Without her having to say anything, he drove straight to a boulangerie where she salivated before loading up on nummy little quiches and ham-filled croissants. Alex bought three baguettes and several tranches of Gruyère and Camembert cheese.
“I already feel debauched and haven’t even tasted a morsel yet,” she moaned the words.
On the way back to the truck his eyes swerved to hers with a devilish glitter. “That’s the whole idea. Earlier today I was accused of being a dull boy.”
She quivered. If he got any duller, her heart wouldn’t be able to take it. “I might have exaggerated a little.”
“Careful, Mademoiselle Lofgren, or I’ll get the impression you’re trying to kill me with kindness.” He turned on the engine and they took off.
She’d never had so much fun in her life and the day wasn’t over yet.
“I’m coming down the hall, Dana. I hope you’re ready.”
He couldn’t tell if she cried in fear or giggled. “Alex—please—It’s almost ten o’clock. You’ve done enough! I don’t need anything more.” They’d cleaned every inch of the room until it gleamed. She was so genuinely appreciative of everything he did for her, it made him want to do more.
“I think you’ll find this to be of comfort.” Using his high-powered flashlight so he could see, he entered the turret round and put the heavy bronze floor candelabra near the head of the bed he’d brought down from storage. It was as tall as she was.
Dana held her own flashlight to guide him. She’d taken off her shoes and was in a kneeling position on top of her newly made bed. Using his automatic lighter, he lit the twelve candles in their sconces. Like the sun coming up over the horizon, the room slowly filled with flickering, mellow light.
“Oh—” she cried softly.
His sentiments exactly. The candles illuminated not only the inlaid woods of the Italian armoire and dresser, but the utterly enchanting female who’d worked hard right alongside him all afternoon and evening. Her peaches-and-cream complexion glowed, causing her blue eyes to dazzle him.
“The candles will burn down in an hour or so. Enough time to do some reading before jet lag takes over.”
She shut off her flashlight. “I think I’m in a time warp.”
“I feel that way every time I come inside the château.” Get out of her bedroom. Now. “Before I go downstairs, we’d better discuss how you want to handle your father tomorrow.”
Something in her eyes flickered that had nothing to do with the candlelight. “What do you mean handle?”
“I thought it was obvious. Sweet dreams, princess.”
Dana had no agenda. No place she had to be.
After sleeping in until noon, she spent a long time in the modern bathtub, studying everything. She marveled at the superb job Alex had done of combining contemporary and eighteenth-century decor.
The tile work of the ancient looking floor had been laid in a stunning, stone-green and white checkerboard design. Her eyes followed the lines of the green border also carried out around the window and the door.
Delighted by every inch of work created by a master craftsman, she was loathe to leave her bath. However, the pads of her fingers resembled prunes. Without electricity to blowdry her hair up here, she needed to towel it some more, then brush it dry before she went downstairs.
An ornate, mural-size mirror with a rococo-style gilt frame hung on the wall opposite the tub, another sybaritic element of the château. A gasp escaped her lips when she stood up and saw herself reflected full-size. She had a mirror on the back of the door at home, but it was in her bedroom and seemed miniscule in comparison.
One more look at herself was a reminder that only a few days of enjoying the food they’d bought and she’d put on five pounds just like that!
Discipline, Dana. Self-control.
On the way back to the room in her robe, she repeated the motto that went for other things besides food. Like other people for instance. No, not other people. Just one person.
She clutched the lapels of her robe tighter. A man like no one else.
When she entered the room she could hear her phone vibrating on the dresser. Maybe it was Alex wondering if she was still alive. Suddenly breathless, she clicked on with a smile. “Bonjour!”
“Is that you, Dana?”
Her father’s voice. What a surprise! “Hi, Dad. How was the flight?” He hated being closed in for long periods.
“Boring.” That meant his girlfriend hadn’t been able to keep him distracted.
“And Saskia?”
“She’s at the Metropole in Angers.”
“You sound tired. Where are you exactly?”
“I’m standing in my room at the Hermitage,” he grumbled. “More to the point, where are you? The concierge said you never came in last night.” He actually noticed?
“That’s right. I’ve decided to stay at the château. It will save me a lot of coming and going.”
Alex had the strange idea she was under her father’s thumb. If he only knew the truth, that her father didn’t think much about her at all. There was nothing to handle, but her host had insinuated something else and it rankled.
“I thought it was deserted.”
“Not completely.” She started brushing her hair. “The owner lives here. He’s been very accommodating and made an allowance for me. After you’ve slept a few hours, drive over to the château in your rental car and I’ll meet you at the gate.”
There was a noticeable silence, then he said, “I’m coming now.”
Clearly he couldn’t wait to see if she’d pulled through for him. Everything hinged on her find.
“In that case let me go over the directions with you.” Without Saskia in tow, he could walk around and think in peace. “See you shortly.”
Once she’d pulled on jeans and a short-sleeved cotton top in an aqua color, she finished doing her hair and put on lipstick. Slipping her feet into her favorite leather sandals, she grabbed her phone and left the room. Later, after her father had gotten a feel for the estate, she would feed him a late lunch in the kitchen before he went back to the hotel.
Last evening she’d only had a brief glimpse of the salon. Today the door was closed. Alex could be inside at the computer, but in all probability he was out hacking away at his private jungle.
This was the way it should be. Out of sight, out of mind. Didn’t she wish!
She stepped out into a day that seemed hotter than yesterday, but she hadn’t noticed because the interior of the château was cooler. It felt like being in a cathedral to walk beneath the trees. Here and there sunlight dappled their branches.
As she continued on, the crunch of her feet on the leaves must have startled some squirrels. They chattered before she saw them scamper up a trunk and disappear. She was still laughing in pure pleasure when she came upon Alex at the gate.
He was down on his haunches in jeans and another thin white T-shirt, fastening something to the wrought iron. She could see the play of muscle across his shoulders. Her heart thudded so hard she was positive he could hear it.
“Sleeping Beauty at last,” he murmured, scrutinizing her from head to toe with eyes so dark and alive this afternoon, it sent a delicious current of desire through her body.
“You’re getting your princesses mixed up.”
“No—”