“In the meantime, for most of the day, I’ve been with a Realtor in Jackson who has shown me several small ranches for sale around Driggs. I’m thinking of buying one so Jasmine and I could live close to you. That’s more important to her than anything else in the world. Since she’s the most important thing in my life, I’ll do anything because I can’t live without her.”
Her mother got to her feet, visibly shaken. “Does she know you’ve flown here?”
“No. And I don’t want her to know. Not yet... We said a final goodbye a few mornings ago after coming back from a little trip along the Mediterranean to Palmaria in my cruiser. She’s an amazing woman. It was a selfless act, to get Remy installed as CEO of Ferriers in order to honor your father’s wishes, but naturally you already know that about your daughter.”
“She’s exceptional.”
“I agree, and I think you and your husband are exceptional to have given her the life she’s been able to live. After she’s been home a few days, I’d like to come by and see her with your permission.
“But I’ll wait for a call from you before I do anything in case you learn that she wouldn’t be happy to see me. If she wants nothing to do with me, then I’ll leave and I won’t be back. Most important, I never want her to know I was here.” He got up to leave.
She studied him for a long time. “Where are you staying?” He had the feeling she understood a lot he hadn’t told her because she’d been through a similar experience.
“At the Teton Valley Cabins. Just ask for me at the front desk.”
“Clark will be sorry he missed you.”
“I’m sorry too. I’d like to meet her hero, the ultimate cowboy.”
Blanchette broke into a smile so much like Jasmine’s it was uncanny. “I promise to call you.”
“I can’t ask for more than that.”
“À la prochaine, Luc.”
Next time? Hoping there was going to be one, he left the house and took off in the rental car. There was another property he wanted to check out before dark. Tomorrow there’d be more to look at. He’d stay busy until that phone call came.
* * *
At seven on Monday morning, Jasmine’s plane touched down on the tarmac in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. She walked down the steps of the Ferrier jet into the arms of her family who’d come out en masse to welcome her home.
She had a ton of luggage and boxes of precious mementos that Remy and his family had helped her load onto the jet before she’d left Nice. She in turn had given him her Audi for an extra car he’d need. Other Ferrier family members had gathered, even Giles, who had presented her with a bouquet of jasmine on behalf of her papa. That unexpected gift broke her down. She’d been the recipient of more gifts than one human being deserved. There’d been a lot of tears.
As the jet took off, she’d looked out on Nice, the jewel of the Mediterranean, and her life had flashed before her eyes. Luc was down there. Her beloved Luc. She knew the exact spot and felt such a stab of pain she thought she was going to pass out.
For the rest of the flight home she remained in a numbed state. Nothing seemed real as her brothers and family scrambled to pack everything in three sets of cars for the drive back to Driggs just twenty minutes away. Another beautiful August morning with the sun outlining the backside of the magnificent Tetons.
The view was so different from the flower fields she’d looked out on one last time from her bedroom balcony yesterday. Both views were spectacular.... Both represented matchless slices of life and experiences.
You’re a lucky girl, Jasmine Martin. You’ve been given every blessing except one. Don’t dwell on what can’t be. Don’t be greedy. You’re home where you belong. It’s enough. Embrace it.
Her dad opened the front door and the dog came flying. “Buck!” she cried and gave him a hug. “I’ve missed you too.” She played with him for a minute before she insisted on a couple of boxes being opened. Jasmine had brought presents for everyone and wanted her nieces and nephews to enjoy their gifts now.
Several hours later, everyone left, but not for long. She found out her parents had planned a big party for the evening and had invited neighbors as well. Grabbing a suitcase, she walked upstairs to the same bedroom she’d had when she was a little girl. Nothing had changed.
Her dad followed her and stood in the doorway to her room. The smile on his face warmed her heart. “Hey, Sparkles. Do you have any idea how thrilled we are that this day has come?”
“I feel the same way, Dad.”
“I know you do, but I see something else too.”
She averted her eyes. “What do you mean?”
“Since the last time we saw you, you’ve changed from a girl to a mysterious woman.”
A nervous laugh escaped. “There’s nothing mysterious about me.”
“Oh, yes, there is. You stood quietly in the doorway of the jet for a minute and I noticed it right away. I haven’t had a heart-to-heart talk with you for a long time. How about it? I’ve got all the time in the world.”
Jasmine flicked her gaze to him in consternation. “I don’t know what you’re getting at.”
“Who’s the man you left behind?”
Heat swept into her face. She’d never been able to hide anything from her father, let alone lie to him. “He’s exactly that. Someone I left behind.”
“Tell me about him.”
“I’d rather not.”
“Why? Because it’s too painful to talk about?”
She took a deep breath. “Yes.”
“What’s he like?”
Jasmine sank down on the side of the queen-sized bed. “Grandma Megan said it best when she talked about Papa. Her words could be mine.”
“What did she tell you?”
