The Promise of Provence (Love in Provence Book 1) (34 page)

Katherine chuckled.

Molly continued with a gleam in her eye, “But, if I were you, I’d be getting to know Monsieur Philippe better,
ooh la
fuckin’
la
, he seems like a sweetheart. The strong, silent type. And those eyes. He had me at
enchanté
.”

“Oh, Molly, who makes me laugh more than you?”

Tearful good-byes were said, and after waving until Molly disappeared from sight, Katherine took the shuttle from the airport to the train station to go home alone.

42

Strolling back to the old town from the station, Katherine decided to swing by the market and invite Philippe over after he closed up shop. He had been quiet at dinner the previous evening. With Nick and Graham in top gear, it was hard to get a word in edgewise.

He smiled shyly as she waved, walking up the aisle to his stand.

“I’m on my way home from the airport. Would you like to come by for lunch when you are finished today?”

“I would like that. I should be there by two p.m., and I know Maison Beau Soleil. The Browns are good customers.”

Turning the key in the lock, Katherine entered slowly. The house felt quiet and empty after the nonstop energy of the previous ten days.

As she climbed the stairs to her room, she paused in what had been Molly’s bedroom and smiled.

Taking the last few stairs two at a time, Katherine was surprised to discover a gift bag sitting on her bed.

That Molly. She snuck up here just before we left!

Sitting on the bed, Katherine pulled the tissue paper from the bag to find another wrapped item and three books tied together with a ribbon. Taking the books out of the bag, Katherine laughed out loud.

Fifty Shades of Grey
. She and Molly had seen these books at the airport bookstore when they were leaving Toronto. They had a hilarious conversation about them, and Molly told her they were selling like hotcakes everywhere. Apparently, while they weren’t literary masterpieces, they were very juicy female erotica. When the heck had she purchased them? Molly had suggested she should read them, and Kat told her she was not the least bit interested. Typically, Molly ignored her opinion.

Unwrapping the other gift, Kat dropped it back into the bag and fell backward on her bed, shaking with laughter.

Oh, Molly! Only you.
A vibrator? Those books?

She opened the note card.

Lying on the bed for several minutes, Molly’s note in her hand, Katherine sensed that her crazy friend might have a point. Maybe a fling was just what she needed. She just as quickly dismissed the thought.

I’m a long way away from believing that.

Taking a pitcher of water from the sink in her room and picking up her Kindle, she settled on the roof terrace and watched the surf breaking against the rocky outcropping past the beach. The rhythm of the waves was hypnotizing, and she could feel the comfort it offered on this calm
day. Contemplating the reality of how she might spend her days during the next three months, Katherine knew she wanted a plan with some structure.

She also became suddenly aware that she had just invited a man to lunch with her alone, something she had not done for thirty years.

Focus on the waves, the comfort, the calm . . .

When he arrived at her door, Philippe had a paper-wrapped wedge of cheese in one hand and a chilled bottle in the other. “Brie de Meaux is an ancient cheese dating back to the sixth century and apparently Louis XVI’s last wish was for a taste of this. I thought I would introduce you to one of France’s oldest and most popular cheeses—and here’s a bottle of champagne, which is the perfect accompaniment. We need to celebrate our reunion!”

Katherine blanched at the thought of champagne, hoping it wasn’t noticeable.
I thought I was over that
, she told herself, as a lingering unpleasant memory resurrected itself.

She handed Philippe a corkscrew.

Looking at her with a quizzical expression when she hesitated as he handed her a glass of the bubbly, he asked if everything was all right.

“Someday I may explain,” Katherine said.

Just as he had been in Provence, Philippe was good company—quiet but interesting—and Katherine was happy to have him all to herself. She felt nervous, but not overly.

All was well in Sainte-Mathilde, he told her. Joy was busy as usual and thrilled to hear Katherine was in Antibes when Philippe called to tell her. François had rented his flat in Paris and moved to his simple
home just outside the village.

“Pico is thriving but misses you,” Philippe said with a twinkle in his eye.

“I miss him terribly too. I still cannot get over how attached I became to him in such a short time.”

“Dogs can do that to you. They steal your heart before you know it.”

“I’m planning to go up to see everyone once I have my life organized here.”

“Joy is hoping you will do that. She was sad you did not tell her you were coming back to France.”

Katherine explained she had planned to contact her once she was settled and that since Molly flew over with her, she had not been in touch with anyone.

“My goal is to take care of all that this week, now that I have some time on my hands. My first task is to buy a bike.”

“Well, you are talking to the right person for that,” he told her with a wide grin. “There are several excellent bike shops all along the coast, and I will be happy to introduce you to them and tell you which one is my favorite.”

“That would be wonderful—thanks!”

“They will treat you well, and their prices are fair. You can join my cycling club, if you wish.”

Katherine was pleased at the thought.
Check that off my to-do list.

She put her hand over her glass as Philippe moved to refill it. “No more for me, thanks. You were right, though, it does go well with this Brie. Nick told me you have provided him with the best education about cheese,” she said. “Do you think I could sign up for some lessons too?”

