Falling For Her French Tycoon (Escape To Provence Book 1)

by Rebecca Winters

  That meant she needed to leave La Gaude and start a new life in a place where there was no danger of running into him. Nathalie owned her car and had saved enough money to rent an apartment. She should be living on her own now anyway. It would have to be close enough to still be able to visit her mother without difficulty. They could plan times together when Alain would be there with her.

  For the rest of Tuesday afternoon, Nathalie got on the computer to look for jobs available for pharmacists in the greater Provence area. Before her mother returned from work, she’d found an opening at a privately owned pharmacy in Menton, a city of twenty-five thousand on the French Riviera. The hour’s drive from La Gaude would be perfect. They needed a pharmacist full time and the pay sounded good.

  Nathalie applied for it online. She believed her mother and Denis would get along just fine without her, and they could always hire another pharmacist to help out.

  Knowing she’d done this much to plan out a new future for herself helped Nathalie to find the courage she’d need to face Dominic with the truth about her condition when he came by for her this evening. It was time to get ready. She’d watch for his car and hurry outside. One day her mother would meet Dominic, but not tonight.

  CHAPTER TEN

  DOMINIC PULLED UP in front of the Gilbert home. Today the stakes had changed. Their lives were about to be transformed forever.

  Even before he shut off the engine, Nathalie came walking out to his car wearing a stunning gold-on-green print dress. His breath caught at the shape of her gorgeous figure. Her hair caught the fire of the setting sun. No other woman matched her beauty inside or out.

  He leaned across the seat and opened the door for her. She climbed inside, bringing her delicious floral scent with her. “Thank you, Dominic.” She wouldn’t look at him.

  Without telling her his plans, he drove down the street.

  “Where are we going?”

  “I’m taking you to Vence. There’s something I want you to see. It won’t take long.”

  “I’d rather we didn’t. Can’t we stay here? All I want to know is if your cousin is truly happy.”

  He darted her a glance. “You already know the answer to that question. But tonight I don’t want to talk about Raoul. You and I have other business that’s only important to us.”

  “No, we don’t!” she cried, turning to look out the passenger window.

  “That’s what you think.”

  “I only agreed to see you in order to work out arrangements for Raoul.”

  “Tonight I want to talk about us.” Since he could tell she was attempting to shut him out, he turned on the radio to a soft rock music station. It didn’t take long to reach Vence.

  He wound around to a street on the heights of the city with a panoramic view of the sea. The modern white villa peeking out from the cypress trees had appealed to him while he’d been house hunting with Raoul. Five bedrooms, three thousand square feet and a swimming pool. Everything that had been missing while he’d lived in a massive old chateau most of his life apart from those years in Paris.

  Dominic pulled up in front and shut off the engine.

  “Why did you stop here?” He heard that panic in her voice again.

  “This villa is for sale. I’d like to know what you think of it.”

  “It’s lovely, but it has nothing to do with me.”

  “It could have everything to do with you once we’re married. I’ve been inside and think it would be the perfect home for us and the children we’re going to have.”

  She suddenly buried her face in her hands. “I could never marry you, Dominic.”

  He reached across to caress her shoulder. “I could never marry anyone else. I’m madly in love with you.”

  “A marriage between us isn’t possible.”

  “Give me one good reason why.”

  Her head lifted abruptly. She turned to him. “Because I can’t give you children, and just now I heard in your voice that it’s what you want most.”

  Pain rocked his body. “On the cruiser you said you weren’t dying of a disease or anything like it.”

  “I’m not, but I do have a condition. It’s called primary ovarian insufficiency. By twenty years of age, I’d only had one period. Amenorrhea is the name for it. The doctor put me through a series of tests. Since that time I’ve only ovulated twice and I’m twenty-seven. I’m one of the five to ten percent of cases that happens to younger women. It means pregnancy will pretty well require a miracle. You don’t want to marry me.”

  “Nathalie—”

  “There’s nothing you can say to make me change my mind. Right now I’m in so much pain, I can’t be around you. Please take me home.”

  Devastated that she could be this tortured, he had no choice but to drive her back to La Gaude. There had to be a way to reach her, but it wouldn’t be right now. He needed to come up with a plan. Silence filled the interior all the way back to her house.

  When he drove up in front, she turned to him. “What I wanted to tell you when I came out to the car earlier was to please ask Raoul to deal with me and my mother from now on. There’s no reason for you to act as the go-between any longer. You’ve had more to deal with than any man should have to.”

  “Doesn’t it matter to you that I fell in love with you and wanted to do whatever I could to be with you?”

  “That’s because you’re the most decent and honorable man I’ve ever known.” Her voice trembled. “You were always wonderful to me even when you suspected I’d applied for work with ulterior motives. Just look what I did, Dominic. I suspected three men of being Alain’s father and tried to prove it. Who does something like that?” she blurted in pain.

  Dominic grasped her hand in exasperation. “How can you say that when you brought about the miracle that restored your stepsister’s boy to his birth father?”

