Chaperoning Paris (Collins Brothers)

by Victoria Pinder

  “I was young, angry, and rebellious.” She knew better than anyone how she’d wasted so much of her life fighting, and, despite what Sean thought, she hadn’t much money these days. “But that doesn’t explain why Mr. Moneybags bought a school.”

  “Murray fired me when I was diagnosed with cancer. No one should be fired because of a disease. Gerard recommended a lawsuit, but I wanted swifter justice.”

  “Ahh.” If Murray had done that, and she knew in her heart he had, then he deserved what Sean had done to him. “I hadn’t known.” The waitress brought their drinks and left. Gigi sipped her water. “Since we’re being honest with each other about work, why did you want to work in a school? You love accounting and math.”

  “You’re right. I have my reasons.”

  “Guess we’re not sharing the important details, after all.” Energy drained from her body, though she knew to keep her guard up.

  “What do I need to do or say to get you to quit after your trip?” Sean asked, as he placed his hand on top of hers.

  “You are firing me?” Closing her eyes, Gigi tried to focus. She needed the job. She had no other options, and this wouldn’t be a problem if he hadn’t bought the school. She breathed in and admitted she might have gotten fired over the Paris trip fiasco. “I’ve already prepared lesson plans for while I’m gone for the other students that aren’t going.”

  “You’re jumping to conclusions,” he told her, removing his hand.

  She shook her head, “You said you were going to convince me to quit.”

  “You don’t need a job.”

  She crossed her arms, “Yes I do.”

  The pupils in his eyes grew larger. “I didn’t say anything about firing you. I just want to know why you are there. You led the party-girl life last time I checked, not that you left much of a trail to follow unless you count your mother and her many pictures.”

  “She passed away. And I need my job.” Her voice flat-lined. Her mother had never treated her in a loving fashion. She can’t hurt me anymore. But she kept that to herself.

  “You inherited your mother’s estate yet you work at a school? Help me understand.”

  “Why?” Her fingers itched to take his hand and the comfort he offered. But she wasn’t insane. She held her arm on her lap, locking her other arm in. Sean’s arms had held her for so much of her life, before she had grown up.

  “We used to share everything.”

  Her vision turned blurry, and she couldn’t focus. Her mother had made her lose everything. “Mom and I never talked. I don’t know what she told you, but our version of events typically never matched.” She could admit that much. She didn’t want to go back to those memories. Guilt and pain would ratchet up and she’d end up curled up in a corner of the bathtub.

  “I know you weren’t close to your mother, and you shouldn’t have been.” He sighed. “She stood in our way once.”

  “How would you know that?” Startled by his revelation, she looked into his eyes.

  “We dated for a long time, Gigi. Our entire childhood, at the times when most children don’t know what the other gender looks like. Or feels like.” His voice lowered. “I know you. You didn’t make that choice.”

  “I try not to think about the past. I get too upset.” Part of Gigi, the part that hadn’t taken responsibility for her own decision, blamed both Sean and her mother. For years on the run, she numbed the pain with alcohol and parties. As an adult, she could now admit that Sean hadn’t done anything wrong. She had. “You’re right. Mom and I weren’t close. She didn’t want me to inherit a dime, but she didn’t want to look bad to her friends by cutting me off. The pain she caused me only ever empowered her to be more hurtful. Now I’m following her dictates from the grave.”

  “You were always sensitive. Part of what made you special was how you expressed everything. The reason why you are living next door again?” He blinked.

  Was that a question? She nodded. “Mom’s will had certain demands, shall we say.”

  “I see.” Light dawned in his eyes. “You’re working to meet a condition of her will to get your hands on her money. How long do you have to stay, Gigi?”

  “It’s not the will, exactly.” He didn’t have to sound excited. Sean hadn’t been part of the plan. Seeing him brought back all the pain she needed to push away. What she’d done all those years ago brought another wave of guilt crashing onto her shoulders. “It’s the money. I have to work a year.”

  His eyebrow quirked. “What were you going to say before that?”

  “Umm, I was deciding what Nicole Wyman movie I wanted to watch tonight.” She hadn’t covered her evasion well. He cocked his head and she knew he didn’t believe here.

  “Yeah right. Gigi, your mother—”

  “Stop.” She sliced the air with her hand to silence him. He did know her well. How did he push past her defenses like this, even after all these years? “I spent most of my adult life hating her. In fulfilling her wishes. I want to move on. I want a different life.”

  The food came out, and their discussion stopped.

  Sean cut a slice of pizza, placed it on a plate, and slid it next to her salad. Then he served himself. The waitress left.

  “I can’t eat this,” Gigi said and turned her nose up in the air.

  “You’re skinnier than I remember you, and food keeps the spirit strong. There is something making you afraid.”

  Dang. Coldness dug deeper into her body. She diverted and changed topics. “How are you doing, Sean? I heard about your cancer before today, and your wife dying.”

