Love Redesigned Read Online Free Page B

cascaded over her, washing away the tiredness from the long plane ride. She took her time and relaxed for the first time that day, letting the hot water soothe her tired muscles. Her stomach growled and she realized she was actually hungry. And if she was hungry, Daniel would be starving.
    Getting out of the shower, she dried off and put her thick robe on. Opening the door to let the steam escape, she sighed in exasperation.
    Connie Sue sat on a small sofa in front of the window.
    “You still here? I figured you would have gotten bored waiting for me.” She walked out of the bathroom to get her hairbrush, then noticed her suitcase was missing. “What did you do?”
    “I put everything away for you. I also had a snack brought up since I’m sure you’re starving.” Connie Sue pointed at a tray of cheese and crackers, then poured a glass of wine and handed it to her. “This is the new sparkling wine Francois has been experimenting on.”
    Genevieve sipped, and the bubbles burst on her tongue. “Mmm, yummy.”
    Connie Sue rolled her eyes. “Oh for God’s sake. Don’t you know you’re supposed to sniff the bouquet first? Then sip it, and savor the flavor.”
    “Well la-dee-da. Look at you becoming a wine snob.”
    “Honey, by the time you go home, you’ll be as knowledgeable as I am.”
    “I doubt it. This is your business. Cakes are my area of expertise.” She walked back to the bathroom and picked up her face moisturizer. Might as well try to battle back some of those lines.
    Connie Sue leaned against the door frame. “I’ve been patient, so would you please tell me how you met Roman? This is kind of freaking me out. You’ve done everything you can to avoid talking about this, but I can tell you’re hurting.”
    “You aren’t going to leave me alone until I do, are you?”
    “Nope. Now spill.” She checked her watch. “There’s not much time before dinner.”
    “Is he eating here tonight?”
    Connie Sue shook her head. “No, he said he had things to take care of at home when I asked.”
    She should have been relieved—they’d be thrown together enough over the next few days.
    “So come on, out with it. Tell me how you met.”
    “I’d been in Paris about three weeks, and was into the first intensive course, Basic Patisserie. One afternoon I was heading back to my flat when it started to rain. Money was tight, so I usually walked to and from my classes. Rain is the norm in Paris, but this was a real thunderstorm. By the time I crossed the street, I was almost soaked. All of a sudden, someone held an umbrella over my head.”
    She still remembered the thrill that had rushed through her when she looked up at him for the first time. “I’ve never told anyone this, much less admitted it to myself, but when I looked at him, I thought ‘Oh, there you are. Where’ve you been?’ It was like I’d been waiting for him all my life, but didn’t realize it.”
    “That’s kind of how I felt the first time I met my Francois. We just clicked,” Connie Sue said.
    Genevieve met her cousin’s eyes, full of empathy. She did understand.
    “What did he look like when he was younger?”
    “His hair was a just a little longer, but he didn’t have a beard back then. He was real lean, and so tall he made even me feel short. He was wearing a black leather jacket—the ultimate in bad-boy wear. I was a little afraid of him, but only because he just seemed so . . . right. I mean, he sheltered me from the rain, and took me to the outdoor café right there, so there were other people around. But then he smiled at me . . .”
    That smile warmed me from head to toe, the heat lingering in certain areas.
    “ Venez abri de la pluie," he said, handing her a linen napkin.
    She shrugged and wiped the rain off her face. “My French is not so good yet.”
    “You are Americáin?” he asked in English, his voice a deep, delicious rumble in a French accent.
    A shiver of awareness trembled through her. “Yes, I