“You’re late.”

Emma hurried after the new CEO as he began walking away from the airport taxi stands.

“The traffic was atrocious, even by Paris standards.”

He barely glanced over his shoulder when he spoke. “Is that how your company has been run up to this point? Standing people up and offering flimsy excuses? No wonder your boss agreed to this merger.”

These words were like a slap in the face. She halted briefly and then propelled herself forward and ahead of him so that he was forced to follow her in the direction of the car park.

“It was unavoidable,” she said. “You don’t understand what driving in Paris can be like.”

“It can’t be any worse than New York City,” he countered, “and I’ve always managed that just fine.”

“This is not New York. The sooner you realize that, the better.”

“Believe me,” he ground out, “I am all too aware of the distinction.”

She didn’t wait to see if Cole Dorset followed. He called after her, but she didn’t stop, not until he finally used the company name.

“Aquitaine!”

She halted and turned, waiting for an apology.

“Here.” He passed her the smaller of his two bags and kept walking.

Dear Reader,

I have something to confess. I’ve never been to Paris. But for years now, I’ve heard my Francophile sister wax long and poetic on the allure of the most romantic of European cities. I’ve received postcards during her visits there featuring images of statues and paintings, streets and cafes. She’s gifted me with macarons and left me voice messages entirely in French (even though I don’t speak the language). So when I began to create the characters for The Paris Connection, it was easy to envision Emma, a woman who left behind the familiarity of the United States for the attraction of France.

And through Emma, I learned to love this city I’ve never seen, just as she sets out to convince her boss, Cole, of its beauty and charm. From Cole’s first appearance in my novel, Gentle Persuasion, I knew when he truly fell in love, he would fall hard, and he needed a city that could accommodate that experience.

With Cole and Emma’s journey, I came to realize that Paris is a place for dreamers, a city steeped in both history and romance, and that it is best appreciated by those who understand affairs of the heart. It is a feeling, as much as a place, that reminds us of the thrill and joy that come with falling in love.

Whether you’ve ever visited France or not, I’d love to hear your thoughts about Cole and Emma’s story and the city at the heart of The Paris Connection. You can email me through my website at www.cerellasechrist.com.

Cerella Sechrist

The Paris Connection

Cerella Sechrist

www.millsandboon.co.uk

CERELLA SECHRIST

lives in York, Pennsylvania, with two precocious pugs, Darcy and Charlotte, named after Jane Austen literary characters. She has won various competitions and a scholarship for her writing, which includes devotionals, full-length plays and novels. Her debut novel, Love Finds You in Hershey, Pennsylvania, recently rereleased with Love Inspired. Cerella divides her time between working in the office of her family’s construction business and as a barista to support her reading habit and coffee addiction. Her novels exhibit her love for both the written word and food in fiction. You can find her online at her website, www.cerellasechrist.com, where she pens Literary Fare: Fiction & Food, a blog for readers.

Dedicated to my sister, Carissa:

If my life were a novel, you’d be everyone’s favorite character. Thanks for being one of the best parts of my story.

Contents

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

EPILOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

A BLARING HORN caused Emma Brooks to cringe as she cut a sharp right and narrowly avoided sideswiping the vehicle next to her. She quickly accelerated past the tiny smart car and sped through the roundabout in an attempt to get ahead, only to slam on the brakes when another car cut her off.

“Ah! Crazy Parisian drivers!”

She jerked the wheel and quickly eased into a rare car-length gap as she continued heading in the direction of Charles de Gaulle Airport. She checked the time and bit back a groan. She was already twenty minutes late with no end to the Paris traffic in sight.

“This is why I travel by métro in the city,” she announced to the empty car. She had lived in Paris for ten years and had never learned to embrace the daredevil driving of the French. She used to tell her ex-husband, Brice, that if she wanted to take her life into her own hands, she’d go swimming with sharks or take up skydiving. In her opinion, both of these options presented less risk than getting behind the wheel in her adopted city.

Another car came up suddenly from behind, sliding alongside her so close that she could have sworn only a sheet of paper would have fit between them. She knew better than to stop, though. The best thing to do in Paris traffic was to keep going and pray that the tide would just flow around you. Why, oh why, had she not told her boss, Julien, to send someone else to the airport?

She sighed. A stupid question. She knew why—because she didn’t want to disappoint her mentor, and she certainly didn’t wish to appear less than competent when it came to navigating the city. After all, she needed that edge to hopefully one day reclaim the promotion she’d been promised. The promotion that now belonged to the fellow American she had been sent to pick up. This reminder only rankled further. In a perfect world, she would be happily ensconced in the CEO’s office of Aquitaine Enterprises, the executive recruiting firm she worked for. Instead, she was risking her life in a European version of go-kart driving to welcome the man who’d been awarded the position in her place.

New York businesswoman Lillian Reid had reached out to Julien six weeks ago about the possibility of joining her firm, Reid Recruiting, with Aquitaine. After several negotiations and a trip to the United States, Julien had announced the very thing Emma had cautioned against—they would be joining forces with the American company to create an international presence. He had thought she would be pleased. After all, not only was she American born and bred, but she still retained her citizenship there. She had always made it clear that while she loved Paris and considered it her home, she still did, and always would, consider herself American first and foremost. In light of that, she had been hard-pressed to explain to Julien her dissatisfaction with this merger. It went beyond her promotion tanking. She didn’t like seeing Julien have to share everything he’d worked for over the years. He had been good to her, especially after her divorce when she’d struggled to balance her job and the responsibility of a newborn daughter. He had watched out for her. Now she wanted to return the favor.

Focusing on the line of traffic before her, she craned her neck to try to see ahead. Cars stretched out in every direction, and she was now—she consulted the time once more—twenty-five minutes late. She had thought about calling the office to alert them she was running behind, but in her nervousness about picking up the company car that morning, she’d left her cell phone on her desk. And there was no way she was going to try to pull out of this mess just to call in and let Julien know about the delay.

