A Little Luck

by Jill Sanders

  Pulling out her phone, she texted Jenn and told her she was leaving.

  Without waiting for a reply, she made her way quickly across the floor and out the front doors.

  She was halfway to her car when she heard someone calling her name.

  Turning, she held in a groan when she saw Cole running towards her.

  “Where are you going?” he asked when he stopped in front of her.

  “Home.” She motioned to her shirt.

  “Oh man.” He ran his hands through his hair, then looked around. As Mason had just done, Cole grabbed her arm and pulled her lightly towards her car. “I was hoping… that is… I wanted…”

  Ashley stopped and narrowed her eyes. Cole was never short for words. “What?”

  He leaned against her car and sighed heavily. “I wanted to make sure I saw you tonight.”

  She let out a low laugh. “You’re not going to act like Jenn are you?” Cole’s dark eyebrows drew together in question. “Never mind.” She shook her head. “I’m sure we’re going to see each other.” She opened her car door, but Cole placed his hand on the door, holding it shut.

  “You don’t know that,” he said softly. It was then that she noticed how close he was and how he was looking at her. Her heart skipped several beats.

  She’d fantasized about her best friend for years. Years! But she had never wanted to cross that line for fear of losing him.

  She lost track of what he was saying as her mouth went completely dry.

  “Come back inside, just for a little while,” Cole said as his hand moved to the base of her spine.

  “Cole.” Her hands moved to his arms, unsure if she was holding him or pushing him away. His friendship was too important to her to risk, even if it meant giving up her dream man.

  “Ash, I’ve meant to tell you…” His dark eyes searched hers as he moved closer.

  When he didn’t speak, she asked, “What?”

  He shook his head lightly, then closed his eyes. “Sometimes, you just have to take the plunge, you know.”

  “No,” she said again after another moment of silence. When his eyes opened, she had only a split second to hold her breath before his lips covered hers.

  She felt her knees go weak, and her entire body shook as he pulled her next to him. She’d been kissed before, several times by several different boys, but nothing had ever come close to Cole kissing her now.

  Reaching up, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and sighed when he tilted his head to the side, his tongue playing with the crease of her lips, then dipping inside. She felt her insides melt as their tongues touched for the first time.

  He moved slightly and pinned her to the side of her car, his hands roaming over her hips and back as her nails dug into his shoulders.

  “Ash,” he whispered next to her lips. “I’ve wanted to do that for years.” He rested his forehead against hers.

  “Why didn’t you?” she asked. Her eyes refused to close as she scanned his lips and chin, wanting more.

  Cole leaned back, his eyes searching hers. “Don’t forget this, me.” He sighed, then looked off towards the building. “I have to go.” He dropped his hands from her hips. “I’m sorry,” he said, taking a step away. “I should have…” He shook his head. “Sorry.” He turned away and rushed back towards the building.

  She must have stood there, leaning against her car, for ten minutes before climbing inside and driving home.

  From that night on, she dreamed of Cole. Only Cole. He’d ruined her for any other man. Especially after she’d heard from his parents the following week that he’d left.

  1

  One year later…

  Ashley stood on the banks of the Seine River and wondered what the hell she was doing in Paris. Her suitcase was dragging behind her, and her backpack weighed her down. Rain fell into her eyes, mixing with her tears as she made her way across uneven cobblestones towards what she hoped would be the street the flat she’d rented was on.

  The cabbie had dropped her off on the corner and charged her double the rate they’d agreed on at the airport. Since her luggage had been locked in his trunk, she’d paid the man and stood by as he drove away from her with no more instructions to her destination.

  She wondered if the word sucker was written on her forehead as she made her way down the long sidewalk.

  The pathway was so dark, she could barely see where she was going, and she was pretty sure she’d end up in the water. Pulling out her cell phone, she flipped on the flashlight and looked around. Dim lights lit the pathway, but the rain and fog were blocking their light.

  She wondered if Jack the Ripper had found his prey on nights like this. She shivered as she found a set of stairs leading her back up to the main road.

  Pulling her heavy suitcase behind her, she was breathless when she reached the top. Surprisingly, she found a street sign and relaxed. She was right where she needed to be.

  Less than a block later, the old stone building that would be her home for the next twelve months came into view. There were small shops on the main floor, including a grocery store that was the size of her mother’s closet.

  The entrance to the building, a massive blue door, was tucked into a corner, hidden from the main road. There wasn’t an elevator in the old building, and she had to lug her bags up the three flights of stairs to the top floor.

  By the time she reached her doorway, she knew why she’d gotten a discount on the place. Those stairs were a killer. By the end of her year stay, she was going to be in great shape.

  Using the code she’d been given, she unlocked the flat’s door and stepped into her three-hundred-square-foot loft.

  Dropping both bags inside the doorway, she looked around.

  The one-room place was open and airy. A bright yellow sofa sat in the middle of the living room, facing a wall of slanted windows that overlooked the street below. Since the fog was too thick to see beyond, she turned away from the dark glass.