  “Jennifer left me before she died,” Sean said, before gobbling his entire slice of pizza. “Her dying saved Gerard legal work.”

  “Sean, that’s cold.” Her fork swirled in her salad. Did he even care about his wife? She couldn’t ask that question, though. Way too personal. “You’re not hard or mean. Or have you changed?”

  “I’m not your project anymore. We all grow up. Let’s talk about something else.”

  Where had that come from? Had she hit a nerve? Hurting him had never and would never be in her plans. High school memories drifted back with every sip of her soda. She pushed her uneaten salad to the side. Soon, she’d remember the pain. “How do you enjoy living on the Collins compound again?” she asked, deliberately changing the subject.

  “Our property is good for me, though a bit small. I want to find a place near home. Selling your home soon, Gigi?”

  Small? The man’s family could fit the entire village inside that house and still have room for royal guests to arrive.

  “No. Why sell? I have rich neighbors who keep driving up the value.” She’d worked hard to clean the cobwebs of her fights with her mother out of the house, and now she needed to exorcise the memories of Sean Collins from her mind. Facing what she’d thrown away might be therapeutic. “I don’t know what the future holds for me, but for now, I need to be in my house.”

  She ate the pizza in silence.

  “I heard a lot of bad things about you after you left, from crashing cars to partying until all hours of the morning,” Sean asked.

  “From my mother?”

  Sean’s color on his cheeks rose. “Yeah.”

  Why hadn’t anything she’d ever done be good enough? She’d never had anyone but Sean in her corner growing up. “I wasn’t even eighteen then and on my own for the first time.” She paused. “I’ve faced my demons since then, Sean, but for that year of my life, after I left here, I didn’t care what happened to me. Part of me wanted to die, but overcoming the depression matured me.”

  She sat up straighter and ate one of Sean’s fries. “I’m sitting here asking you for help when you have every right to despise me for what I did.” She gave a small smile, despite the ache in her body. “The fact I led my students to winning Nationals and the preliminary international rounds of the competition . . . I’m giving back now. This is my time.”

  “Good. And for the record, I never trusted your mother anyhow.�
��

  “Good.” She trailed her fingers along her upper chest with the intent of clutching her necklace, but she forcefully dropped her hand. She tensed her jaw then set about acting like he already agreed with her. She stared down at the table to her uneaten salad. “Sean, thank you for finding a male chaperone for this. My students will appreciate it.”

  “I said that?” He winked at her. Did the man never get flustered? But she raised her eyebrows in a dare. He smiled back. “Well, then I never fail when I give my word. You’ll go on the trip tomorrow.”

  “Thank you again.” Trusting him came easy, and she shouldn’t be catty. Unlike her, Sean had always kept his word.

  He ate another slice of pizza and pushed another piece at her. His square chin had become more defined with age. Once, a lifetime ago, his lips had made hers quiver.

  He slowly finished chewing, then added, “I’ll need a list from you of the students, the parents, and the itinerary.”

  “Sure. No problem.” Her spirits lifted. She could sit next to Sean, without falling apart. She watched as he wrote down something on a napkin then dug into the pizza.

  Now that she could relax some, she realized that the pizza tasted delicious. Spicy sausage, pepperoni, and gooey cheese. It had been a long time since she’d had a treat like this. Without asking, she finished her slice, and he handed her the napkin. He’d written his email address on it.

  “Thanks,” she said. “I’ll send you the list when I get home.”

  “What time’s the flight?” He sipped his soda.

  Shuddering, she remembered that pesky detail. “We have to be there at four A.M.”

  “Look for me at the airport. I’ll make sure all the details are handled.”

  Sean finished the last slice. No more words were necessary. Her heart had never doubted he’d help her. He reached for her hand, but she pulled back. “I won’t bother you anymore.”

  “Gigi, wait.”

  The ‘but’ she feared would surface now. She closed her eyes and pictured the executioner’s final swing at her neck. To stop the daydream, she opened her eyes and met his serious gaze. “Yes?”

  “You were right. I did want to fire you. But that was just a childish impulse.” He wiped his hand with a paper towel and stared at her. “Now I don’t know what to do about you. I’ve never forgotten what happened with us. I count you as an important part of my past, a life lesson.” He cleared his throat. “Now you’re back. The Paris situation is temporary, and for the benefit of the students and their parents, don’t stress this. I’ll see that the trip goes smoothly.”

  Gigi slumped forward, feeling some of the tension easing from her body. No ‘but.’ Sean had never hurt her. She had hurt him. She paused, then answered, “Sean, I can’t thank you enough. Good night.”

  Rushing out of the restaurant, Gigi refused to look back. Trusting Sean came as natural to her as breathing. Sometimes difficult, but more often than not easy and natural.

  Her feet pounded on the cement as she opened her car door. She wouldn’t be able to make up for what she’d done all those years ago hurt. She’d had ruined them.