“‘He’s in a class by himself, Jasmine. No other man could hope to compete. It would be futile. In comparison, he makes all the other men I’ve ever known seem bland and unexciting. It isn’t fair that one man could be so endowed. It isn’t his fault. His charisma is something inherent, so are his looks and personality.’”
“Well, well. Your mom and I have wondered if this day would ever come.” He sat down by her and put an arm around her shoulders. “When are we going to meet him?”
She shook her head. “You’re not. It’s over.”
“Why?”
“Because it has to be,” she cried. “He’s the head of the Banque Internationale du Midi! He’s a Frenchman whose roots go back hundreds of years. He has a big family and friends and a fabulous life. He’s as married to his life as you are to ranch life.”
“I see.”
“To want a life with him is like this big dream that couldn’t possibly come true. That’s why I don’t want to talk about him, not ever again. Do you mind?”
“No, sweetheart. We’ll consider the subject closed.” He kissed her forehead and got up from the bed. “I’ll be downstairs with your mom getting things ready for the party.”
“Dad? Don’t misunderstand. I’m so happy to be home with you and Mom.”
“You think we don’t know that?” He smiled. “Go on and get settled in, then come on down and I’ll fix you one of my super-duper roast beef sandwiches with your mom’s homemade bread.”
She ran across the room and hugged him hard. “I love you.”
“Ditto.”
Seven hours later, the ranch house filled up fast with family and neighbors, old friends Jasmine hadn’t seen in ages, most of them wearing cowboy boots and hats. There was no formality here. Her mom had prepared a barbecue out on the back patio with corn on the cob by the tubful and plates of her homemade rolls that disappeared by the dozens. They’d lit some torches to add to the atmosphere. Country-western music played in the background.
Jasmine dressed in jeans and a western shirt. After pulling
on her well-worn cowboy boots, she brushed through her hair, having left it long, and went downstairs to help. Her sisters-in-law had prepared salads and desserts while her dad and brothers fried steaks for everyone on the two grills he’d set up. The little kids ran around having fun.
A few more guests dribbled in. Jasmine was headed for the kitchen to bring out another potato salad when she saw a few more familiar ranchers wander outside to the patio. They were all in cowboy hats and boots. But there was one she didn’t recognize who stood out from the others. He had black hair and was wearing a black Stetson. One of the ranchers must have brought him along.
He was a little taller, a little more well-built. She noticed he filled out his tan fringed shirt in such a way that she couldn’t possibly look anywhere else. As he started to fill his plate, she saw the play of muscle across his shoulders and back.
She moved closer, feeling the hairs stand on the back of her neck. He reminded her of Luc on the day they’d gone to see the property she’d wanted to buy. Maybe she was missing him so much that she thought she was seeing him. After the talk with her father earlier in the day, she hadn’t been able to get him off her mind.
There couldn’t be two Lucs in the world, could there?
Jasmine had to find out and walked over to him. “Hi! I’m Jasmine Martin. I don’t think we’v—”
But she didn’t get the last word out because he’d turned toward her with the plate still in his hand. The second she saw that five o’clock shadow and those black eyes, she was afraid she was hallucinating. His seductive half smile turned her entire body to jelly.
“Luc—” she whispered in a state of absolute shock.
“Oui.”
Her eyes grew bigger. “I—I don’t believe it,” she stammered. Suddenly she understood about the talk with her dad in the bedroom. Luc had already been to see her parents!
“What don’t you believe? Your folks invited me to come to your welcome-home party. Naturally I wouldn’t have missed it. They thought you’d probably be lonely on your first night home after being away so long.” He started eating.
“Luc—” She struggled to find words. “You’re really here.”
“Where else would I be?”
“But when did you get here?”
“On Saturday.”
“You came before I did?”
“That’s right. I don’t like goodbyes.”
She began to tremble. “You—you shouldn’t have come!”
“Does that mean you want me to leave right now?” He put down his plate.
“You know that’s not what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean?”
“Shh. Everyone’s watching us.” She looked around guiltily. “Come with me.”
“I’m glad you said that, but it has to be someplace alone. There are a few things I need to say to you and I don’t want an audience.”
She bit her lip. “Follow me.”
“Where are we going?”
“Upstairs.”
“As long as I can get you to myself, I don’t care where we go.”
A deep blush crept into her face as they left the dining room. She felt him right behind her all the way up the stairs. The second he shut the door, he threw his hat across the room and reached for her.
“Luc—” she cried, but didn’t make another sound as he lowered his head and smothered her with a kiss that went on and on. They ended up on her bed.
He turned her on her back so he could look down at her. “I swear you’re the most bewitching woman I ever met in my life. I love you more than life, Jasmine. You have to marry me, the sooner the better. I’m asking you right here and now.”
“But—”
“No buts, mon tresor. Just so you know, we’ll be living here from now on. I’ve been looking at ranches. There’s one four miles down the road from here that would be perfect for us. My family will fly over for the wedding. We’ll do what your parents did and fly back and forth to visit family. It can work.”
