16
JAKE
I wake up with a sense of anticipation and a smile on my face and get up from bed to start the day.
"Good morning," I greet her with a smile a few minutes later as she wakes up, stretching and rubbing sleep from her eyes.
She smiles at me. “Look at you. You look like a child with candy. What’s up?”
I step forward, cradling her in my arms. “I’ve got everything I need.”
I kiss her deeply and she tries to pull me back down to bed with her.
“Oh no, you don’t. You need to hurry up and get dressed.” I check my watch. “We leave in an hour.”
“What exactly have you planned?” she asks suspiciously.
“You’re going to find out when we get there.
Just wear something breezy. We'll be out for most of the day."
***
The air outside is crisp, the sun casting a golden glow over the city. Kiera's eyes light up as we approach the grand entrance.
"Jake, the Louvre? Seriously?" she exclaims, a mixture of surprise and delight in her voice.
I nod, taking in the moment. "Seriously. I know how much you love the city, and I thought it would be the perfect start to our day."
“But you were telling me how cheesy the tourist spots are just the other day.”
“Was that me?” I say. “I can’t remember.”
She loops her arm around mine. “Well, thank you. Can we go now?”
We enter the museum, and I watch as Kiera's eyes dart around, absorbing the art and history that surrounds us.
Her eyes light up at the sight of the Mona Lisa, and I can't help but smile at her enthusiasm.
"I can't believe I'm standing in front of it," she whispers, her gaze fixed on the famous painting.
I lean in, my voice low. "It's even more beautiful with you in the frame."
She glances at me, a blush tinging her cheeks, and I revel in the moment.
She takes pictures everywhere we go until she finally points it at me.
“Can we have a picture together?”
“Uh, sure,” I say, walking up to her.
She props the phone up, pointing at us. I look down at her and can’t look away.
I put my arms around her waist and pull her close, making her gasp. Before she can react, I put my lips on hers, kissing her hard. I hear the camera shutter go off.
When I peel back, I realize she is blushing.
“How’s that for our first picture?”
She punches my arm playfully but doesn’t let go of my arm.
“Jake look—” Kiera shrieks excitedly, pointing at the distance.
I squint and realize she’s gesturing to a shiny red bus with an open deck.
“Is that one of those hop-on, hop-off tourist things?”
“Yes, I want to try it!”
“Are you sure?” I say. “The car would be more comfortable.”
“Jake please, I want to feel like a proper tourist.”
I chuckle. “I was going to take you to all the spots anyway.”
“But it’s way more fun this way!”
I shake my head. “Okay, let’s go. As you wish.”
Reluctantly, I follow her onto the nearby tour bus, the open roof offering a panoramic view of the city.
As we settle into our seats, Kiera leans over to me, her excitement bubbling over. "Isn't this amazing, Jake? We get to see so much of the city in one go!"
I nod, unable to suppress a grin at her enthusiasm, enjoying the experience’s novelty more than I expected. "It's pretty cool."
The sun is shining, and the breeze carries the promise of adventure as the bus sets off. It’s like looking at the world from a different perspective.
I have to admit, I'm not usually one for touristy activities, but there's something about the way Kiera's eyes light up that makes it impossible to resist.
We ride the bus and hop off and on a few times before I gently tell her. “I’ve something else planned.”
She looks curious. “What is it?”
“Definitely not as touristy as this, but I think you’ll like it.”
“But, Jake—”
“Kiera, trust me. You’ll love it,” I say, gently squeezing her arm. “Besides, we have another full week here, I promise we’ll go again, okay?”
“Promise?”
“Yes, I promise.” I kiss the tip of her nose, and she giggles.
We make our way back to my car. The ride is quieter this time.
We drive out of the city, the urban landscape giving way to rolling hills and vineyards.
As we pull up to the entrance, she takes off her shades, and her eyes widen. "Is that a vineyard?" Her voice is tinged with surprise.
I nod. "Yep. I thought we could take a break from the city and enjoy different scenery."
“Do you own this place as well?”
“No, but an old friend does, and let’s just say that she owes me a favor.”