  The end walls were stone, and one was covered with shelves that had globes of the Earth in all sizes covering every free space.

  The other stone wall was bare. There was a small kitchen with butcher’s-block countertops. A new microwave and stove lined the wall, along with a stainless-steel fridge. Past the kitchen area, and an impressive narrow stairway going upward, sat the bedroom, tucked in the back of the place.

  She was surprised at the beauty of the dark blue tiles in the bathroom that was next to the bedroom.

  An old-fashioned tub sat underneath a large window. The glass shower appeared to have been installed years later, since it was cut out of the tiled room and stood at the base of the tub.

  Making her way back out, she climbed the narrow stairs and opened the glass doors at the top. She walked out onto the private rooftop patio and smiled for the first time in hours.

  Even though the fog and darkness prevented her from seeing the view, she could imagine herself spending hours up there painting.

  There was a small closed-in area, but the outside deck was a big as the entire apartment, so she would have plenty of room to set up shop.

  Closing her eyes, she did a quick circle as the rain fell over her. She was in Paris! One of her dreams had finally come true!

  Ashley was so discouraged, she was contemplating purchasing tickets home. How had things gone so wrong so quickly? She hadn’t even been in Paris a month.

  The National School of Fine Arts that she attended had some impressive alumni, including Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Alfred Sisley. The school had initially met her high expectations, but now her classes no longer presented the challenges she’d hoped for. But it was the time she spent outside of school, walking along the Rue Montmartre, that really had her discouraged.

  The famous street and all its art vendors proved that she was nothing special every time she strolled through.

  There was everything from abstract art to impressionism. Some were only tolerable, others were bordering on godly. T
hese made her wonder what in the hell she was doing in Paris.

  As the days ticked by, she felt her creative juices drying up. She had set up everything she needed on the rooftop deck that overlooked the Seine River and Notre Dame cathedral. The first week she’d been there, she had painted like she’d never painted before. But the more she walked the streets, the more she felt her inspiration slip away.

  She’d learned how to avoid the street vendors and scam artists easily. While on her first trip to the Louvre, she’d successfully caught a pickpocket trying to snatch her purse. She’d thought about chasing the kid, but then decided it was too much work and made sure to never carry a purse again. Instead, she’d purchased a phone case that she could tuck her credit cards into.

  The reality that Paris was just another city with all the usual problems was slowly sinking in. Then there was the swarm of men who tried to hit on her. At first, she’d fallen for the flattery, but after the third attempt using almost the same tactics, their flirtations had fallen on deaf ears.

  By the end of her third month in Paris, the long calls with her family were the only joy she had.

  She’d become a pro at finding places to eat that weren’t full of tourists and that didn’t charge outrageous prices. And by the end of the fourth month, all the street vendors knew to steer clear of her.

  Her French had improved so much, she had stopped speaking English. Still, she struggled to paint. The large canvases she’d ordered sat empty and propped against the stairs.

  One of her classes was taking yet another tour of the Louvre when she felt a familiar tingle down her spine. Looking around, she scanned the sea of faces for whomever it was that had caused the hair on the back of her neck to stand up.

  She’d been in Paris for half a year and had made only a handful of acquaintances. There were only a few people that she knew by name.

  Instantly, she saw the tall man standing near the back of a crowd. When her eyes landed on him, his smile fell away as his eyes darted around the room.

  He took one step away, then another, before she moved.

  She caught up with Cole just outside the main entrance.

  Grabbing his arm, she spun him around.

  “What in the hell!” she growled at him, a little breathless. “Were you seriously going to run away from me?”

  Her anger had consumed her from the day she’d found out that he’d disappeared on her and his family.

  “Ash, I…” His glanced around and then gripped her arm and marched her towards one of the smaller glass pyramids. He didn’t stop until they were tucked under the archway, away from the crowds. “It’s good to see you,” he said, smiling down at her.

  She tugged herself free, then crossed her arms over her chest. “Almost two years, no word, no explanations, and that’s all you can say?” Her eyes narrowed at him.

  He’d changed so much. His hair was a little darker, matching the full day’s growth on his face. His shoulders and arms were wider and full of new muscles that hadn’t been there in school. Even the way he looked at her was different, as if he was consuming everything he could about her.

  She felt herself get fidgety under his gaze, but forced herself to remain still.

  “Well?” she finally said, putting her hands on her hips. “Do your folks know where you are?”

  “No, they know I’m out of the States, that’s it.” His eyes left hers and he looked around again. “Listen, I can’t talk now.” He closed his eyes for a second. “Can you meet me tomorrow?”

  This time, it was her eyes that narrowed. “Why?”

  He shook his head, then pulled her close, his hands resting gently on her arms. “Trust me, Ash. I’ll explain tomorrow.” He dropped his hands and stepped away.

  “Where? When?” she said as he started walking away.

  “I’ll find you,” he said over his shoulder.

  She stood there for several minutes replaying the meeting in her mind. By the time she caught up with her group as they made their way back to the school, she was pretty sure she’d hallucinated the entire meeting.

