Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Anna
I threw myself on the king-size bed and called Franco.
“I’ve been waiting for you to call,” he answered. “How’s Paris?”
“Beautiful as always. How’s my dad?”
“Shouldn’t you be asking how your ex-fiancé is?”
“I’m sure he’s heartbroken, and I really don’t care.”
“Well, your dad is pissed as hell, and your step-monster mommy wasn’t happy about it either. As for Matthew, he called you every name in the book. He said you humiliated him and that he won’t take you back when you realize you made a mistake and come back crawling on your hands and knees, begging for his forgiveness.”
“Ha.” I laughed. “I’m not going back. Speaking of which, are you at my apartment?”
“I am. I’m packing the rest of your clothes up now.”
“Thank you. I’ll call the movers tomorrow and have them put my furniture in storage and bring the rest of my things to New York. I just couldn’t do it, Franco, and when I saw him standing there, everything became so clear.”
“I know, but damn, you looked good running away in that dress. By the way, Terrance dropped off the dress.”
“Good. I’m sorry you have to drag that all the way to New York.”
“It’s not a problem, my dear. I’ll ensure I have everything ready for you when you arrive.”
“Thanks, Franco. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
I ended the call and changed my clothes for dinner. As tired as I was, my belly wouldn’t stop growling. I headed over to L’Oiseau Blanc up on the rooftop, and when I arrived, they were packed.
“Bonjour. May I help you?” a cute blonde hostess asked.
“I was hoping to get a table for dinner.”
“Do you have a reservation?”
“No. I just flew in.”
“I’m so sorry, but we are completely booked, and as you can see, we’re full.”
“She’s with me.” The handsome man from behind smiled.
“Oh, look. I’m with him.” I grinned at the hostess.
He held out his arm and led me to his table, where he graciously pulled a chair out for me.
“Thank you. How did you know I was over there?” I asked.
“I was on my way back from the restroom, and I saw you. I also heard the hostess tell you the restaurant is full, so I took it upon myself to invite you to sit with me.” He smiled.
“Wow. First, you invited me to stay in your suite and now dinner. Either you’re a one-in-a-million gentleman or trying to get me into bed.”
“I won’t lie. My bed would be a lot warmer with you in it.” He winked.
I gulped as my belly fluttered, and an overwhelming sensation hit me down below. Shit. This man was intense.
“Wine?” he asked as he held up the bottle that was sitting on the table.
“Oh God, no.” I quickly grabbed the glass before he could pour it. “If you don’t mind, I’d like a neat martini.”
“Of course.” He signaled for our waitress. “So what is a beautiful woman like yourself doing in Paris alone?”
“How do you know I’m alone?” I playfully smirked as the waitress delivered my martini.
“Well, you were entering your room alone and said YOU just flew in. All that led me to believe you’re here alone.”
I sighed as I took a sip of my drink.
“I am here alone, and before I get into the gory personal details of why, I really should know your name. I don’t like airing my dirty laundry to total strangers.”
“I’m Westin, but you can call me Wes.” He extended his hand across the table.
“And I’m Anna. You can call me Anna. Not Ann or Annie. Just Anna.” I placed my hand in his and felt a thousand volts of electricity run through me.
Damn.
“So, Anna, now that we’re not strangers anymore, feel free to air your dirty laundry.” A smirk crossed his lips.
“I’m on my honeymoon.” I finished off my drink.
He sat across the table and studied me, slowly narrowing his eyes.
“You’re on your honeymoon alone?”
“Yes. I’ll have another neat martini.” I held up my glass. “I’m a really bad person, Wes. In fact, you probably don’t even want to associate with me. I got halfway down the aisle, looked at him, turned around, ran as fast as I could, climbed into the limo parked outside the hotel, and had the driver take me to the airport.”
“You’re serious, aren’t you?” His brow arched.
“I’m afraid so.” I slowly nodded.
“Why?”
“It’s a long and complicated story that I don’t want to bore you with. So the shortened version is that my father wanted me to marry him, and I just couldn’t do it.”
“I see. Were you not in love with the poor guy you left standing at the altar?”
“No. I wasn’t, and I wasn’t happy. Like I said, it’s a long, boring, and complicated story. I really don’t want to waste our dinner time talking about it. I’m a bad person and I’m sure karma will get me big time for what I did.”
“Don’t be hard on yourself, Anna. You had to do what was best for you. Have you spoken to him at all since you ran away?”
“No. But my father has been blowing up my phone, and I haven’t answered him yet.”
“Don’t you think you should? I’m sure he’s worried sick about you.”
“I will.” I lightly smiled. “On my own time. This isn’t new to him, so I can guarantee you that he’s not worried. More pissed off is like it.”
“Am I to assume you’ve done this sort of thing before?”
“Ditch a man at the altar?” I laughed. “No, but I’m a little on the defiant side. So, on to you. I’m assuming you’re here on business since you’re staying in this hotel by yourself?”
“I am. In fact, I catch a flight home tomorrow.”
“And where’s that? Wait.” I put up my hand. “Don’t tell me. I don’t want to know. This will be a memory for me.”
“And what memory is that?” The corners of his mouth curved upwards before taking a sip of his drink.
“Meeting a nice man I know nothing about in Paris who offered me to stay in his suite and have dinner with him when I couldn’t get a table.”
He let out a chuckle.
“Okay, then. The same goes for me. You are the nice woman I met who left her fiancé at the altar, flew to Paris alone for her honeymoon, and was kind enough to let me buy her dinner.” He gave me a wink, and I tightened my legs.