  She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. I’m so honored you would want to marry me, but you deserve a woman who can give you children.” She eased her hand away, then opened the door.

  Talk about agony.

  “I’m sure we’ll see each other accidentally from time to time over the years. I have no doubt Alain will get to know you and love you. Between his father and you, he’ll have the greatest role models in the world to learn from. It’s so much more than I could have hoped for when I started down this slippery slope.”

  Dominic watched her get out and disappear inside the house. If another miracle didn’t happen fast...

  He drove back to the chateau needing help before he drowned.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  THE MEETING AT the park on Wednesday was an emotional one for Nathalie. Her mother had been bowled over by Raoul, who’d come alone to meet her and Minerve. They planned to go to the hospital on Thursday at noon for the DNA tests. It wouldn’t be long before Alain became the newest official member of the Fontesquieu family.

  Nathalie was thankful Dominic had gotten the message and didn’t accompany his cousin. She couldn’t have handled seeing him today.

  This time Raoul had brought a little toy car for Alain, bringing a smile to his adorable face. The two of them proceeded to throw more food to the ducks. Already Nathalie could tell a bonding was taking place between father and son.

  When her mother and Minerve started walking Alain to her mother’s car, he didn’t want to go. He’d been having too much fun with his papa.

  Raoul helped him in the car seat, then asked Nathalie to stay for a minute after they’d driven off. “Before you go, there’s something else we have to talk about.”

  Nathalie knew what it was. Her heart sank. “I’m sorry, but I’ve got to get to the pharmacy. Denis is alone right now.”

  “Can you give me five minutes? This is an emergency.”

  “If you mean Dominic—”

  “You know I do,” he interrupted her. �
��He came home last night a shattered man. You can’t do this to him. Your fear about being unable to have children is unwarranted when it comes to Dominic.”

  “You don’t know that. The man I thought I would marry couldn’t handle it.”

  “You don’t know Dom. He loves you, and your rejection of him without giving him a chance to tell you how he feels about your condition is crucifying him. In time it’s going to crucify you. I know what I’m talking about. If you shut him out, you’re making the worst mistake of your life.”

  She switched her gaze to him. “What do you mean?”

  “I had to tell your stepsister the truth when I found out Sabine was pregnant. There was no altering the outcome. I felt like a monster who didn’t deserve happiness. But your situation is entirely different. Let Dom tell you what’s in his heart. More than anyone in the world, I want him to be happy. He adores you, Nathalie.”

  Raoul’s words rang so true, the tears coursed down her cheeks.

  “I couldn’t fix my situation, but you have every chance to find happiness with Dom. Just let him in. I’m begging you. I also believe in my soul Toinette was urging you on to find me.”

  “You can honestly say that?”

  “As God is my witness. Dominic was the conduit. Don’t you think she’s been in heaven suffering because she refused to tell your family about me?”

  Her heart leaped. Was that true?

  “You’ve been an answer to prayer and I’ll spend the rest of my days being the best father I can be to our child. I’ve been given a second chance to redeem myself, all because of you. I love you for what you’ve done for me and Alain, Nathalie. You were there for him all that time. His wonderful aunt.”

  By now she was sobbing.

  “Before you leave, remember there’s another man out there who loves you body and soul. Don’t be afraid. Have faith in his love for you. If you don’t, that would be the real tragedy. Dom told me it was love at first sight for the two of you. That good old coup de foudre. It caught me and Antoinette too. The four of us are a lot alike.”

  She nodded. They definitely were.

  “Don’t you think it’s time you let Dom out of his prison? He’s the reason my miracle happened to me. I’m pleading with you not to let him spend another night in hell. That’s where he was last night. I know because I was with him and felt utterly helpless to comfort him. He’s waited twenty-nine years for a woman like you to love him.”

  Nathalie kept wiping her eyes. She wanted to believe him.

  “I have one more piece of good news. My court date is in ten days. When it’s over, then I’m taking a needed vacation so my son and I can be together twenty-four/seven. I’ve put money down on a house for us.”

  He and Dom had both been house hunting. The knowledge sent another thrill of excitement through her body.

  Raoul gave her a hug and left for his car on a run.

  Nathalie drove to the pharmacy in a daze. Last night she’d filled out an application to be a pharmacist in Menton in order to put distance between her and Dominic. But Raoul had said so many things she couldn’t dismiss, she had difficulty concentrating at work. When it was time to close the pharmacy, she went out to her car and headed home at top speed.

  As soon as she walked in the house, she saw her mother and Alain sitting on the living room floor playing with his building blocks. Nathalie got down with them.

  Her mother smiled at her. “Today Raoul called you an angel. I agree. Your desire to find him means our Alain is going to have a wonderful life with his papa. He told me everything about his heartbreaking choice back then. I have real compassion for him considering the kind of family he’s come from.”

  “I can’t blame him either, Maman.” She put another block on Alain’s.

  “Antoinette could have looked all over and never found a man more exceptional. He’s so crazy about Alain already, it’s extraordinary. I can only think of one other besides your father who’s his equal.”

