Follow Your Star, Jennifer Bohnet [best fiction novels to read txt] 📗

anniversary of my accident the week after the Grand Prix. Perhaps coming back to the scene of the crime will jerk my memory into action. Like the police doing reconstruction scenes in the hope of finding new witnesses.’

‘Oh, I don’t know, Nanette,’ Jean-Claude said. ‘But if you ever need a … I think you English call it a shoulder to cry on? Then I’m here.’

‘Thank you,’ she said gratefully. ‘Olivia and I may well take you up on the offer of spending the actual race day up here though.’

Switching off her radio alarm Nanette lay in bed for a few moments, thinking and planning the day ahead. Once she’d got the twins to school she was going shopping for a dress to wear to this evening’s cocktail party and then she had an appointment at the hairdressers.

Knowing how immaculate the women who attended these parties always looked she knew she had to make an effort for Jean-Claude’s sake. She didn’t want to let him down with his business acquaintances.

Slipping her feet into her slippers, she stood up stretching her arms above her head as she did so, only to freeze in mid-action as she glanced out of the window.

Several yachts were about to enter the harbour and one of them looked uncomfortably familiar. Pulling her dressing-gown tight, Nanette stepped out on to her balcony and watched as the boats motored in.

The crew of Pole Position worked quickly and efficiently and it was only a matter of minutes before the yacht was secured on her mooring – directly opposite the block of apartments. Once the boat was tied up and the gangway lowered to the quay, Nanette held her breath waiting to see if Zac would appear.

But a lone crew member was the only person to run down and disappear along the embankment in the direction of the supermarché, reappearing minutes later with several baguettes and a bag of croissants for the crew’s breakfast.

Thoughtfully Nanette ran the water for her bath, adding a generous amount of rose essence. With his yacht back in the harbour, it could only be a matter of time now before Zac, the Heel, appeared in Monaco. Fleetingly she wondered what his reaction to her being in town would be.

Stepping into the tub and sinking into the hot, scented water, Nanette tried to drown out all thoughts of the past and Zac from her mind. Just because his yacht was here didn’t mean he was likely to turn up tonight.

‘Mmm, you smell nice,’ Olivia said, when Nanette entered the sitting-room that evening. ‘And your dress is cool.’

‘Thank you. I hope it’s the sort of thing people wear to cocktail parties. I’m a bit out of touch these days,’ she said, glancing anxiously at Jean-Claude for reassurance.

‘You look fine,’ Jean-Claude said. ‘The taxi is waiting, so shall we go? Is Mathieu home for the twins?’

Nanette shook her head.

‘No. He rang earlier to say it will be late tonight before he gets back. Florence is here. I’ll just tell her we’re leaving.’

Early evening traffic was heavy and the taxi crawled up the hill towards Place du Casino.

‘You’re very quiet,’ Jean-Claude said glancing at her. ‘Are you OK?’

‘I’m fine. Just a bit nervous. Haven’t done much socializing recently.’

‘Don’t worry. Pole Position may be back on its mooring, but I happen to know Zac Ewart isn’t in town,’ Jean-Claude said quietly.

Nanette looked at him, surprised.

‘When I saw the yacht this morning, I knew you’d be worried, so I made enquiries. Zac is busy testing in Jerez with his team for the next two days.’

‘Oh, JC, thank you for that,’ Nanette said gratefully, feeling the tension drain from her body. ‘Now I can relax and help you with whatever you want me to do. Do you hope to promote your business tonight? Or is it a case of other businesses wanting you to use them…? What’s the matter?’ she asked anxiously, as Jean-Claude stared at her.

‘My late wife was the only person who ever called me JC,’ Jean-Claude said slowly.

‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. It sort of slipped out,’ Nanette said. ‘I’ll stick to your full name in future.’

‘No. It’s fine. It was just the shock of hearing you say it. Please, I’d like you to call me JC, only perhaps not in front of my business associates tonight,’ he said, smiling at her.

As the taxi drew up in front of the Hotel de Paris, the uniformed commissioner opened the door and ushered them up the steps into the opulent foyer with its chandeliers, deep carpets, marble stairs and enough fresh flowers to stock a florist’s shop.

Once inside, where the head commissioner greeted Jean-Claude personally, they made their way to the Salon Berlioz, already buzzing with people.

Accepting glasses of champagne from an attentive waitress, Jean-Claude said, ‘Right. Better start mixing. Let’s start by talking to Robert, one of the wine merchants I use.’

For the next hour Jean-Claude circulated, introducing Nanette to so many people she forgot their names instantly. There was only one person with whom she had any sort of rapport and that was Evie, personal assistant to Luc, a formidable bear-like man who, Evie assured her, ‘is a real sweetie.’

‘Been in Monte long?’ Evie asked, taking a smoked-salmon blini from a passing waiter and gesturing to Nanette to do the same.

‘Just a few weeks,’ Nanette said non-committally. ‘You?’

‘Six months. I love it. It’s all so glamorous. I can’t wait for the Grand Prix.’

Nanette smiled at her infectious enthusiasm, recognizing and remembering similar feelings when she’d first arrived.

‘Are you Jean-Claude’s assistant?’

‘Sort of. Officially I’m his grandchildren’s nanny.’

‘Really? Gosh he doesn’t look old enough to have grandkids,’ Evie said, looking across at Jean-Claude who was saying an animated goodbye to Luc.

‘Fancy meeting up for a coffee sometime?’ Nanette said impulsively. ‘I’m quite missing my girlfriends from back home and could do with some girly chat.’

‘Love to,’ Evie said. ‘Take my card and give me a ring next week. Better go, I think Luc wants me. Ciao.’

‘Ciao,’ Nanette answered smiling.

She