After letting her go, he walked to his car and drove off. She waited until he’d disappeared before getting in her car to drive home. Her legs had turned to mush. Tomorrow evening couldn’t come soon enough.
* * *
On Saturday Dominic drove into town for groceries, then went to his office to do work until it was time to drive to Nathalie’s. The sun had shone all day and warmed everything. On the drive over, he talked to Raoul.
“Just giving you a heads-up that I’m spending the evening with Nathalie.”
“If you want to bring her here, I’ll go to the hotel.”
“Thanks, but it’s not necessary. To be honest, I wouldn’t take her to the chateau. Too many eyes. For the rest of the harvest we’re having dinner at her place and taking turns cooking meals.”
“Cooking.”
“That and other things.” Dominic chuckled. “You’ll have my kitchen to yourself. Nathalie’s no longer in a relationship with the man she thought she would marry. Within another week, I’m going to know a lot more about her.”
“Do you still feel she’s not being completely honest?”
“Unfortunately, yes. But I have to believe it’s something I’ll be able to handle.”
Raoul sobered. “I hope so for your sake.”
So did Dominic, who could see her coming up the path. “Talk to you later.” He hung up and got out of the car. Whether she wore her silvery-gold hair tied back or loose, she was a vision.
“Imagine meeting you here,” Nathalie teased with a smile.
“I’ve been imagining it since I left you last night.”
She blushed and opened the door to her rental. He followed her inside with the groceries. “I’ll be out in a minute,” she said before disappearing into the back.
“Take your time while I put things away and get our meal started.” He’d bought items for his own version of salade niçoise with fresh fish and rolls.
By the time she’d emerged in a sleeveless pink blouse and khaki pants looking enticing, he’d prepared café au lait and handed her a cup from the kitchen counter.
“Um...” She took a sip. “Fabulous. You’re going to make someone a wonderful wife one day.” She always said something unexpected that amused him.
“Our dinner is waiting.”
“I know. I can smell the tuna aroma from here.” She walked over to the table in the little dining area and sat down on one of the chairs. “This salad is a work of art. You’re spoiling me rotten!”
He wanted to do more than that.
They both ate with relish. Being with her made him feel like a light had been turned on, illuminating a world he was seeing only for the first time. “I detect red stains on your fingers.”
“Me and Charlemagne,” she teased. “They’re unsightly, but I don’t like wearing gloves. I can’t do as effective a job with them on.”
“You and a lot of workers.”
A laugh escaped her lips.
“Wouldn’t you know one of the sons in the Spanish family working by me told me there’s a place called the Guinguet that has a live band on Sunday night. Everyone goes there. I pretended I didn’t know.”
He smiled into her eyes. “I went there a few times in the past myself.” Was that true? Had he met Antoinette there? When? “I presume this Casanova intends to take you.”
“He knows I’m not interested.”
Dominic finished his roll. “That’s two down in a week. How come I’m still standing?” The desire to make love to her was going to consume him before long.
A glint entered her gorgeous eyes. “Because you didn’t ask me to go to a place where they serve sour wine.” With that clever remark, she st