throat felt tight all the way back to the château where she discovered the gate had been closed. A symbolic dagger for the trespasser to beware?
She closed her eyes, afraid she was being as superstitious as her father. After a minute, she reached for her purse and pulled out the remote. Once she’d driven on through, she shut it again, then continued on to the courtyard.
After getting out of the car, she tried to open the front door, but it was locked and Alex’s truck was nowhere in sight. He might still be around the back, working. Acting on that possibility, she drove to the other end of the château. It wound around to the orchard.
He wasn’t there.
A hollow sensation crept through her. She checked her watch. It was already eight o’clock. Disturbed that he might have made plans with a woman and had gone into Angers for dinner, she drove to the front of the château once more.
Of course she could phone him, but he wouldn’t appreciate a call if he was with someone else. Besides, he’d thought she’d gone back to the Hermitage for good. The only thing to do was drive to the next village in the opposite direction from Chanzeaux where she wouldn’t run into her father by accident. After grabbing a bite to eat, she would come back and wait for Alex.
“Bonsoir, Monsieur Martan.”
“Bonsoir, Madame Fournier. Has Mademoiselle Lofgren checked in yet?” He hadn’t seen Dana’s car outside.
She shook her head. “Non, monsieur. She doesn’t have a reservation here.”
“Then her father isn’t staying here, either?”
“But of course he is! The person in the adjoining room is Mademoiselle Brusse. She’s an actress doing a film with le fameux Monsieur Lofgren.”
His hands clenched in reaction. If Dana hadn’t come here, then she’d probably driven into Angers to get herself a hotel room. The last trip to the landfill had cost him time before he’d showered and changed clothes, thus the reason he’d missed her.
“Merci, madame.” Before she could detain him with more gossip, he went back outside to phone Dana from the truck. It rang seven times. He was about ready to hang up in frustration when he heard her voice.
“Alex?” She sounded out of breath.
“What’s wrong?” he demanded without preamble.
“My left front tire is flat. I’ve been trying to work the jack, but I’ve been having problems. Pretty soon I’ll figure it out.”
The band constricting his lungs tightened. “Where are you exactly?”
“Somewhere on the road between Rablay and Beaulieu.”
“I’m on my way.” He started the engine and drove away from the hotel. “Stay in your car and lock the doors.”
“Don’t worry about me.”
“What caused you to go in that direction?”
“When you weren’t at the château, I decided to get dinner in the next village, but I never made it.”
The blood hammered in his ears. “You came by the château?”
“Yes. Dad and Saskia have been quarreling. It’s nothing new, but while they work things out she’s going to stay in the adjoining room.”
“Why did you come back?”
“In order to ask if I could rerent my bedroom so to speak, that is if you don’t mind.”
He muttered something unintelligible under his breath.
“What did you say, Alex? I’m not sure we have a good connection.”
This had nothing to do with the connection. His hand tightened on the steering wheel. “And your father approves?”
There was a brief silence. “No. Does that mean there’s no room at the inn?”
Ciel! “You know better than to ask that question.” The fact was just beginning to sink in that she’d come to him whether her father liked it or not.
“You sound upset. In case I’ve ruined your plans for the evening, please forget about me. If I can’t fix the tire, I’ll walk to the château and wait until you come home later.”
“No, you won’t—” A woman who looked like her wasn’t safe in daylight. Alex didn’t even want to think about her being alone in the dark.
“I realize you think I’m too young to do anything on my own, but I’m not helpless.”
“Age has nothing to do with it. I’m just being careful.”
“Point taken,” she admitted in a quiet voice.
His body relaxed. “Where would you like to eat tonight?”
“You mean you haven’t had dinner, either?”
“As a matter of fact, I went to the Hermitage in the hope we could drive into Angers for a meal, but Madame Fournier informed me a certain actress had taken over your room.”
“Saskia didn’t waste any time announcing herself.”
“Madame Fournier lives for such moments.”
Her sigh came through the line, infiltrating his body. “I don’t want to talk about either of them. I’m too hungry. To be honest my mouth has been watering for one of those quiches we bought in Angers. Are there any left?”
He smiled. “I’ve saved everything for us. There’s more than plenty for several meals.” Alex preferred dining in tonight where he didn’t have to share her with anyone. While his thoughts were on their evening ahead, he saw her car at the side of the road and pulled off behind her. “Don’t be alarmed. I’ve got your car in my headlights.”
“I have to admit I’m glad it’s you. I’ll hang up.”
Alex heard the slight quiver in her voice before the line went dead. Though he had no doubt she could handle herself in most situations, her relief was evident. So was his now that he’d caught up to her.
After shutting off the ignition, he reached in the glove box for his flashlight and got out of the truck. She rolled down the window and poked her beautiful golden head out the opening. He caught the flash of those startling blue eyes in the light.
“Did I do it wrong?”
For a second he was so concentrated on her, everything else went out of his mind. “Let me take a look,” he murmured, before shining the light on the tire. It was flat, all right.
She climbed out of the car. “What can I do to help?”
Her flowery fragrance seduced him. “If you’ll hold the flashlight right there, I’ll have this changed in a minute.”
Their fingers brushed in the transfer,
