Free What If It's Love?: A Contemporary Romance Set in Paris (Bistro La Bohème Book 1) by Alix Nichols Page A

round eyes and shook her head. “Can we change the topic, please?”
    “Sure. How about paragliding?”
    She ignored his question. “So, what’s the plan after you graduate?”
    “In the short-term, finding a good job. Preferably, in the energy sector.
In the long-term, running my own business.”
    She nodded, impressed. “You’ve got it all figured out.”
    “What about you?”
    “I don’t really know. Establishing myself as a literary
translator . . . Or maybe an academic
career . . .” She gazed at the shimmering river below them. “But
I guess my short-term plan is to just hang around in Paris and try to figure
out what I want to do with my life.”
    “I like your plan,” he said.
    * * *

Lena was making her way through a plate of garlic butter snails that Rob
had recommended, when her phone rang.
    Even though Anton sounded cheerful and breezy, something was off. He didn’t
press her for the details of her day. Lena remembered all too well the last
time her dad had shown that kind of neglect. He’d gotten into serious trouble
with a corrupt government official and narrowly escaped arrest.
    Having ascertained she was fine, he said he had to go and wished her
good-night. But Lena’s imagination had gone berserk. Five minutes later, she
called him back, too worried to wait until they would talk again tomorrow.
Anton answered the phone. Lena could hear him apologize to whomever he was with
and then it sounded like he was moving. A few seconds later, he asked her if
anything was wrong.
    “No, Dad, I’m fine. I was worried about you, actually. Are you OK? “
    “Yes, I’m perfectly OK. Why?”
    He did sound OK and even slightly . . . amused? Now, this
was awkward. In all honesty, Lena couldn’t very well reply “Because you were a
lot less interested in my life than usual.” She would come across as someone
immature, which she probably was. Too late to uncall him now, so she’d better
come up with an explanation.
    “Because you sounded . . . distracted?” she finally
managed to say.
    “Did I?”
    Lena could hear the smile in his voice and, despite her embarrassment, a
weight was lifted off her shoulders. She was about to apologize and hang up,
when he said, “You’re right, pumpkin, I was distracted.”
    She waited for him to continue.
    “I guess I’ll have to tell you sooner or later, so I can as well do it
now.” He cleared his throat. “In fact, I just proposed to Anna and she accepted.
I was having dinner with her when you called—”
    “Oh my God!” Lena nearly screamed. “Are you serious? I can’t believe it!
But when did you . . . ? How long have
you . . . ?” Lena had trouble finishing her sentences. Her
mind raced.
    This was big—and she wasn’t sure how she felt about it. She knew
about Anna but had never met her. Dad had been seeing her for a few months now,
at least as far as Lena was aware. He never let on how serious the relationship
had grown. As far as she was concerned, he still maintained that remarrying
wasn’t on his agenda for the next couple of centuries. So, Anna was special to
him, and Lena had had no clue. That sort of stung.
    “I met Anna through work. She’s a lawyer, thirty-four, never been
married, no children. She’s clever, kind, generous—”
    “Dad!” Lena interrupted. “You’re in love.”
    “I am? I guess I am.” He chuckled. “Anyhow, she’s accepted my proposal to
become my wife and your stepmother, which is very brave of her.”
    “We don’t bite,” Lena said.
    “No. But as you’re too young and I’m too old to share her taste in music,
clothes and movies, she’s in for a rough ride.” Then his voice became serious. “Lena,
darling, can you promise me to be nice to Anna?”
    “Of course I will, Dad!” Lena was about to add that she hoped Anna would be
nice to him, but she bit her tongue. Somehow, it felt unfair to spoil his
moment of joy by alluding to the past. “I’m looking forward to meeting