Chapter Five The Way She Watches #2
Across from it, Simone’s eggs benedict looked good too, perfectly poached eggs resting over toasted English muffins and smoked ham, the hollandaise sauce smooth and golden.The croissant followed, placed neatly between them on a small plate, butter and jam beside it.
“Enjoy, mesdames,” the server said. “Merci,” Simone replied.
“Merci,” Camille added.The server nodded before walking away.
Camille was already staring at her plate.
“Yeah, this looks good,” she said softly.Simone smiled, watching her reaction.
Camille picked up her fork, cutting into the French toast before Simone had even reached for hers.The first bite barely made it to her mouth before her eyes closed.
“Mmmmm.”She nodded slowly as she chewed.
“This is so damn good.”Simone chuckled quietly, finally picking up her fork.
Camille pointed her fork toward Simone.“Chef opinion?”Simone raised an eyebrow.
“You want a professional critique?”“Yes,” Camille said smiling.Simone took a bite of the eggs benedict, chewing thoughtfully for a moment.
Camille watched her like she was waiting for a judging panel score.Simone nodded slightly.
“The hollandaise is good,” she said. “Balanced. Not too heavy.”Camille laughed.
“Really Simone?”Simone looked over at her.
“You asked for my opinion lady.”Camille shook her head, smiling as she took another bite.
Simone smirked. Camille cut another piece of the French toast and paused.Then she slid her plate slightly toward Simone.
“Try it.”Simone looked at her.“You sure?”Camille nodded.
“You’re the chef. I need the full review.
”Simone leaned forward, cutting a small piece from Camille’s plate.
She took the bite, chewing slowly.Camille waited.
“Well?” she asked.Simone smiled faintly.
“You were right to want it, it’s so good.
”Camille leaned back in her chair with a satisfied grin.
“I knew it.”Then her eyes moved to the croissant sitting between them.
“Ok” she said, reaching for it.“Now this”She broke off a piece, the flaky layers falling apart in her fingers.
“This is about to be life changing.”Simone laughed softly as Camille spread butter across it like it was the most important task in the world.At least for the moment.
Simone took another bite of her eggs benedict, but her attention kept drifting back across the table.
Camille had completely forgotten about everything else. She was focused on the food now, cutting another piece of French toast, pausing to taste the syrup, then breaking off another piece of the croissant like it was some kind of discovery.
Simone just watched her.The way Camille’s eyes lit up when she liked something.
The cute little sounds she made when the food was really good.Simone smiled.If she smiles like this the whole trip, it’ll be worth it.Camille looked up, covering her mouth with her hand because she was still chewing.
“What?” she mumbled through the bite, her eyes still on Simone.Simone giggled softly.
“Nothing.”Camille looked down, still chewing.
“You just look really happy right now.”Camille rolled her eyes, still covering her mouth.
She shook her head like Simone was being ridiculous, though the smile stayed there.Just as Camille swallowed, the server returned to the table carrying another tray.
Simone looked up.The server placed several small plates neatly in the center of the table.One plate.
Then another. Then another. Until there were six different croissants sitting between them.Classic butter, chocolate, almond, pistachio, raspberry.
And one dusted lightly with powdered sugar and honey glaze.Camille slowly looked up at Simone.
“Simone?”Simone tried to look innocent.“When I made the reservation,” she said casually, “I asked them to bring a few.”Camille looked back at the table.
“A few?”Simone smiled. Camille stared at the plates again.
Then back at Simone.“You ordered every croissant they had?”Simone tried not to laugh.
Camille leaned back in her chair, shaking her head slowly in disbelief.
“You are something else.”But the smile on her face told a different story.
Camille leaned forward again, looking at the plates spread across the table.
“Let’s see what we have,” she said slowly.
“They look so good.”“You said you wanted croissants.”Camille laughed softly.
“I did not say I wanted a croissant tasting.”Simone smirked.
“Well, now you have one.”Camille picked up the almond croissant first, turning it slightly in her hand like she was inspecting it.
“Alright,” she said. “Let’s see.”She tore off a piece and took a bite.
Simone watched her reaction carefully. Camille paused midchew.Then nodded slowly.