No, she’d just have to offer her apologies once she reached the airport and hope the new boss was understanding. After all, as her former mother-in-law always said, with her typical c’est la vie mind-set, “Why worry about a little delay?”

* * *

COLE DORSET CHECKED his watch for what he estimated was the eighteenth time and ground his teeth together. Where was this Emma, the woman who’d been sent to pick him up from the airport? He had called in to the office twice now and been reassured both times that she was on the way. But the meeting with the board of directors and company employees was set to take place in thirty minutes, and he was still stuck in the waiting area outside customs at the Charles de Gaulle Airport. His tension grew as he impatiently felt the minutes ticking by. This was not the auspicious beginning he’d hoped to create on his first day. It was bad enough he’d been sent to this country but now, after the long plane ride, to be kept waiting like this...

It was well beyond the limits of his frayed patience. Moving to Paris was not his dream. That desire had belonged to his ex-girlfriend, Ophelia. Then she’d broken up with him, left the company and moved to Hawaii to marry the man she’d been sent to recruit. Losing Ophelia was difficult enough—though he still wasn’t certain if he’d been in love with her. They’d been together for four years; their lives had become intertwined. And while she had moved on, he was still left at loose ends, sent to take on the role that was meant to be hers. It seemed a grossly unfair consolation prize for what he had lost.

Agitated by these thoughts, Cole stood and began pacing the aisles in the waiting area. He made another sweep of the room, searching for a woman who fit the description of Emma Brooks. It wasn’t much to go on. Any of the medium-height women with long, dark hair could have been her, but it was evident that most of them were waiting for friends or loved ones by their relaxed postures or the way they toyed with their phones. He’d been expecting someone in professional attire, with a sign to indicate she was his liaison.

Had he missed her? The line for immigration and customs hadn’t taken any longer than anticipated, but perhaps she’d been waiting and, for whatever reason, assumed he wasn’t coming? But the receptionist at Aquitaine had reassured him Emma would be arriving shortly. He pulled out his cell phone and debated calling Julien. He hardly wanted to appear the helpless American, especially given his new position as CEO, but at some point, he was going to have to accept that he’d either been stood up or a miscommunication had occurred. The thought rankled.

What sort of incompetency left the new boss stranded in the airport on his first day? It didn’t bode well for the future of this enterprise. What had Lillian been thinking, merging her company with a foreign one?

Well, he knew the answer to that. She’d been smart to join with a firm already established in Paris. Such a move only served to strengthen both businesses. Reid Recruiting would tap into a market that already held contacts and a solid reputation overseas, and vice versa for Julien’s firm. Cole’s only objection had been when Lillian had promoted him from senior executive recruiter to executive director and CEO of the Paris firm. Despite his protestations, her wishes were clear—if he wanted his career to advance any further, he would accept the promotion and move to Paris. He had worked too long and hard at Reid Recruiting to see his future there stall now. And so, here he was, travel-weary and already homesick for New York, wondering if his American counterpart had simply abandoned him and whether he had made a mistake in accepting Lillian’s directive.

In any case, it didn’t matter. It was too late to go back now.

Turning away, he gathered his luggage and moved toward the exit where ground transportation was advertised in both English and French. If Aquitaine wasn’t coming to him, he’d simply have to go to them.

* * *

EMMA HURRIED FROM the car park and toward the elevator leading to Terminal Two. She couldn’t bear to look at her watch even once more, didn’t want to consider how late she was.

Emerging from the elevator, she rushed toward the secure waiting areas where passengers were funneled after clearing customs. It had been ages since she’d gone through that procedure, not since she’d returned to the United States four years ago for her mother’s funeral. Between raising Avery and her job with Aquitaine, there never seemed to be enough time to take a trip, though she knew she needed to make it a priority at some point in the future. She wanted Avery to experience her mother’s homeland, not just in words and pictures but physically. Enough time to think about that later, though. Right now, she had to track down her American boss and welcome him to the country.

She reached the waiting area and scanned its occupants, trying to pair the inhabitants with the photo of Cole Dorset she’d seen on the Reid Recruiting website. None of the arrivals quite matched the image of the polished, blond-haired man she’d halfheartedly committed to memory.

Steeling herself, she glanced at her watch and gave a small gasp of dismay. She was forty minutes late. Where could he be? There was no time to waste. She moved farther into the waiting area and began navigating her way around luggage and the rows of seating.

“Excuse me, Cole Dorset? I’m looking for Cole Dorset? Cole Dorset.” She felt like a fool, especially when several people shifted in their seats and grumbled annoyance.

Well, it couldn’t be helped. She straightened and cleared her throat.

“If a Mr. Cole Dorset is in the waiting area, please, come this way!”

She received a few blank stares and a ripple of interest before most of the passengers went about their business. She huffed in annoyance. Now what?

“Okay, think, Emma.” If she were stranded at an international airport and grew tired of waiting, where would she go? She looked around, but nothing in particular stood out to her. He hadn’t gotten stuck at customs, had he? Likely not. He’d probably decided to go on without her.

She turned. The train? No, he was from New York. He’d be more apt to choose a taxi over a train, wouldn’t he? Exiting the waiting area, she headed back in the direction she’d come. She only hoped he hadn’t left already. What in the world would she say to Julien if the new boss showed up at the office without her?

* * *

COLE WAS NO stranger to cities, and he certainly had no problem dealing with cab drivers. But the bombardment of English and French that assailed him when he approached the taxi stands only served to stretch his already frayed patience and overwhelm him further. He began asking the cost of fares and felt a rise of desperation. The amount of euros to the La Défense business district was appalling. His presentation was in ten minutes; the cab ride would take around thirty. He didn’t have time to argue with cabbies about their inflated rates.

Though not normally given to nervousness, he felt his palms growing slick with unease. How was he going to navigate through this and still manage to offer up a confident presentation to the board and staff? For just a short moment, he felt as though he were a child once more, being shuffled from one foster home to the next, with all the ensuing emotions of uncertainty and doubt filling him up.

