Page 79 of My French Love Affair

Behind me, Emma and Jas have stopped their own conversation, curiosity practically radiating off them. I don’t need to turn around to know that Emma is grinning and Jasis smirking as they watch us, as if this is the best reality show they’ve ever seen.

“You soundthrilledto see me,” he smirks, his gaze flicking lazily over my body. “As always.”

“I’d say it’s more of a resigned acceptance,” I reply dryly.

One of his friends chuckles, and I don’t know what’s worse: the fact that I’m currently providing their entertainment, or the fact that Frederic himself looks like he’s having the time of his life.

“Ah,” he muses, lifting his own glass slightly. “So I’m an inconvenience?”

I tilt my head, pretending to think.

“Well, you did try to steal my taxi,” I remind him, ticking off the offenses on my fingers as I continue. “You cornered me outside of a bathroom, practically forced me to dance with you - in front of a small crowd -andyou knocked an entire daiquiri over me in a beach club. So - yes. In fact, I’d say that calling you an inconvenience would be thepoliteway of putting it.”

Frederic swirls the contents of his own glass as I speak - as though we’re in the middle of some sophisticated debate rather than yet another episode of him delighting in ruining my life. One of his friends murmurs something in French - something that makes him exhale a quiet laugh - but he doesn’t turn to acknowledge them, nor does he respond.

Instead, he keeps his blue eyes firmly on me, looking amused, intrigued, and entirely too smug all at once.

“I like how you make it sound so tragic,” he muses. “As if your life has been completely upended by my existence.”

“You do keep appearing at the exact moment Ileastwant to see you.”

From behind me, Emma lets out a quiet snort. Meanwhile, Frederic lifts a brow, clearly unphased by my attitude.

“Orthe exact moment youmostwant to see me.”

“Oh,please.”

Jas actuallywheezes, and even I find that I’m struggling to keep my face completely straight.

The knowledge that the two of them are laughing behind me is almost enough to make me lose my composure.

Almost.

But then Frederic’s smirk deepens as he tilts his head slightly, his intense gaze still locked onto mine.

“Ah, that’s right. After all, you did say I was a stalker,non?”

Oh,god- yes, I did.

I could have really done without that reminder.

“That was before I realised Monaco is apparently the size of a shoebox,” I say, attempting to brush off the comment.

One of his friends laughs a little too loudly while Jas mutters something under her breath behind me.

“And yet, you still seem the most bothered by it,” Frederic says.

I let out a sharp breath, my patience dangling by a thread.

"Not at all," I say dryly, rolling my shoulders back as I meet his infuriatingly smug gaze head-on. "You’ve got me all wrong. Truly, nothing brings me more joy than my personal space being repeatedly invaded byyou. It’s the highlight of my week.Really."

Behind me, Emma lets out a gasp so dramatic that it has to be on purpose.

"Oh, she’s gone full sarcasm," Jas says, her voice low enough that I just about hear her. "That’s when you know it’s bad."

Frederic’s grin deepens, slow and thoroughly pleased with himself, as he lifts his glass to his lips, taking a long, deliberate sip.

He doesn’t break eye contact. Not once.

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