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I sabel couldn’t keep her eyes off Sebastian as they ambled through the galleries. There was just something…so familiar about him, despite the fact there was no way she could have met him before. Something so familiar that when he asked to escort her, she felt very little hesitation to say yes.

Melody would have kicked her ass for that.

Yet here she was, her elbow tucked comfortably in his and their steps in perfect unison. Sure, he was a little weird with his leather cloak and gloves like he was freezing to death in the middle of summer. And acting like they’d been friends for a lifetime! But that was just artist types, right?

Besides, he was dashingly handsome. She never thought she was a long-haired and slender man kind of girl, but every glance at Sebastian set more and more butterflies free in her stomach. It was such a pity that they’d likely never see each other again after they left these stone halls!

Then again, perhaps that made a little flirting that much safer.

The couple stopped in front of The Wedding of Cana and Isabel fluttered her eyelashes a little bit.

“Isn’t this such a lovely piece? I doubt my wedding will have anything as cool as someone turning water into wine, but I hope everyone has as much fun as the people in this painting. ”

“I suppose it’s fine,” Sebastian replied, his voice dry. “Veronese was quite proud of it, but he was a cocky bastard. Bragged to everyone he knew about being the one the monks commissioned.”

Isabel began to laugh, and Sebastian tilted his head questioningly. “I’m sorry, but you sounded like you actually knew the guy for a second, there. The way you acted so offended is hilarious! You artist types are such nerds, just like me.” She patted his chest teasingly, her eyes twinkling.

“Oh, uh, yeah. Lots of research. Definitely feels like I know quite a few of the famous artists, especially the Italian ones.”

Her laughter faded away and Isabel wiped a tear of mirth from her eye.

“Aye, I get that. Though I’ve done a lot of research on Italy myself, truth be told.

My family immigrated from there to the United States a couple of generations ago.

I’d love to go visit some day.” Her eyes drifted back to the painting, a faraway look glazing their surface.

“That’s where I live. Italy, I mean. Vernazza, to be exact. I certainly wouldn’t mind if you dropped by for a visit if you ever make it there.” Sebastian flashed her a smile, and she was struck by how large his canine teeth were. All the better for eating meat, she supposed.

She flushed a little at the thought of meeting up again with this stranger in yet another foreign country, though it was hard not to admit that she liked the idea. “It’s a pretty tempting offer from a handsome man such as yourself. But I don’t know if it’ll ever happen.”

“You made it here to see the Louvre. I have no doubt you could make a trip to Italy happen if you truly wanted to.” Sebastian winked and pulled on Isabel’s arm. “Come on. We better keep moving, or we might attract the ire of the other patrons.”

Isabel didn’t resist. Truthfully, she felt like she’d go just about anywhere Sebastian asked.

Why? She didn’t know. Deep down somewhere near her stomach, she just knew that he was someone she could trust. Someone she wanted to trust. And so she allowed him to lead her to the remaining exhibits, until they stood at the exit.

“I suppose I had best let you get on with your trip, then,” Sebastian sighed, staring out into the Parisian sunlight. He withdrew his arm and bowed slightly. “I have taken up enough of your time. Though…how long will you be in the city?”

Isabel frowned as her companion released her, but resisted the urge to reach out and take his arm back.

“Two more days. Well, all day tomorrow. I’m leaving at 9am the day after that, so I don’t think it really counts.

” She was interrupted by the sound of her stomach reminding her that she’d entirely foregone breakfast this morning.

Her cheeks became rosy and she peeked at her watch to discover that it was already 2:30.

“It sounds like lunchtime,” Sebastian teased, which only made her cheeks redder. “Would you like me to accompany you to find something to eat?”

The prospect was definitely tempting, but Isabel shook her head. Wandering a populous museum with a strange artist was one thing. Allowing him to follow her around the city? Even the feeling in her gut wasn’t loud enough to drown out her logic putting the kibosh on that.

“I don’t mind going by myself. But it was lovely to meet you, Sebastian.”

His eyes were filled with obvious disappointment, but Sebastian nodded.

“It was lovely to meet you as well, Isabel. Oh! If you wouldn’t mind waiting just a moment?

” He began patting his pockets, hands dipping in and out until they emerged with a small notebook and a pencil.

Hurriedly he wrote something on the first page, tore it out, and handed it to Isabel.

In absolutely lovely script was an address. Isabel stared at it for a moment, and Sebastian seemed anxious about the look on her face. “It’s in case you ever do decide to take a trip to Italy! Or you could just write me a letter, if you felt like it.”

“I don’t think I’ve written a letter since the project in third grade where we had a lesson on how to address and mail envelopes,” she laughed, though the thought of having an attractive foreign pen pal felt warm. “Can I see your notebook for a moment?”

Sebastian handed it over, and Isabel scribbled down her mailing address, email address, and phone number. “In case you ever want to contact me, ” she said, and handed the notebook back before whatever spell she was under could break and she lost her nerve.

Melody would 110% kill her for this when she got home.

The grin which spread across Sebastian’s face was nothing short of ecstatic. He almost reverently took the notebook and put it back in his pocket, as if afraid he’d lose it otherwise. Or that she’d swipe it back. Or maybe she was just reading far too much into his body language…

“I hope we run into each other again, Isabel.” He reached for her hand and she allowed him to raise it to his lips.

He softly pressed a kiss to her knuckles and then let her go, his hand going from hers to pulling up his hood in one smooth motion.

