Page 40 of Je T'aime, Actually

They walked in step, the closeness between them settling easily, naturally. There was no urgency now, just the simple pleasure ofbeingin the same place again.

As they neared the car, Monroe looked sideways at her. “You look tired.”

“I had a long week,” Chloé said, unlocking the passenger door. “You’ll hear all about it.”

Monroe climbed in, setting the flowers gently on her lap. “I brought those biscuits you liked.”

“Then I forgive your lateness.”

“I wasn’t late.”

“Not technically.”

“I cannot be responsible for tardy aeroplanes.”

They smiled at each other across the console—like they’d known each other for longer than they had; like whatever this was, it had always been quietly in motion.

“Are you going to kiss me or just look at me?” Monroe chuckled, her voice low, teasing.

Chloé didn’t answer with pointless words. She just leant in, one hand slipping behind Monroe’s neck as she kissed her—softly at first, then with more power; the kind of kiss that pulled all the tension out of the air and replaced it with something electric.

When they broke apart, Monroe stayed close, her forehead resting against Chloé’s. “Okay,” she murmured, “that was worth the flight.”

“I should hope so,” Chloé whispered. “And there’s more where that came from.”

“Good,” Monroe said, “because I’ve got a weekend’s worth of wanting to pick up where we left off.”

Chloé pulled back just enough to smirk. “Then let’s get out of this car park before I do something unwise.”

Monroe laughed. “Too late for that, I’m here.”

thirty-three

The car vibrated softly beneath them as they pulled onto the main road, the sky darkening as evening took hold. Monroe had kicked off her shoes and tucked one leg under her, watching Chloé as she drove—cool, collected, one hand on the wheel, the other resting between them.

“So,” Monroe said, shifting slightly in her seat, “how did it go? Telling the staff, I mean.”

Chloé didn’t answer immediately. Her jaw tensed for a second, then relaxed. “Better than expected, honestly. I was clear with them. Transparent. Some of them were upset, obviously. Twenty-five percent reduction isn’t nothing.”

“No, it’s not.”

“But I promised them the transition would be handled carefully. That no one was getting fired overnight. That there would be support. And I meant it.”

Monroe watched her for a moment. “You still feel like it’s the right move?”

Chloé nodded once. “I do.La Fée du Livrewas slowly dying, and I couldn’t patch the holes fast enough. Shutler Fitch gives us longevity—even if it’s under their name. Some of what we built survives. And if I’m smart, I can protect the heart of it.”

Monroe reached across and rested a hand over Chloé’s on the gearstick. “Youaresmart.”

Chloé glanced at her, and for a second, the tiredness showed in her eyes. “I’m just trying not to let anyone down.”

“You won’t,” Monroe said simply. “You already haven’t.”

They drove in silence for a few miles, the air between them soft, thoughtful.

Then Monroe added, “Hey, if you have to lay off anyone else, you can always keep me on as your personal morale booster.”

Chloé glanced quickly at her, the corners of her mouth pulling up slowly. “Oh, I fully intend to.”