came the reply, and Emma felt herself tense as the familiar voice of her ex-husband sounded over the line.
“Brice,” she said, making an effort to keep her tone reasonably pleasant.
“How are you?”
“I just finished making dinner for Avery. Would you like to speak with her?” She knew the answer before she even asked, but she was forever hoping Brice would take more notice of his daughter.
“Ah, yes, well, that’s what I’m calling about, chérie.”
She gritted her teeth against his persistent use of the endearment. They had been divorced for five years, and he still, out of either habit or more likely to irritate her, insisted on tossing the word into every other sentence.
“I am not your amour,” she reminded him for the countless time and wished he would get on with it.
He ignored her tone and forged ahead. “Yes, well, I just wanted to say that I will be unable to spend next weekend with Avery as I said I would. Other plans have come up.”
Emma leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. Brice had begun seeing someone new in recent months—Christine—and it seemed his time with her always superseded any plans with his daughter.
“And what if I should need to reach you?”
He chuckled, the tone faintly bitter. “Why should you need to reach me, hmm? We never speak unless it concerns our daughter.”
“And even then, the conversations are rare.”
She could tell her goading had annoyed him because his voice was clipped when he replied.
“You were the one who wanted to have the child, Emma. I told you we were too busy for such commitments.”
The words pierced far more deeply than she would have admitted. “I don’t regret my choice,” she murmured in reply. “Avery is a greater blessing than I might have imagined.”
“Oui,” Brice sneered, his disdain leaking through the phone line. “And it’s why you chose her over me.”
Emma’s shoulders sagged with weariness. “It was never a competition, Brice. I could have loved you both.”
“But you didn’t.”
His resentment was clear, and she didn’t have the energy nor the desire to argue with him. Brice had chosen to believe her love for him should outweigh her love for their child. He wanted to be the center of her attention. She had fought with him to keep the baby once she learned of her pregnancy, but after Avery was born, things changed. Her entire world had homed in on that single, delicate life she held in her arms. Brice had seen motherhood dawn upon her...and he had never forgiven her for it.
“Very well. I will tell her you send your love.”
“If you wish.”
In truth, she had not even said anything to Avery about spending a weekend with her father. She had long ago learned not to get her daughter’s hopes up where Brice was concerned.
She had been about to ask if Brice wished to reschedule when she realized his end of the line had gone dead. Releasing a sigh, she returned the phone to its cradle and went to tell Avery it was time for dinner.
* * *
COLE DORSET SAT across from Julien Arnaud and watched in awe as the man attacked his dinner with a Frenchman’s gusto. Steamed mussels dredged in a butter, garlic and lemon sauce; sautéed sweetbreads with a spicy tomato ragout; a salad of crisp apples, fennel and walnuts; and pommes frites.
Cole found dinner with Julien as much entertainment as sustenance. After several moments of being watched, the other man finally seemed to realize he was an object of attention. He raised his head and dabbed at a drop of butter on his chin.
“Is something the matter with your meal?” He gestured toward Cole’s partially eaten entrée of stuffed ravioli with broad beans and white asparagus. It was the only vegetarian dish on the restaurant’s menu.
“Not at all. It’s delicious.” And it was, but Cole found his appetite lacking after his first day at the Aquitaine offices. He was tired and a tad homesick, as well, but he would not admit it to Julien.
“Are you sure you would not prefer the foie gras? As I said, it is excellent here.”
Cole shook his head. “I’m a vegetarian.”
Julien only shook his head and smiled. “You cannot live in Paris and not eat meat.”
Cole didn’t argue with the man. Truthfully, he didn’t have anything against meat. It was only that years ago, when he had first been interviewing for a job with Reid Recruiting, he had somehow inadvertently claimed to be a vegetarian. The statement had impressed Lillian Reid, and so he had stuck with the deception all these years. He had never even revealed the lie to his longtime girlfriend, Ophelia, since she was Lillian’s daughter. But occasionally, when he thought he could get away with it, he would find a restaurant where he was sure not to run into anyone he knew and order the thickest, juiciest steak he could find. But meat was the last thing on his mind at the moment.
“Perhaps I ate too much earlier. Emma was very thorough in making sure I sampled as much of the food as possible at today’s luncheon.”
“Ah. Or perhaps she took away your appetite, mmm?” The question was rhetorical, of course, but Cole jumped on the opportunity to discuss the woman further.
“I’m afraid she doesn’t like me very much.”
Julien waved this statement away with a twirl of his fork. “Non. Emma is only wary of you as she is of most men since her divorce. Not to mention that your job was meant to be hers before the merger went through...and Lillian demanded otherwise.”
Cole felt a stab of curiosity. “Emma was supposed to have the CEO position?” No wonder she was a little touchy where he was concerned. Lillian hadn’t told him she was slated for his promotion. “Is she still your preferred choice for the job?”
For the first time since their food had arrived, Julien put down his utensils. “She has proven herself extremely capable as managing director. And she is an excellent recruiter,” he admitted. “I think, however, that you are, as well.”
Cole reached for his wineglass and sniffed the rich Burgundy appreciatively before taking a sip. “You said she’s divorced. Then she’s single?”
Julien leaned back and eyed him with speculation, a smile tugging at his lips. “Why do you ask? Do you find her attractive?”
Cole chafed uncomfortably and looked away. “I’ve only recently moved on from a long-term relationship myself, so I can assure you, Julien, that I have no interest in romance at the moment. I am fully committed to the merger of our two companies. Anything else would merely be a distraction. I trust that Ms. Brooks is likewise committed to her job.”
“Hmm.” The sound Julien emitted caused Cole to suspect the older man did not believe him. “Emma is very talented. She balances her career along with being a single mother.”
“She
