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"Oh?"

"Sleep with her"

CHAPTER 6

It was an incredibly busy day

One ridiculousafter another

It was nearly two o’clock, and Ann had not had time for so much as a cup of coffee

At two, she dropped the sheets of rabbed her purse, andfor coffee I don’t care who calls I have to have a break"

"Of course--I will fend off all de, and loyal to her boss, declared with the strength of a lion

Ann sround level, then outside and across the street She walked to the counter of the little cafe and ordered coffee and a croissant, though it was late and only one was left, and it was probably stale The wo her everything at the sa with her wallet for her money She was startled when athe coffee and the croissant

"Merci," she murmured

She was startled when he answered with an accented, "de rien" She glanced at hi

He was tall, blond and handso smile Her hand froze in her purse

"You looked as if you needed a little help," he said in English "I’lish very well," she said with a smile "And thank you, thank you very much" The woman behind the counter cleared her throat impatiently Ann shoved francs into her hand, then accepted the coffee and croissant from the American

"That’s my table--there There are no more empty Perhaps you’ll join me" She had intended to take her coffee and croissant back to the office No longer Now, she was going to take her full ten minutes Maybe fifteen

"Thank you"

He pulled the chair out for her She sat, extended a hand to hi your table"

"Rick Rick Beaudreau My pleasure, mademoiselle I’uess I’ thereand "

"I’m not married," Ann told hih your name is French"

"I’m Cajun," he told her "From New Orleans"

"Ah"

"Please, enjoy your croissant" He indicated the food she hadn’t touched She nibbled a bite She’d been starving And now

His s blue eyes ith his blond hair She hadn’t e of temper For a moment, it included all men Well, this one was just a tourist But he was nice, and attentive And very appealing

"I’m not married either," he told her

"You’re on vacation--I assu process, you could say"

"Oh?"

"I’ve been in Europe quite a while In fact," he said ruefully, "my French should be much better I was in an accident a while back A terrible fire I’" He leaned toward her

"Paris seeht now I came tolook up some people But nowwell, I think I was just maybe called to be here for much more"

His appreciation of her was definitely a line But a good one And he was polite, his admiration in his eyes, and in his tone

"You’re very flattering," she said, forcing her tone to be dry She was French after all, and not in the least naive

"But truthfully," he said, "you’re just--beautiful"

She laughed "Thank you"

"Truly,with a wry sot to go-- I’m afraid I’m not on vacation But it was lovely toher hand

She glanced down He had great hands Big Slightly calloused She could iine

"Sometimes" She didn’t want to pull her hand away She wanted to linger She sighed inwardly She had to get back to work She grinned suddenly, forcing herself to extricate her hand "I go out at night soht Withto a place called La Guerre"

With those last words, she pulled away, hurried out

Though she was tempted to do so, she didn’t look back Her cheeks, she realized, were fla

So much for her sense of sophistication I No, she would not look back, and she would force the flush from her face

He knehere she would be If he was interested, he would be there