The Paris Roommates: Kyle & Madison (The Paris Roommates #5)

A Battle For Love

Love conquers all.

I believe that. Hell—I’m proof of that. I came to Paris as a disillusioned art professor living a half-life, a guy who taught what he couldn’t hack in life, and I turned into the man I am today because of the love of my beautiful rose, Phoebe—and, of course, my Paris roommates and our surrogate mother, Nanine.

Ten years ago, my friends and I moved in with Nanine for a term abroad and worked in her restaurant together.

None of us knew it would change our lives completely, but it did.

Over our time there, we became a family, and when Nanine called us back after her heart attack last summer, we retuned and became an even stronger unit.

Now, we’re running a hospitality company together, pursuing our dreams. Pursuing love.

But it all started with Nanine and her nicknames for us.

She named each of us after a course in a traditional French dinner.

First up is Thea—l’apéritif or First Course, as Nanine calls her.

She didn’t have much confidence in herself or her creativity.

The overture to a meal is often overlooked, something Thea well understood.

Those who are not loud are often not heard.

But after looking inside herself for strength, she’s found confidence and attracted love with her new man and now hubby, Jean Luc.

She’s now the master of small bites and capturing attention—mostly with her breads and pastries in Nanine’s newly reopened restaurant and her bakery, opening soon.

Our buddy Dean, who’s never lacked confidence, is l’entrée or Second Course.

I might add that for English speakers, this course is called the appetizer, and from my historical overview, the reason was due to tony New York hotels in the mid-1800s trying to market cuisine to American clients; somehow the French usage was switched linguistically, but I digress.

Dean is the dreamer in our group. He loves ideas that whet the appetite, like the appetizer does as the entry point into the meal.

He’s settling down and focusing himself, surrounded by the new love of his life, his lady Jacs, because he finally knows what he wants to share with the world.

I’ll add it took a cuisine-loving parrot to help him find both his big idea as well as the woman of his heart because that’s the wackiness that Dean brings to the table.

Then there’s Brooke—le plat or Third Course.

She fits her name perfectly, because when Brooke enters a room, you notice.

Just like the main course. She has a captivating energy—the kind that inspires artists like me—but she was struggling to enjoy the small things in life.

Guess who helped her with that? Us, her roommates.

She’s come so far in listening to her heart, and her heart told her an equally captivating man, Axel, who looks like a Viking god, was the guy who did it for her personally and professionally.

I suppose I’m next, although I’m still embarrassed by what Nanine named me—the salad course, Fourth Course.

Of course, the salad course is a revered part of the meal in France, and it honors a long tradition of culinary excellence.

I suppose that’s what we have in common.

I love culture, traditions, and words like honor.

Maybe in the past, I didn’t see a place for myself in the aspect of culture I revere most—painting—yet I’ve also searched my soul and learned to follow the dictates of my heart.

I am painting full time, having left behind my old professorial robes, and even better, I have found the woman who loves art as much as I do—my rose, Phoebe.

Because like does attract like, as the wise Richard Bach said.

If I were talking to a food critic, I’d say our roommates present a pretty solid menu through my course. Love has helped us conquer our inner doubts so we could realize our dreams and desires.

But Madison and Kyle?

That’s a tough one.

Madison is Fifth Course, the cheese plate.

Given her tough upbringing, she’s developed a lot of protective layers and knows how to set boundaries.

Some people think she’s an acquired taste, but I know that once you gain her confidence, she’s the most loyal of friends.

Her greatest dream is to win a Michelin star, and I have to say, her single-minded focus rivals that of anyone in our group.

Cue her current complication—Kyle, Sixth Course, better known as dessert.

Without being weird, I have to say Kyle is exactly like a soul-satisfying dessert.

He loves to bring pleasure to others—he outfitted me with a painting studio because he’s just that kind of friend—but dessert can also be an overindulgence and a distraction.

That’s what has me and my roommates worried.

Madison doesn’t want to be distracted from winning her star, and the clock is ticking on the upcoming Michelin announcement—right as things have finally reached the boiling point with our two friends.

Madison and Kyle have a lot to overcome.

Will love conquer all?

I know what I’m rooting for.

I guess we’ll find out.