Captivated by the Brooding Billionaire

by Rebecca Winters

  Abby noticed they were headed back to the estate. “Solange’s father gave off an unsettling aura of hostility too.”

  “He’s hoping I’ll propose to her. There’s nothing he’d rather see than a marriage between his domaine and ours. I knew which way the wind was blowing a year ago. That’s why he brought her to the dinner tonight. When you and I sat down at the table, he came close to having a coronary.”

  “Good heavens—” she cried. “Does everyone have an agenda?”

  “Not my grandparents. After we reach the cottage, I’ll explain my reasons.”

  Her breath caught. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”

  His face closed up. “The entire region is aware that there’s a new woman in my life. An American woman no less, one who knows nothing about vineyards and doesn’t speak French except for a few words like absolument, chasselas and Saint des Saints.”

  She lowered her head.

  “Now that I’ve gotten my duties out of the way, I’m planning to concentrate on you. You’re the only thing of real importance to me. I don’t want to waste a moment of our precious time together.”

  “But to go to your private home—”

  “Abby—it must have occurred to you by now that I don’t want you to leave.” He reached for her hand and kissed the palm. The gesture melted her to the core.

  “Surely you realize I’m asking you to spend the night with me. I’ve wanted you from the very first moment we met.” I’ve wanted you too, Raoul. “I need to feel you in my arms and hold you. But if you don’t feel that way about me, then I don’t want you to be uncomfortable. All you have to do is tell me.”

  Abby was listening. He was the most honorable man she’d ever known. The way his marriage had ended so cruelly had left him grief stricken and she understood his needs.

  She had needs too. Abby knew deep in her soul that Raoul would always be the great love of her life. If she gave in to her desires for a night of temporary rapture, it would ruin her for other men. To go back to California and pine for Raoul for the rest of her life was unthinkable. She couldn’t put herself through that kind of hell.

  Don’t let it go any further, Abby.

  She didn’t dare bring that unending pain on herself. It was going to be like a death to fly to Venice tomorrow, but she knew it was what she had to do for self-preservation.

  “I think you’d better drive me to the guest apartment.”

  Without his saying a word, he drove her to the petit château. He helped her with her things and walked her to her apartment where he set everything down. His dark eyes narrowed on her mouth. She could almost feel him kissing her.

  “Go ahead and make plane arrangements. I’ll call you in the morning. Depending on the time of your flight, I’ll pick you up for breakfast in the morning and drive you to the airport.”

  “Wait—” she cried because he’d pivoted too fast and was already walking away.

  He looked over his shoulder. “That wouldn’t be a good idea.”

  When she couldn’t hear his car, she shut the door, devastated by what had just happened. She waited there for at least five minutes, hoping he’d come back and beg her to reconsider. But it was evident it wasn’t going to happen. If he’d really wanted to be with her tonight, he would have found a way.

  She hurried in the bedroom to call the girls. Though it was late, she had to talk to them. She phoned Zoe first and got her voice mail. Too frustrated to leave a message, she called Ginger.

  “Abby? Hey—what are you doing phoning this late?”

  “I’m sorry, but I’m flying to Venice tomorrow and will try to plan a flight that fits in with yours and Zoe’s schedule.”

  “You’re not staying in Burgundy?”

  A shuddering sigh escaped. “No.”

  “So the ‘come and see my notebook’ thing turned out not to be for real.”

  She gripped her phone so tightly, she could have crushed it. “Actually there was a notebook with a poem, but it wasn’t an authentic signature of Byron’s.” In this instance, she had to lie after promising Raoul she’d let the find stay a secret.

  “But he really had something to show you?”

  “Yes. I met his grandparents and they showed it to me.”

  “Then he was on the level.”

  “Yes.”

  “You sound odd. Are you okay? What’s going on with you two?”

  “It’s been a very full day with a funeral and a dinner. He’s a very important man.” But tonight he hadn’t pressured her to stay with him and it hurt like crazy.

  “Don’t let me keep you up any longer. Shall I come early or late? You’d better check with Zoe.”

  “She’s not here.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Zoe decided to fly to Greece early, so I took her to the airport today and now I have the car. Tomorrow is Sunday and I’m going to Burano Island for a couple of days. I’ve already paid for travel and the hotel room for two nights on a special deal. Why don’t you check flights for Tuesday and I’ll meet you whenever you say?”

  Another two days with Raoul. Abby could hardly breathe.

  “That sounds fine. I’ll call you Tuesday and we’ll plan from there.”

  “Perfect.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  AT SIX THIRTY Sunday morning, Raoul’s phone awakened him. He worried it might be Abby and checked the caller ID. One look and he knew his father was summoning him, but he ignored it.

  Last night he’d worked for a half hour sending instructions to Félix, then he’d stretched out on the couch in his office. It had taken all the self-control he could muster to leave Abby alone.

  The phone rang again. Raoul got to his feet and clicked it on. “Bonjour, Papa. Ça va bien?”

