“Snappy,” I reiterated. “The way you look at me feels like …” I trailed off, then cleared my throat. “Never mind. Anyway, it feels as though you have been avoiding me. Have you?” I asked before my brain caught up with my mouth. Might as well ask him straight out.

His expression remained unchanged, though there was a long pause before he answered slowly. “Why would I do that?”

“It seems like you have been.” I lifted a shoulder as if it had been just a casual observation.

“I think I have too much work going on and too many important things on my mind than worrying about where you are at all times. I … like you just fine. I’m sorry if I’ve made you feel otherwise,” he said flatly. “That was not my intention. As long as my daughter is safe, that’s all I should care about.”

“Of course.” I bit down hard. “Okay. As long as there is not something I can do differently.”

“I don’t think that’s possible,” he said cryptically after a long pause. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a few more reports to read.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

My American phone beeped with an incoming text as I pulled on a fresh t-shirt from my laundry pile. After Dauphine and I swam while Xavier was on a conference call, I’d had a quick shower to get the salt off. This morning we’d stopped off at a small bay, and this afternoon we’d be docking back in St. Tropez. I was looking forward to getting off the boat again and having a night off.

I hurriedly swished some mouthwash to freshen up and wound my wet hair into a top knot, then grabbed my phone. There were two text messages from Meredith.

Mer: Update! I think I know what he said in French. Lol. Call me later.

Mer: Oh crap. Tabitha just said she got an email from him and asked if I’d heard from you. Call me!

My heart thudded, and I frowned and perched on the edge of my bed while I dialed Meredith’s number. It went to voicemail. “Shit,” I murmured and gritted my teeth as I dialed Tabs.

“Hey, Josie,” she answered on the first ring.

“Tabs! How are you? Isn’t it the wedding this weekend? You must be so busy.”

She gave a short laugh. “My sister has the world’s most intense wedding planner. Everything is ready, but I’m so busy because the damn planner and my sister have micro-managed everyone’s time down to the minute. We’re on a packed schedule. I have hair and make up for the rehearsal dinner in, I kid you not, seventeen minutes. Not fifteen. Not twenty. Seventeen.”

“Yikes. That does sound intense. But you’re having fun though, right?”

“I am.”

“And what about the hometown guy you were worried about seeing? He there?”