Resolutely, he shrugged off this reaction. He hadn’t been that helpless boy for a very long time. And he was not about to let a little cultural uncertainty trip him up.

He was just getting ready to hand his bags over to one of the more pesky drivers when he thought he heard his name. Pausing, he turned, wondering if his anxiety had driven him mad.

“Cole Dorset!”

He finally saw her, dodging the taxi drivers jockeying for her attention and pushing through a cluster of tourists as she headed in his direction. His first thought was beautiful as he took in her long, wavy, dark hair and perfectly clear skin with cheekbones just lightly tinted pink from exertion. As she drew closer, he could appreciate her trim figure clothed in a pewter-colored business suit that flattered the dove-gray of her eyes immensely. When she finally reached him, she let out a breath and offered a brilliant smile.

“Emma Brooks.” She held out a hand. “Managing director of Aquitaine Enterprises and your liaison in assisting with your transition to Paris. Welcome to France.”

All thoughts of her beauty fled in the wake of this introduction. This was the woman who had kept him waiting for the past forty-five minutes. She was the reason he would have to explain his tardiness to the board of directors, starting him off at a disadvantage in a company where he knew no one, had no allies.

He glanced at the hand she extended and pointedly refrained from taking it.

“You’re late.”

* * *

EMMA HURRIED AFTER the new CEO as he began walking away from the taxi stands.

“The traffic was atrocious, even by Paris standards,” she said, defending herself against his abrupt observation.

He ignored this statement as he looked left then right. “Which way to the car?”

She pointed and then struggled to keep pace beside him when he began walking in the direction she’d indicated. “I’m not used to driving in the city. The métro is much more efficient.”

He barely glanced over his shoulder when he spoke. “Is that how your company has been run up to this point? Standing people up and offering flimsy excuses? No wonder your boss agreed to this merger.”

These words were like a slap in the face. She halted briefly and then propelled herself forward and ahead of him so that he was forced to follow her in the direction of the car park.

“It was unavoidable,” she said, loud enough for him to hear without her turning around. “You don’t understand what driving in Paris can be like.”

She stopped short of pointing out that, had she driven any more recklessly to get here, she might not have lived to pick him up at all. His attitude was intolerable.

“It can’t be any worse than New York City,” he countered, “and I’ve always managed that just fine.”

She halted at these words; because of his clipped pace, he was unable to stop in time and stumbled into her. She found her feet and took a step away from him. “This is not New York,” she announced. “The sooner you realize that, the better.”

“Believe me,” he ground out, “I am all too aware of the distinction.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means that I would never expect this sort of thing to happen at Reid Recruiting, back in America.”

“Oh, for the love of— So, I was a little late. The first thing you need to learn about the French is that they’re not as tied to schedules as Americans are.”

“A little late?” He consulted his watch. “I waited for forty-five minutes while you took your time getting here.”

“I told you, there was a lot of traffic.” Rather than continue arguing, she turned and started in the direction of the car park once more.

She didn’t wait to see if Cole Dorset followed. He called after her, but she didn’t stop, not until he finally used the company’s title.

“Aquitaine!”

She halted and turned, waiting for an apology regarding his rudeness.

“Here.”

He passed her the smaller of his two bags and kept walking.

* * *

DURING THE CAR ride to the Aquitaine offices, Cole grudgingly noted that perhaps his liaison’s excuse was valid. Parisian drivers took to the road like race car stars. They wove in and out with little regard for the vehicles around them, sliding so close that, a time or two, Cole found himself cringing in anticipation of a collision. He never said a word about this to Emma, who drove in steely silence, focused on the streets before them. The traffic was abominable, and at times, they proceeded at little more than a crawl.

As the time for his presentation to the board came and went, he pulled out his cell phone to call the office and let them know he was on his way. Emma said nothing, and he didn’t bother to speak to her.

He kept his gaze out the window, trying not to focus on the cars around them but rather taking in the sights of his new home. He noted the Arc de Triomphe, a monument more impressive in person than any of the pictures he had seen could convey. Not that he would admit that aloud, of course. He had no desire to be in this city and was determined it would not stir his curiosity in any way. It was his own small rebellion. But Emma must have noticed his absorption in the structure because she suddenly spoke.

“The Arc de Triomphe’s eternal flame is rekindled every night, to honor the soldiers who died in both world wars. There’s a museum inside, and the price of admission includes access to the top. The views aren’t quite as spectacular as the Eiffel Tower, but they’re still pretty amazing.”

In the distance, he caught a brief glimpse of the Eiffel Tower, that well-known symbol for romantics everywhere. He scoffed aloud. After Ophelia’s rejection and finding himself here in her place, the iconic monument didn’t exactly inspire feelings of happiness.

Emma must have noted his grunt of annoyance because he sensed her turn toward him.

“Look, I really am sorry I was late.”

He didn’t respond.

“I’ll explain to everyone that it was my fault.”

He felt a bit of his frustration ease but not by much. “Don’t bother,” he replied. “The receptionist at the office said it’s no problem, and Julien has already told them there’s been a delay.”

She seemed to be considering saying something more, but a particularly rabid driver on the left caused her to inhale sharply and keep her attention fixed on the road.

It was just as well. He wasn’t in the mood for conversation, especially with this woman who had kept him waiting, even if it wasn’t completely her fault. His mind was on other matters—how he was going to adjust to life in a foreign country, even a cultural metropolis such as Paris. He would miss the familiarity of New York and the life he’d left behind there.

But things had changed in recent months with Ophelia’s departure. Their breakup had put him on this course, and he was resigned to his fate.

Like it or not, Paris was his home now. He might as well learn to make the best of it.

* * *

WHEN EMMA ARRIVED at the Aquitaine offices with Cole in tow, she found she could not quite meet Julien’s eyes. She was afraid of what her mentor would say to her if he knew how she had spoken to their new CEO. Her assignment, after all, was to welcome Cole Dorset to France and their office, and things had certainly gotten off to a rocky start.

