Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 61922 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61922 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
“Gerard sucks,” Winnie deadpanned.
“It takes two to tango, doesn’t it? Colin was unhappy, and I didn’t know it. According to him, the writing was on the wall, and it should have been evident to me that we weren’t a good match anymore. His list was extraordinarily detailed. I worked too much, I never remembered birthdays or anniversaries, and the sex was…uninspired and infrequent.”
He wrinkled his nose. “Ouch.”
“Maybe it was true, but it hardly mattered. He had feelings for my handsome business associate.” I fixed my gaze on the glint of fading sunlight on the Seine. “They’re married now and have a lovely home in Dijon…or I’ve heard. We’re not friends, but we’re friendly out of necessity. I see Gerard at conferences, and occasionally he’ll turn up in London to discuss various projects. And it’s all very normal.”
“Except for the part where he stole your man.”
“He didn’t steal Colin.” I quirked a brow, adding, “He lured him away and absconded with him. That’s quite different.”
Winnie elbowed me playfully. “Ahh, see? You have a good sense of humor.”
“I try. As I mentioned, it’s been years. I know evidence suggests I’m not over it, but I am. I have to be. Gerard has worked on countless excavations, and we collaborate quite often. Always have. Unfortunately, I’m not good with people. Even ones I’ve known for years, so…it’s awkward.”
“Yeah, but you get a hall pass for the absconding part.”
“It’s not as though I want Colin back,” I said. “However, it would be nice if I could meet Gerard by chance at a hotel lobby and know for certain that I wouldn’t panic, forget how to speak, or say something that makes it sound as if I still care when I don’t.”
“I can help with that.”
“Thanks, Winnie. But I don’t need help.”
“You do,” he insisted. “The good news is…it’s easy. You’ve already self-diagnosed. You work too much, and your feng wee is off.”
“Feng shui?”
“That’s it.” Winnie twisted on the bench and pointed at my chest. “I’m gonna be real with you, Professor. You’ve forgotten how to have fun. I understand that old civilizations are your jam, but you live in the twenty-first century and you need to relearn how to socialize with people in this era.”
“I’m perfectly capable of socializing, thank you very much,” I huffed haughtily.
“When was the last time you let loose and had a drink or three, went dancing, or flirted with a sexy man?”
I felt around on the bench for my phone. “It’s been a while. I just had my mobile, didn’t I?”
“It’s still in your pocket.”
“Oh, yes. Thank you.”
“You flirted with me earlier today. I’m a sexy man…if I do say so myself.” He certainly was. “We didn’t go dancing, but we’ve been hanging out all day, and I ordered wine with lunch, so the answer is today. Well done, Alistair.”
I chuckled lightly. “Thanks, but I didn’t flirt with you. You’re an assistant, and circumstances are…”
“Ambidextrous?” he offered.
“Ambiguous.”
“That’s the word.”
I furrowed my brow. “No, I don’t think that word applies either. Our roles aren’t ambiguous. I’m your employer.”
“Only temporarily. Formalities don’t apply. I mean, c’mon…I would never spend the day hanging out with my boss back home. In spite of the fact that he’s overlooked me too often for my sanity, he’s a nice guy, but…it would have been weird. This doesn’t feel weird.” Winnie gestured between us meaningfully.
He was right. It didn’t feel weird in the slightest.
“No, I suppose you’re right.”
“I am, and that’s what makes me the perfect person to get you out of your social funk,” he continued. “Circumstances couldn’t be better ’cause I’ve got the blahs too. A different variation from yours. Mine is more of a ‘What am I doing with my life?’ funk, but it’s still a funk and I don’t like it. Solution: we’re both going to take Paris!”
Winnie threw his arms open wide and tilted his head to the sky, a moonbeam smile lighting his beautiful face.
“Take Paris…where?”
“It’s an expression, silly. I propose we paint the town and do something fun every day. We can take turns expanding our horizons. I should see things and get cultured, and since you’re an expert, you can be my guide. In return, I’ll help you explore clubs and bars so you can practice honing your dormant sexy skills.”
I balked. “No, thank you. I have no desire to go to bars, and my sexy skills aren’t dormant, they’re nonexistent.”
“No way. I don’t believe it.”
“Well, you should. I haven’t so much as kissed a man in five years,” I admitted, pushing my glasses to the bridge of my nose.
Winnie lifted one brow in what might have been surprise. “Kiss me.”
“I-I…wh-what?” I sputtered.
“Kiss me,” he repeated.
“I-I can’t kiss you.”
“Of course you can…for all the reasons we already discussed. It’s just a facet in our quest to take Paris. Is facet the right word?”