Page 31 of The Paris Chapter

‘I love seeing it through your eyes,’ Ethan said quietly, standing up and coming over to stand beside me. ‘I kind ofstopped looking at it.’ He nodded at the Tower. ‘But it’s beautiful.’

‘We forget to look at beautiful things and appreciate them, don’t we? I’m the same when I suddenly remember to look up at sunrise or sunset. It’s always worth it.’

‘You’re right.’ Ethan smiled across at me. ‘So, shall we go to the party? And I meant what I said about not having to stay long. Although I think Juliette has everyone eager to meet her new English friend who writes romance.’

‘Oh God, I hope the birthday boy takes the attention away from me,’ I said, biting my lip. There was nothing I hated more than being the focus of a group of people.

‘I wouldn’t count on it,’ Ethan murmured. His hand grazed the small of my back as I stepped off the balcony in front of him. I was surprised that it didn’t feel strange. It felt familiar. I grabbed my handbag as he closed the doors to the balcony, and he picked up a gift bag from the kitchen counter as we left the apartment. ‘I got Seb his favourite bottle of whisky,’ he said when I raised my eyebrow at it.

We walked out of the building and Ethan led the way around the corner to another apartment building.

‘Juliette’s place,’ he said when we reached the main doors. ‘She and Seb are always at the family restaurant so they said they wanted to have the party here instead.’

Juliette’s apartment building was more modern than the one we were staying in and when we reached her floor, we saw the door was open. French music with heavy bass was playing loudly.

‘Her neighbours must be a relaxed bunch,’ I said as we headed inside.

‘I suspect, knowing Juliette and how she makes friends so easily, they are all here.’

I looked around. The apartment was packed with people. There was a long table set up with drinks and canapés, and hanging from the ceiling were LED candles, making the place look magical.

‘Tessa! Ethan!’ Juliette appeared out of nowhere, kissing us both on the cheeks, a cloud of Chanel No.5 perfume floating around her. She was wearing bright-red lipstick that imprinted on our cheeks and a skin-tight black dress, making her figure look even more stunning. ‘Ethan, you handsome man!’ she shouted over the music. ‘And Tessa,trés jolie. That blazer, I must have it.’

‘Merci beaucoup,’ I said back loudly. ‘I know some French,’ I added to Ethan, who was grinning at my bad accent. ‘You look gorgeous, Juliette. Thanks for inviting me.’

‘You’re part of us now,’ she replied with a wave of her hand. Her words warmed me from the inside out. She pointed though the crowd. ‘Seb is over there with that detestable man Alain,’ she said with a grimace. ‘Oh, Celine, there you are!’ She disappeared again and Ethan and I exchanged a smile.

‘Let me introduce you,’ Ethan said. He held out his hand and I took it, letting him weave me through the people in the living room towards the kitchen. I could tell who Seb was instantly; he looked so similar to Juliette and wore all black like she did. Ethan hugged Seb and gave him the whisky, wishing him a happy birthday and then leaned back. ‘This is Tessa,’ he said.

Seb grinned. ‘Enchantée.My sister hasn’t stopped talking about you,’ he said, kissing me on both cheeks.

‘I can see why,’ the man with him declared. Alain was introduced as Seb’s friend from university. He was tall and dark and very much my type. ‘Excuse my English but I will die if you’re not single.’

‘Ignore him, he knows exactly what he’s saying,’ Seb said as I blushed.

‘Shut up, Seb,’ Alain snapped. He leaned in so close, I took a step back. ‘You really are a pretty little thing, aren’t you? I could show you a good time if you let me, darling.’

I understood why Juliette had called him detestable. He was sleazy with a capital S. Very much not my type after all.

‘No thanks,’ I said firmly. I looked at Ethan, who was staring at us. ‘Can we get a drink, please?’

‘Hell, yes. Excuse us.’ Ethan took my hand again and led me firmly away from Alain and into the kitchen. ‘What a twat,’ he said angrily, shaking his head.

I shrugged. ‘He’s good looking, probably thinks he can get away with it.’

‘I can’t see the attraction personally,’ Ethan said. ‘Wine?’ I nodded and he poured us both a glass. ‘I hate it when people think someone must find them attractive. I mean, does that give you the right to treat people like a piece of meat?’

‘Preaching to the choir here,’ I said, raising my wine glass. I took a long gulp. ‘I’m avoiding all tall, dark and handsome men from now on.’

‘Should I be offended or pleased I’m not classed as one of them?’ Ethan said. He smiled but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

It was funny. Ethan wasn’t like anyone I’d fancied before. I doubted I would have noticed him at this party if we hadn’t come to it together, but he had an energy about him. It was the calmness. I felt drawn to it, as someone opposite to that calm, I supposed. He felt like a safe port even though I didn’t know him all that well still. I remembered telling Carly when were younger that I never wanted to be with a man who wasn’t taller than me, but that felt spectacularly shallow now. Ethan being my height meant I could easily look into those blue eyes of his and findthem gazing back at me. A warm feeling ran through my body from his attention.

‘Neither of us are tall or dark,’ I said, leaning in so he could hear me. ‘But of course, you’re handsome.’ I’d had a couple of glasses of wine, which meant that was easier to say without wanting to melt into my shoes from embarrassment. I wasn’t lying. Those eyes but also his warm smile, his soft hair, his cosy jumpers, his voice when he spoke in French, it was all attractive. And maybe more so because you had to really look at him to see it. And I had been looking at him a lot the past couple of days.

‘And sweet?’ Ethan was looking at me with an expression I couldn’t read.

‘Sweet is good,’ I insisted.

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