“That’s the one.” she said.Camille pointed the croissant at her.
“You started this.”Simone picked up the chocolate one.
“For research purposes.”Camille laughed.
Simone broke off a piece and took a bite.
Camille leaned forward.“Well?” Simone nodded.
“So good.”Camille reached for the pistachio one next.
“This one looks suspicious.”Simone chuckled.
“Just try it.”Camille broke off a piece, tasting it.
She paused. The look on her face said it all.
“I wasn’t expecting it but, its good.”“I was worried about that one.”For the next few minutes they moved from plate to plate, breaking pieces off each one, passing quiet comments back and forth.They reached the last one.
The honey-glazed croissant dusted lightly with powdered sugar.
Simone reached for it at the exact same time Camille did.Their hands touched.
They paused. Neither of them moved right away.
Camille looked down at their hands. Then slowly up at Simone.Simone felt her chest pounding again.
Camille pulled her hand back first.“You go ahead,” she said casually.Simone cleared her throat slightly and broke off a small piece.
Camille watched her take the bite.“Well?” she asked.Simone nodded slowly.
“This might be the best one.”Camille smiled.
“Let me try.”Camille reached forward and pulled the plate slightly closer to herself and took a piece.
“Okay,” she said firmly. “This one is mine.” Simone laughed.
“Oh really?”Camille nodded, already breaking off another piece.
“Maybe.”Simone leaned back in her chair, amused.
Camille looked up at her.“Can I?”Simone giggled softly.
“Anything for you.”The words slipped out so naturally Simone didn’t even realize she’d said them until Camille looked up.Simone started blushing.
She looked down smiling. But across the table Camille noticed.She was about to say something.
But before she could, the hostess from earlier approached their table.
“Bonjour, mesdames,” she said politely. Simone looked up.
“Yes?”The hostess smiled.“Your driver is waiting outside whenever you’re ready.
”“Driver?”She slowly turned toward Simone.
Simone nodded casually.“The same driver that brought us from the airport to the hotel.”Camille stared at her.
“He’s going to be our driver for the week.
”Camille’s jaw dropped. For a second she didn’t say anything at all.
The server returned just then, stopping beside the table.
“Mesdames,” he said warmly. “I hope you enjoyed everything. Have a wonderful day.” Camille remembered something.
“Oh, wait,” she said, reaching for her bag.
“We haven’t paid yet.”The server smiled politely.
“Your lady friend has already taken care of everything.”He nodded toward Simone.
Camille looked back at her. Simone just smiled and pushed her chair back, standing.
“You ready?”“Simone,” Camille said. Simone only smiled wider.
“Come on.”Camille stood up, grabbing her bag as she followed Simone toward the exit.
They walked through the restaurant and back into the hotel lobby before stepping outside.The driver stepped out when he saw them.
“Bonjour, mesdames,” he greeted warmly.Simone smiled.
“Bonjour.”The driver opened the back door for them.
Camille looked at Simone again, still half in shock.
“Simone”Camille stood beside the open car door, still looking at her like she hadn’t quite processed everything that had just happened.Simone looked at her.
“Camille.”Her voice was softer now.“This trip, is for you to enjoy yourself.”She paused, still looking at her.
“And to finally be treated with care.” Camille didn’t say anything. The words seemed to settle over her slowly. Then she smiled. Not the teasing smile she’d been giving all morning.
A quieter one. The kind that came from somewhere deeper.
She looked at Simone, almost like she still didn’t know what to do with all of this.
“Okay,” she said softly.Simone reached out and took her hand, guiding her toward the open door.
Camille stepped into the back seat. Simone slid in beside her and pulled the door closed.The driver looked at them in the rearview mirror.
“I hope you ladies enjoyed your meal.”“Yes,” Camille said.
“Very much,” Simone added.The driver nodded politely before looking back toward Simone.
“To the Seine River?”Camille turned quickly. “No,”Simone smiled.“Yes.”
Camille gasped. The driver chuckled as he started the car. “Very well, here we go.”
He eased the car away from the curb. The driver chuckled lightly as he started the car. As they sat in the car, Simone let herself feel it, everything she had been holding back.And this was just the beginning.