I dropped my gaze from his deep, warm eyes to his outstretched hand. With a deep breath, I took it. His fingers, warm and dry, closed around mine. Inside, my soul seemed to levitate and I wasn’t sure it would come back down. Dauphine grabbed my other hand, and with a laugh, I let myself be dragged toward the Peninsula Grill.

Dauphine’s tears were forgotten as she caught a second wind and chattered nonstop until her eyes grew droopy.

Xavier signaled for the check as soon as we finished eating some appetizers and salads.

As we left the restaurant, Xavier picked Dauphine up effortlessly, and she tucked her head on his shoulder. There was no discussion of whether I should go with them, but Xavier strode away and opened the door to the courtyard for me. I slipped through, my heart getting louder in my ears.

We walked across the courtyard, the landscaping gently lit by lights even though it wasn’t dark yet. The tinkling from the central fountain made me think about peeing. I was nervous.

Xavier swiped a key card, and we entered a foyer that had stairs going up. He waved me ahead of him, and even though he had Dauphine in his arms I couldn’t help think of him following me up the stairs in Calvi. On the first level was a living room and kitchen, elegantly decorated in earth tones with modern lines and sumptuous finishes. There was another stair well going up but Xavier headed through a door to another bedroom with Dauphine. I quickly used the bathroom while Xavier helped her get her pajamas on.

“Josie,” she said sleepily when I came out.

“I’m here, love. Let’s go to the bathroom and clean your teeth. Papa will hold you up.”

She sleepily did her business, and then leaned against Xavier as I gently brushed her teeth while she slept standing up. Then he carried her to bed and kissed her forehead. I kissed her too, and then heart in my throat, I followed Xavier out to the living area.

He strolled to the kitchen. “Would you like a glass of wine? Or something else?”

“Wine would be great.” From across the counter, I watched him take down two glasses and reach into the fridge for a chilled bottle. “This is a nice hotel. One of my favorites.”

“Why’s that?” he asked, twisting the corkscrew into the top of the bottle and then popping it free with ease. His forearms, the tendons flexed, the scattering of dark hair over tanned skin, were mesmerizing. “You okay?” he asked, amused.

“I’m sorry, what?”

He shook his head and pressed his lips together to hide a smile. Then he poured two glasses and held one out to me. “I asked why it was one of your favorite hotels.”