Free Foreign Love (An International Sports Romance) (Love in Shades) by Cassie-Ann L. Miller Page A

surgery and I didn’t give him an answer. So, now he’s breaking up with me. I guess I can’t blame him.
     
    Then, he continues. “You’re going to need more of your clothes. Maybe some things with long sleeves. For our trip to Théoule-sur-mer.”
     
    I look at him, feeling confused. “Our trip to Théoule-sur-mer?”
     
    His eyebrows furrow at me. “Yes. I told you I’d take you there with me.”
     
    A smile curls my lips. “You were serious?”
     
    His frown deepens. “Yes. Why wouldn’t I be?”
     
    “Because we only just met.”
     
    “Julia – sometimes your soul just recognizes another’s. Sometimes, you just know and it’s not a matter of how long you’ve known the person or how many days the calendar tells you that you’ve spent together…Sometimes, you just know. ”
     
    My heart trips all over itself.
     
    “So, we will go to your flat tomorrow. Get you some clothes. We will leave in two days.”
     
    “I have an appointment with Cynthia tomorrow,” I say.
     
    “Perfect. After your appointment, we’ll go get your clothes. And the day after, we will go visit my family.”
     
    Then, he seems to remember something he forgot. “Shit – tomorrow night my team has an important soccer practice. Some of the officials from the Olympic team are coming to watch us play.”
     
    I feel myself beam. “I want to go with you.”
     
    He gives me a surprised look. “You do?”
     
    “Yes. I want to go to football practice with you.”
     

Chapter 23
     
    Julia
     
     
    Geneviève stands in the hallway like a deer in the headlights as I step inside the apartment, Lucien trailing just behind me.
     
    “Lucien Beauvier?” she says breathlessly as we walk towards her.
     
    “ Geneviève, je présume? Enchanté ,” he says stepping towards her with an outstretched hand and a huge grin.
     
    I swear my roommate looks like she’s about to swoon. “ Enchanté ,” she says mesmerized as she shakes his hand.
     
    “I just came by to pick up some clothes,” I say, breaking her trance.
     
    “Yes, yes,” she says dismissively without even glancing my way. She chats with Lucien in a quick, excited French as I head off to my room to fill up my messenger bag with clothes. When I return a few moments later, the two are laughing and talking like old friends. Geneviève is complimenting him on his performance in what appears to have been an epic game between France and Germany a year ago.
     
    “Geneviève, I’ll be in Théo-mer –“
     
    “Théoule-sur-mer,” Lucien corrects me again with a small smile.
     
    “–In Théoule-sur-mer for a few days,” I tell my roommate.
     
    Her eyebrows jerk in surprise. “Oh?”
     
    “I’m taking her to show her off to my family,” Lucien says proudly as he curls a tattooed bicep around my shoulder. “Do not worry. I will take good care of her.”
     
    “Okay,” she says slowly as she appraises Lucien again, inch by delicious inch. “ Amusez - vous !”
     
    “It was great to meet you, Geneviève,” Lucien says bracing my roommate by the shoulders as they quickly exchange kisses on each cheek in that way that the French do.
     
    Then, Lucien grabs my bag and steps out the front door.
     
    Geneviève grabs me by the wrist, giving me an over-zealous look. “Oh…my…god…” she mouths to me as I go.
     
    I give her a smug grin. “I know. I know.”

Chapter 24
     
    Julia
     
     
    The other players darted off the field nearly half an hour ago, but Lucien is still on the pitch, engaged in what appears to be a heated conversation with the coach. Even from up here in the stands, I can see the frustration on his gorgeous face and his angry dramatic hand gestures only confirm my suspicions.
     
    I sit in the stands sketching away in my notebook. I saw a woman in the most gorgeous canary yellow shift dress this afternoon and it implanted a few original ideas of my own in my brain, so I want to draw it out before I forget it.
     
    Finally, I hear