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“I am very happy,” he declared. “And you, ma chère?”

“Yes,” Charpentier confirmed. “I just have a few questions. If you wouldn’t mind, Mademoiselle Michaels.”

“Of course, go ahead,” Grace invited.

Clearly, Charpentier knew her stuff when it came to design.

Over the next twenty minutes or so, she grilled Grace pretty hard on all aspects of the proposal. Grace enjoyed the exercise and answered intelligent questions on technical details. Charpentier looked thoroughly satisfied by the end of it.

“Maybe you can prepare a draft contract for us to look at,” she said. “Oui?”

Smelling sweet victory in the air, Grace was about to tell her she’d be delighted to do it when raised voices on the outside caught her attention. Before she could do more than frown, the door to her office flew wide open. Olivia strode in, followed by a red-faced and desperately apologetic Libby.

“Ms. Michaels! I am so sorry! She—She just came up and went right past me!”

“Grace. We need to talk,” Olivia announced.

Well. Fighting a natural urge to swear out loud, Grace just raised a calming hand.

“It’s okay, Libby. I’ll handle this.” Then dismissed her with a subtle wave.

“Oh, dear. So sorry.” Libby bowed on exit.

Grace focused on Olivia for all of a micro-second, but it was enough to ascertain a few things. She must have dressed for the occasion again, to crash one of the most important meetings of the year. Or was it perhaps to embody her butch spirit, and give herself more courage? Whichever, she did look impossibly good in threadbare jeans, black motorcycle boots, and a white flannel shirt open to reveal a black tank top underneath. Not the sort of look Grace appreciated all that much on a woman before. Too butch, indeed. On this particular woman, though, it all struck her as the height of sexy and taste. Even so, as Olivia opened her mouth to speak, she shut her down quickly with another sharp hand gesture.

“Is Charlie okay?”

“Yes, she’s fine. I just—”

“Has someone died or been injured?”

“No. No, it’s not that at all. Grace, listen—”

“Now is not a good time, Olivia. I need you to go and wait for me outside.” In the background, Grace could see her two clients exchanging puzzled looks. She had been leaning against the front of her desk when Olivia made her theatrical entrance, and they were both across the room on the sofa. As Olivia was facing her, it occurred to Grace that she must have no idea they were not alone. Which could turn things tricky, very quickly. “Look, I’m in the middle of an important—”

She never got to finish. As she took her arm, with the firm intention of turning her around to reveal their audience, Olivia stuck her ground. Then she landed a surprisingly commanding hand on the back of her neck, covered her mouth with hers, and proceeded to kiss her as if the world was about to end.Humph.Grace stiffened at first, then her mind went blank. She forgot... Just forgot. Every damn thing. This was pure bliss. These hot lips pressed against hers? Absolute joy. Why fight it? Though Grace did not consciously ask herself that question, her unconscious mind certainly did not supply any good reasons. She may have grunted as she righted herself, grabbed hold of her lover, and kissed her back. It was brief, but hard. Intense as they come. Olivia pulled back, breathless. Her dark eyes were huge.

“I came to tell you that I love you, Grace. I don’t want us to break up.”

Grace could only stare, speechless. Then, a giggle sounded from the other side of the office, and she looked past Olivia to find both Leconte and Charpentier on their feet. Damn if they did not start clapping...

“Magnifique!” Charpentier declared with a hand over her own heart. “So romantic! Mademoiselle Michaels, you are in a love story? Oui? J’adore!”

???

Olivia could not get out of there fast enough after realizing her faux pas. To be fair, the assistant had not been at her desk to stop her when she arrived. Then, when she caught up with her… Had Libby really told her that Grace was in a super-important meeting, and should not be disturbed? She must have done it; Olivia just could not remember a word. She’d had only a single thought in mind at the time, and it was to see her lover. When she walked into the office, she only had eyes for her. So, there. Grace looked so alluring in her black suit, and that white shirt with the high collar. Blond hair slicked back, her blue eyes sparkling…Stunning.But of course, the stunned look on her face, the sharp eyebrow she raised in disapproval, and, now that Olivia reflected on it, a clear warning not to proceed should have been a clue. But she had so wanted to kiss her… To tell her how she felt! So, she did.Sue me.Ha! That was the spirit, though she also cringed at the realization that she may have cost Grace a crucial deal.

“Here.” The forgiving assistant handed her a glass of water. “It is Ms. Bianchi, right?”

“Olivia. Please.”

“Okay. I’m Libby.”

“I’ll tell Grace it was my fault. You won’t get into trouble for this.”

“It’s alright.” Libby smiled and she patted her gently on the shoulder. “I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

They both glanced up as the door to the office opened and the two visitors, the guy with the weird glasses and the woman who looked like a fashion model, exited and made their way to the elevator. Grace remained standing in place with both hands planted firmly on her hips, glaring menacingly. Looking a bit paler than she had before, and quite a bit pissed, too. Like it might not be fine at all, actually.