Page 12 of Love Bites

I nodded. I understood where she was going. “Heartless. I said you were heartless.”

“Yes, and that was the one that cut the deepest. I am many things but uncaring is not one of them.”

“I know. I do. You’re the reason that I even have a shop. You’ve done so much for me…sold your house, worked long hours teaching me all that you know, and all I’ve done for you is failed over and over.”

She tsked me then removed her soiled gardening gloves. Mamie did not dig in the dirt with bare hands. Please. Did she look like a hog rooting for truffles? Ladies wore gloves when they worked in le jardin.

“Darling boy, you are not a failure to me. We do this together, yes?” I stared at her soft hands clasping mine. Smaller than mine but not by much. Much nicer nails. My cuticles were a mess as I picked them steadily when I wasn’t working. “The shop is not failing; it is just treading water badly.” I snorted. “No, listen, we are not abandoning the ship. We are going to turn the table on those damn Brauning toads. And we are starting with Edgar.”

“Mamie, please, I’m not sure you should—”

“I am sure I should. He finds me alluring, you know?” I shook my head. “Well, he does. He is saying many good things about his boss now but once he sees me in my green summer dress tomorrow at lunch he will start to weaken. No man can resist me in my best dress with the pearls from my grandmother on my ears and Dior on my wrist.”

“Mamie, I’m not sure—”

“Shh. I know what I am doing. Now, give me your hand and we shall go inside to have some of this lovely wine you brought for being a rude boy. I have a tray of raspberry tarts cooling on the rack.”

“I love your raspberry tarts.” I stood then aided her in rising from the ground.

“I know, that is why I made them when I got home. I knew you would be here with that sad dog face to express regret for calling me that word.”

“You knew I would come right away?” I asked, her hand on my elbow. A honey bee zipped by, intent on visiting the dark purple blooms of her rhododendron.

“I knew you would be here before the tarts cooled. I have taught you many things, Haider, and one of those most important things is how to keep your Mamie happy.”

She tipped her head then tapped her cheek. I pressed my lips to skin as supple and soft as cashmere. Keeping the sun off your face really did do wonders.

“I love you so very much,” I whispered.

She patted my arm. “I know. Now come, we will chill then drink the wine, eat tarts, and plot the demise of our adversaries.”

I had no clue how she meant to topple the largest chocolate company in Europe but if anyone could do it, it was Mamie.

IT HAD BEENthree days since my breakthrough—or what I felt was a step forward—with Haider Gray. I’d not approached him or his shop in those three days. I’d given him space. Today we were meeting for lunch and I had planned a little outing after the meal to help ease him into seeing me as a human being and not just this robotic corporate behemoth intent on gobbling up small independent shops on this side of the ocean.

To that end I was going casual again. An oatmeal cashmere zippered-neck sweater over a classic blue and white-check cotton shirt. Thin black belt. Ebony jeans. New hiking boots purchased at a shop outside town that sold outdoor supplies as well as quirky stickers of moose and Big Foot. Seemed the mountains nearby were popular with outdoor enthusiasts. Which was part of my surprise for Haider. The outdoors, not the enthusiasts.

I was exiting my room, my attention on whether I had my wallet and room key and bounced into Edgar. Literally.

“Oh, forgive me, sir.” Edgar danced back. I took in his nice suit and tie. He blushed all the way to the tips of his ears. “Yes, I am having lunch with Ms. Aubert again today.”

“I see. Edgar, are we sure that you’re only playing along with the lady and not actually enjoying her company?”

His eyes flared. “Sir, I am doing as we discussed. Keeping Madame distracted while you work on bringing her grandson into the Brauning fold. I am immune to the charms of beautiful French women whose laugh is like sunlight falling on tulips.”

“Uh-huh,” I mumbled as he stalked off. “Sunlight on tulips,” I sighed then snickered.

If Edgar was truly enjoying his time spent with the Parisian wildcat of candy—I’d made that up just the other day but it seemed to fit—then good on him. I was sure that Capucine was plying him for secrets for he had told me she peppered him constantly during their dates. Sorry, no, not dates he was adamant. Covert assignments, he preferred to call their meals. As if he were a top secret agent in a James Bond film.

Personally, I was looking forward to spending a few hours with Capucine’s delightfully bristly grandson. His face had danced in front of me many times over the past three days. The tangle of curls cried out for a man to run his fingers through them. And his lips were in need of kissing. I paused on the stairs leading to the first floor of the inn. My cock was already thickening. Not a good sign. Going into a business meeting with an erection was totally unacceptable, yet every time I thought of Haider Gray my cock got hard. I tried to not go into acquisition negotiations with a fixation on the mouth of the man I was trying to get to sign on the dotted line. Still, even with the attraction to Haider growing I was confident in my ability to see this deal done. Gods willing it would be soon. Opa was not patient nor kind when it came to delays.

I stood on the stairs admiring a watercolor of the lake in a lovely wooden frame. I suspected Haider’s friend, Ryan, the woodworker, had made it. The inn was packed with his work. All wonderfully crafted no doubt, and fitting into the rustic yet tasteful theme of the inn. Once my dick was deflated, I made my way to the dining room, nodding at Lydia, one of three serverswho worked the lunch shift. I’d eaten here daily, every meal, and had yet to find one item that didn’t please.

“Your table is ready on the veranda as requested, Mr. Brauning,” she called and I gave her a nod and a smile. “Coffee first?”

“Two please and thank you.” I walked out onto the back porch to find my table among the ten that were out here. The day was a glorious one. Bright blue skies over dark green mountains, birds singing, and the soft whinny of horses in the distance. I’d spent several hours yesterday riding the extensive trails. It seemed I thought best when running, riding, or kayaking.

“Oh hey,” I heard Haider behind me. Right on time. I did admire that. I turned to face him and found myself breathless with admiration. Damn, he was a fine-looking man. “I didn’t want to make you wait despite what Mamie says.”

---