“Cole, it is a pleasure to see you again.” Julien extended a hand to the younger man and smiled warmly.

Cole placed his hand in Julien’s and apologized for his tardiness, but Julien waved away the apology. “The board was understanding. We’ve been looking forward to your arrival.”

The two exchanged further pleasantries as Emma looked away and in the direction of the conference room, where the board of directors and the staff had presumably already assembled.

“Emma?”

She turned her attention back to the two of them as Julien spoke her name.

“Have you filled Cole in on the details of the meeting?”

She swallowed, ashamed to admit that after their rough start that morning, she hadn’t bothered to bring her new boss up to speed.

“Um...well, we didn’t really get the chance....” She trailed off.

“Emma, I tasked you with giving him the details—”

Cole raised a hand to stall Julien’s reprimand. “It’s not her fault, Julien. I’m sure Emma will be happy to handle my introduction and explain my lateness while you fill me in.” He gave her a smile that was more smug than friendly.

With Julien present, Emma tried very hard not to glare. Despite her best efforts, she knew her frustration must have shown because Julien studied her severely, his lowered eyebrows revealing his displeasure.

“I suppose she will have to since she has done you a disservice in failing to update you as to the board’s feelings. Most are in agreement with the merger, but a few are waiting to see what you have to say concerning the benefits of Aquitaine joining Reid Recruiting.”

Cole frowned at this, and though she shouldn’t have, Emma felt a tiny bit triumphant. If Cole Dorset thought this job would be easy, he was mistaken. It would have been better if Julien had given the promotion to her, as he had promised.

As if he guessed her feelings on the matter, Cole turned toward her, his hazel eyes cold, as though blaming her for some of the board members’ doubts.

“I am sensing an undercurrent of hostility between you two,” Julien noted.

But rather than say anything more about her, the infuriating new boss grinned and clapped Julien on the back.

“Nonsense,” he insisted before smiling at Emma. She had a feeling Cole could be quite charming when he wanted to be, but at the moment, all she felt was irritated. “I’m sure Emma and I will be the very best of friends.”

* * *

COLE HAD TO admit that the morning’s aggravation was nearly worth it to witness Emma’s glare as Julien turned his back on the two of them. She clearly chafed at the position she found herself in, and he couldn’t help feeling a certain satisfaction at her misery.

After all, he certainly didn’t want to be here. He thought again of Ophelia and how her departure had forced this promotion into his hands. He wondered if she was still happy in paradise with her new husband. Though he wished her no ill will, the idea of her experiencing wedded bliss still left the faint taste of bitterness in his mouth.

But witnessing Emma’s frustration helped lift some of his own. At least he wasn’t the only one suffering in the wake of this merger. Still, he couldn’t help feeling just a touch guilty for how he’d reacted that morning. He hadn’t known how bad the traffic could be. Perhaps he should have scheduled his introduction for later in the afternoon, giving himself more time to reach the office after his arrival.

Too late now, though. The damage had already been done. Besides, he doubted Emma would have warmed to him even if he’d been holding a bouquet of roses when she’d first appeared.

“You’re translating for me during this meeting, right, Aquitaine?”

She slid a glance his way. “Yes. Is that a problem?”

“As long as you translate my exact words instead of making up your own, we should be fine.”

He couldn’t help smiling at the offended little gasp that escaped her lips just before they entered the conference room.

* * *

DESPITE THE TEMPTATION to do exactly what he had warned against, Emma translated Cole’s words from English to French exactly as he spoke them. Most of the Aquitaine board and employees spoke both languages fluently, but for the few who only knew French, Julien insisted on a translator.

Emma wondered if Julien had known ahead of time how compelling a speaker Cole Dorset was. He stood before the Aquitaine staff with seemingly unshakable confidence, charming them with his greeting and then managing to seem both humble and self-assured as he related a story about his travel experience and a cultural faux pas he’d blundered into on the flight from JFK airport in New York to Charles de Gaulle in Paris. If she had met him in this meeting, as the others were doing, perhaps she could have liked him—or at the least, found him tolerable despite the fact that he’d stolen her promotion. But if first impressions were everything, then she and Cole had absolutely no foundation upon which to build their working relationship. She wondered if Julien would consider assigning someone else to be Cole Dorset’s babysitter. After all, she already had a child to care for.

One glance at Julien’s face provided the answer, however. He was watching her carefully, his gaze intent, and she knew he suspected that she and Cole’s first meeting had not gone as well as planned.

Well, she’d done her best to explain why she’d been late, and if he hadn’t been so intent on faulting her punctuality then maybe things would have progressed more positively. Her thoughts scattered as everyone in the room laughed, and she suddenly realized she had broken off translating several moments before. Cole waited for her to catch up, and the belated laughter of the French-speaking personnel served to highlight her distraction.

She glanced at Cole to indicate he should continue and found him frowning at her. He hesitated for only a moment before he began speaking once again.

For the rest of the presentation, she forced herself to pay attention, and each time her mind started to wander, she refocused it on Cole. By the end of his explanation of his new role and the benefits of this merger, she felt uncomfortably aware of the man’s presence, from his easy gestures to the smile that was quite alluring when it wasn’t marked by smugness.

She found herself depressed as Cole finished, and her coworkers erupted in enthusiastic applause. Traitors. Couldn’t they see how he was working them over? Were they so easily swayed by his handsome face and charming banter? She stood as employees rushed to the front of the room to converge on their new boss; but she remained in her corner, wondering if she could safely escape or whether Julien would chastise her if she bailed right now.

Her curiosity was quickly answered when Julien approached.

“What happened between you and Cole this morning?”

Julien knew her far too well to believe any sort of lie she might concoct. “I was late. He was rude.”

Julien sighed. “I know this is difficult for you, Emma, but for the sake of your job and for this company, you must try to embrace this merger.”