  Still, she fell asleep that night dreaming of Cole. When she woke, it took her a moment to realize the brown eyes hovering over her were real. Then her scream filled her small flat.

  Cole couldn’t help but smile down at Ashley as she screamed. Then she kicked out and caught him in the chest, sending him flying backwards.

  He wouldn’t normally have been so off guard, but his left hip was still hurting from a fall two days ago.

  He grunted when he landed on the hardwood floor, and his hip screamed at him again.

  “Damn it,” he said under his breath.

  “What in the hell!” Ashley was standing over him by the time he recovered.

  “Ash, it’s me,” he said, trying to get the pain under control.

  “I can see that.” Her hands were on her hips as she glared down at him. “What in the hell are you doing in my flat?” He looked up at her and all the air left his lungs. She was even more beautiful than he’d remembered.

  She was wearing a tight white tank top and boxer shorts. Men’s boxer shorts. He felt a pang of jealousy at the possibility of her sharing her life with someone.

  “I told you I’d find you.” He started to get up, but the look on her face warned him he’d better stay put.

  “What are you doing in my flat?” she asked again. Her tone made it clear that she wouldn’t let him move until he answered her.

  “I couldn’t risk meeting you in a public place,” he said, getting comfortable on the spot on the floor.

  “You’re in my flat,” she said again.

  “I used to break into your house all the time.”

  “Yes, but that was… this is…” He could tell the moment she gave up. She surprised him by holding out her hand to help him up.

  Her eyes went wide as he jumped up from the floor easily. The space was tight, and he made a point not to back away, blocking her between her bed and the wall. Her eyes heated with anger and narrowed at him, forcing him to take a step back.

  “How did you find me?” she asked, pushing past him.

  He followed her into the small kitchen and watched as she put a pot of water on the stove and pulled out two mugs and a box of tea.

  “I like coffee better,” he suggested.

  “Tough, I only have tea,” she threw over her shoulder. She set the box down and turned towards him. “Next time, if you want coffee, warn me ahead of time. How did you find me?” She leaned against the counter and waited.

  For the past year and a half, he’d gotten good at not answering questions. Perfected the skill, actually.

  Shrugging, he moved into the living space and looked around.

  “Nice place you have here.” He picked up a small painting at the base of the stairs he’d snuck down just a few minutes earlier. The main floor of the building had been too busy for him to sneak in unnoticed, but he’d lucked out when he’d found she had a rooftop deck. It had been easy enough to slide in unnoticed.

  “Cole,” she warned behind him, “answer the damn question.”

  He chuckled and turned to her, still holding the painting.

  “You never used to cuss this much.” He smiled over at her.

  “You used to answer questions,” she retorted.

  “Fair enough.” He opened his mouth, paused, and then asked her about the painting. “Is this your latest?” He held up the piece.

  Her eyes narrowed, and she glanced down at the artwork. “No, I did it my first week here.” She took the canvas from him and set it back down. “If you won’t answer that question, I have others. What are you doing in Paris?”

  He sighed, then turned away and looked out her windows. “I’m happy you finally made it here.” He glanced over his shoulder, trying to convince her to move past the question phase. Instead, she moved next to him and threw more in his direction.

  “Where have you been? Do your folks know you’re here? Why did you leave without
telling anyone? Why did you leave without telling me?”

  The last one hit home. “I tried to tell you.” He turned towards her, his hands going to her shoulders. “Remember? In the parking lot?”

  “You tried?” She shook her head. “You kissed me, then dropped off the face of the earth.”

  His eyes moved to those sexy lips of hers, remembering the best kiss he’d ever experienced.

  “I’d like to do it again,” he whispered.

  He felt her stiffen, then she jerked away and walked over to pour the water into the mugs. He watched her closely. He’d thought of her so often since he’d left. Thought of a life like she had. He loved what he was doing now, but part of him wondered how things could have turned out differently.

  “At least tell me how you found me?” She handed him the mug and sat down. He sat across from her.

  “You were with a class on the tour.” He shrugged.

  “So?” she prodded, not touching her tea.

  “It was easy enough. I hacked into the school’s—”

  “You what?” She sat up, spilling a little of the hot tea on her chest.

  He jumped up, grabbed a towel from the kitchen, and started wiping the hot fluid from her chest, in hopes that it hadn’t burned her too badly.

  “Cole.” She pushed his hands away. “I’m fine.”

  “Are you burned?” He ran his eyes over the spot and felt relieved that he couldn’t see a red mark.

  “Did you really hack into the school’s system to find me?” she asked.

  “Sure.” He shrugged. “How else was I going to find where you were staying?”

  “Oh, I don’t know, call me or my parents?” she said sarcastically.

  He shrugged again. “This was easier.”

  2

  Ashley chuckled and shifted slightly, feeling a little self-conscious with Cole sitting so close to her. His eyes were running over her slowly.

  Why was he being so secretive? So many questions ran through her mind, but at this point, she doubted he would answer any of them.