“For some reason I don’t think age differences matter to a guy like that.”
“Well, I think that’s my decision to make, not his. If I tell him to back off, I’m sure he will.”
“He doesn’t look like a guy who takes no for an answer.”
“But you don’t know him. You’ve never even met him.”
“Did he tell you what he did for a living?”
“A businessman.”
“Well, that covers a lot of possibilities.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine. This is Provence after all. What’s he going to do?”
Shaw quickly looked away, his pulse hammering at a vein near his temple.
“Are you okay?”
“Dinner’s not agreeing with me.”
“You want to go back to your room? I can make my way back to the villa by myself.”
“No, I’ll walk you.”
They took the shortcut and arrived at her villa a few minutes later. “Seems like our boy’s out for the night,” he said, looking at the empty parking spaces in front of Waller’s villa.
“He did leave rather abruptly after dinner,” she noted. “Said he had some business to take care of.”
“Busy guy.”
Her next words sent a cold dread down Shaw’s back. “He’s going to Les Baux, to see the Goya exhibit. He asked me to go with him.”
“And what did you tell him?” Shaw asked, a bit too sharply.
She stared at him, perplexed. “I told him I’d think about it and get back to him.”
Shaw thought swiftly and the words tumbled out of his mouth. “You don’t have to do that.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re going with me to Les Baux. Tomorrow. I’ve wanted to see the exhibit. I’d meant to ask you earlier.”
“Really?” she said skeptically.
“We can make a day of it. Have some lunch in Saint-Rémy?”
“Why are you doing this? Are you thinking this is a competition too? I’m not a prize to be won.”
“I know you’re not, Janie. And if you’d rather go with him instead, I’ll understand perfectly. It’s just that…”
“Just what?”
“I just wanted to spend some more time with you. That’s all. No fancy explanation. Just be with you.”
Reggie’s features softened and she grazed his arm with her hand. “Well, how can I turn you down since you asked so nicely.” She smiled. “It’s a date. Now the critical question is, Vespa or car?”
“It’s a little far for the Vespa, so I think your Renault would work out far better. Let’s say nine o’clock? I’ll walk down to your place.”