Broken French: A widowed, billionaire, single dad romance, Natasha Boyd [e reader books .TXT] 📗

I lifted a shoulder. There were so many things I wanted to ask him. Like why he seemed so strained around his father. And about that Morosto character. “Tedious? No. Tense? Perhaps. Forgive me saying, but you … weren’t yourself.”

He tilted his head slightly.

“I’m sorry. Perhaps I was wrong,” I backpedaled. “I don’t know you. I don’t know how you normally act—”

“No, you’re right.” He let out a sigh and looked toward Dauphine who was now trying and failing to do cartwheels in the shallow waves. “I don’t see much of my father. And he wants me to invest in something. And of course, he chose the most high profile place to meet.”

“Yeah. It’s a nice beach club. Seems like it’s been there a while.”

“Since the fifties. Before that the only exciting thing to happen were the allies landing right here.

“Wow, really? We only hear about the beaches at Normandy, but I guess they came from all sides.”

He grinned. “There wasn’t much here. A local family built some small bungalows. Then they added a community table in the sand and invited passersby to join them. Brigitte Bardot … you know her?”

I nodded. The sexy French actress of many a black and white movie.

“She was filming here. The movie Et Dieu …Créa La Femme. And God Created Woman.” He chuckled huskily. “My grandfather used to tell me the story. The whole crew ate here every day. And after that, in 1955, the family got a business license and it’s been Le Club Cinquante-Cinq and full of,” he gestured with his hand, “the rich and famous ever since.”

“Including you.”

He shrugged with a smile tugging his lips.

“So, it’s the oldest of all these places I see up and down this stretch?”

He chuckled. “Oh no. The Tahiti is the oldest by just a few years. And at the Tahiti, like many beaches in Europe … clothing is optional.”

Heat crawled up my neck.

He smirked, and if I wasn’t mistaken his angled face was currently looking at my body. Really looking.

I felt the gaze, even though I couldn’t see his eyes. Or did I? Was this the worst kind of wishful thinking? I cleared my throat. “Cool story. Well, lunch was great.”

“The food was. It always is. Our company though …” he shook his head and looked toward his daughter.

“You don’t trust that Morosto guy?” I took a chance, though I was pretty sure I was right. I also wanted to make sure he also got the same bad vibes as I had. Especially if he had to do business with the guy.

Xavier turned back to me. Then took his sunglasses off, his blue eyes landing on me with startling intensity.

It was like suddenly being under an alien refractor beam. I didn’t know whether he was going to beam me up or fry me on the spot. Breathe, Josie.

“I didn’t know he was coming. It’s bad for my business image to be seen talking with him. He’s … he doesn’t have the best reputation. I saw you exit the building right after him, you looked disturbed,” he said in a low voice. “Did he say something to you inside?”

I hesitated, wondering whether to tell him, or if it would cause more drama. Drama he obviously wanted to avoid. Who wouldn’t? “Nothing I couldn’t handle.”

Xavier’s jaw tightened. “What did he say?”

“It doesn’t matter. It was stupid. I almost laughed at him.”

“But you didn’t.”

“No. I could handle it. I got the impression he wanted me to tell him things about you, yet I know nothing. But for what it’s worth I hope you don’t have to do business with him.” I lifted my chin. “In fact … please don’t.”

Xavier regarded me steadily. “I don’t intend to.”

My chest warmed. “What about your father?”

“What about him?”

“I don’t know,” I said, my answer lame because I didn’t want to verbalize my true theories.

He raised an eyebrow. “Yes, you do. You could tell when I was tense at lunch. I can tell that you have far too many opinions floating around in that head of yours.”

“Too many opinions?” I responded archly. “What? For a woman?”

He let out a short and amused growl that had the effect of flipping my stomach upside down. God, imagine that sound in a different context.

“You know what I mean,” he said.

“Fine. You want my opinion? I think the only way your father knows how to have a relationship with you, now that you are an adult, is through business. Apart from that, I don’t think you have anything in common. Maybe not even then.” I bit my teeth together hard. Shut up, Josie. “Like most parents, they can make you feel twelve years old again, no matter how much better and stronger of a person you’ve become.”

Xavier’s eyes narrowed, and he puffed a short breath of surprise through his nose. After a moment, he spoke. “All he wants is a way to make more money, no matter how unethical. He wants people to think he has my ear. Which is why he chose this very public place. He thinks I’m an easy mark.”

“Are you?” I asked, my voice soft.

He stood and tossed his sunglasses on the chair. “Not even close,” he said and turned to walk down to the water.

“Wait,” I burst out.

He turned, his eyes narrowed.

I sat up.

“Yes?”

“Did you need sunscreen on your back?” I asked. Ohhhh, I did not just ask that. I did not. Fuck.

His head cocked to the side, his eyes giving away nothing.

“Never mind.” I waved him away. Go, I willed him. Just pretend that never happened.

He narrowed his eyes, like he knew every thought in my brain, and turned away, and my entire body almost collapsed in relief as I watched him walk to the water. His muscled back tapered into those turquoise swim shorts that made his bronze skin glow even darker. I closed my eyes, even though they were hidden behind my sunglasses, in a massive dose of willpower as if that would help inoculate me against