Page 187 of My French Love Affair

I shake my head, biting back a laugh. “Go do your interviews, you insufferable man.”

His voice drops, smooth and slow. “I’ll see you soon,mon ange.”

The line goes dead.

And just like that, I realise I’ve spent the last half hour walking through Monaco grinning like an idiot.

I exhale sharply, tucking my phone into my bag as I make my way back towards the hotel.

Becauseshit.

This is getting dangerous.

* * *

The hotel suite is blissfully quiet when I return, golden light streaming through the open balcony doors as the sun sets. The girls must still be out, giving me a rare moment to myself.

Kicking off my sandals, I make a beeline for the bathroom, ready to wash away the heat. My body still hums from the memory of last night - ofhim; his hands, his mouth, the way he owned every inch of me.

I shake my head, biting back a smile as I reach for the zip at the back of my dress.

Get a grip, Poppy.

Just as I’m about to strip, my phone pings from the nightstand.

I don’t even have to check - I alreadyknowwho it is.

I reach for it, expecting some smug remark, another teasingmessage, something that will no doubt make me roll my eyes and fight the urge to grin like an idiot -

But when I glance at the screen, my stomach drops.

Noah.

I blink.

For a second, I don’t move.

It takes me a moment to even process his name on my screen, to let it sink in that he’sactuallymessaged me.

It’s beenweeks.

My heart pounds as I open the message.

Hey. I know you’re in Monaco - I saw it on the news. AAnd I know I probably shouldn’t be messaging, but I just… I needed to talk to you.

I stare at the words.

Then, another message pops up.

I miss you, Poppy.

I inhale sharply, my fingers tightening around the phone.

Of course, the moment I start moving on - the moment I start letting myself enjoy something, someone -hedecides to pop back up.

I sink onto the edge of the bed, my dress still half-unzipped, my mind spinning.

What the hell am I supposed to do now?