“Thank you, but I happen to know your work requires you to be up at the crack of dawn. If we’re going to visit your vineyards in the morning, we both need our sleep.”
His expression sobered. He scrutinized her features as if trying to decide how best to tell her something she wasn’t going to like.
No—
Not again—
But his next words confirmed her worst fears.
“Something’s come up that I didn’t know about until I met with my attorney this afternoon.”
That explained why he’d come to the farmhouse tonight.
“He’s working on a case for me which requires another work session in the morning. Following that I have a vintner’s banquet I can’t get out of because I’m one of the featured speakers.”
“You don’t have to explain. I understand you have obligations. Please don’t be concerned about me.”
His dark brows formed a bar of displeasure. “You came all this way on business and deserve full service for your time. Under the circumstances I’ll leave you in Giles’ hands and meet up with you later in the day when I’m free of commitments.”
She schooled her features not to reveal her dejection.
“Only if it’s convenient,” she said, following him to the door.
Her comment seemed to irritate him further. “Get a good sleep, Rachel.”
“How could I do anything else in such a beautiful place?” She flashed him a smile she didn’t feel.
“I enjoyed this evening very much,”
“So did I.”
“The Riesling was superb.”
He didn’t appear to hear her, yet she sensed he was reluctant to leave. Or maybe that was just wishful thinking on her part.
What if she begged him to stay a little longer? Would he do it?
If she gave in to that temptation, would he consider it an invitation to stay for the whole night and think less of her?
Somewhere in all this she had to preserve her dignity and think about her career.
Naturally she wasn’t so naïve that she didn’t recognize he found pleasure in her company. She could tell from his eyes that he thought she was attractive.
Yet she had to remember he met fascinating women from every walk of life all the time. What was one more to him?
She’d sell her soul to know how he really felt about her. But she simply couldn’t risk his disapproval if she made a wrong move.
After a battle between desire and reason, she chose the latter.
“Goodnight, Luc.”
“A tout à l’heure,” he finally whispered before disappearing out the door, taking her heart with him.
CHAPTER FOUR
BY THE time Luc left his house for St Hippolyte the sun had gilded his vineyard with morning light.
He hoped to catch up with Yves before his friend left for work. Ten minutes later he turned on Yves’ street and was relieved to see his green car still parked out in front.
No doubt he and Camille were up with the children.
Luc would have come by last night if it hadn’t been so late. This morning nothing could have stopped him.
Meeting Rachel had changed him in ways he wouldn’t have believed.
These new feelings of exhilaration weren’t some fleeting reaction that would die once she went back to England.
Mon Dieu—he didn’t want her going anywhere.
He needed her here so they could explore what was happening between them. He knew in his gut they were happening to her, too.
In two days he’d become a different person. Being with her made it impossible for him to go back to that dark place where he’d only been existing for the last few years.
He pulled up up behind the other car, eager to talk to his friend. Yves was going to be shocked.
Shutting off the motor, Luc hurried up the steps to the front door and knocked. When Yves eventually answered and saw who it was, his eyes darkened in pain and confusion. Within seconds he stepped outside and shut the door, letting Luc know he wasn’t welcome.
“Tiens! If you’ve come to make me see reason, you’re too late!”
Luc deserved that. He stared hard at him. “I came here to tell you to call off Monsieur Lebaux.”
Yves grimaced. “Not a chance in hel—”
“I’m not finished,” Luc broke in. “All I ask for is the rest of the summer. If Paulette hasn’t come out of her coma by then I’ll know she wants to be free, as you said.
“Tell your family there’s no need for litigation. You have my word on that.”
He could see Yves was having difficulty swallowing. So was Luc.
“Something earth-shaking must have happened to you.”
Luc nodded. “I’ve met someone. It’s made me realize that everything you’ve tried to tell me is true.”
A long silence followed. Then, “Merci, Dieu,” his friend whispered fiercely.
In a sudden movement he gave Luc a bear hug, the kind they’d shared at the wedding that had made them brothers through marriage.
It was the first spontaneous gesture of affection from Yves in a long while.
Luc hugged him back hard, not realizing until this minute how much he’d missed their camaraderie.
In truth he hadn’t felt this close to him since the night Luc’s father had died of heart failure and Yves had come to comfort him.
With the advent of Rachel in his life, he was discovering that he’d been dead to all feelings for such a long time, coming back to life was breathtakingly painful. And thrilling.
Rachel handed the last of her pictures to Solange. They were copies she could keep.
The cordial Frenchwoman spoke good English and was still active for being seventy-nine years old.
“As you can see, this is Grandfather and Louis at a café in Rome with Lucia.”
“Ah,” Solange cried. “She is very beautiful, like you. And look at Louis. So short, and your grandfather, so tall. Yet both are young and handsome!”
“They are,” Rachel concurred. “If Grandfather is able to talk, would you be willing to say a few words? He’ll want to hear anything you have to tell him about your brother.”