  “You and I need to talk.” His father never changed.

  “Whatever it is, let’s do it on the phone now. I have other business in a little while.” Like driving Abby to the airport.

  “You’re talking about that American woman staying at the petit château who is out for all she can get. Jean-Marc told me you met her in St. Saphorin. Whatever possessed you to bring her here?”

  “With the property sold, she and her friends didn’t feel right about staying on the vineyard for their vacation. I invited them to come here for a few days.”

  “But only one arrived with you. How dare you take her to the funeral! It shocked everyone to see you with someone else so soon after Angélique’s death.”

  So soon? After two years? Raoul had to count to ten.

  “I heard you took her to the banquet last night. Solange expected you to take her.”

  “I’m not interested in Solange and never will be. Abby has never been to France and I wanted to be a good host.”

  “She’s not one of us,” his father muttered angrily. “It would never do for you to form an attachment. You must see that! I want you to get rid of her.”

  Raoul grimaced because part of what his father said kept his guilt alive. “Was there something important about vineyard business you needed to discuss with me?”

  “How soon is she leaving?”

  “I have no idea.” That much was the truth at least.

  “You can’t allow this to go on. Your mother and sister won’t stand for it and I forbid it! The whole family is in an uproar. Pierre rang me when he got home from the banquet, demanding to know how she managed to be at the head table. If you don’t cut her loose, I’ll cut you out of the family business.”

  It didn’t surprise him that his father would go that far. Again, Raoul chose to ignore it. “How are you feeling today?”

  “How do you think?

  “I’ve made arrangements for Dr. Filbert to be by later to check on you and the grandparents. He’ll give me an update on your condition.”

  “The only thing I
want you to do is make sure she’s gone by tonight.”

  Click.

  He didn’t like that his father was in pain and suffered, but since the crash, Raoul hadn’t let anyone dictate what he’d do with his life. After setting the electronic lock, he drove back to the cottage for a shower and shave. Then he made the phone call to Abby, prepared to tell her he didn’t want her to leave.

  “Raoul,” she answered on the second ring. “I’m glad you called. There’s been a change in plans with my friends. I won’t be able to meet up with Ginger until Tuesday, but I’ll book my flight for tomorrow around noon.”

  “If she’s not going to be there until Tuesday, then you and I should make the most of the time.”

  “I... I’m afraid it’s just prolonging the inevitable,” her voice faltered.

  “I never want you to leave, so don’t pretend otherwise.” When his heart rate slowed down he said, “If you’re ready, I’ll come by for you now, and take you to breakfast. I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry.”

  “All right.” Her quiet response was all he needed to hear.

  After hanging up, he hardly remembered getting in the Maserati to drive to her apartment. She was out in front when he drove up. Those jewel-green eyes were the first thing he saw. Raoul sensed Abby was anxious, but she looked a vision in jeans and the same white-on-black print top she’d been wearing the day they met.

  “Bonjour, ma belle.”

  “Good morning,” came her slightly breathless greeting. While her glazed eyes played over him, a little vein throbbed at the base of her throat.

  “I thought about you all night.” Heat swept into her cheeks. He walked her to the car, holding on to her arm. “Are you hungry?”

  “I think by now you know you don’t ever have to ask me that question.”

  He gave her a kiss on the cheek after helping her into the passenger seat. “I’m hoping you’ll enjoy La Mère Valois. It serves a simple breakfast eaten by the locals. Homemade country-style bread fresh from the oven and hot coffee.”

  “Mmm. A totally French breakfast.”

  “Oui. They have yogurt and fresh fruit if you ask for it.”

  “I’ll have what you have.”

  “I’m warning you now I follow a Spartan diet in the morning.”

  Five minutes later he’d taken her inside the little bistro and had shown her how to dip her bread into the coffee and eat it. She followed his lead and probably disliked it, but she pretended to enjoy it.

  “You’re sure you don’t want anything else?”

  Her eyes flashed. “Positive. As long as I’m in France you know...”

  Abby’s spirit of adventure prompted her to try anything. She had many qualities he was crazy about. “I’ll feed you properly after we reach Cluny.”

  When they’d finished eating, he walked her out to the car and helped her in. “We’re supposed to get a fair amount of sun today.” He’d left the top down.

  “Is Cluny far?”

  “Sixty miles. Long enough for you to tell me what’s going on with your friends.”

  “Zoe decided to leave for Greece early, and Ginger has already made plans away from Venice for a few days.”

  “Does that upset you?”

  “You don’t really expect me to answer that question.”

  “We’re together for a while longer. I can’t ask for more than that right now.”

  She looked around. “The scent of the flowers is heavenly here, Raoul.”

  “Pollination is going on everywhere.”

  “You tried to embarrass me once, but you won’t succeed again.”

  “I have to make one stop at the cemetery, then we’ll leave for Cluny.”

  Elation to be with Abby filled his system as he drove beyond the church to the place where André had been buried. Floral arrangements still decorated the grave site. Two figures were huddled there. Raoul stopped the car. “I won’t be long.”

