Page 144 of Marked By Moonlight

Soon, the grounds were inundated with athletes and spectators, most of them members of France’s finest.

Clem only had eyes for me, while Gen couldn’t takehereyes offhim. Luckily, he left us quickly, having duties as a marshalof the cross-country running competition. Also, Gen had worked enough events to make herself useful. The event organizers had sworn they could handle everything, but the inevitable issues arose, from desperately needed extension cords to garbage bags and — as I’d guessed — toilet paper.

“Wow. This looks amazing.” Gen stopped in her tracks when we entered the stables.

Rackets blurred and balls flew. We turned our heads, watching them pinging and ponging.

“Table tennis is one of three events we’re hosting today,” I explained.

“I mean, the stables,” Gen said.

I looked around. Weeks ago, junk had filled the place from floor to ceiling, and cobwebs had shrouded the windows. Now, everything had been cleared and cleaned, and the fairy lights I’d strung up helped inch the space pastfunctionaltowardstylish. I’d even had flyers printed, optimistically listing all kinds of events the château could be hired for, from weddings to anniversary parties and even car shows. (Roux’s idea. The man had high hopes for our vintage Jaguar.)

Being involved in the nitty-gritty of that work had blinded me to the big picture, but now, I looked around with fresh eyes.

“You’d done so much!” Gen enthused.

“We have,” I whispered, proud and amazed. “All of us.”

I yearned to share the moment with Marius and the others. To celebrate what we’d accomplished, and to seeing the grounds brought to life again.

In my grandmother’s day, the château had always been a lively place, hosting parties, concerts, and soirées. And while the police championships were a far cry from teatime and games of croquet, it was a step in the right direction.

“Grandma would be proud,” Gen decided.

My heart swelled as I looked around. I thought so too.

“This just shows how much more we can offer, and not just here in the stables.” Gen pointed to the gazebo where the officials had set up tables, then to the tiny chapel out by the duck pond. The roof had caved in, but that didn’t stop Gen’s vivid imagination.

“Either of those would be perfect for weddings, and receptions can take place in the stables or in the ballroom.”

My thoughts went there. With any luck, the guys were feeling cooperative and working on it at that very moment, spackling cracks in the plaster.

“Guests can book suites in the west wing…” Gen went on.

Yes, but we would have to figure out where to put the guys first. Marius had moved in with me for good, but the others…

My mind spun. So much to do, and we’d only just gotten started. But for once, the scale of it didn’t discourage me. I had my man now, and he wasn’t going anywhere. Neither were the others. So maybe, a year or two from now…

“We should be able to host our first guests next spring!” Gen announced, as happy and ignorant as I had once been.

I decided not to burst her bubble. Not on her first day anyway.

Shortly after, I slipped away from the event to check on the guys. The ballroom was empty — but wow. Every crack had been smoothed over, every wall prepared for a fresh coat of paint once the plaster dried.

I checked the dining room next, then the drawing room, finding no one. Where were they?

My mind filled with doomsday scenarios, like Henrik sucking the blood out of a spectator or Bene out flirting with female police officers.

But, whew. I eventually found them on a rooftop balcony, overlooking the action.

Marius swept me into a kiss worthy of a movie poster, while the others rolled their eyes and went back to critically micro-analyzing each athlete’s performance.

I broke away from Marius long enough to chastise them. “Like you could do better.”

“I could,” Bene declared, and Roux nodded too. “Running — easy. Mountain biking — I could cover the same terrain faster without a bicycle.”

I pictured him bounding along in lion form. Okay, maybe he had a point there.