Page 198 of Boss of the Year

And yet, the evening couldn’t have gone better.

There were a few kerfuffles, of course, as every trial event might have. One server mistakenly brought out a tray of trout before it had been properly steamed. Another forgot to deliver one table the pitcher of broth for the deconstructed soup.

But instead of amplifying the stress as I moved between tables, Lucas’s steady gaze from his chair near the fire only served to ground me. I tried not to look at him, but I couldn’thelp it. And whenever I did sneak a glance, those storm-cloud eyes were always on me, taking in every moment, every movement with unwavering support and confidence.

More than once, it allowed me to straighten, clear my throat, and keep moving better than before.

Damn him for that.

Ultimately, the evening was a resounding success. For the first few hours, my guests enjoyed cocktails and appetizers in the December night, which had blessed us with a starry, crisp evening. Afterward, they moved indoors for the dinner, which lasted hours. We emptied several cases of wine, cleaned out my kitchen, and finally bid goodbyes to the guests, the last of whom were struggling to keep their eyes open, around two.

“Merci!” I called to Sandrine and her husband as they escorted Monsieur Blanchet and his wife, who owned the local boulangerie, toward the exit for their walk back into town. “See you tomorrow!”

“Not too early, I hope!” Sandrine called back, making everyone laugh as they disappeared down the row.

“Girl,” Kate said beside me as we stood on the pergola, watching them leave. “If that’s all, I hear my bed calling.”

The band had long disappeared, the servers had already cleaned most of the dishes, and Louis and Nonna had long abandoned the hall after packing the leftovers.

It was just Kate and me now.

Plus a broody billionaire still sitting by my fire.

“What are you going to do about…” Kate glanced back inside. “Will you be okay, or do you want me to stay?”

Lucas was watching us through the window while he nursed a glass of soda water, just like he’d been drinking all night. Just as patient as ever.

I sighed. “No, it’s okay. I don’t really want to deal with him tonight anyway, so I’ll just put him in one of the guest cottages until the morning.”

Kate looked dubious but nodded. “All right. Give a shout if you need anything.”

I followed her inside, where she disappeared into her room down the hall, though not without leaning over and muttering something to Lucas that made his brows lift.

“Dare I ask what she said?” I asked as I took the armchair on the other side of the fire.Oh, it felt good to put my feet up on the hearth.

Lucas eyed my feet, and his hand lifted, almost as if he was considering picking them up just like he had done for me in Paris.

It was disturbing how good that sounded.

Sadly, his hand made its way back to his lap while he spoke.

“She might have mentioned that she’d make fish bait out of my testicles if I hurt you again.” He tipped his head in amusement. “I assured her it wouldn’t be necessary, but I’m not sure she believed me. Are all your siblings that protective of you?”

I chuckled. “Believe it or not, Kate is probably the most even-tempered. My brother punched Xavier in the face once.”

I didn’t tell Lucas that if my brother were here now, he’d probably have another punch with Lucas’s name on it, and for the same reason. History tended to repeat itself, but I had never imagined I’d be the one recycling a story of surprise pregnancies.

“You were incredible tonight,” Lucas broke through my thoughts.

An ember popped in the quieting fireplace, and I looked up. “I’m sorry I didn’t have more for you than cheese puffs and mushroom toasts,” I said. “The rest of the meal was planned based on the exact number of people attending.”

Lucas lifted his shoulders in a way that was oddly Gallic for an American. “It was an honor enough just to witness the night. You really were something, sweetheart. Truly in your element.”

At the casual use of the endearment, something in my heart cracked. I stood, suddenly wanting to be anywhere else but there with him.

Lucas stood with me, as if sensing the shift in atmosphere.

“Marie,” he said. “I?—”