Chapter 26


    “I will make sure you are still pampered,” he assured her.


    “What about you?”


    “What about me?” he asked, not following.


    “Don’t you think you could do with a bit of pampering?”


    “I will avail myself of the spa services.”


    “To check their quality standard, I bet.”


    “So?”


    “So, you’re something of a workaholic,” she rified.


    “As are you.”


    “I love my business.” But she wasn’t really a workaholic. Once her business was established, she had


    every intention of cutting back her hours to make room for other things. “I never intended it to be


    everything in my life.”


    “Then why do you consider the prospect of parenting the dissolution of your dreams?”


    Shocked at his interpretation of her earlier words, she jerked in startlement. “I didn’t mean my


    business.”


    He didn’t look like he believed her. “What did you mean, then?”


    “It’s not something I want to discuss right now.” Really. Truly. It would do neither of them any good to


    hash over her old dream of building a life with a man who loved her, and the more recently


    acknowledged dream of having Zephyr be that loving man.


    He opened his mouth to say something, but before he got a chance, a masculine voice from behind


    them said, “You’ve arrived. Finally.”


    They both turned to face an attractive ck man.


    Zephyr stepped forward with his hand out. “Ah, Jean-René. Good to see you.”


    He turned back to Piper. “Pethi mou, this is our architect, Jean-René Tilieu. Jean-René, this is Piper


    Madison, our designer.”


    Jean-René’s smile was white-white and full of charm as he bent over Piper’s extended hand, rather


    than shaking it. “An exceptional pleasure, mademoiselle.”


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    “Merci. I’m really looking forward to working with you. I find your work both inspiring and impressive.”


    “Ah, you know the way to a man’s heart is ttery, non?”


    Zephyr stepped forward and put his arm around Piper’s waist. “Piper does not tter, she always


    speaks the truth.”


    Jean-René gave them a spective look and then met her eyes, his expression serious. “Then I am


    doubly honored by your praise, mademoiselle.”


    “Piper, please.”


    “That is an interesting name, n’est-ce pas?”


    “I was named for one of my father’s mentors in the army,” she informed him.


    Zephyr looked down at her. “You never told me that.”


    “It’s a bit embarrassing, to be named after a grizzled army master sergeant who chewed tobo and


    shot pistols with equal enthusiasm.”


    “Piper is a feminine name, though, non? This master sergeant who chewed tobo is a woman?”


    Jean-René asked.


    Piperughed. “No, Pipes is his nickname and I never asked how he got it.”


    “That’s probably best,” Zephyr said, humorcing his tone.


    She smiled up at him. “That’s what I thought.”


    “Two great minds.” Jean-René shed that brilliant smile again. “Clearly this project is in sympathetic


    hands.”


    “Without a doubt. I’ve studied your work in depth and I’ve worked on enough developments with Zephyr


    to know that our approaches are going to dovetail nicely.” Her only concern, and it was not strong, was


    how the Greek contractor would be to work with as he was aplete unknown to her.


    “Très bien. Do you wish to discuss initial thoughts over dinner, or wait until tomorrow?” he asked


    Zephyr.


    Zephyr turned his head so his and Piper’s gazes met. “What do you think?”


    Why was he asking her? Maybe this was about watching the sunset. “Is the dining room on this side of


    the house?”


    “No, but we can eat in here,” Zephyr replied.


    “Mais oui, the view of the setting sun is magnifique. I saw the most glorious rays yesterday evening


    when I arrived.”


    “Then it is settled.” She stepped away from both men and headed toward the stairs. “I’m happy to jump


    right in, as I’m sure you are both eager to do. Which room is mine?”


    “I had the housekeeper put us in the master suite.” This time Zephyr did not ask her opinion and his


    expression dared her to disagree.


    Like she was going to argue. She enjoyed sleeping with him. “I’ll see you upstairs, then.”


    She went in search of the master suite, assuming it wouldn’t be difficult to find and she was right. The


    fact that she found a maid inside unpacking their cases was almost as big a clue as the giant four-


    poster bed that would have looked silly anywhere but a master bedroom.