“How can you say that when your life is in France?”
“Not anymore. You and I are not ships passing in the night. We’re madly in love and we’ll never be happy if we don’t live together forever starting this instant. Say you’ll marry me, Jasmine. Without you, life will never mean the same to me again.”
“I feel the same way,” she exclaimed. “I love you beyond reason. Yes I’ll marry you.” She threw her arms around his neck and kissed his eyes. “Yes.” She kissed his nose. “Yes.” She kissed his mouth, heedless of everything except her love for this incredible man. “I love you with all my heart and soul, darling. There’s not another man alive like you. I’ve already found out that to be without you is a living death.”
In another instant his total demeanor changed.
“Dieu merci,” he whispered against her throat. She felt his body tremble against hers. “Je t’aime, mon amour.” His voice had grown husky. “Je t’adore.”
CHAPTER NINE
December 24
“COME TO BED, JASMINE.”
“I will. I just have to finish wrapping this Christmas present for your mother.” The French wedding reception to celebrate their August marriage had been held earlier in the evening at Luc’s parents’ villa in Cagnes-sur-Mer. Now they had to get ready for Christmas Day.
“I thought everything was done.”
“It is, but this little gift is special and wasn’t ready until I dropped by the perfumery yesterday. I had to find the right packaging for it. Since you said periwinkle is her favorite color, I hunted for the right paper. I’ll be through here in a minute.”
He walked over to the dressing table where she was sitting and put his hands on her shoulders. By now, her body was so sensitive to his touch, she trembled if he even came near her. The mirror reflected the two of them. Her heart thudded heavily as she anticipated going to bed with him tonight.
Every night since the wedding had been like their wedding night. Luc was an insatiable lover who took her to the heights and taught her the meaning of selfless loving.
“You’ve been very secretive about this gift.”
“That’s because your mother is a very special person. I want to honor her because she gave birth to the most wonderful man in existence. I love your parents.”
He kissed the curve of her neck. “They love you. Won’t you give me a hint what it is?”
She put the package down and turned in his arms. “If you really want to know, I developed a perfume ages ago and was waiting for the right person to give it to. After realizing how much your mother loves roses, I knew it would be the perfect present for her.”
His black eyes traveled over every feature. “Are you talking Rose de Mai?”
“Yes.” She brushed her lips against his. “You remember!”
“They were growing off the terrace at La Tourette. The scent was clear and sweet.”
“Just like your mother, darling. But what you loved was the light note of honey.”
“Which only you could detect.”
“That’s why it’s so sweet. I called Remy several months ago and asked him to take Fabrice some flowers from the garden with instructions to make up a small fresh batch of my rose recipe and have it ready by the time we flew over.”
“Who’s Fabrice?”
“One of the chemists.”
“Do I want to know about him?”
She smiled. “No, you fool.”
“Maman won’t believe it when you give her a bottle of her own perfume made by the greatest nose since the death of your papa. That’s an honor she’ll never forget.”
“I certainly wasn’t the greatest that night at La Tourette after you brought me home from dinner.”
“That’s all behind us, mignonne.” He
turned off the lights before picking her up in his arms. When they reached the bed, he followed her down. “Do you miss the lab?”
“No,” she answered honestly. “Do you miss walking into the bank every day?”
“You know I don’t. Thanks to the miracle of technology I can consult from our den in Driggs, and have time to grow an alfalfa crop in the backyard. I’ve got to learn all I can. When our children come along, I want to be able to measure up to your father.”
She held his handsome face between her hands. “You don’t need to measure up to anyone. You’re magnificent just the way you are. I’m so crazy about you. Love me tonight, darling. I want your baby.”
With those words Luc made love to her with abandon. At the height of their passion, he kissed her almost savagely, but she welcomed it. She wanted to trap him in her arms and never let him go. He was so strong and so incredibly gorgeous she could look at him and love him all night.
Toward morning, he let out a long deep sigh and tangled his legs with hers. “Jasmine,” he murmured against her lips.
“What is it?”
“I have a little Christmas present for you right now. I’ve memorized something I want you to hear.”
She blinked and sat up so she could look at him. “You have me intrigued. What is it?”
He rubbed his hand over her hip possessively. “Your papa was the poet. I’ve taken license with his words. ‘Jasmine is the flower for nostalgia. Like the flower that grows in doorways and winds over arches, she links me to the intimacy of our love nest. Her cheeks bloom as the days become hotter, and she releases her scent at the hour when tables are set in the garden, or in narrow lanes, or in the dark of night in my arms. She reminds me of the melancholy of dusk if she’s not with me. Her presence brings out the conviviality of summer evenings when I’m with her. Her fragrance permeates the air, making it a background for the love I feel for her.’”
“Oh, Luc.” She started sobbing, so deeply touched she started making love to him.
Taming the French Tycoon Page 15
