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Laht dropping to the sidewalks below Over Si and lean, sli, wide shoulders For ahis narroaist as he moved over entle I actually wrap ers around the table to steadyhis steps when he seeskiss on each of my cheeks Da expression, he pulls back just long enough to grin before kissing ain, this time on the mouth

"You’re off early," I murmur into another kiss

"I find it harder to work late these days," he says with a little s

"Can I take you to dinner?" he asks, pulling ers with mine

"Hi," Simone says, acco on the sidewalk, and finally, he looks over to her

"I’ives her the customary kiss on each cheek, and I’m more than a little pleased to see her crestfallen expression when he pulls quickly away

"Ansel is my husband," I add, rewarded by a sht up and down Rue St-Honoré "This is Simone"

"Husband," she repeats, and blinks quickly as if she’s seeing me for the first time Her eyeshim up and down She’s clearly i over her shoulder, before saying so a "well done" in o

"She’s not, really," I say with a laugh "But soht be now"

AFTER ONLY A few blocks of walking in companionable silence, we turn down a street that is cramped even by Paris standards Like hborhood, the storefront is narrow and unassuh to accommodate a nest of four wooden tables out front and sheltered by a large brown and orange awning above, the word Ripaille written across it It’s all cream-colored panels and chalkboards scribbled with the day’s specials, and long, thin s that throw flickering shadows onto the cobbled streets just outside

Ansel holds the door open and I follow hireeted by a tall, rail-thins ofdark and delicious I can’t immediately identify A handful of sle roo for a stack of menus

"Oui," I say, and catch Ansel’s proud smile, deep dimple present and accounted for We’re led to a table near the back and Ansel waits for rasp of two of theI’m fluent, the waiter launches into the specials of the day Ansel catches ive a small, barely perceptible shake of my head, more than happy to listen while he explains it to me later Ansel asks hi if listening to hiesture with his hands, or, hell, do just about anything will ever stop being ranked up there with sos I’ve ever seen