“But of course!” she exclaimed.
This couldn’t be going better. Rachel reached for her cell phone, but Solange’s hands flew in the air.
“I don’t like those phones. Use my land line.”
“All right. I’ll have the charges reversed.”
Rachel picked up the receiver and dialed London. She was tickled when her grandfather answered right away. Mornings were his best time.
“Grandfather? It’s Rachel. Are you free to talk, or are you still eating your breakfast?”
“It’s always the right time when you call. Besides, I had my breakfast an hour ago.”
She loved his positive outlook on life, but his voice sounded a little weak. “Then I’m going to put someone on the phone who will introduce herself.”
“Herself?”
“Just a minute and all your questions will be answered.”
She handed Solange the phone, then sat back in the chair to listen.
As they began to talk and exchange stories, the older woman’s laughter and tears touched Rachel’s heart. Her own eyes grew moist.
They must have gone on talking fifteen minutes before Rachel turned to Giles with a grateful smile. “Solange is wonderful.”
He winked. “She thinks you are, too.”
Another ten minutes and Solange handed her the phone. “Your grandfather wants to talk to you again.”
Rachel took it from her. “Grandfather?”
“Rachel—” His voice sounded croaky. “You’ve made this old man very happy.”
She sniffed. “I’m glad.”
“Hurry home so I can see all the new pictures you’ve taken. Solange says she’ll be sending some of Louis’s that show me and your beautiful grandmother with him.”
“I’ve been looking at them all morning. I promise to be back s
oon and we’ll pore over them.”
“That’s my sweet gIRL—” His coughing was starting again.
“Hang up and drink some water. I love you.”
Rachel put the receiver back on the hook, wishing he still didn’t have that cough.
She reached for Solange’s hand.
“Talking to you meant more to Grandfather than anything. Thank you for letting me come by this morning.”
“It has been my pleasure. But won’t you stay longer?”
“We can’t,” Rachel said before Giles could. “I have restaurant business to do back at the auberge. Giles has to take me there before he leaves for the vintners’ banquet.
“But when my grandfather gets better, we’ll come for a visit, and that’s a promise.”
“Good.” She handed Rachel a packet of pictures to take with her. After they kissed on both cheeks, the three of them walked to the door and said goodbye.
It wasn’t long before Giles dropped Rachel off in front of the farmhouse, assuring her Luc would be in touch later.
She gave him a big hug and thanked him for everything before hurrying inside.
“Rachel Valentine,” she muttered when she entered her room.
“Before things get any more complicated, it’s time you dealt with a situation that’s your problem, not Luc’s.”
Without hesitation she phoned her travel agent and arranged for a rental car to be delivered to the auberge straight away.
When she’d done that, she called the front desk for the number of Chartier et Fils.
After writing it down, she punched in the digits. To her relief, she reached a recording at Domaine Chartier, asking the caller to leave a message.
She waited for the beep, then improvised. “Monsieur Chartier? This is Rachel Valentine. Forgive me for disturbing you, but I’ve had an unavoidable change in schedule and must leave.
“I’ll ask the owner of the auberge to fax my wine order to your office. Be assured I’ve arranged for an electronic transfer of funds.
“On behalf of Bella Lucia, I want to thank you and Giles Lambert for making this the most memorable experience of my buying trip to France.”
A trip that needed to come to an end.
She hung up and got busy on her packing, which included several precious bottles of wine.
Before she went downstairs to check out, she came across the rental car brochure with its detailed map of France. The agency had given it to her when she’d first arrived in Colmar.
According to the information, the largest automobile museum in the world was located in Mulhouse, near Thann.
If she backtracked from St Hippolyte, she could purchase some miniature models from their gift shop before leaving the province.
Her father collected classic cars which he housed in an extended garage at his house in South Kensington.
Knowing him, he would put them on Bev’s favorite glass coffee table held up by four gold elephants, just to get a rise out of her.
Another gift to pacify her father who could never be pacified for long.
Maybe Rachel was more like him than she knew. What could possibly satisfy her after she returned to the UK? The mere idea of leaving here, leaving Luc…brought such fierce pain she felt ill.
After taking his leave of Yves, Luc had given his short talk at the Alsatian vintners’ banquet and was now in his car heading for his house. Once he’d changed out of his suit into something casual, he had plans for Rachel and himself.
Since she found the area so beautiful, he was looking forward to her reaction when he drove her to a special place he had in mind.
He’d never met anyone who took such genuine pleasure in everything. As if each moment was a great adventure. Luc had to admit he was intrigued by that childlike quality in her woman’s mind and body.
With his thoughts so immersed in Rachel, he did a double take to see his mother coming out of his house as he drove up.
She walked toward him. “Bon après-midi, mon fils. I thought you’d still be at the banquet, so I took advantage of the time to bring you a little food for tonight.”
