Our First Embrace. Judy Lynn Hubbard

      “You and your responsibility.” Victor groaned in disgust.

      “One of us has to be responsible,” Alex drily asserted.

      “You wound me, bro.”

      “You’ll live,” Alex promised. “Now will you get out of here?”

      “Okay, I’m going. I think I’ll see if I can spot...” He paused. “What’s her name?”

      “Nicole,” Alex reluctantly offered. “Nicole Carter.”

      “Nicole...Nicole.” Victor fit his tongue around her name with several different emphases. “Oh, I like that.”

      “Goodbye, Vic.” Alex dismissed him, swiveling in his chair to stare moodily out of the window.

      “See ya later, bro.” Victor left, whistling a tune that grated on his brother’s nerves.

      Chapter 2

      “Good morning, ladies.” Victor entered the break room, pulled up a chair and sat down at Monique and Nicole’s table. “Mind if I join you?”

      Monique frowned at his actions. “Since you already have, that question is somewhat rhetorical, isn’t it?”

      “Oh, Monique.” Victor chuckled and then turned his charm toward Nicole. “Hi, I’m Victor James.”

      “Nicole Carter.” Nicole smiled when he brought her hand to his lips. “Nice to meet you, Mr. James.”

      “Please, I’m not that old. Mr. James was my father,” Victor bemoaned. “Call me Victor or Vic.”

      “I will if you’ll call me Nicole.”

      “Deal,” he agreed. “Welcome to Alexander’s.”

      “Thank you.”

      “And how are you today, beautiful?” He touched Monique’s hand, which she quickly withdrew.

      “I’m fine, Victor, and you?”

      “Great now that I’m in the presence of two gorgeous ladies,” he said. “What more could a guy want?”

      “I’ll pass on that one.” Monique rolled her eyes and sipped her coffee.

      “Coward,” Victor softly teased before treating Nicole to another dazzling smile. “Whatever you’ve heard about me from Monique is untrue, unless you’ve been told I’m dashing, handsome and an all-around great guy.”

      “And modest,” Monique sarcastically added, suppressing a smile when Victor stuck out his tongue at her.

      “You can’t be Alexander’s brother.” Nicole’s stunned observation slipped from her lips before she could stop herself.

      “I know.” Victor shrugged. “What can I say? I have all of the charm.”

      Laughter bubbled from Nicole’s lips. She was inclined to agree with him. He was easy to be around and didn’t set her teeth on edge, and she immediately liked him.

      “I didn’t say that,” Nicole reminded.

      “No, I did, but don’t tell Alex.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “He’s always been jealous because I’m the youngest and the better-looking one.”

      “And insecure, too,” Monique drily added.

      “Made so by your cruel barbs,” Victor shot back, looking wounded.

      “Just stating the facts as I see them.”

      Nicole studied Victor as he teased Monique. The James men were handsome. Victor was the same height and build as Alexander, and he had the same gorgeous eyes. However, his hair was cut very short, and his face sported a neatly trimmed goatee. They both possessed the same light skin tone, but Lord knew their personalities were as different as night and day.

      “You two are certainly different in temperament,” Nicole said.

      “The poor guy just doesn’t have my style.” He shook his head sadly and sighed dramatically. “I worry about him so much.”

      Nicole chuckled, which turned into full-blown, tinkling laughter. Victor joined her, and even Monique was unsuccessful in suppressing a chuckle. Nicole felt as if she was among old friends. This day was turning out to be better than she had anticipated after her contentious first meeting with her straitlaced boss.

      “I like you, Nicole,” Victor confessed.

      “I like you, too.”

      “You see.” Victor grinned at Monique. “Nicole likes me.”

      “Give her time,” Monique rejoined.

      “Ouch!” Victor theatrically clutched at his heart. Nicole laughed, and a smile flirted about Monique’s lips.

      “Get out of here,” Monique ordered. “We have business to discuss.”

      “In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m part owner in Alexander’s,” Victor haughtily reminded her.

      “Your brother runs the business. You’re just the computer geek.”

      “I’d hardly think owning my own company qualifies me as a geek.” Victor’s faked outrage coerced a smile from Monique. “Besides, Alex runs Alexander’s for two reasons. First, because it bears his name, and second, because he enjoys the tedious day-to-day operations, whereas I detest being chained to a desk.”

      “Yes, you do like to roam around, don’t you?” Monique pointedly asked.

      “Any and every chance I get.” Merriment danced in Victor’s eyes at Monique’s loud sigh. “Now I’m leaving while I’m ahead,” he proclaimed, grasping Nicole’s hand and bringing it to his lips. “It was nice to meet you, Nicole. I’ll be seeing you around.” He winked at Monique and, before she could react, kissed her cheek and then left.

      “Wow, he’s certainly different from his brother,” Nicole marveled.

      “Thank goodness,” Monique declared. “If Victor ran things, we’d never get any work done.”

      “I think he’s nice and funny.”

      “Give the boss a chance. You’ll like him once you get to know him.”

      Nicole’s frown returned. “But will he like me?”

      “Definitely,” Monique promised. “Now, back to what we were talking about before Victor interrupted us. Are you going to take me up on my offer to move in with me?”

      “It’s nice of you to offer...”

      “I’m not being nice,” Monique interrupted, laughing. “I’m being selfish. My old roommate moved out a couple of months ago, and I’ve been searching for a new one, but I haven’t liked any of the applicants. I know this is sudden, but I feel comfortable with you. I think we’d get along famously.”

      “Where is your apartment?” Nicole sipped her delicious coffee.

      “In the 6th Arrondisement, close to your hotel. It’s very spacious, six rooms, reasonable rent when shared and already furnished. However, you’re free to change whatever you like,” Monique continued to try to sell Nicole on the idea.

      “It sounds wonderful.”

      “You can come by to look at it anytime you’d like,” Monique offered. “And please take your time about deciding.”

      Nicole smiled as she considered Monique’s offer. She had good instincts that seldom led her astray. She liked Monique, and it would be fun to stay with someone who knew Paris and could keep her from getting lonely being so far away from home.

      “I’d love to be your new roommate,” Nicole decided.

      “Great!”