Free Mistress for Hire by Letty James Page B

Mademoiselle.”
    Nikki jumped. A short man, exactly her height, with tufted orange hair, stood before her, wearing a chef’s white coat and black and white checkered pants. He held a knife the size of Texas.
    “ Bonjour, Monsieur . I just came to see the kitchen.”
    “Now you’ve seen it.” He shrugged in dismissal and continued butchering the meat in front of him. The man from last night appeared from behind a set of double doors.
    “Nikki Sommers. Monsieur Beauvais’s assistant.” Nikki stuck out her hand.
    The man shook it with a firm grip and a slight smile. “Didiér Horan. Also Monsieur Beauvais’s assistant.”
    The chef snorted and Monsieur Horan said, “You have met Chef Guiscard?”
    Nikki started. “Guiscard? Are you related to Gérard and Madame Emmaline Guiscard?”
    The chef merely raised his eyebrow, apparently a family trait, while Horan said, “Jean-Luc is a distant cousin.” Then before Nikki could continue, he said “Did you require something else to eat, Mademoiselle ?”
    “No, thank you. Breakfast was lovely.”
    “We’re glad you enjoyed it. Would you like the car brought around, Mademoiselle ?”
    “Yes, Monsieur Horan. And please, call me Nikki. I’ve forgotten my coat. I’ll be right back.” Nikki said her goodbyes with a little bow, feeling more intimidated by these two than she did by Gérard. Didiér gave a little bow back and Jean-Luc rolled his eyes at both of them.
    She let the door swing shut behind her, then stopped when she overheard Didiér comment.
    “I hear she wants to learn pastry.”
    “Where did you hear that?”
    “ Tante Emmaline. Mademoiselle Sommers showed up at the shop yesterday looking for a job. She sent her to Gérard.”
    Silence. Nikki leaned back toward the door, feeling guilty for eavesdropping, but doing it anyway.
    “Why? To learn pastry, she has to be at the shop.”
    “ Tante thinks it’s time Gérard got married.”
    A bark of laughter sounded. “Just like she thought about Jessica.”
    A snort of laughter erupted from the chef. “This should be interesting.”
    Nikki dashed off upstairs, mortification pushing her every step of the way. Something had been going on between Gérard and Jessica. Was Gérard so desperate to talk to Jessica that he was using Nikki as bait to lure her sister back to Paris? How easily Nikki had fallen for Gérard’s flirting and teasing—and lies. Tears threatened as she searched for her cape. Foolish girl. Obviously, she was desperate for affection after Tim’s abrupt betrayal. Childish fantasies had spun in her brain like cotton candy ever since her first glimpse of Gérard. It was time to grow up and get beyond the fairytales.
    Nikki took a deep breath. Oh, heavens, this could be a mess. She took off her glasses and dabbed at her eyes. One thing at a time.
    She found a coat rack in the corner, but instead of her travel-stained maroon cape, there hung a woman’s coat in cream wool in her size. Searching the armoire and finding no real closet, she deduced the coat also came from the clothing fairy. She stroked the luxurious fabric. It would be way too easy to get used to this. From the top of her head scented with Gérard’s shampoo down to the toes of her gift boots, she was a bought woman.
    Nikki chewed on her lip trying to decide what to do next. Perhaps she was being hasty. After all, she’d heard nothing specific. Perhaps she’d misunderstood. Gérard didn’t act like a man with a broken heart, surely it involved more angst. He seemed amused or annoyed by her. And he had flirted and teased, and oh, that kiss. Nikki collapsed on the couch at the sudden recollection of her nuzzling his neck as he carried her upstairs. The coat slipped to the floor as she pressed her flaming cheeks.
    Oh, God . How could she have forgotten that singular detail? She had certainly egged him on, hadn’t she?
    Nikki snatched up her cell phone to call Jessica and found the phone dead. Of course, her charger had been in