French Escape: From Daredevil to Devoted Daddy / One Week with the French Tycoon / It Happened in Paris.... Barbara McMahon

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СКАЧАТЬ Stars had not yet appeared but undoubtedly would before they reached the inn.

      With Alexandre between them, each holding one of his hands, Matt thought how like a family they must appear. The thought came more and more frequently. He railed against it. He was on holiday. That was all.

      Looking over at Jeanne-Marie, he was struck by her air of serenity. Content with her life, happy with her child, she cast a spell over him. He wanted that serenity, that contentment.

      “Can we go swimming after dark?” Alexandre asked as they approached the inn.

      “Not safe,” his mother replied.

      “Not dangerous, either. It could be fun,” Matt said. He’d love to go swimming with Jeanne-Marie, to see her sleek body in a swimsuit, to touch her, to kiss her again. To feel her body against his, skin to skin.

      He took a breath and shook his head trying to dislodge the images.

      She looked dubious. “Maybe.”

      “Can we?” Alexandre was thrilled at the thought.

      Matt looked at Jeanne-Marie. “Why not?” He could think of a dozen reasons to go, all starting with his motivation for the swim.

      “Okay, let’s do it.”

      “Yippee!” Alexandre yelled and took off running for the inn.

      In less than ten minutes they had changed and were at the water’s edge. Suddenly shy, Jeanne-Marie hesitated to take off her cover-up. The swimsuit she wore was the one she wore all the time. It maintained her modesty, but she felt exposed wearing it in front of him. She knew she was self-conscious because of Matt. Good heavens, it was almost pitch-dark out.

      “Hurry, Mama,” Alexandre called, already up to his knees in the water.

      “Last one in’s a rotten egg,” Matt murmured, dropping his towel and walking toward Alexandre.

      In one movement, she drew off her top, dropped it and ran by Matt, splashing into the water seconds before he did.

      She kept going until the water was up to her waist.

      “Wait for me, Mama.”

      Alexandre swam out to her and grabbed hold of her shoulders. “This is fun.”

      There was enough light now from the stars and the establishments along the shore to give some visibility. It was an adventure, however, to find the water so dark. Normally it was as clear as crystal with the bottom clearly visible.

      Matt walked over. “Refreshing.”

      “Cold, you mean,” she said. It was cool, but pleasant. And the delight of her son made it well worth it.

      “Since he can swim, why don’t we paddle a little out and then back?”

      “Okay.”

      “I want to swim next to Matt,” Alexandre said.

      Me, too, was Jeanne-Marie’s immediate thought.

      They swam a short way, and because of the gentle slope Matt could stand when they stopped. Alexandre clung to him while Jeanne-Marie trod water beside him.

      “If you get tired, you can grab hold of me,” he offered.

      She was tempted.

      “It’s scary out here,” Alexandre said, looking around.

      “No different from being here in the daytime except we can’t see,” Matt said.

      Jeanne-Marie brushed against Matt’s arm as she was moving around. He caught her and pulled her close. Resting her hand on his shoulder, she felt the warmth of his skin even though the water had cooled the surface.

      Clinging, she smiled at her son.

      “We’ve never done this before, have we?” She dared not look at Matt for fear she’d forget Alexandre was here and be caught up in Matt’s spell. Would he kiss her again?

      “I want to go back,” Alexandre said.

      When Matt put his arm around Jeanne-Marie’s waist, she gasped. He drew her against his sleek body, the cooling effect of the water evaporating. She stared at him, wishing she could see him better. Her heart pounded as every inch of her became attuned to him. Heat matched heat and had her aware of him like never before. Her hands skimmed against his bare chest, feeling the muscles, his skin heating when she rested her palm against him.

      For a moment she wished Alexandre was home in bed and just she and Matt were swimming in the darkened sea. Touching, kissing.

      “We should go back,” she said in a low voice. If it had been the two of them, she knew nothing would have stopped kisses and caresses.

      So slowly she knew it was an effort, he released her, trailing his fingertips across her bare back, sending shivers up her spine.

      “Race you, Alexandre,” she said to cover her confusion. In a moment she was splashed by the little boy’s wild swimming technique. This was her reality.

      When they reached the shore, Matt right beside them, Alexandre ran onto the sand. “I beat!” He danced around and laughed. “That was fun!”

      As Jeanne-Marie slowly climbed out of the water, heading for her towel, she could feel Matt’s gaze on her and wished she dared turn around to feast her eyes on him. A spotlight on the beach would have been perfect. But first things first. She had her son to think about.

      “No warm sun to dry us off,” Matt commented, standing near her, watching her as she toweled off her body. She glanced his way, captivated by what she could see of his broad chest and muscular arms. He needed a lot of upper body strength to lift his body by his hands on climbs. She wished she had the courage to reach out and feel that strength. She looked away, yearnings firmly squashed.

      “Can we do that again?” Alexandre asked.

      “Not tonight. Time you got to bed. Tomorrow will be a big day,” she said, pulling on the short cover-up. She wrung water from her hair and then looked at Matt again, vaguely disappointed he’d pulled on a T-shirt. So much for fantasies in the moonlight.

      The next morning Alexandre bounced on the backseat of Matt’s car. He seemed almost more excited to be in Matt’s car than about his visit. Going to Marseilles with Matt felt like a big adventure to her, so she could empathize with her son’s excitement. They’d deliver Alexandre to his grandparents after lunch and then she’d spend the rest of the afternoon and evening with Matt. Anticipation built. She wanted to rein it in, but no matter how much she tried, she couldn’t squelch her excitement.

      It was not a date. Not precisely. They’d have Alexandre with them for part of the day. It was the kindness of a guest to his hostess.

      She didn’t believe that for one second.

      After lunch at a family-style restaurant, they arrived at the small home on the outskirts of town where the senior Rousseaus lived. Matt parked in front.

      “Shall СКАЧАТЬ