Chapter 12
Chapter 12
“ W hen did you become so cultured?” Emily asked, as she stood before the Louvre Palace, home of the famed museum.
It was a formidable building, which had originally been built as a fortress. Then there was the iconic modern glass pyramids which marked the main entrance.
“I have to get a photo of this,” she commented, slightly in awe.
Patrick waylaid a passerby, the gist of the conversation Emily was just able to get. They spoke so quickly in French it was hard to get to grips with what he was saying, but she figured he was asking the gentleman to take their photograph.
He took her phone and passed it to the other man, before coming to stand behind Emily and hugging her from behind. It was strange having his arms wrapped around her again, but so warm and familiar too. He lowered his cheek beside hers and she dared a glance, marking the hue along his jaw. Suddenly she heard a snap, and realised the man had taken the photo.
“Another,” Patrick requested in French, as he turned to meet her eyes. He smiled at her, a wide smile she knew matched her own, as she folded her arms over his and kept his gaze.
“Did I tell you how beautiful you look today?” he asked, as the phone snapped again.
“No,” Emily replied softly.
His smile grew, his eyes boring deep into hers. “You look beautiful, Emily.” He tucked her hair behind her ear as the phone snapped again.
Then the man moved to hand back the phone and just like that the spell was broken and Emily was brought, heart racing back to her surroundings.
When Patrick returned to her side she was still trying to get her heart to slow. “Shall we go in?” she asked, eager to distract herself from the thundering in her chest.
“Of course,” he said, handing her phone back to her.
They started their tour in Egyptian Antiquities, where she took several shots beside the Great Sphinx of Tanis,
“It’s like I’ve gone to Paris and Egypt all in one day,” she commented as she admired the beautifully crafted sculpture, which like its Giza counterpart was missing a nose. “Could you imagine that anyone could craft such a thing?” she continued in wonder, a soft chuckle drawing her attention. “What?” she asked, turning to Patrick, who was blocking his mouth with his hand as he laughed.
“The look on your face,” he replied. “You’re like a child on a first trip to DisneyLand.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“Not in my book.”
“Then shall we continue?”
“Lead the way,” Patrick encouraged, falling in step behind her, making her stomach flip once more. She knew he was watching her, she could feel his gaze upon her and had to fight the urge to look back at him.
Her efforts failed however, and when she dared to half turn to see if she was right, she was met by those beautiful hazel eyes, staring intently at her with a mischievous smile on his face.
“See something you like?” she mustered the courage to ask.
“You know I do,” he replied coolly. “The real question is, do you?”