Lost In France (Firebird Trilogy) by Jani Kay Read Free Book Online

and just the company’s way of welcoming new contractors.
    I smiled as I drifted into sleep. It had been a good journey so far; I hoped it kept going this way. I hadn’t had a moment to think about Julian Palmer since meeting Alain. The sexy Frenchman was exactly the distraction I needed right now.
    The next morning after breakfast, I signed up for the conference which was being held at the same hotel I was staying at. Happy that I could avoid peak-hour traffic, I hummed a tune as I made my way to the elevator; I hadn’t felt this upbeat in a long time. Was it something in the Paris air? Or was it the sexy man I’d hoped to see at breakfast?
    Even though I was somewhat disappointed that Alain hadn’t shown up for breakfast, I was still in a positive frame of mind throughout the morning events. But, I often caught my mind drifting to my sexy tour guide, and the way he made me feel when I was with him.
    Just as we broke for lunch, a smartly dressed hotel staff member handed me a note. Was it from Alain? My heart fluttered as I opened the note with trembling fingers.
     
    Miss Clarke,
    Have dinner with me tonight.
     
    It was an order rather than a request. I drew in a sharp breath when I recognized the now familiar signature of Maxwell Grant.
    He’s here, in Paris? Seriously?
    My stomach twisted into a tight knot. I’d only ever communicated with him via email and Skype; I had yet to meet him personally. Even on Skype he appeared intimidating, self-assured to the point of arrogance. The type of man I avoided at all costs. Besides, I was hoping to spend time with Alain tonight.
    I had no choice. If I wanted to keep my job—and I definitely did—I had to accept his invitation. After all, he was forking out an outrageous amount of money for me to deliver a series of workshops. In addition, his company had paid for my first-class flight and this luxurious hotel. And so far, I was really enjoying the Paris experience. I wanted to stay.
    My phone buzzed in my pocket, so I scribbled a reply on the note and returned it to the man who had been waiting patiently. It was a local number. I answered hesitantly.
    “Ma cherie, I have missed you,” Alain’s husky voice greeted me. My heart skipped a beat, before pumping erratically.
    “Alain, I’d hoped to see you at breakfast — ” Was I sounding too eager?
    Too bad.
    “I couldn’t join you for breakfast. I had an urgent business meeting early this morning. I can’t wait to see you again, but I will have to wait till dinner. Please, say yes.” His voice was full of expectation.
    I bit into my lip. “Um…I can’t…my new boss is in Paris. He insists I meet him for dinner. It's all business,” I said, keeping my voice light, hoping I sounded convincing.
    “Sacrebleu.” I jumped at the loud curse in my ear. Clearly he was not happy. Neither was I, but there wasn’t much I could do about it. This contract was important to me; it was giving me the opportunity to live my dream. I had to please the man signing my paychecks for now.
    Alain groaned. “I’ll have to keep you by my side at all times to ensure this doesn’t happen again. I want to see you tonight.”
    “After dinner maybe?” I offered, trying to placate him. Right now I didn’t want him to know I was just as eager to see him tonight, and secretly delighted that he was so obviously wanting to see me.
    “Definitely. If not sooner,” he growled. “I will call you at nine. Till then, Cherie.”

Chapter 12
    My mind was racing. I found it harder to focus on the afternoon’s conference session as my mind kept drifting. I hardly knew Alain and already he was so possessive. And meeting Maxwell Grant for the first time was going to be intimidating as hell.
    From what I’d heard and read, he was one of the richest men in America and one of the most successful businessmen in the world, all self-made. He’d built his company up from scratch after a harrowing and impoverished childhood. The details were sketchy,