Page 62 of The Last Kiss

He eyeballs me from under one arched brow. “And how long do two people have to know one another before they know?”

“Know what?”

A French shrug. Perfect timing.

I shake my head, biting down a grin. “I’m learning your shrugs, Henry Carré.”

With a deep rumbling chuckle, he rocks me backwards and forwards, until his smile falters and the laughter dies on his lips. “Truth is though, I don’t know what I can offer right now.”

I breathe out a sigh of relief. “That’s okay; me neither. Can’t we just keep this fun?”

Please say yes. Please say yes.

“Believe me I have fun.”

So, why’s his face shadowed?

Wriggling up his body like I’m climbing a pole, I peck a kiss on his mouth. “This doesn’t look like fun.”

Sliding his fingers in my hair he holds me in place. “And when I’m shouting your name?”

“My name or Juliette?”

He flashes a grin. “Both. I like you both equally.”

“Cheeky.” I meet his gaze. “So you like me?”

“Very, very much so.”

“But this can’t be anything, because…”

“Maman needs me, right now. She’s not in a good place.”

“I’m not asking you to move here, Henri. Jesus, I haven’t even offered you breakfast yet.”

“I know, but I got this feeling, it tells me I’ll always want more of you.”

I hold my breath. He feels it too.

I force myself to remember that I’m dying. “So, let’s just enjoy this. When you are in town, you can come and find me.” My cheeks flame. “You know… if you want.”

Swallowing hard, I hold still as he trails a finger down my cheek. “Can I tell you a secret?” he asks.

“Sure.” I laugh off key. “I can keep secrets, the cat not so much.”

“I was supposed to go back home Thursday evening. I got all the way to the Eurostar and then just couldn’t get on. I couldn’t believe I’d been here for three days and hadn’t seen you.”

My heart beats unevenly.

“I thought you said it was fate?”

“Fate needed just a little longer.”

Mulling on this, I chew on the inside of my cheek before saying, “I’m glad,” for which I’m rewarded with a showstopper smile.

“Me too.”

“So. Let’s not overthink this. It’s just what it is.”