She was Thierry’s wife.
I had been assured that their marriage was in name only after more than six hundred years. Frankly, I couldn’t imagine knowing somebody for thirty years, let alone six hundred. But I still wasn’t thrilled with the situation. Dating a married man, even though the wife was fine and dandy with it, just seemed . . . extremely wrong.
I’d recently summoned enough courage to ask if she’d ever considered getting a divorce. Veronique had waved off my question with a laugh and said, “After so many years, why would I want something like that?”
Yeah. I’d managed to refrain from digging my fingernails into her perfect eyeballs. Barely.
So, as I said, I liked Veronique. But her recent decision to go back to her fabulous life inFrance wasn’t the most heartbreaking news I’d heard all year.
She gave me a tight hug, followed by a brief kiss on each of my cheeks. “Au revoir.” She leaned back.
“Are you all right, my dear?”
I forced a smile. “I’m fine. Have a nice flight. Bye now.”
“Are you quite certain? You look a little . . .malheureux .”
“I failed French in high school. But I feel fine.” I shrugged.Well, other than narrowly escaping death only hours ago , I thought.Again .
I looked over my shoulder. Where the hell was Thierry?
“I think I know what it is.” A smile played at her perfectly outlined lips. “You are afraid to admit how much you will miss me. I understand. But the time that I was needed here has passed and yours has just begun.”
My eyebrow perked up at that. Was she talking about Thierry? Maybe she’d given the divorce thing more thought. I shifted my feet, which now, instead of the Reeboks from my near-death jog, sported low-heeled, rubber-soled Tender Tootsies that looked okay with my black jeans. My trendier footwear was currently piled up at the back of my closet to make way for that which was consistently comfortable and easy to run in.
Proactive = Me.
Veronique reached into her tiny Fendi bag, pulled out a business card, and handed it to me.
“That is the number to my home in Paris . If you ever need to talk to someone, please don’t hesitate to call me. I know things will soon be difficult for you.”
I glanced at the card and then tucked it into the pocket of my jeans. “So you’ve heard about the hunters’ special new interest in me, too? Wow, rumors sure spread quickly, don’t they?”
Her forehead creased prettily. “No . . . though that is certainly cause for concern. I was referring to how distraught you will be when my Thierry leaves you.”
“Huh?” My forehead creased less prettily, and I scanned the nearly empty club again. “What? He’s leaving me? When did this happen?”
She shook her head. “No, not yet, my dear. I’m simply saying that when it does happen, please feel free to call me. I can dispense invaluable advice to help mend your broken heart.”
My eyes widened with every word.
The driver approached her. “We should be leaving now to catch your flight, ma’am.”
I just stared at Veronique. “Did Thierry say something to you? Is that why I can’t find him tonight? Is he avoiding me?”
She smiled patiently at me. “It is so sweet how taken you are with him. I am not saying this to upset you,
but it is quite obvious that this will only be a short-term relationship.”
“Short-term?”
“You have known him for what . . . less than two months, yes? I know he feels a great sense of responsibility for your safety. From the attention he has paid you, it is understandable that you would become greatly smitten with him.”
“Smitten?” I sputtered. “You think I’msmitten ?”
She frowned slightly at my words. “Thierry is almost seven hundred years old. You are . . . what? In your mid-thirties?”
“I AM TWENTY-EIGHT!”
“There is no reason to shout, my dear. I am trying to be a friend to you and tell you how things truly are,
so you will not be shocked by how things inevitably turn out. I have known Thierry for so, so many years. I know him better than anyone else. I am simply warning you to prepare for his interest to wane.”
She touched my arm. “I am sorry.”
The driver cleared his throat loudly. “If we don’t leave soon, ma’am, I’m afraid you’ll miss your flight and then I’ll—”
I spun around. “And then you’llwhat ?” I snapped.
He took a step backward. “Never mind. Take all the time you need.”
Veronique shook her head. “Mon dieu. I should not have said anything. It is simply my desire to see those I care about happy. Being in love with a man such as Thierry will not bring you happiness. He is too old for you. There are too many secrets. Simply too much against you. I apologize for being blunt, but I have only done so as a friend.”
It was difficult to be friends with somebody who had been effortlessly perfect for seven centuries. She’d seen everything and done everything at least once. Plus, she had really great hair.
She also had a nasty habit of being right.
I ran a quick hand under my nose, sniffed, and tried to compose myself. “You’d better go. Don’t want to miss your plane.”
Veronique nodded. “Of course. Take care, my dear.”
She looked at me with concern for a moment longer. Then, with a single glance at the driver, she left the club without another word.
I took in a deep breath and let it out slowly and shakily as I tried to compose myself.
“When my Thierry leaves you.”Her words kept repeating in my mind like a bad burrito.“It is quite obvious that this will only be a short-term relationship.”
I shook my head. No. Thierry wasn’t going to break my heart. Our relationship was on solid ground.
Rock steady.
Even though he was absolutely perfect and I was far from it, I wanted us to work out. I’d do whatever it took to prove to him that I was the right woman for him. Long-term.
Sure, he’d been a little distracted lately with trying to open the new club in record time. I’d barely seen him at all for the last couple of weeks, but that didn’t mean a thing.
Not a damn thing.