Free Opposing Forces by Juliet Anderson Page B

a lot?”
     
    He smiled and cast his eyes down.  “Yes. I went travelling for two years around Australia and New Zealand.  It taught me a lot; I realised how stiff and solitary this beautiful country of mine is.  We Swiss are such a dull nation that we have to welcome foreigners to add some life to us.”
     
    Maisie laughed.  “I can partially agree with you.  My mother is Swiss and can be particularly dour.”
     
    “Is that why you try and hide your Swiss roots?”
     
    “Yes.  Being English you can get away with all manner of eccentricity, in fact people almost expect it.”
     
    “Did you take a year off?”
     
    “Yes, I took my gap year, as did many of my school friends and we backpacked around Asia.”
     
    “You never made it to Australia?”
     
    “No. For some reason I never felt the lure of Australia like many people I know.  It might have something to do with the size of spiders they have.”
     
    Philippe laughed.  “You take down half the police force without breaking a sweat, yet a mere spider scares you witless?”
     
    “Yup. You can never tell what a spider is going to do.  Hideous things,” she shivered.
     
    “Definitely English,” Philippe sighed.  He noticed a spare table at the bar they were just passing.  “Did you want to grab a drink?”
     
    “Sure.  I’d love a coffee and pear schnapps.” 
     
    “Did you do much surfing in Australia?”
     
    “Yes, hence the look, I guess.  It seems kind of strange to come home and be so land locked.  I’d have to travel a hell of a long way to find any decent waves. What are you into?”
     
    “I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie,” Maisie winced.  “I love horse riding, but skiing, white water rafting, parachuting, they all appeal. Anything that goes fast really.”
     
    “Rafting?” That grabbed his interest.  “Which runs have you done?”
     
    She started to list off the places she had been.   “The Vendée was good, but Durango in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado was truly scary.”
     
    “I know it by reputation but have not had the pleasure.  Have you done the Valais?  That run is terrific, especially between Susten and Sierre.”
     
    “Not yet. But now it seems I will have to,” she smiled warmly.
     
    “Perhaps you might let me take you down.” 
     
    The thought of Philippe in a tight wetsuit was more than appealing.  “I look forward to it.”
     
    Philippe stared into his coffee for a moment. There was a question he wanted to ask Maisie but not sure whether he should. To hell with it, he needed to know. He looked up suddenly and blurted it out.  “Do you mind me asking what the current situation is between you and Lavigne?”
     
    Maisie felt herself colour a little.  Of course Philippe would want to know if they had got together or not.  “Frankie and I are not in a relationship nor will ever be.  Any chance of that disappeared when he took another woman to his bed.”
     
    “Sorry,” he winced. “I had to ask.”
     
    “I thought you probably would.”
     
    “But he has not troubled you since?”
     
    Maisie shook her head.  “No. His team captain, James, who is engaged to Julianne, made him see sense for now.”
     
    “Maybe he thinks you might reconsider after a few months apart from him?”
     
    “And pigs might fly,” she grinned. “Now enough talk about him. I want to know more about you. Which area of the city do you live in?”
     
    “The north, up near the hospital.”
     
    “Alone or do you share?”
     
    “I share with a friend who is a doctor at the hospital.  With our varying shifts, it’s not often we actually meet up.”
     
    “I know what you mean.  I can go an age without seeing Julianne. Much as I adore sharing with her, I do sometimes like to be on my own.”
     
    Philippe was twirling his schnapps glass in his hand, she knew he had another awkward question for her.  “Go ahead and ask,” she smiled. 
     
    He grinned and looked up.  “You appear