  They stared at each other. “You mean Dominic.”

  “You know that’s who I mean. You never gave up and he never let you. If that isn’t love, then I don’t know anything.”

  “You know a lot.”

  “Then stop worrying you can’t have children. We’ve been through a lot of sadness and grief over the last two and a half years. It’s time we filled this house with real happiness. Finding Raoul is just the beginning.”

  Nathalie got to her feet. “Do you have Raoul’s phone number?”

  “Yes. He gave me his business card with his cell phone number. It’s in the kitchen on the counter.”

  “Thanks.” She tousled Alain’s curls before walking in the other room. Once she’d put the number in her own phone, she texted him.

  Do you know where Dominic is tonight?

  Raoul answered back so fast it took her by surprise.

  Dom and I have a meeting with Etienne at the Tour de l’Est. There’s been a problem with the latest batch of wine. We’ll be on our way in a minute. I’ll keep you posted.

  In her mind’s eye she knew the location of the Tour de l’Est. It was a massive round tower on the property. In her readings she’d learned that the land deeded to the Fontesquieux contained some battlements from the fifteenth century. Since they’d cleared out the old weapons and munitions from the east tower, its eight-foot-thick walls with rooms on four floors had been used to store their wine.

  Now that she’d found the courage to talk to Dominic, she groaned to think he wasn’t available.

  She sent another text.

  Thanks. Please don’t tell him I asked about him.

  In came his response.

  Your secret is safe with me.

  The blood hammered in her ears as she made the decision to drive to Vence tonight and take a look at the tour. Maybe she’d be able to catch him. After putting on one of her favorite dresses, she hurried into the living room.

  “Maman? I’m leaving for the vineyard. I might be late.”

  Her mother smiled at her. “I hope you are. That man has brought a light to your eyes that has never been there before.”

  She took a quick breath. “I love you, Maman.” Nathalie leaned over to kiss them both and raced out the front door.

  * * *

  Dominic had just left the office for the Tour de l’Est with Raoul in his Jaguar when he received a call from their grandfather.

  Raoul darted him a glance. “Aren’t you going to get it?”

  “No. The old man’s furious because I ended it with Corinne. All that money could have come to the Fontesquieu treasury. I don’t live in the same universe as our grand-père.”

  “Does anyone?”

  Nathalie had shown Dominic what life had to offer if you were lucky enough to meet your soul mate. He hadn’t believed such a thing existed until she’d entered his world. In the short time he’d known her, she’d taught him what it was to lay down your life for someone you love. In her case, her stepsister’s son. She’d risked the unknown with nothing to go on but a hope and a prayer of uniting a father and son.

  Tears stung his eyelids. She might not want to be with Dominic right now, but he had to have faith that in time she would change her mind. They were meant to be together whether she could have his baby or not. He felt it to the very depths of his being. Otherwise there was little sense to life.

  Raoul drove them past the winery where they could smell the fermentation before reaching the tour. A dozen cars and trucks filled the parking area. They got out and walked inside the double doors of the old battlement.

  “Hey, bro.” The two of them entered the vaulted conference room on the ground floor. Etienne was already there talking with a group of storage workers and managers. “Where’s the fire?”

  Etienne handed them each a bottle of wine. “It’s always a fire with Grand-père. He insisted the
three of us meet. Sorry you had to come. These bottles have undergone six rackings over thirty-day intervals and still have a problem. Take a look.”

  Dominic examined his. “You’re right. The wine has failed to clear.”

  “As I indicated on the phone, it’s definitely nonspecific. I don’t think any bacterial contamination is at work. In my opinion it will probably clear, but it may take up to a year or so.”

  “Unfortunately Grand-père doesn’t want to wait that long.” Raoul had checked his bottle. “He’s always in such a damn hurry. There’s one thing we can do right now.”

  Dominic nodded. “Arrange for the wine to be moved. Store it in a cooler place for several weeks. All that’s required is a drop in temperature of ten degrees. If nothing changes, we’ll come up with plan B.”

  “That’s the route I’d go.”

  “Then we’re all in agreement.” Etienne gave the group instructions and they left. He walked back to Dominic and Raoul. “I’ll let the old man know what we decided as soon as I get home so he won’t have a fit. Sophie’s come down with a cold. I need to spend some time with her before bed. Thanks for coming. See you later.”

  After he left, Dominic stared at his cousin. “Pretty soon you’ll be able to tell everyone about your son and you’ll be putting him to bed in your new house. Just think. When Alain grows up, he might become a wine expert like you.”

  “He might hate the wine business.”

  “Maybe he’ll become a pharmacist like his grandfather Gilbert.”

  “True. I can promise you one thing. I’ll allow Alain to find his own way in life, whatever it is.”

  “You think I don’t know that?”

  Raoul nodded. “The divorce can’t come soon enough for me. How about we go to the Guinguet before we go home? That’s where I met Toinette and want a night to reminisce.”