“Accept,” she corrected. “I will try to accept it, but I refuse to embrace it.” She folded her arms around her midsection and restarted the conversation she and Julien had been having for weeks. “We didn’t need them. We were doing fine on our own.”

Julien shook his head. “I’ve told you, the market has become too competitive. To ally with the Americans is to open up doors of opportunity for both of our companies. I should think you’d be glad to be joining with your countrymen. Lillian Reid is refreshingly frank about business. She is a remarkable woman, having built her firm from the ground up after her husband died. And all while raising a young daughter, too. You should appreciate that, given how hard you’ve worked to establish yourself while also being a mother to Avery.”

Emma suppressed a sigh. Yes, she should appreciate the similarities in her own life to Lillian Reid’s history. It was not the first time Julien had tried to sway her with this argument.

“I doubt Lillian Reid was ever promised a promotion and then had it taken away from her and given to another.” She glared in Cole’s direction as she said these words. She felt gratified when her rival seemed to sense her stare, raised his head and met her eyes, frowning at the dislike she hoped she was conveying.

Julien cleared his throat. “You go too far, Emma,” he warned, his voice harder than she had ever heard it. “You lost the promotion, yes, but be grateful you still have a job at all. Lillian and I negotiated fiercely to retain most of my staff rather than bring in her own people from New York. Cole Dorset’s placement as CEO was the only demand she would not release. She insists he is the best and brightest of her firm.”

She opened her mouth to argue, but Julien’s nearly imperceptible headshake forced her to swallow the words.

“You will learn to embrace this, or you will become a consummate actress and pretend that you do. You are liked and admired here, Emma—by everyone. You have risen in the company, and I treat you well—nearly like the daughter I never had, oui?”

She dipped her head in agreement, feeling ashamed for her ingratitude.

“The others will look to you for their cues on how to behave. And if you do not treat Cole as your superior, then neither will they. It is why I insisted you be his liaison within the branch. The two of you working together will strengthen this merger and cause Aquitaine to remain in the forefront of the executive recruiting field. Do I make myself clear?”

Emma’s gaze shifted to Cole, watching as he laughed with one of the more prickly members of the board. How had he managed to charm everyone in his few short hours here?

“Emma.”

Her attention jerked back to Julien.

“Do we have an understanding?”

She swallowed. “Of course, Julien,” she replied. “I’ll support the merger in any way I can.”

Julien relaxed. “Merci. Now, I would like you to show Cole to his new office as well as give him a tour of the building.”

“Certainly,” she managed to choke out. Julien turned to go.

“Julien.” She called him back. “I’m sorry.”

“It is forgiven. But do not do anything that will make you have to utter those words again.”

CHAPTER TWO

EMMA SPENT THE rest of the morning showing Cole around the Aquitaine offices. By unspoken agreement, they said as little as possible to one another outside of topics related to work. The questions he asked were good ones—about the day-to-day operations, their strongest recruiters, their largest clients and competitive markets. Despite her dislike of him, she had to admit that Cole Dorset seemed well versed in the area of executive recruiting. She supposed she could see why Lillian Reid had called him her “best and brightest,” but she still harbored serious reservations on whether Cole could do the job as effectively as she would have.

During the latter part of the morning, Cole asked for a few minutes with each of the top-level recruiters, so Emma began the rounds of the senior offices with him. Before they approached each one, she gave him a brief summary of that particular recruiter’s special skills, fields of expertise and any personal interests.

Once again, she was forced to grudgingly admit how Cole used her words to his benefit. He was a sponge when it came to the information she fed him, retaining facts and using them to establish camaraderie with his team.

At Marc Benoit’s door, he commented on the skiing hobby Emma had mentioned before they entered the room and then spent nearly twenty minutes listening to Marc enthusiastically describe his winter vacation to the Swiss Alps.

He greeted Aurora Fontenot with a grin and handshake, noting the framed canvas hanging on her wall and acting shocked when she blushingly confessed she had painted it herself.

Standing outside Louis Terrell’s office, he congratulated the senior recruiter on his placement record and remembered all three names of the man’s children along with his wife’s charity efforts.

She hesitated on the threshold at Giselle Bisset’s office. Giselle was her friend, but the woman was an unbelievable flirt. She wasn’t sure how to warn Cole about Giselle’s never-ending quest for dates. She opted instead to share Giselle’s passion for French fashion and her specialty of media relations, and was duly impressed when Cole easily deflected Giselle’s attempts at flirtation by repeatedly steering the conversation back to her niche.

Though she was loath to admit it, Cole’s people skills were undeniable, and Emma could see why Lillian Reid must have found him valuable, both as a recruiter and now as a leader. Seeing his talents up close, however, only served to remind her of what she had lost—the promotion and the opportunity to be standing in Cole’s place at this very moment. Fortunately, after a morning filled with introductions and a catered lunch for the whole floor, he’d asked to spend the afternoon alone in his office to review some files pertaining to the merger. She suspected he also had to update Lillian Reid on how things were progressing, but she was more than happy to leave him to it. She spent the rest of the day in her own office, catching up on her work. When the day was over, she wanted nothing more than to erase her memories of the past twelve hours, eat some dinner, take a hot bath and curl up on the couch with Avery for the evening.

She arrived home to her apartment and hung her bag on the coatrack as she announced her presence. “I’m home!”

Entering the living area, she sighed at the sight of toys scattered across the floor and cushions pulled off the couch. A makeshift fort of pillows and blankets—and was that her favorite shawl?—blocked her entrance to the hallway. She tore down the obstruction and continued toward the bedrooms, calling for her daughter and Melanie, the au pair who had come to live with them two months before.

Though Emma had chosen to remain in France after her divorce from Brice, she didn’t want Avery to forget the American side of her heritage. The au pair system was the perfect way to balance Avery’s cultural experiences. After all, it was how Emma herself had first come to Paris and fallen in love, by signing up as an au pair straight out of college. She had merely been young and looking to see some of the world before settling into a career, but her time in the city had stolen her heart, as had Brice, and by her twenty-third birthday, she had found herself married and living as an expat in this country.

