebecca Winters

he ground out.

      Hallie heard agony in his voice just now. In spite of his anger, it tugged at her.

      “You two will go downstairs now, and take a taxi back to your schools. I’ll visit you after I’ve had a little chat with Ms. Linn.”

      The combination of pain and bitterness in Paul’s eyes caused Hallie to fear for the relationship between him and his father.

      Paul’s anger was more frightening than his parent’s because he was young and vulnerable, and had been caught redhanded at a very precarious moment in his life. It would take him much longer to forgive his father.

      Her heart sank when he stormed out of the dining room and Monsieur Rolland let him go.

      Monique stared up at her father like she’d never seen him before. Then her injured glance shifted to Hallie. “I’m sorry,” she mouthed the words before hurrying after her brother.

      The minute Hallie heard the elevator doors close she said, “Please don’t let them leave this way. Run after them quickly and apologize before any more damage is done!”

      CHAPTER TWO

      VINCENT ROLLAND’S eyes glittered with menace.

      “It’s a little late to be talking about damage, particularly if you’re pregnant. But Paul couldn’t know of your secret yet, otherwise he would never have left here without you.”

      Whoa. “Haven’t your children ever mentioned me to you? Not even once?”

      He looked like a man who’d had about all he could take.

      “I didn’t know of your existence until I saw my son kissing you with enough passion to convince me he’s moved way beyond rational thought.

      “I’m warning you now, Ms. Linn— No woman is going to trap my son into a travesty of a marriage and put him in bondage for the rest of his mortal life.

      “If you’re pregnant, you’ll never have the opportunity to blackmail him. Before morning you’ll be on a plane to wherever you came from with enough money to satisfy even your colossal greed.”

      This was a side of the twins’ father she doubted they knew anything about. Perhaps he was wealthier than Hallie had imagined. Naturally he would want to be certain his children weren’t being preyed upon. But to assume she was pregnant and accuse her of manipulating his son without giving her or Paul a chance to explain, fueled her anger.

      “I’m not pregnant. But if I were, are you telling me you would bribe me into going away, knowing I was carrying your grandchild inside my body?” she asked incredulously. “You would deprive Paul of his own child to love and raise?”

      A harsh laugh came out of him. “Who said anything about it being Paul’s?”

      All these months Hallie had secretly revered the twins’ father, but no longer.

      “Be careful before you say anything else you’ll live to regret, monsieur. Paul took us both by surprise today, but since you weren’t capable of listening to reason, I fear your reaction will have caused real damage to your relationship with him.

      “The truth is, I had no idea he’d developed a crush on me. Boys do that on occasion around an older woman. However I didn’t realize it until a few minutes before you walked in.”

      “It’s hardly a crush, Ms. Linn,” he retorted bleakly, appearing older all of a sudden. “The reality of the ring and everything it entails puts this whole matter in a different light.

      “Too many afternoon cocktail parties have a way of turning a boy’s head and dissipating his brain. Particularly when a predatory female who looks like you supplies that extra je ne sais quoi.”

      “Je ne sais quoi?” Hallie mimicked the words as she untied the scarf and laid it on the table with the ring. “That ‘little extra something’ is a dated expression Americans acquired years ago. Your daughter uses them constantly.”

      He moved closer, putting his hands on his hips once more. A grimace darkened his features. Even in his anger, he was so attractive she was alarmed to find herself distracted by his potent sensuality.

      “Who are you? What are you doing in Paris? How did my children meet you?” he fired one question after another.

      “I’m someone who has been a friend to the twins.”

      “You expect me to believe that?” he lashed out.

      “Yes. Just as I believe anything you tell me would be the absolute truth, too. Monique is like you in so many ways. But you’d be wise to watch your words because your cynicism has rubbed off on her.

      “She was sure her headmistress wouldn’t get her into trouble with you because, to quote your daughter, ‘the woman is still trying to seduce you.’ Sorry to be blunt, but dated expressions don’t have quite that je ne sais quoi with me anymore.

      “And one more thing. I don’t care if you’re as rich as King Midas! Since your son hasn’t worked in the vineyards for the last school year, then leaving nine thousand dollars in his account is entirely too much money for an impulsive eighteen year old to handle, no matter how trustworthy he’s been up until now.”

      “Are you quite finished?”

      “Not yet,” she said, ignoring his withering tone. “Let’s just be thankful he tested the waters with me because I love your son like I would a younger brother. I care about his welfare.

      “Paul doesn’t realize it yet, but I’m part of a fantasy in his mind. He’s confused right now. Give him a few more years and he’ll have figured everything out.

      “Do you know he wants to be exactly like you when he’s grown up?” she drove the point home. “Self-assured, desirable to women, a success in life? For your information he did everything right when he toasted me with wine from your vineyards and wished me a happy birthday.

      “No one could have been more charming or gallant. And even though he trembled when he kissed me, he didn’t hesitate. In fact he was very masterful when he reached for my hand and slid that ring on my finger.

      “In ten years or so years he’s going to make some lucky woman a wonderful husband in every way that counts. He shows all the promise, but he’s still young and capable of being wounded because you shamed him in front of me.

      “Surely you must know how much you hurt him by not letting him talk to you in private. I don’t understand you, not when I think you’ve raised the most wonderful children I’ve ever met. That’s why I stopped short of slapping your face.”

      Silence followed her last remark. He studied her for a long moment. “Before I have you investigated, why don’t you answer my questions.”

      Investigated— He would go that far?

      “Paul already told you. My name is Hallie Linn. Today I turned twenty-five, not eighteen! Until your children decided to surprise me with a little birthday celebration, I’d forgotten about it.

      “We met last fall when they came into Tati’s where I work. They were looking for birthday gifts for you, but were sticking to their budget. I asked them to describe you to me before I suggested a pair of gloves and a wallet.”

      She could tell by a flicker in the recesses of his dark eyes that he remembered receiving those gifts.

      “They were surprised to find an American working there and loved trying out their English on me. In fact they begged me to correct their mistakes. I was charmed by their earnestness and their adoration of you. It was Papa this, and Papa that.

      “Before they left the store, they asked if they could come back the next week and practice their English with me again. I said yes, but didn’t really expect to see them.

      “Two days later they showed up and pled with me to spend my lunch hour with them. They’d brought sandwiches