Philippe chuckled and assured her it would be his pleasure. “It may sound odd to some, but I have to tell you, I have a passion for cheese—for the tastes, the history, the process, the pleasure it offers. Like a fine wine, cheese can be very seductive.”

Katherine heard something in his voice, saw it in his eyes, and thought,
There we are again, pleasure and seduction.

Katherine shopped at the market almost daily. Two mornings a week, a half hour before it officially opened, she sat with Philippe behind his counter as he offered tastes, explanations, history, one type of cheese at a time. Some mornings Nick joined them.

On Wednesdays, she took the train into Nice and wandered through the Cours Saleya market before meeting up with a group of women from the International Women’s Club.

Mirella had sent her an e-mail introducing her to a friend who was a member, and Kat was immediately welcomed into the organization that consisted of many expats as well as locals. She signed up for the Wednesday hiking group, women who also practiced their French at the same time. Through them she discovered a number of women in the Antibes area who had started a beginner’s bridge group in Juan-les-Pins. A local bus took her right to the street. That took care of Monday evenings.

Tuesday evenings and Sundays, the cycling group had organized rides.

It seemed she quickly had a plan with structure, and as August was ending she realized that she had not missed her job for a moment. She thought often about her colleagues. Susan Henderson, Lucy, and Laura all sent e-mails keeping her updated.

The office had closed with less emotion than everyone had anticipated. Dr. H. was enjoying retirement and busier than ever. Lucy and Laura were happy with their new positions.

Life goes on, and mine is unfolding in a different way every day.

43

Nick had become attentive and a regular presence in her life after Graham and Molly left. He had a lot of friends in town, most of them younger, and could frequently be found at the Blue Lady Pub, which drew the sailing crowd and many English-speaking regulars. It was a happening place, with lively conversation and mingling, not the sort of place in which Katherine was accustomed to spending much time. She was surprised to discover how much fun she had. She was even more surprised to discover that she could be fun in that setting.

Kat straightened up the kitchen one night as she waited for Nick to pick her up for dinner. She gasped when she opened the door to see him holding an enormous bouquet of pink roses.

Her immediate reaction was to shut the door in a panic. She stood there mute as she pulled herself together. Nick must have assumed she was speechless with pleasure.

“Hey! Beautiful roses for a beautiful woman.”

Accepting them in spite of the sick feeling in her stomach, she invited him in and poured them each a glass of wine.

Taking the flowers to the sink, she filled a vase. As she trimmed each one and placed it in the water, she spoke with her back to Nick.

“These are gorgeous flowers. Thank you. But I feel I need to make something clear between us. Forgive me if I am reading something into this that isn’t there.”

She felt his hand on her shoulder as he came to her side and turned her to face him.

“You are reading something into this, and it is there,” he said, his eyes searching hers.

Katherine swallowed hard. “You are a fine man, and I enjoy your company very much . . .”

“Ah, here comes the ‘but.
’
”

“Yes, but the ‘but’ is my issue, not yours. We haven’t talked about my situation, and it’s complicated—for me, anyway. All you know is that I’m fairly recently divorced.”

He nodded, took her hand, and led her over to the couch. “Let’s sit down and talk about this then.”

“I’m not going into all the sordid details, but my husband left me suddenly, without any warning. Not quite a year ago. I can’t tell you how painful it was for me. Debilitating at first.”

Nick put his hand to her cheek sympathetically. Katherine gently moved it.

“I’m still damaged, and I’m trying to put everything in perspective. I’m not ready for any romantic involvement.”

Nick put his fingers to her lips. “Shhh. It’s okay. Say no more.”

Katherine continued. “While Molly and Graham were here, we all had
great fun together. You’re a kind, thoughtful, and very handsome man—”

Nick made a face and waved away her words, but she persisted. “Don’t argue. You are! I know there are many women who would be thrilled to have a relationship with you, but I can’t. I’m just not ready. And I don’t want you to waste your time.”

She blew out a big sigh, blinked hard, and looked directly at Nick.

Taking her hand again, he said, “We’re not kids. I understand, sort of. My divorce was very different. It was long and slow and a big relief to both of us when we finally agreed there was nothing left between us. I buried myself in my work and had fling after fling. It was quite a bloody good time!”

The look of pleasure on his face and his booming laughter made Katherine smile in spite of herself.

“I like you a lot, Katherine Price. I think we are a good fit in many ways, but I also understand what you’re saying. We still have a lot to learn about each other.”

Katherine nodded.

“I would love to continue seeing you. No pressure. Let’s keep doing what we’ve been doing, and I will attempt to keep my hands off you.” He laughed again and pulled her into his arms in a friendly way, giving her a quick squeeze before he let her go. “No worries, mate! I’m good with it, for now anyway, and we shall see what we shall see. How’s that?”

“That’s great, Nick. Thanks for understanding.”

“All right, let’s go get some grub. I checked the catch of the day at Le Don Juan and it sounds de-e-e-vine! I’m starving because the cleaning crew was on the boat today and I can never stay out of it. I’ve been polishing and shining all bloody day.”

Katherine was glad she had cleared things up. They continued to have the odd night out and some beautiful days on the boat, always with a group of his friends. She wondered if he was avoiding being alone with her, and she was cool with that. Relieved, actually.