“Okay,” she says. The giant doors open to let us in.
“If we’re lucky, we might be able to see her,” I say. “You’ll love her. She’s a lot like you, actually.”
“Really?” Kiera replies drily.
I nod distractedly as I park my car before I go over to the other side to help her with her door.
The air is infused with the earthy aroma of grapevines. Rows of neatly aligned vines stretch out before us, their leaves rustling in the gentle breeze. The late afternoon sun casts a warm glow over the landscape, creating a picturesque scene that seems lifted from a postcard.
As we walk down the vineyard, the assistant manager, a friendly woman greets us. "Welcome! I'm Genevieve, and I'll be giving you a tour of our vineyard today."
Kiera beams at her. "Thank you! This is amazing!"
Genevieve leads us through the rows of vines, explaining the winemaking process and the history of the vineyard.
The vineyard itself is a canvas of green and gold, and after the personalized tour,
we come across a small area set up for tastings. Glasses of a pale, golden liquid are arranged on a wooden table.
"We're currently experimenting with a new blend," Genevieve explains. "Would you like to try it?"
Kiera's eyes light up. "Absolutely!"
As we take our first sips, I watch Kiera's face for her reaction. Her eyes widen, and a smile plays on her lips. "This is amazing," she exclaims, savoring the flavors.
I glance at Genevieve, who looks pleased with our response. "I'm glad you like it."
“It’s really great,” I say. “In fact, I would like to get a few bottles for my team if you’ve started shipping.”
“Sure, I’ll get that packed and ready for you,” she says. “Meanwhile, I’ll show you to our in-house café for a little meal.”
“A meal?” I say, a brow raised.
“Yes, Ms. Hayden specifically requested it for you since she found out you’re visiting. We do not serve in our restaurant currently, so we don’t have a curated menu, but we do have an in-house chef who has whipped up something for you. I hope you enjoy.”
“Really, Lisa did that?”
“She wanted your visit to be memorable."
I glance at Kiera, sharing a bemused smile with her. "Well, she certainly succeeded. This is more than I could have imagined."
Kiera looks up, a thoughtful expression on her face. "So, tell me more about Lisa. How did you meet her?"
I take a sip of the wine before answering. "Lisa was one of my earliest clients. She stumbled upon my work at an art exhibition and reached out. Lisa is someone I've had an excellent relationship with over the years."
Kiera's eyebrows raise. "Really? That's impressive. What does she buy from you?"
"She's bought over fifty pieces from me over the years. Paintings, sculptures, you name it."
Kiera’s eyes widen . "Fifty pieces? That's quite a collection."
I chuckle. "Yes, she has a penchant for my style. It's always a pleasure working with someone who appreciates the art and understands the stories behind each piece."
Kiera smirks playfully. "She must really like your taste."
I nod, a thoughtful expression on my face. "Well, I like to think that she sees the beauty in the stories I tell through my art. It's more about shared appreciation than just taste."
“Well, you’re really good at what you do.”
I take her palm in mine and give it a little kiss. “I guess we have that in common.”
She squeals as I whirl her around before quickly grabbing her and leaning in for a kiss. It’s the perfect day.
***
As we pull up to the mansion, the night has settled in, casting a serene hush over the sprawling estate.
Its grandeur is accentuated by the surrounding gardens, where carefully manicured paths wind through lush greenery.
I step out of the car and walk around to Kiera's side, a mischievous glint in my eyes. “I’m beat.”
She looks up. “Wait, what’s that look?”
“There’s more.”
She groans. “Jake, I’m full.”
I tug her toward the garden. “We have room for dessert and wine. Just like how the French do it.”
I lead her into the garden, and Kiera lets out the biggest gasp.
My staff has set up a cozy table at the bottom of a large sycamore tree with candlelight and a table.
“Oh, my God, this is incredible.”
“The breakfast the other day gave me the idea.”
She kisses me on the cheek as I lead her to the table.
"You know, Jake?
I regret all the time we had to be apart, and that was all because of me. What could have been if I had just let you explain that night?”