Emma wanted her daughter to be bilingual, so she insisted Avery speak only English when at home. Having an American nanny only reinforced this. Plus, Emma got to share her enthusiasm for her adopted city with a new au pair each year. The au pair system set a maximum amount of hours caregivers could work each week, leaving them free to explore the city and make friends in their free time. During the summer, Melanie watched over Avery through the day, and Emma got to spend time with her daughter in the evening and on weekends. Once nursery school started in another couple of weeks, Melanie’s duties would shift to getting Avery ready for school and then watching her in the afternoons until Emma got home from work; the au pair would also watch Avery all day on Wednesdays, since schools had off that day in France. Melanie would still have most evenings and weekends free to spend the time as she wished.

“Avery? Melanie?” Emma called as she picked a pillow up off the floor.

“We’re in here!” Melanie called from down the hall.

Emma entered her daughter’s bedroom to more chaos—scarves looped around the bedposts, their ends trailing down to the mattress, where the sheets had been stripped from the bed and a picnic blanket spread out instead, along with Avery’s tea party set.

To her credit, Melanie looked up with an apologetic smile. “Sorry about the mess. Avery said she’d never made a pillow fort before.”

Emma waved this apology away. Avery was five years old and extremely well-mannered—at times, frighteningly so—but children were children, and playtime should be a happy mix of wonder and chaos.

“We’ll get it cleaned up before dinner,” Emma said. “Now...where is my daughter?”

A tiny, dark head could be glimpsed from the other side of the bed.

“Have you given her to Madame Bernadette in the apartment downstairs?” Emma asked Melanie with a wink. “Madame likes her, but Avery talks so much, Bernadette may not want her and might try to give her back.”

A muffled giggle could be heard across the room, and Melanie grinned at Emma’s acting.

She sighed dramatically. “Well, I hope Bernadette is nice to her. It is a shame you gave her away because I was going to make cheese omelets for dinner, and they’re her favorite.”

The tiny figure suddenly popped up from the side of the bed, her hair fluttering in strands across her face and her lips wide in a smile. “Melanie wouldn’t do that, Maman!”

“Ah.” Emma raised a finger, and Avery quickly corrected herself.

“I meant, Mom.”

Emma moved toward her daughter as Avery came around the bed and waited for her greeting. Emma leaned down, brushed her nose against her daughter’s and then kissed the top of her head—their standard homecoming exchange.

“Did you two have a good day?”

Avery nodded, but Emma looked to Melanie for confirmation.

“We did,” Melanie agreed. “Except that Avery insisted we have a tea party before cleaning up our fort in the living area.”

“Well, she’ll have to clean it up before dinner.”

Avery looked up at her with pleading eyes, but Emma shook her head. “You should be full of tea and cakes, so surely you can’t be hungry,” she teased.

Avery smiled and swayed back and forth. “They weren’t real tea and cakes,” she reminded. “It was make-believe.”

Emma tapped her nose affectionately. “Oh, okay. In that case, I’ll begin the omelets right away while you put away your toys.” She turned to Melanie. “You’re joining us for dinner, right?”

Melanie shook her head. “I’m meeting some other au pairs, if that’s all right. We’re taking the train to the Loire Valley next weekend, and we’re working on our itinerary.”

“Of course. You’ll love the Loire Valley. It’s beautiful.”

The two chatted about Melanie’s upcoming trip as Emma began to make dinner. Then Melanie helped Avery finish cleaning up the living room before she went to her room to get ready for her evening out. She let Avery watch her apply her makeup as Emma finished up dinner.

Emma was just plating the omelets when the phone rang. Setting aside the skillet, she went to answer.

“Hello,” she greeted the caller. “This is Emma speaking.”

“Allô,” 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 has a child?”

Julien nodded. “Yes, a daughter, and the father is little involved in their lives, so she takes on all the burdens of being a solo parent. Emma is a very special sort of woman.” Julien’s expression hinted that Cole would do well to take an interest in her.

But he shook his head, wanting to avoid any extracurricular entanglements. “I’m sure she’s lovely, but I can’t imagine getting past your Emma’s thorns to find any sort of petals beneath. She’s prickly, that one.”

“Not prickly. Only cautious. She has a good heart, but she keeps defenses in place to guard it.”

Cole didn’t wish to discuss the pretty but thorny lady’s heart. “Defenses aren’t a problem as long as she recognizes that I’m her boss now.”

Julien frowned but didn’t argue. He took a long sip from his wine and then reached for his fork once more. “Speaking of bosses...have you spoken to yours? Is Lillian pleased with everything you saw today?”

“As long as I’m satisfied, then Lillian should be.”

“And are you?”

Cole considered this for a moment. The day had gone better than expected, given how his morning had started off. He could offer up no specific complaints, and yet, he found that satisfied wasn’t really a word that applied at the moment. He hadn’t wanted to come to Paris, and though he knew he was there to stay, he still wasn’t happy about it.

“I think we’re off to a pretty good start,” he said instead.

Julien frowned at him, seeming to sense his reluctance on the topic. “I have spoken to Emma, if that is the issue, and she was most sorry for her tardiness this morning.”

Cole felt his lips twitch. “I’m sure she was.”

Julien blotted his lips with his napkin and then laid it aside. “I am eager for this merger to succeed, Cole. I wouldn’t want to disappoint Lillian. Please, let me know if there is something more I can do to assist in this transition.”

“Of course.” Cole was too tired by the events of the day to say anything else on the subject, so he raised his glass instead.

“Here’s to...new beginnings.”

Julien reached for his wine. “Oui. And to your future in the City of Light.”

Despite his misgivings on that score, Cole clinked his glass to Julien’s and drank.

