“Delphine LaVaux is older and solid as Natalie said. She was a nanny in Paris for three years. Best of all, Alain didn’t act shy around her or fuss like he did with the other women.”
“Sounds like a good sign. You must be ecstatic.”
“It’s a start. She’ll be over tomorrow to spend the day with him. Things are slowly falling into place. By the way, I love this veal dinner. You’re a wonderful cook.”
“Thank you. It was fun to prepare with all the new kitchen equipment.”
“Since Nathalie will be bringing Alain home in a few hours, I thought we’d sit in front of the fire.”
“I’ll do the dishes first.”
“Leave everything. I’ll take care of things after you go home.” But while they were talking, his phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and flashed her a frustrated look. “I have to take this call. Excuse me for a minute.”
After he left the kitchen, Cami had time to clear the table and start to load the dishwasher. When he returned, he looked preoccupied. The happy expression he’d brought in to the villa was no longer in sight.
“I have to go to the office and meet Jean-Pierre. It’s an emergency.”
Cami’s heart sank. “I totally understand.”
“There’s no one like you.” He brushed his mouth against hers. “I’ll walk you out to your car. You have no idea how sorry I am, but I’ll make it up to you. Since tomorrow is Saturday, I want to spend the whole day with you. I’ll call you later tonight to make plans.”
A whole day with Raoul? Nothing could sound more divine, but it disturbed Cami to see he was upset right now though he tried to hide it. He helped her on with her coat and walked her out to the Citroën.
“Drive home safely, mon amour. I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you.”
His words and endearment haunted her all the way home.
It had never occurred to Cami that in cleaning other people’s houses, she’d meet Raoul Fontesquieu, a man who had the power to make all other men melt into insignificance.
The results of her heart operation would determine if she ever saw him again. It frightened her that she could finally count in hours how long it would be before she checked into the hospital. Right now she couldn’t comprehend life without him.
CHAPTER EIGHT
ON HIS WAY to the office at the vineyard, the conversation with Jean-Pierre went through Raoul’s mind. Something was wrong. His cousin wanted help dealing with the Frères Oliviers in Aix, but that didn’t make sense. They’d come to the meeting in Fréjus and there’d been no trouble. To Raoul’s dismay he heard a trace of panic in his cousin’s voice and knew he needed to get to the bottom of it.
The call couldn’t have come at a worse moment. He’d needed time with Cami tonight, but it would have to wait until tomorrow. To walk out on her after the marvelous dinner she’d made crushed him, but it couldn’t be helped.
When he arrived at his old office and walked inside, it was his graying father who was waiting for him. Heavy lines marked his face.
Today had been full of surprises! First Sabine. Now his father.
There was no sign of Jean-Pierre, which meant this meeting had been concocted to force the inevitable confrontation. Poor Jean-Pierre who now had to function under Raoul’s father.
At last the moment had come Raoul had been waiting for. He was ready.
His tall, thin parent stood there on the verge of exploding. “What do you mean putting Jean-Pierre officially in charge?”
“My cousin is perfect for the position and has earned it. I told you the day Gran’pere died that I didn’t want the CEO position, nor would I continue to be the head of Marketing and Sales. I’ve quit.”
For once Raoul knew he’d shocked him, and took advantage of the silence.
“Since I’ve developed my own company, I’ve resigned my position and have separated myself completely from our family business.
“By now you should have received my official resignation in an email. I sent it before I left for Fréjus. I expect you to correct the announcement you made to the media. If you don’t, it will bring you more headaches, not me.”
His father’s cheeks went a ruddy color. “Sabine told me she met your illicit lover earlier today. I’d hoped that news was a piece of fiction.”
Raoul knew it. Sabine’s visit to the villa where she’d met Cami had ignited his father’s wrath to the exploding point. It made sense this was confrontation was happening now.