"You thought I had broken your trust. I should've fought harder to make you listen. I should've given you the chance to understand."
Kiera sighs, her fingers absently tracing the rim of her wine glass. "We were both young and impulsive. I regret not letting you explain, but at the same time, I wonder if we would be where we are now if things had played out differently."
"Maybe. Our history shapes us in ways we don’t understand,” I say. “I know you’re worried about our lost time, but we don’t have to look at it that way. We aren’t the same people we were five years ago. We both had a lot of growing up to do, and here we are now.”
I reach for her hand, a silent reassurance. "We have time, Kiera. Let's take it one step at a time. This doesn’t end here in Paris. I promise you that."
She ducks her head, blushing.
“What?”
“Nothing, I just—it’s all so overwhelming.”
I squeeze her hand. “It doesn’t have to be. Let’s just start with getting to know each other again.”
“I’m Kiera,” she says, holding out her hand.
I chuckle.
She nudges me. “Come on.”
“Okay, fine, I’m Jacob Bennett. We met during lunch.”
She smiles. “I remember.
So, tell me about yourself, Jake.”
“You know everything about me.” I shrug.
Kiera blushes. “Not everything. I’ve missed out on a lot. Fill me in.”
“I focused on getting my degree and building my career. Had a stint in Paris, traveled a bit, and collected recommendations for setting up my client base, you know, the usual stuff. I’m incredibly grateful for my grandpa’s connections, which helped me land on my feet quickly."
“Okay, enough of that. Give me the juicy stuff.” She leans forward.
“The juicy stuff?”
“What about relationships?”
"I had a college girlfriend," I admit. "Things were good until, well, she cheated on me. That was a tough one."
Kiera's expression softens. "I'm sorry to hear that, Jake.
It’s not like I’ve had much luck in relationships either.”
“Bad breakup?”
She winces. “You might say so.”
“His loss is my gain.”
“It should have taught me a valuable lesson not to get involved with a colleague, and yet here we are.”
I know she’s only teasing, but I shake my head. “You know it isn’t like that between us. We were friends long before you came to work for me. I never stopped thinking of you as one.”
“Oh.”
To my surprise and horror, tears gather in the corner of her eyes.
“I didn’t mean to upset you.”
She leans in, hugging me tightly. “You didn’t. I’m so glad you’re here.”
Our foreheads touch, and we look into each other’s eyes.
The air is filled with the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers as I sweep her off her feet, lifting her effortlessly into my arms. She giggles, her laughter echoing in the quiet night.
I carry her toward the grand entrance of the mansion. I smile, adjusting my hold on her.
Without a word, I lean in, capturing her lips in a lingering kiss. The world around us fades away as she kisses me back.
As the kiss deepens, I slowly begin to lower her, savoring it.
Her body slides down mine, the sensation of every inch of her coming in contact with me sending a shiver down my spine. Our kiss remains uninterrupted, her body rocking against mine.
I harden against her as she continues to sway side to side, her fingers sinking into my hair as she deepens the kiss.
My lips eventually kiss down her cheek and neck before I reach between our bodies to caress between her thighs softly, lifting her dress partially so I have easier access to her.
I crush my chest to her breasts as I slightly tilt her mouth toward me to deepen the kiss.
I trace a gentle path with my fingers along her cheek. “Kiera,” I murmur.
"Jake."
Her hands find their way to my shirt, fingers deftly working on each button, one by one, exposing the expanse of skin beneath.
I reciprocate, slowly unzipping her dress.
She shudders as my hands seek the warmth of her skin beneath. She clings to me as I finally get to the bottom of the zipper before I slowly peel the dress off her shoulder.
I softly kiss her on each shoulder.
Her eyes close, her arms clinging to me as if I’m her harbor in a storm. She melts into me as I continue to kiss down her exposed skin.
The dress eventually falls to the ground on a heap around her until that remains is a pair of matching panties and a lacy bra.
I trace my finger around her areola, seeking her nipple.
“Please,” she begs.
“I want you.”
I pick her up in my arms again, her legs wrapping on either side of my hips as I slowly carry her up toward my room.