* * *

THOUGH COLE SETTLED into his position with relative ease, and Emma assisted him as required, the occasional argument still arose during his first week with the Paris branch. There were a multitude of minor wrinkles to be ironed out with the transition and decisions to be made as they overhauled the firm’s operating model. Emma spent most of her mornings providing information for Cole, from company background to files. She also relayed any cultural differences she thought might be pertinent. Inevitably, at some point during their day, they’d find themselves in the thick of a heated discussion.

Friday was no exception. Cole and Emma were in his office, reviewing some of the company’s long-standing accounts, when Giselle tapped on the door. Looking up, Cole gestured for her to enter.

Giselle looked at Emma. “Emma, we have an issue with Arrow Tech Media’s CCO position.”

Emma suppressed a sigh. The negotiations to secure Arrow Tech’s top choice for the chief content officer role had been fierce, but Giselle had assured her everything was all wrapped up, and the candidate was ready to sign the contract.

“If you’ll excuse us, Cole,” she said to her boss, “we’ll just discuss this in my office.”

To her annoyance, Cole pushed back from his desk and looked up at where she stood over him.

“There’s no need for that. I’d love to sit in on your conversation, if you don’t mind. It will give me an even better feel for the day-to-day here.”

Emma forced a smile to her lips. “I’m sure that’s not necessary. You have so much on your plate already that—”

“Emma.” He stopped her with his own forceful smile. “Why don’t you take a seat?” He gestured to the chairs in front of his desk and then looked to Giselle. “You, too, Giselle.”

Giselle caught Emma’s eye as they each settled into a seat.

“Now, what seems to be the problem?” Cole asked.

Giselle filled Cole in on Arrow Tech’s search for a new CCO. The candidate they’d chosen, Andre Delacroix, was highly qualified with an exceptional track record. Several attempts had been made by other recruiters to entice him away from his current position, but thus far, none of the offers had been tempting enough. Giselle had been tenacious in her efforts to secure him, and two weeks previously, he had finally agreed to sign with Arrow Tech.

“And now?” Cole asked when she finished giving him the background story.

Giselle fidgeted, an action Emma rarely witnessed where her friend was concerned.

“I just received word that his current company has counteroffered, matching the salary offered by Arrow Tech. Delacroix no longer wants to sign with them.”

Emma released her breath in a rush and then tried to rein in her frustration. Counteroffers were always tricky in this business.

“Have you alerted Arrow Tech to the situation?”

“I have,” Giselle responded. “They’d like to make a counteroffer themselves.”

Emma sighed a second time. “All right. Find out the terms and write up the offer. We’ll present it to Delacroix on Monday.”

“No, we won’t.”

Emma jerked her head around as Cole entered the conversation. From the corner of her eye, she saw Giselle do the same.

“Excuse me?”

“We’re not going to advise our client to counteroffer just because the guy got greedy. It would be in bad form.”

Emma stared at him, but he stared right back, his coolly assessing gaze unflinching.

“You can’t be serious. We’ve come too far to lose this guy now. He’s a genius, one of the most sought-after executives in all of Europe.”

Cole made a face. “Yeah, I’ve heard that one before.”

Emma tensed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Giselle cleared her throat, and Emma shifted her gaze as she saw Cole do the same.

“Giselle, perhaps you could give us a moment to sort this out? I’ll let you know once we’ve made a decision.”

“Of course.” Giselle acquiesced and made her exit, clearly eager to avoid being caught in the middle. She closed the door behind her, and Emma faced Cole again.

“Delacroix is brilliant. If we place him, it’s a huge feather in our cap.”

“Maybe so, but I’m not going to begin my time here by promoting that sort of action.”

Emma ground her teeth together in frustration. “Listen, I don’t know exactly how different recruiting is on the other side of the ocean, but over here, counteroffers are simply a fact of life. If the client is determined, you make a counteroffer of your own.”

Cole waved a hand in dismissal. “Of course I know how it works, but that’s not how Aquitaine is going to do business, now that it’s part of Reid Recruiting.”

She felt every protective instinct she possessed rise up within her. “You may be the CEO, but don’t you think that kind of business model is something that Julien should approve?”

Cole shook his head. “I’m not saying we’d never advise our clients to counteroffer, but what I am saying is that if this Delacroix is as cagey as Giselle indicated, then throwing more incentives at him isn’t going to do any good. The man clearly prefers the company he currently works for and was probably using us just to get an increase in salary.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Oh, I’m being ridiculous?” He raised his eyebrows. “Aquitaine, we’re not going after this guy like we’re single and desperate for a date. We’re better than that.”

“We?” She scoffed. “You just got here, remember?”

He scowled, and she realized how petty she sounded.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized. “I just don’t understand why you’re so adamant on this. What’s the harm in counteroffering? The worst that can happen is that Delacroix rejects it, and we’re back to square one. If we don’t even offer, we’re already there.”

Cole fell silent as the seconds ticked by. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk, as though about to share something confidential. Emma scooted her chair closer.

“Emma, have you ever heard the term ‘the heart wants what the heart wants’?”

Her breath caught at the way he spoke these words and their close proximity as they each leaned over the desk.

“Yes, I have. It’s attributed to Emily Dickinson.”

“Then she knew what you don’t seem to grasp. If Delacroix wants to stay where he’s at, no amount of additional incentives or salary will sway him. I witnessed the same thing recently, when we tried to negotiate Dane Montgomery out of retirement.”

Emma remembered the name from her background research on Reid Recruiting, when Julien had first mentioned the merger. Montgomery had been a star in the advertising universe before he left the corporate world to run a coffee plantation in Hawaii. Reid Recruiting had negotiated him out of retirement and back to New York to work for Bianca Towers, international hotel-chain heiress, but Montgomery had soon renegotiated the terms of his contract and returned to Hawaii to work for Towers from the islands. She briefly recalled Cole’s name being attached to the situation, but the more prominent figure had been Lillian Reid’s daughter, Ophelia, the lead recruiter on the assignment.

“So what?” Emma countered. “As I recall, that situation was a success in the end. Montgomery still works for Towers. He just does it on location at his coffee plantation.”

