Free Baguette Murder: Book 3 (A Patisserie Mystery with Recipes) by Harper Lin Page B

already from their balconies. However, to be in the center of the “star” of the twelve streets was fun; she especially loved looking out to Rue Champs-Elysées, the famous boulevard with its perfectly manicured trees. Arthur pointed out La Defense in the north west, poking fun at how industrial and futuristic it looked compared to central Paris. Under the sunny blue sky, the rooftops of the Haussuman buildings were more blue than gray and the trees looked more lush and green. The city was really a photographer’s dream.  

    “Do you think Paris is more beautiful when it’s sunny or in the rain?” Arthur asked.

    Clémence took the question seriously and she took a moment to ponder it.

    “I don’t know.” She sighed. “I just love Paris. I’ll take the city anytime as it is.”  

    “It’s funny. You’re French, but you’re still in love with Paris.”  

    “But I love Paris not the way a vacationer would. I love Paris unconditionally. I accept the good and the bad. Besides, I grew up in the suburbs, so I don’t take everything for granted like you do. What do you think? Sun or rain?”  

    “The weather changes its mood,” said Arthur. “When it’s sunny, like today, it’s full of hope and happiness. People are out. They’re more relaxed. When it rains, it’s romantic as well, but in a somber, melancholy way. The way you feel watching a black and white movie. The only time when I don’t think Paris is pretty is when the sky is entirely overtaken by gray clouds. Then everything is and dreary. Personally, I prefer Paris in the sun. Because, right now, your face is all lit up, and you seem to be glowing.”  

    He leaned in and kissed her. His lips were soft and it grazed over hers ever so slightly until he pulled her in and pressed into her. She felt the heat start from the lips, spreading down to her chest until her entire body was tingling.  

    When they pulled away, Clémence couldn’t look at him. It was everything a first kiss should be and she needed to recover so Arthur wouldn’t see how much he’d affected her. She looked around at the other tourists. At least two other couples were making out as well.

    Clémence let out an embarrassed laugh. Arthur looked where she was looking at, at one of the couples, kissing furiously.  

    “They look like they’re trying to bite each other’s heads off,” he mused. “Don’t you wish that we didn’t have to share this city with all these people?”  

    Clémence imagined a city devoid of people. “No. It’s not so bad. I’d rather be bombarded by cheesy tourists under the spell of the city, rather than the jaded French. Their optimism balances out our extreme cynicism. Although we do fall under the spell of the city when we’re not careful. Right now, I feel like a tourist like everyone else here. I’m surprised you’re so taken with this place too.”  

    “I’m taken with you,” he said. “You asked what’s gotten into me earlier. Well, it’s you. At first, I don’t know, I didn’t think much of it—us, I mean. Sure, you were cute, but plenty of girls are cute.”  

    “Thanks a lot,” she said.

    “But the more I got the know you, the more I started to like you. Then I got to the point when I just couldn’t stop thinking about you. There’s just something about you that makes me want to, I don’t know, be more kind around you.”

    Clémence chuckled. “That’s actually kind of sweet. You know, you can be nice when you want to be.”  

    “And like I said, I stopped messing around with those other girls. It just started feeling so empty after a while, being with a girl I can’t even have a conversation with.”  

    “You think we have good conversations?”

    “You challenge me. Sure, you seem to know nothing about macroeconomics, but at this point, it’s not like it’s something I want to talk about since I’m working on it day and night. You’re creative and clever, and that intrigues me. Besides,