Sunglasses appeared from one of his pockets and as soon as they were on his face, Sebastian disappeared through the doors and into the swarming crowd outside.

Isabel blinked and shook her head for a moment, feeling like she was waking from a dream. Had that all just happened? Or was everything after standing in front of those paintings merely her imagination?

No, the slip of paper in her hand said otherwise.

Sebastian and his strangely magnetic aura were definitely real.

As were his lips, whose chill she could still feel on her skin.

Odd that he could be so bundled up, yet still have cold breath.

Must be a medical condition, she reasoned.

Her stomach again began to growl. With one last look at the Louvre, she struck out into the city in search of a much-needed meal.

* * *

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. 30 July, 2006

“A lright girl, spill. What happened in Paris? Did you manage to get over that painting obsession of yours?” Melody picked up a piece of popcorn from the bowl on the couch and tossed it at Isabel. “Can we go back to obsessing over Matt Damon instead?”

Isabel dodged the fluffy ammunition and laughed. “I think I’m satisfied with the paintings, yes. But it was so weird when I was there…there was some shadowy figure staring at me from the background. Creeped me out.”

“Probably a detail that just didn’t translate well in the photography. What else did you do over there? Did you find any good crepes?! Did you find any good men ? It is the city of love, after all!” Melody’s bright eyes searched Isabel’s face, widening when Isabel began grinning guiltily.

A loud squeal pierced Isabel’s eardrums and she covered her ears with her hands. “You DID! Girl!! How did you not tell me the moment you got back? Is he crazy hot? Do you have any pictures?!”

“I didn’t even think of taking a picture of him, actually…

” Isabel admitted. “Besides, I would have felt weird asking to take a picture of a stranger. But yes, he was definitely hot, in a ‘Prince Adam when he’s transformed back into a human with a less weird face’ kind of shaggy way.

” She blushed a little at Sebastian’s memory and how natural it felt to be tucked against his side.

Melody punched Isabel in the shoulder and shook her head. “Did you at least get his phone number? Email address? NAME?”

The expression on Isabel’s face again gave her away. “IZZY!”

“His name is Sebastian! And no, I didn’t get his phone number, but I got this?” Isabel leapt up from the couch to avoid being punched again and pulled out the piece of notebook paper, but she didn’t really need to. Melody seemed pacified and grabbed the bowl of popcorn.

Melody swiped the paper and stared at it. “Oooh, is this his address? Did you go there?!” She began tossing popcorn into her mouth dramatically, staring at Isabel.

Isabel shook her head, dodged a piece of flying popcorn, and dove under her couch blanket. “He was a tourist from Italy, Mel. Can’t you read? I couldn’t just hop in a cab and go over there! But I gave him my info. And I…might see if I can save up for a trip to Italy.”

“Girl, as your best friend, I cannot condone you traveling across the ocean to chase after a man you just met. But…as a die-hard romantic, I’m so tempted to encourage this delinquent behavior!

This is way too much like a movie to just keep that piece of paper in your pocket for the rest of your life. ”

Isabel took the page and tucked it back into her pocket.

“I don’t know about that. Keeping the address in my pocket until we’re old and grey, then running into each other randomly again sounds more like a movie plot to me.

” She stuck her tongue out at her best friend and snagged a handful of popcorn.

The movie they’d been watching was all but forgotten at this point, so Isabel turned off the TV.

“It took me an entire year to save up for my trip to France. So even if I do decide to scuttle off to Italy, it won’t be any time soon.

Maybe I’ll just borrow another trope and write him a letter.

Artsy types like that kind of thing, right? ”

“Yes, yes we do. You didn’t tell me he was an artist, Izzy! Did you ask him what medium he uses? What subjects he likes?” Melody again looked at Isabel like she was about to expound the secrets of the universe.

Isabel just shrugged. “He paints, but I don’t know what he paints. Does that really make a difference?”

A look of sheer disappointment colored Melody’s face. “Izzy, of course it makes a difference!! If you do write this man a letter, I demand that you demand that he send you a photo of himself and examples of his work. That way I can judge if he’s good enough for my best friend.”

As much as Isabel wanted to argue that she wouldn’t be demanding anything, she knew the look on Melody’s face. So she sighed and nodded. “Fine. I’ll make the hostage demands. But you’re paying for our snacks next time. Bossy butt tax.”

“I suppose I can handle that, if it means I get to gaze at your Disney Prince Italian hottie. Did you two at least go on a date? Anything?”

Another shrug. “Kind of? He joined me on my tour around the Louvre and linked arms with me like we had known each other our whole lives. He did ask me to go to lunch with him, but I decided wandering a strange city with a stranger was a terrible idea, so I declined.”

“Okay, safety first. That’s my girl! But Izzy, holding your arm like that?! He must have really thought you were one hot mama.” Melody held her hand up for a high-five, and Isabel rolled her eyes before acquiescing.

The clock on the wall began to strike midnight and Melody’s smile melted into a puddle of a frown. “Damnit, I should go to bed. I have work in the morning. But you write that man a letter and I demand to see the pictures when they get here!”

“Okay, okay, Madame Bossy Britches. Get out of here so I can write in peace.”

Melody waggled her eyebrows as she shoved her feet into her already-tied shoes, then shifted her heel up and down a few times to straighten the back. “Alright, you need some alone time. I get it. Don’t get too spicy in your first love letter and scare him off!”

“Mel!” Isabel howled, her eartips beginning to burn. She lunged forward to punch her friend in the shoulder, but with a cackle Melody rushed out the door, slamming it behind her.