“Thank you, Maman, but I don’t expect this to become a habit, tu comprends?”
She did too much. He understood why, but it had to stop.
“Can’t a mother do something for her son?” she chided him affectionately.
“By the way, there was a message on the office answering machine. Giselle said it just came in from a Ms Valentine. I didn’t realize you’d been doing business with a buyer from London.”
His body stilled. “Giles has been taking care of her. What did her message say?”
“Something came up, forcing her to leave the area. But she faxed you a very large order, and—”
“Forgive me, Maman, but I have to go.”
He put his car in gear and backed out to the road. There was no time to waste. Something had gone on since Giles had dropped Rachel off, otherwise she would have said something to the old man.
Yesterday Luc had felt out of control. As for today…
If he could be this upset at her leaving, how would he feel to get truly involved and then lose her the way he’d lost Paulette?
Maybe it was better that he let her walk away now, before it was too late.
But even as he reasoned that way, his foot pressed the accelerator to the floor, sending the Wagoneer barreling down the mountain.
Knowing Rachel, she’d rented a car. But whether she was on her way to Champagne, or had left for Colmar to catch a flight back to the UK, was anyone’s guess.
Before he called her cell, he phoned to retrieve her message.
Unfortunately it told him nothing about her itinerary.
Letting go with an expletive, he punched the digit where he’d stored her phone number.
After two rings he was told to leave a message.
His hand almost crushed his phone before he made a call to Remy.
The other man couldn’t help him out except to tell him she’d left in a Monde Français rental car.
Monde Français.
Luc’s friend Georges worked there. He would tell Luc what he needed to know.
Rachel switched the cell phone to her other ear.
“Can you hear me better now, Emma?”
Her half sister was always in the kitchen in the afternoon. As she was the head chef at Bella Lucia, it was the best time to reach her. The rest of the day would find her too busy.
“A little. Go on. What were the ingredients after the scallops and sauerkraut?
“Add some grilled bacon and a sauce of clotted cream with a touch of herbs and Chartier Riesling.”
“That sounds interesting.”
“Last night I had one of the best meals I’ve ever eaten in my life. I thought you might like to experiment with it. It won’t taste the same without the Chartier label, of course, but at least it will give you the idea.
“I’m bringing you and Max back a bottle of the real thing. If you love the recipe as much as I do, you might want to add it to the menu. Their wine is to die f—”
Rachel broke off talking because someone behind her was honking.
“Just a minute, Emma.”
She pulled closer to the edge so the other car could pass. But when it started to go around her, she realized it was staying right alongside her.
Irritated, Rachel shot the driver a speaking glance. But when she saw who it was, she experienced déjà vu and almost ran off the road.
“E-Emma?” her voice faltered. “I’ll have to call you back.”
Dropping the phone, she grabbed the steering wheel with both hands and came to a stop at the side of the road as soon as she could.
While traffic passed by, Luc pulled directly behind her and through the rear-view mirror she saw this gorgeous male lever himself from the car.
Maybe he was the prince she’d envisioned when she’d seen him at the base of the convent. But this prince wore a modern-day blue suit with a white shirt and tie.
>
As he drew closer her mouth went so dry she couldn’t swallow.
He tapped on the window while she fumbled with the switch before it finally lowered. The heat had grown intense, forcing her to turn on the air-conditioner.
He trapped her gaze. “When I heard you had a sudden change in plans, I felt impressed to catch up with you and see if there’s anything I can do to help. Has something happened to your grandfather?”
She tore her eyes from his, absolutely stunned he’d gone out of his way to track her down.
“How did you find me?”
“My friend works at the car rental.”
He knew everyone and everything. This was exactly what she hadn’t wanted to happen, at least not consciously.
“Grandfather was all right when I talked to him earlier today.”
She struggled to come up with an excuse that wouldn’t give her away.
“Actually I’ve stayed in Alsace longer than I’d planned. Now my business is done here.”
“Maman told me you placed a large order. I can’t complain about that, now, can I? But I’m still waiting for the answer to my question.”
“I’m supposed to be in Châlons-Sur-Champagne today.”
Ignoring her declaration, he said, “I noticed you talking on the phone. If you have a boyfriend who has become impatient for your return, then your action is understandable.”
“No—” she blurted. “That’s not the reason.”
He had to know she wasn’t interested in anyone else.
Judging by his ghost of a smile, her denial appeared to have pleased him.
“Since you were aware of your business plans before you came to Alsace, then I believe I know the real reason you chose to slip away this afternoon, but we can’t discuss it here. Follow me into Thann. We’re almost there now.”
“Wait, Luc. Please listen to me—”
But he’d already started for his car.
By the time her trembling limbs could function enough to put the car in gear, he started passing her. As he drove by she felt his dark brown gaze probing hers. She knew if she didn’t follow him, he’d be back to find out why.
Her pounding heart almost suffocated her before she pulled onto the road behind him.
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