  Sean Collins was the biggest regret she had in life but he had a life of his own now. He’d been through too much, and her demons were her own to battle through.

  Once upon a time, though, she’d have given anything for him.

  Chapter 3

  A loud fire engine siren startled Gigi, sending her heart beat pounding against her chest. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, then she opened them to see the glaring blinking red numbers. 3 AM. Time to get up. Her body stiffened, but she sat up. Groaning, she stretched, but even that didn’t help her focus. Her thoughts focused on her one salvation. Coffee.

  Her movements were slow but she forced her tired body to move. She stumbled a bit, but she dressed. Glancing at the clock again, she stared in disbelief. How? She’d lost fifteen minutes.

  Drat. Her limbs refused to function, and her mind reeled. She needed some caffeine. Now. But no coffee shop opened at the early morning hour, and she had no coffee in the refrigerator. She’d meant to pick some up yesterday after work but ended up meeting Sean instead. She glanced down at her clothes, her black travel pants and a plain white blouse. Somehow, she’d make do. She grabbed her suitcase then left the house.

  Next thing she realized, she stared ahead of her and made it to the highway.

  In ten minutes, she’d be to the airport. On time for this trip to Paris. Away from Sean. Good. She’d recoup her energy there.

  Airports had coffee vendors.

  A smile formed on her face.

  Then her car engine wheezed.

  What? That sound couldn’t be good.

  The wheel and her car jerked to a stop. Ughh. Getting to this flight had to happen. Too many people depended on her. Sniffling from the cold air, she laid her head against the steering wheel and thought about giving up. Who could she call at this hour? It wasn’t like she had any family, and the one she’d been born into would have preferred she’d roll over in her grave.

  With a sigh, Gigi refused to give up. She clutched her cell phone, intending to call Sean. She almost dialed, but then saw headlights behind her.

  What now? Someone going to kill her, or help her? She laughed off her overactive mind. Then she stared over her shoulder, and she saw a man in a business suit getting out of his truck. He approached, lowered his head to her open window, and asked, “You having trouble?”

  “My car died. I need to get to the airport.”

  “Let me have a look,” he said. “I used to be a mechanic. Where are you flying off to this early in the morning?”

  “Barnstable Municipal airport to catch the first flight to Boston.” She smiled. “It’s the class field trip.”

  The man kept his hands on his sides until he fingered the hood of her car. She called out, “What can I do to help?”

  “Stay inside, ma’am. Hit the release.”

  She popped the hood, and he disappeared behind it. What would she do if he didn’t fix this? Call Sean? How had her life spun so fast in this new direction?

  Two minutes later, her car sparked back to life.

  She sighed and stretched.

  The man slammed the hood and walked around to her window, wiping his hands on a handkerchief. “Just a loose wire. You’re all set now.”

  Gigi smiled, and she waved at him and tipped her head back. “Thank you so much.”

  “No problem. Have a great trip.” The man turned and headed back to his car.

  She should repay him. She quickly reached for her purse, but she knocked it onto the floor. She grabbed some money and opened her door to chase him with the offer, but he’d already turned his truck back on the road. Her chest expanded. People helped each other here.

  She had missed that.

  She slammed on the gas pedal and raced to the airport. Speed helped make up lost time, and at this hour no one was on the road. She angled into a parking spot then ran inside the airport with her bag.

  Getting through security seemed to take forever. Chaperones were supposed to be first to arrive, not the last. Her heart pounded with every step. She cleared the gate then spotted her students sitting together, seemingly unconcerned. Sucking in her breath, her eyes focused on a muscular forearm holding a cell phone to his ear.

  Sean Collins!

  Her heart fell to the floor. She lost track of her body and all she could do was stare in shock. No other man stood nearby.

  Sean hung up the phone, winked at her, then announced, “Ms. Dumont is here. Let’s board.”

  The students waved at her. Sean laughed at something, and her right foot to twitch. Her fingers wiggled then she took in a deep breath of air.

  “Gigi, Miss Dumont, come on. We’re behind schedule.”

  With effort she continued to go one foot in front of the other foot, but her legs became heavier. Walking took every ounce of willpower she had. Sean? Going? No. He was probably there to assure everybody got off
all right. She closed the distance between them and said, “Sean, what are you doing here?” Then she knew. He couldn’t get through security without a boarding pass. Maybe he had a business trip?

  “My parents will watch Patrick for the week. I told them I needed to go somewhere for work, and that I’ll bring them back something from Paris.”

  “Patrick lost his mother. Your going away can’t be good for him.” She paused, wracking her brain. “Besides, your father is likely working late hours and your mother is getting up there in years.”

  “He is fine. Mom was excited.” He ignored her concern. “Besides, if I don’t go, then your students don’t get to compete. I’m fingerprinted and available. Plus, I own the school, without anything else pressing to do at the moment except make sure this trip goes off without a hitch. So, let’s go.”