Page 9 of Boarding Pass (Hearts Without Borders #1)
Chapter nine
Having dinner with the parents of a woman I just met wasn’t remotely on my radar when I decided to escape to Europe.
Forty-eight hours ago, I was some random guy in Paris, wandering through streets I didn’t know, wondering what the hell I was doing in France.
Now I’m in Le Porge—a village outside of Bordeaux I’d never even heard of—where the air smells like salt and pine, and the sound of the Atlantic hums all around us.
It’s wild, practically untouched. Sand dunes stretch to infinity. The trees whisper with the breeze. The village feels frozen in time—small, slow, deliberate. Earlier today, when she showed me around the town, Sophie moved through it like she’s part of the place.
Two days ago, I didn’t know her. Now, I can’t take my eyes off her.
Dinner at Sophie’s parents’ house is nothing short of enchanting. The entire experience is warm, personal, and effortlessly welcoming.
This centuries-old home feels alive, like it’s been nurtured by all the families who’ve lived here.
Stone floors hold the memories of countless footsteps.
Wooden beams overhead stretch across the ceilings like silent sentinels of time.
Dumond family photos in mismatched frames, and bursts of vibrant color from élise’s floral arrangements decorate the space, giving it a lived-in, layered beauty.
The table is simple but perfect. A golden, roasted chicken sits in the center, surrounded by crispy rosemary potatoes and a fresh salad tossed.
Bread, still warm from the boulangerie , is passed around, and a bottle of Bordeaux—likely from a nearby vineyard—seems to refill itself with Claude’s gentle insistence.
Sophie sits close enough next to me, her elbow brushes mine now and then. Each small touch sends a spark through me, and I can’t stop thinking how I can’t remember life before I met her.
It’s hard to believe how quickly things have moved.
Two nights ago, we traded witty banter after she spilled a glass of wine and it ended up being the most transformative, passionate night of my life. By yesterday, it was more. Much more.
Not just chemistry. Something deeper—something huge and terrifying and completely inevitable. When we woke up this morning, tangled together in the soft light of her hotel room, I could hardly believe how natural it felt. Like we’d been waking up together forever.
Our desire for each other is intense. Deep. Soulful. Not frenzied emulate-a-porn-video gymnastics. No, it’s so much better. Sex with Sophie is like finding the missing page in a book I’ve been reading my whole life.
We left Paris midmorning. The train ride to Bordeaux was quiet, but not awkward.
Sophie read most of the way, her hair catching the sunlight as it streamed through the window.
The entire trip, I couldn’t stop stealing glances at her.
She always caught me, smirking faintly like she knew what I was thinking but didn’t mind.
Now, sitting here in her parents’ home, I’m overwhelmed by a strange, profound sense of belonging. It’s a little unnerving, if I’m honest.
Sophie’s dad, Claude’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. “So, Miles.” He leans back in his chair, glass of wine in one hand. “You’re from Seattle?”
“Yes.” I set my fork down, trying to remember my manners. “Born and raised.”
“And what brings you to France?” élise’s tone is curious but kind.
I glance at Sophie, who offers me a small, encouraging smile. “It was kind of a spur-of-the-moment decision. I sold my company and once things settled, I realized I didn’t have anything tying me down for the first time in years. So, I booked a one-way ticket to Paris.”
“An excellent choice. Paris is always a terrific idea.” Claude raises his glass approvingly.
I laugh. “At least it’s what I told myself. Though I didn’t have a set plan. My whole day consisted of getting lost in a city where I don’t speak the language. The epitome of bumbling American.”
“Until you met Sophie,” élise says with a sly smile.
I feel the heat creep up my neck. “Uh, yeah. Yep.”
“Mom!” Sophie shakes her head.
Claude thoughtfully takes a sip of wine. “You mentioned selling a company. What kind of work were you in?”
“I cofounded a gaming company with my best friend, Austin,” I explain.
“We made casual games—stuff you can play on your phone or tablet. Our biggest hit was called Puzzle Pet Paradise . It took off faster than we expected and we ended up growing the company into something much bigger than we’d ever dreamed possible. ”
“So you’re taking time off?” élise quirks a brow.
Inadvertently, I sigh. “Uh…yeah. I guess so.”
“It’s always important to have mental space to figure out what’s next.” Claude nods as if he understands completely.
“Yeah. Though it’s strange after working so hard.” I fidget with my napkin a bit. “I guess I need to figure out what I want to do in this next chapter.”
As the conversation flows, I learn about Sophie’s family story. I knew she was born in Paris, but Claude fills in some details about how they ended up in the US.
“I fell in love with an American.” élise serves herself another helping of salad. “We met while he was traveling in Paris.”
Claude chuckles. “I was young and reckless. No plan, no direction—just wandering Europe, trying to ‘find myself.’ I met élise at a café, and, well…” He shrugs like the rest is obvious.
“I was working as a waitress,” élise says in her charming accent. “And he could hardly order coffee. He asked me out, but I rejected him of course. He kept coming back. Every day for a week. Eventually, I gave in and we went on a date.”
“Six weeks later, we were married,” Claude finishes, grinning.
I’m visibly shocked. “Six weeks?”
“When you know, you know.” Claude wraps his arm around his wife. “Why waste time?”
They laugh, and élise pats his hand affectionately. “We stayed in Paris for a while, but when Sophie was born, Claude’s work moved us to the US. We ended up in New York until a few years ago.”
“You put up with it.” Sophie leans against her mother but looks at me. “Mom hated the cold. ”
“It was unbearable.” élise shudders dramatically. “When Claude retired a few years ago, I insisted we come back to France. Paris is too expensive, but here outside of Bordeaux felt like the perfect place to settle.”
I glance at Sophie who watches her parents with a mixture of fondness and quiet amusement. “Now they can’t stop reminding me how much better life is here than in New York.”
“Because it is.” Claude ruffles her hair. “Though I’ll admit, the US has its charms.”
“It does, there’s nowhere else like NYC.” Sophie gazes at her dad fondly.
After a pause, Claude’s eyes flick back to me. “So, Miles.” He taps the table with his finger. “What about you? Any great love stories in your past?”
Here we go. The interrogation.
I shake my head. “Nope. I spent my twenties building my company. No time for a nerdy computer geek like me. But, then my best friend got engaged to my twin sister, so I think I caught a bug.”
“Only a nerd would liken me to a bug.” Sophie smirks, nudging me with her elbow.
I’m pretty sure my face is as red as a tomato .
Claude chortles. “Well, you seem to have a forgiving heart, my sweetheart.”
The air shifts slightly. Probably because the three of them are recalling Sophie’s previous relationship. Sophie ducks her head, focusing a little too intently on her plate. I don’t know what to say. She was coming here to spend time with them because they thought she was brokenhearted.
Instead, she brought me.
I don’t know how to put a label on whatever this is between us yet—but I can’t ignore how much the comment stirs something deep in my chest. I’d never do anything to hurt Sophie. If we were together I’d cherish each day. Each hour. Each minute. Each second.
élise looks pointedly at me. “You seem like a very kind man, Miles. And a respectable one. I hope you’ll enjoy Bordeaux.”
“I already am.” I can’t help but to glance at Sophie.
As dinner winds down, the conversation drifts to other topics—Claude’s workshop. élise’s favorite florist. The best bakeries in the area.
To me, though, Claude’s earlier words linger long after the plates are cleared and the laughter has faded.
When you know, you know.
I wonder if it could be so simple.