Weddings: The Proposals. Rebecca Winters

in her wheelchair while I weed. We talk about the history of Provence. She’s very knowledgeable. I’ve learned tons, but I don’t see her warming to her husband yet. It kills me because he’s always so sweet to her. Today I’m going to ask her if she’ll go to lunch with me somewhere exciting, but I’m not holding my breath.”

      “All things taken into account, you sound happier than I’ve ever known you to be.”

      Laura turned on her stomach and stretched out on the grass lining the flowerbed. “Oddly enough, I am. Guy’s villa is a Garden of Eden. I’m sitting in the middle of the most gorgeous arrangement of rose beds you’ve ever seen. Beyond them is the Mediterranean. This morning it’s a dazzling blue dotted with sailboats. The air is so fragrant a good perfumer should market it.”

      “It sounds divine, and no serpents in sight.”

      “I didn’t say that, Guy has a brother.”

      “Older or younger?”

      “Younger. The dynamo at the Laroche Corporation.”

      “Handsome?”

      Laura closed her eyes, pressing her hot cheek against her arm. “Find a picture of Adonis and add ten years to him. Even then you won’t do him justice.”

      “Good grief—”

      “You can say that again.”

      “Laura—”

      “Yes. I’m in lust with him.”

      Cindy burst into laughter. “How wonderful!”

      “It’s what I call pleasure-pain. I still haven’t found out his marital status and he believes I’m Mata Hari. When we are together, it’s like a duel. He has a rapier tongue that can slice you into pieces faster than Zorro.”

      “What?”

      “It’s a long story. Do you have time?”

      “All night.”

      She rolled back over to feel the full rays of the sun on her face and legs. With her eyes still closed, she told her about the outing to Tourettes Sur Loup and ended with the other night when she’d discovered him waiting for her outside the Villa Leopolda. She hadn’t seen him since and had missed their lethal skirmishes a lot more than she was willing to admit.

      After she’d told Cindy all her theories about why Raoul had been so cruel, her friend said, “Maybe he’s in a bad marriage like you and is frustrated to be attracted to you when he’s not free. Since he hasn’t chosen to tell you his marital status, why don’t you ask Chantelle?”

      Laura expelled the breath she’d been holding. “I could, but I don’t want her to think I’m here for any reason but to be her friend for a while. She has to learn to trust all over again. If she thinks I have another agenda, it could ruin any ground I’ve made with her.”

      “I see your point, so why don’t you ask Guy?”

      “I don’t dare talk to him about his brother for the very same reason. The truth is, he hasn’t offered any information. They’re a very closemouthed family—aristocratic, if you know what I mean. I’ve been learning things on a need-to-know basis only.”

      “Wouldn’t Guy’s son be all right to ask?”

      “No. He’s good friends with his uncle. They share everything. I have no doubt Raoul vets Paul about me. I don’t want to give him anything he can use against me. The other night Paul told him I’d gone out in the limo and the next thing I knew, Raoul came to find me.”

      “Sounds thrilling to me.”

      “It would have been if I thought Raoul didn’t have another agenda, but he does. That’s why if I were to ask Paul any questions that didn’t have to do with him, it would stir things up. I’m trying to stay out of trouble and mind my own business.”

      “Your life story is better than the latest vampire novel I’m reading.”

      At that remark Laura laughed. When it subsided she said, “Raoul would make a gorgeous vampire.”

      “According to your description, he’d make a gorgeous—”

      “Don’t say it,” Laura broke in. “I can’t afford to think it.”

      “But you have thought it. I can hear it in your voice.”

      “It’s this place, Cindy, it’s out of this world.”

      “Then what are you going to do about Raoul?”

      She moved her arm in front of her eyes. “Nothing.”

      “You mean you’re going to let nature take its course.”

      “That’s the way it has to be. Now I’ve kept you up too late and you need your beauty sleep. I’ll be seeing you in about ten days, but I’ll call you before then. Take care.”

      “You, too.”

      Laura rang off, thinking about everything they’d discussed. As she lay there soaking up the sun, she felt a cloud pass over. That was odd. She hadn’t seen any clouds on the horizon this morning. She removed her arm to look up at the sky and let out a slight gasp.

      It was Raoul blocking the sun’s rays. He was supposed to be at work! Had he heard any of her conversation with Cindy before he’d moved right in front of her? She found herself the object of his piercing black scrutiny. It took her breath.

      He looked impossibly striking in a light-gray business suit that molded his hard-muscled body to perfection. After two days’ deprivation, to have this kind of reaction to him alarmed her.

      She sat up and got to her feet. Her sleeveless pink blouse and white shorts covered her adequately, but when his gaze roved over her she trembled for no reason. “I take it you were looking for me.”

      “Chantelle said you were out here somewhere. Next time I can’t find you, I’d better look under a few plants. What has you so fascinated?”

      “While I’ve been gardening I found something interesting. I planned to show it to Chantelle, but she was on the phone. Then I had to take a call and forgot about it until just now.”

      “Your boss?” Raoul was always quick to make assumptions.

      “No, my best friend, Cindy. We live in an eight-plex across the hall from each other. She watches my apartment for me while I’m away on business.” Laura knew what he was thinking and decided to satisfy that insatiable curiosity of his. “It’s big enough to fit into my closet in the guest bedroom.”

      His lips twisted into a smile. “But it’s yours.”

      “Exactly.”

      “Where is this thing you found?”

      “Oh—it’s here! I took it in the house and washed it.” She picked it up off the grass and handed it to him. “I think it must have been a pin. There’s a little boy’s face on it. So precious.” Laura suddenly felt a pain as she thought about having a real little boy of her own. He would have Raoul’s arresting features. She shook her thoughts away, reminding herself that it was foolish to think such things.

      He studied her for an overly long moment before giving it his attention. “Where exactly did you find it?”

      “Around the east side of the house near the sundial.”

      “I’ll have to call the university about this. You’ve just found a Gallo-Romain artifact. Most of them have been discovered on Mont Leuze not far from here. If you found this on the property, there are probably more.”

      As he lifted his dark head, his eyes shot to hers. “Lifeguard, artist … now archaeologist. There’s no end to your talents, is there?” He handed it back to her.

      Was that a trace of levity she heard coming out of his all-male mouth?