  * * *

  Abby watched him walk over to the man and woman and kiss them on both cheeks. He must have wanted to be alone with them.

  She reached into her purse and pulled out the little storybook his grandmother had given her. There was something touching about seeing Raoul’s name printed by him at such a young age.

  It thrilled her that his grandmother had kept his favorite book all these years. No doubt she’d realized early on how much Raoul needed to be with them. She wiped her eyes when she realized he hadn’t had that same relationship with his own parents.

  She’d been broken up after the visit to his grandparents and had needed a good cry. Their sweetness explained more than anything else why he adored them. The love between the three of them and the way he cared for them was moving beyond words.

  Abby understood a few of the French words as she turned the scant pages. The artist had created a dreamy rendition of Blondine. In the story, she wore her golden hair long, like Abby had done before getting hers cut. But whatever likeness Raoul saw between Blondine and Abby had to exist in his mind because they were nothing alike. The idea that Abby was dreamy-looking would never have occurred to her.

  She held the book and reflected on the talk with Ginger last night. While she thought about the way everything had changed since they’d all met in Switzerland, Raoul returned to the car. He eyed the book.

  “My grandmother would never have given it to you if she didn’t know you’d appreciate it.”

  Abby took a shuddering breath. “How much do they know about us?” she asked before putting it away.

  “I rang them from Switzerland before we left La Floraison and told them I’d met a woman who had already changed my life.”

  Raoul, her heart cried. So that was the reason she’d given the book to Abby. She couldn’t believe he’d shared something so personal with them before bringing her to France. “They...were wonderful and accepting in a way I can’t describe.”

  “That’s who they are. Looking at them yesterday made me realize their time is short.”

  She put the book back in her purse. Abby had yet to contact her own parents and tell them she wasn’t with the girls, that she’d driven to France with a stranger and was out of her mind in love.

  “I take it you were speaking to some of André’s relatives.”

  “His grandson and wife. He fears he doesn’t have what it takes to fill his grandfather’s shoes. I’ve said what I can to reassure him.”

  “Wait and see. Knowing how you feel about him will go a long way to helping him, Raoul.”

  “One can hope.”

  “You have a way with people or they wouldn’t revere you so highly. Once in a while you should accept a compliment. Or doesn’t mine count?”

  “More than you know. But as you’ve discovered, I’ve brought you to a hornet’s nest.”

  “Except you can’t say that about your grandparents. They adore you and I can see why they mean so much to you. But it hurts me for your sake that you and your parents don’t have the same relationship.”

  “Papa wants things from me I can no longer give him.”

  “Like what?”

  “He’s expecting me to marry Solange.”

  “But that doesn’t make sense.”

  “I know, but you try telling my father.”

  “Has he ever been happy?” she asked.

  “Yes. When I married Angélique.”

  “So Solange is second best.”

  “He believes she will fill the role adequately.”

  Abby shook her head. “I’ll never understand that kind of thinking.”

  “I didn’t understand it from the cradle.”

  They left the cemetery behind. Once out on the open road they passed one charming village after another. Abby loved the scented breeze that ruffled their hair. With a disheveled look, Raoul was almost too breatht
aking.

  But this wasn’t like the carefree drive they’d taken from Switzerland to Burgundy. Her whole body and soul ached for the love of this unique man who exuded a melancholy brought on by many things.

  When they reached Cluny, they parked and walked around the monastery where there were crowds of tourists. Raoul wasn’t in a mood to talk except to make a few comments about its history. For once he didn’t reach for her hand. Not only the physical, but the mental separation was killing her. She took a few pictures of Raoul along with the abbey, then put her phone away.

  “Are you ready to go back?”

  She nodded and they walked to his car. Once he’d helped her inside, he asked her where she would like to eat. “Can we do what we did at the border? Buy some picnic food and eat it in the car on the way home?”

  Without saying a word, he drove to an épicerie where they bought a small feast of finger foods and drinks. Then they were off again. The silence tore her apart. By the time they returned to the estate and he parked in front of the petit château, she was worried about him but didn’t know how to help him.

  For once he didn’t get out of the car. He didn’t plan to walk her to the door.

  “Raoul? Would you come in with me?”

  His eyes were slits when he looked at her. “I think not, and you know why.”

  “Please. I know something has been bothering you, but we can’t talk about it out here where people will see us.”

  After a long wait he unbent enough to get out of the car. He followed her in and shut the apartment door.

  “Why don’t you freshen up in the guest bathroom before we talk?”

  While he did her bidding, she visited her own en suite bathroom and returned to the salon. He was already back and on the phone. The grimace on his face was chilling. A minute later he hung up. Their gazes collided.

  “Is everything all right?”

  “No. Pierre has had another blowup over a bad decision Jean-Marc made with a client about lowering prices. It’s the second time he’s done it. Pierre’s gone to my father about it and there’s going to be hell to pay.”

  “Do you need to be there?”