“You can do that, just flit around the globe whenever you choose?”
“It takes some planning to work around my concert schedule, but yes, I can. We can.”
Darcy wiped her hands on her napkin and sat back. “And if Interpol has another request?”
“They contacted me because Vaughn was a music lover. I doubt my particular talents will be needed again anytime soon.”
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
“This operation was a nightmare, so let’s not argue about what I may or may not do in the distant future.”
“All right, but I’m sorry not to have been more help.”
Griffin reached across the table to catch her hand and gave her fingers a loving squeeze. “You saved my life, Darcy. I was running out of excuses to lure Vaughn away from Astrid, but I didn’t expect him to draw a gun. That was obviously poor planning on my part, but you not only drew his attention, you kicked his legs right out from under him. Then if you hadn’t yelled a warning, I’d be going home in a pine box. I ought to request a medal for you.”
“Don’t bother. If I can’t brag about how I won it, there’s no point in owning one.”
“True, but still you deserve one. Vaughn didn’t anticipate your being so damn fierce. Thank God, I did. That’s what I told you on the plane, wasn’t it? That I love your spirit most?”
“No, you fell asleep before you completed the thought.” She glanced toward a nearby couple who was leaning close to carry on an animated conversation in French. She couldn’t understand a word of their exchange, but their teasing smiles made it plain they were lovers. She took a sip of Perrier. “Won’t we have to give statements to someone?”
“No, Lucien handled it.” Griffin watched her attention wander around the dimly lit café. She’d suddenly become vitally interested in everything, it seemed, except him.
“I didn’t mean to spook you,” he apologized. “I’ll be patient. Maybe I’ll grow on you.”
“If you hadn’t grown on me, I’d not have sweet talked you into bed. I’m not in Paris just to see the sights either.”
“There, that’s what I mean,” he teased. “It doesn’t take much to get your back up.”
“And you actually find that appealing?” she asked incredulously.
“Oh hell, yes.” He leaned toward her. “When I turned sixteen, my mother sat me down and told me that I was not only a good-looking kid, but bright and talented as well. She warned that everything would come to me so easily, I’d probably not appreciate it. She was especially adamant that I not take advantage of the women who’d be drawn to me.”
“Isn’t that the type of talk a father usually has with his son?”
“I’ve no idea, is it? My dad was probably in court pulling some poor kid’s ass out of the fire. But regardless of who gave me that particular bit of advice, I remember the main point, which was if I expected everything to just naturally come my way, I’d never learn how to go after what I wanted on my own.”
Darcy nodded thoughtfully. “Your mother’s a wise woman, but hasn’t it occurred to you that being the chick magnet you are, you might be overly susceptible to a challenge?”
Highly amused, Griffin tried not to laugh. “I’ve never thought of myself as a magnet for anything other than lint, but you’re a lot more than a challenge, Darcy. You’re a very exciting woman.”
“Yeah, all the hot chicks go to work in overalls.”
His gaze brightened. “Don’t discount what you wear underneath.”
What she couldn’t discount was that she was no different from all the other women who’d adored him on sight. She’d just hidden it better than most to avoid being totally humiliated when her chances with him were slim to none. She’d never confess how easily he had gotten to her before he had spoken a single word.
“Every time I try to talk about us, you get awfully quiet, Darcy. That worries me. Do you want to spend the rest of your life alone?”
“No, but we don’t always get what we want, do we?”
The waiter arrived with their entrees, and Griffin let her end the conversation for the moment, but he was determined to wring at least one word of affection from her before they flew home.
His lamb chops were so good he wished he’d asked for a double order, while Darcy was merely picking at her curried chicken. “You mentioned avoiding red meat. Do you eat lamb?” he asked.
“No, they’re much too cute.”
“They’re also delicious. How about pork?”