After they reached the apartment and he’d parked, she turned to him. “Thank you for tonight. I’ll remember it forever.”
“So will I, but it’s only the beginning for us, Cami.” His eyes burned like dark fires as they studied her features. Then he reached for the food and came around to her side of the car to open her door.
When they reached the apartment door, he rocked her back and forth in his arms, hugging her for a long time. She wanted to invite him in and never let him go, but she couldn’t. The man had suffered too much to go through any more trauma in his life.
“Before I go, let’s make plans for tomorrow evening. Alain has his checkup at the doctor’s tomorrow afternoon. After we get back, I’ll cook dinner for the three of us and we’ll have a fun evening at home.”
She eased away from him. “I have an even better idea. Tomorrow afternoon Maman and I are taking the afternoon off. I’ll bring the groceries and cook dinner. It’s my turn to wait on you.” Cami wanted to do something special for him after all he’d done for her.
“If you mean that, nothing could make me happier,” he murmured against her lips. “I’ll leave the back door open for you. À bientôt, ma belle.”
Cami’s body hummed as she entered the apartment. He’d set her on fire and she was burning up with desire. Once inside the apartment, the first thing she saw were the fabulous lavender roses, a reminder of Raoul, a man who was larger than life. She’d never forget this day for as long as she lived.
“Maman? I’ve brought you dinner, compliments of Le Petit Auberge.”
Her mother emerged from the other room. “You mean Raoul Fontesquieu. How did he handle what you had to tell him?”
“I didn’t say anything, but there’s a reason. Sit down and I’ll explain why.”
By the time she’d explained everything about Sabine’s lie, including the fact that the little baby he’d loved had died of a bad heart, her mother looked shocked and saddened.
“What a shame when you’re both in love with each other. Anyone can see that. Doesn’t he deserve to know what’s going to happen, no matter how painful it might be for him?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” She was still struggling with the pain of what the result could be following the operation. The worst result was too excruciating to contemplate. On her way to bed, she took the roses with her.
* * *
Friday morning Nathalie came to the villa to help Raoul interview a woman for the nanny position. The trim brunette Parisian widow had no children and was in her early fifties.
For three years she’d been a nanny for a diplomat’s family in Paris following the death of her husband. The family no longer needed her. Since her married sister lived in Vence, she’d decided to apply for a nanny’s job here to be near her only living family.
She reminded Raoul a little of Minerve, very down to earth and came with impeccable credentials. Nathalie appeared to like her too. Alain moved back and forth and played with his blocks. He didn’t seem to mind a stranger being there and responded favorably to some of the things she said to him.
Raoul gave her a brief background on Alain so she’d understand this would be hard for his son to get used to a new nanny. Following a tour of the villa and an inspection of the nursery, she indicated she’d like to take care of Alain. The decision was made to hire her temporarily and see how things went. She could move into the guest room in the upstairs hall next to the nursery at any time.
Alain scuttled off Nathalie’s lap and ran to him. It caught at his heart that he and his son had a special bond already. He lifted him and hugged him hard.
“He’s a precious boy, Monsieur Fontesquieu.”
“He is. Please call me Raoul.”
“And the two of you call me Delphine.” She got to her feet. “I’ll leave now, and be back tomorrow.”
Raoul kept Alain in his arms while he saw Delphine to the front door. “From now on, plan to park in the back. Here’s the key to the back door.”
“Très bien. Au revoir, Alain.” She touched his son’s cheek before leaving.
He shut the door, feeling an enormous weight lift from his heart that he’d found a woman he could work with. Though there were no guarantees, hopefully Alain would learn to like her, but it would take time.
His son squirmed to get down. Raoul lowered him to the floor and they walked back to the sitting room to find Nathalie.
She smiled at him. “I like her, Raoul. She’s solid and very cute with Alain.”
“I agree with you. I think it’ll work with Delphine.”
“I couldn’t be happier for you. After you’ve taken Alain to the doctor, why don’t you drive him to La Gaude? Mom and I will tend him. Later Dom and I will bring him back in time for bed. You don’t know how much I miss him.”
His sister-in-law knew he was dying to be alone with Cami. There were no secrets at this point. “You’re sure?”