Page 85 of French Escapade

She smiles sadly and takes a step in my direction. “Now that you have found your sister, you’re going to go home, and I…”

“You’re going to stay here. I get it. We’ve only known each other for a few days, and I can’t ask you to drop everything to come with me.”

Élodie frowns as if she didn’t understand what I just said.

“There’s your father, your friends, your life. So, of course you can’t suddenly decide to leave all this behind to follow a man you barely know.”

I offer my hand again, and this time, she lets me take hers and lead her to the sofa. She sits and I kneel in front of her, taking her other hand.

“So I had an idea. An idea I would like to run by you.”

She nods, ready to listen.

“I need to go back home.”

She stiffens and tries to free her hands, but I hold them. “I have no choice. I still have eight months to do, and if I don’t return … well… no need to spell it out for you. You’re an Army brat, you know the drill.”

She tilts her head to confirm that she knows.

“But eight months, it’s not that long. First, you could ask for some vacation time and visit me for a few weeks. And then, if you want me to, I could be free. Free to accept Ted’s partnership proposal and come live here—well, in Monaco.”

“I resigned earlier. I think I’ll go work for Ted. That is, if his offer still stands.”

“Ted’s word is gold.”

“But the Army, it’s your life!” Élodie protests.

“My sister and my unit, yes, that was my life. But that was before. Before I met you.”

“But, but…” she stutters.

“Life is about taking chances. You know this. And I know you’re brave. You already stepped in front of me to stop a bullet.

“But I’m going to ask you for more. I’m going to ask you to take a bigger risk. One we would be taking together. I would like us to listen to our hearts. I would like….”

Élodie doesn’t give me a chance to finish my sentence. She leans into me and puts her lips on mine. “Yes,” she whispers. “Yes, I will take this chance with you.”

I take her in my arms and lift her from her sofa. Her arms around my neck, she cradles her head on my shoulder.

I bring us to her bedroom and lay her down on the bed. The only light in the room is a pale halo from the lamp on the nightstand. But I don’t need more.

I take a moment to admire her. I’m so happy fate put this extraordinary woman on my path. Her beauty is breathtaking, inside and out.

Never again do I want to go through what happened with Madison’s disappearance, but what I take out of it is that even when life throws roadblocks in your way, good things can happen. This time, my lucky star brought me a crazy gift.

I have no idea what the future holds in store for us, but I know I want to share it with this beautiful woman facing me. I’m ready to do whatever I can to make us work. Changing jobs, moving to a different country and continent—it doesn’t scare me at all.

She smiles at me as I lean over her and take her lips.

To start this new chapter in the story of our lives, we will begin by sealing our agreement in this room.

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