Chapter 13
JULIUS
We reach Toulouse late in the afternoon, and as we park up, I stare with interest at the bustling town. It’s important to blend in, and as we step out onto the streets, I take Rose’s hand and wink.
“Come on, Mrs. Sullivan. Let’s get you a wedding band.”
Her eyes widen. “Okay.”
If anything, her easy acceptance surprises me, and she grins, melting a little piece of my rotten heart.
She jerks her head toward a fine jewelers nearby.
“What about in there?”
I nod, tugging her toward the door, and as we step inside, the noise is left behind as the door closes on a place steeped in luxury.
“Bonjour.”
The lady who greets us is effortlessly chic, and I’m surprised when Rose addresses her in fluent French. I stand beside her in shock as they chatter and laugh in a language I don’t understand a word of.
When they finish, the woman heads to a counter, and Rose whispers, “I explained that we want a simple wedding band because I lost mine on our journey. We merely require a cheap replacement until we head home and replace the original with a duplicate one where we bought it.”
“Cheap?” I raise my eyes. “Tell her we require the most expensive ring she has.”
“No, Julius.” Rose shakes her head. “We must not draw attention to ourselves, and a cheap ring is the start of that.”
The woman returns with a tray, and as Rose selects a simple band, they chatter away in the strange language.
She tries several on and then turns to me, her eyes flashing with excitement.
“What do you think of this one, honey?”
The amusement sparkling in her eyes does little to deter my heart from leaping at her endearment, and I’m surprised how much I like it.
“Whatever you want, baby. Always.” I wink, and as she turns to the woman I attempt to gather my wits about me.
What is happening to me? I’m trailing after Rose like a high school punk desperate for his first lay.
I’m not that man. I don’t tread carefully around women and definitely don’t try to impress them.
But Rose, well, she’s different and for now I allow her to take control because it’s obvious she knows a lot more about communicating with the locals than I ever will.
I pay the price and, as expected, the credit card transaction goes through without a hitch, and as we walk into the darkening light outside, Rose holds her finger up in front of her and admires the ring.
“It’s strange wearing this.”
“It’s a ring.” I shrug dismissively, and she sighs.
“Yes, it’s, um, well, just a ring.”
I spy a bistro nearby. “We could eat there after we get the rest of our possessions.”
“There’s a department store across the street. That should do.”
Once again, I follow her, and soon we are clutching several shopping bags filled with various items to get us through the next few days.
As we take our seats in the pleasant bistro, I note the light glistening in Rose’s eyes and the flush of excitement staining her cheeks.
“I haven’t had so much fun in, well, ever.”
“Shopping does that for a woman.”
I grin, and if anything, her face falls.
“What?”
“It’s nothing.”
She turns her attention to the menu, and I whip it away, causing her to stare at me in shock. The waiter stops by our table and, without breaking eye contact with Rose, I ask for a starter, main and dessert of his choice, alongside a bottle of still and sparkling water.
When he leaves, I waste no time.
“Tell me what changed that smile into a frown.”
She sighs. “I guess I’m missing my sisters. I never realized how far they are woven into my life. When you spoke about shopping, it conjured up images of times with them.”
“That’s understandable. They may be missing from your life now, but it doesn’t mean they won’t play an important role in your future. You haven’t lost them.”
“I guess, but these are uncertain times, Julius. I mean, I could have been living a very different life by now if you hadn’t rescued me.”
She pulls a face. “Then there are my sisters. I’m worried about them. They will face the same obstacles and may not be as lucky as I am.”
“Lucky?” I raise my eyes, and her smile catches on my heart.
“I consider myself lucky to have you watching out for me.”
Images of how unlucky she is fill my mind because if she knew what I am capable of, that soft expression would be replaced with one of disgust pretty damn fast.
She carries on with a slump to her shoulders. “What if they decide to leave and I decide to stay? I can’t even communicate with them. I would hate being locked away while they continue life without me.”
“Then opt to leave.”
“But they may opt to remain in the convent.”
I shake my head and fix her with a hard glare, causing her to shrink back in her seat.
“You are overthinking this, Rose. You have only been out for one day and already the doubts are messing with your mind. Contact with your sisters can be arranged. Hell, everything can be arranged, and whatever you want, you will get.”
“You mean I can speak with my sisters.”
Hope flares in her, and I nod. “But not until we are in a safe place.”
“Safe?” Her eyes widen.
“We are ducking under the radar, baby girl, and you must learn what that involves. Enjoy the experience because I’m guessing by the end of it you will be as addicted to life as I am.”
I grin, and she laughs softly. “I’m glad I met you, Julius.”
“And I’m glad I met you too, Rose, but for the purpose of subterfuge, you really should begin by calling me Nathan.”
I reference my fake name, and she giggles as I add, “So, Phoebe, are you hungry? Because I could eat a bear.”
“Starving, um, Nathan.”
She holds my gaze a second too long, and I detect the flush to her cheeks and the sparkle in her eyes, and I’m guessing a decent man may not be as exciting now she has met me.