Her summation didn’t seem to impress Cole in the least.

“Obviously. But my point is that Montgomery wanted to stay where he was at, and upping our offer didn’t really change that. Sometimes, you have to let the heart take charge. If Delacroix really wants to switch companies, offering more money isn’t going to make a difference either way. If he’s unhappy with his existing employer then our current offer should be satisfactory. And if he’s just using this as a means to increase his salary, we’re not going to give him any more leverage.”

She found his reasoning flawed, but she knew it was pointless to say so.

“You have a daughter,” Cole went on. “Hasn’t she ever tried to play you against your husband?”

“Ex-husband,” she automatically corrected. “And how did you know I have a daughter?”

“Julien told me. Anyway, hasn’t your daughter ever asked you for something and then gone to her father to see if she could negotiate a better deal?”

“Avery is not that sort of child, and I resent the implication that she could be that devious.”

He sighed. “I’m sorry, Aquitaine. I didn’t mean any offense. I’m sure your daughter is a lovely girl. I’m only pointing out that candidates know how to play these games as well as we do.”

Still rankled by his theory, she shrugged. “You’re the boss,” she offered by way of submission, though she knew her tone said far more than her words.

He frowned but didn’t comment.

“I’ll inform Giselle.” She stood to go.

Her hand was on the door handle when he finally spoke. “And I trust you’ll present things to Giselle in such a way that she recognizes this was a mutual decision.”

She replayed Julien’s warning in her head, about supporting Cole and the merger, and injected a sweetness into her words that she didn’t feel.

“Of course. I would never even think of implying otherwise.”

Cole narrowed his eyes as she plastered on a blatantly false smile and left the room.

CHAPTER THREE

EMMA ENTERED THE Aquitaine offices on Monday morning with a new outlook. Spending a weekend with Avery had done much to restore her attitude. She had played games with her daughter, caught up on some errands and taken Melanie with them to the market. She’d even found time to read a couple of chapters in a new novel she’d purchased. She walked into Aquitaine with a lighter step and smiled pleasantly as she approached her office and found Henri, one of the janitorial staff, watering the plants nearby.

“Bonjour, Henri.”

The man’s eyes lit up at the sight of her. He had once told her that she was the only Aquitaine recruiter who bothered to speak to him. The rest worked around him as if he wasn’t even there.

“Bonjour, Emma.”

“Did you enjoy your weekend?”

He sighed. “I went to see my daughter’s ballet recital. I had hoped to take her and my son to dinner afterward, but my wife refused, saying they had other plans.”

Emma felt herself frowning with sympathy. “Oh, Henri. I’m so sorry. If it’s any consolation, things should get better. Those beginning stages of divorce are when both parties feel wounded and betrayed. Hopefully, she’ll ease up in time.”

Henri appeared skeptical, despite her reassurances, but she couldn’t blame him. She remembered how much hurt she’d experienced when she and Brice had been in the first phase of their divorce. Her situation was different from Henri’s, though, in that Brice had wanted nothing to do with Avery and had accepted whatever custody terms Emma chose to lay out. She’d been hopeful he’d eventually exhibit more enthusiasm, so she’d allowed for him to take Avery every other weekend and some holidays, but he rarely took advantage of the offer. Henri, on the other hand, seemed to be struggling in the opposite direction. It pained her to know how much he wished to be with his children and to witness how his wife continued to withhold them.

“How are the custody hearings coming along?” she asked. To her dismay, Henri’s mood seemed to sink even further.

“She is suggesting I only get one weekend a month, a week in the summer and no holidays. With my background, I am not sure I have a chance of more. There is a lawyer who feels he can help, but his fees are exorbitant.”

Emma knew that Henri had once had an issue with gambling. His habit had never become as damaging as some, but it had been enough to cast a black mark upon his character, one that his soon-to-be ex-wife seemed to be using to her full advantage.

“If you need money, I could loan you some,” Emma offered, but Henri was already shaking his head.

“No. I owed enough to friends after I recognized my gambling addiction. I vowed never to borrow a single euro again.”

Emma nodded with sympathy and then noticed that the conversation nearby, in one of the smaller conference rooms, was growing to a steady buzz. She ignored it for the moment.

“Enough about me. How was your weekend?” Henri asked.

“Very nice.” She hesitated, unwilling to mention Avery in light of Henri’s own plight.

“And how is Avery? You haven’t shown me any pictures lately.”

She relaxed since he broached the subject first.

“She’s grown at least three inches in the past few weeks. She’s going to be as tall as her father one day.”

Henri clucked his tongue, presumably at her mention of Brice. He slid a glance around. “And the new American boss? What do you think of him?”

She hesitated, choosing her words carefully. Henri might only be the janitor, but Julien’s warning on Cole’s first day had been clear. She would support the merger and CEO. “I think Cole is the perfect person to manage this company for the days ahead.”

“He has a very flashy smile,” Henri observed.

Emma smothered a laugh. “Yes, that’s true.” Cole’s smile was certainly something of note. It made his handsome features even more attractive.

“Everyone here just beams whenever he comes around. I hope you plan to challenge him, keep him sharp,” Henri remarked.

She grinned at this idea. “I should tell him you said so.”

Henri’s head jerked up in alarm. “I do not think—”

“It’s all right, Henri,” she assured him. “I won’t say a word to him. But I promise, I’ll do my best to keep him on his toes.”

The hum of chatter in the conference room was unmistakable now and growing by the second. Emma turned her head in that direction.

“What’s on everyone’s mind, that they’re talking so much?”

Henri gave another shrug. “I overheard a few things—that Julien is arranging some sort of company getaway.”

Emma furrowed her eyebrows. Julien had initiated plans without consulting her? It was unlike him.

“I better go see what they’re buzzing about.” She paused before leaving and reached out to give Henri’s arm an affectionate squeeze. “Good luck with everything. Let me know how things go.”

He nodded and turned back to his work as she moved down the hall and toward the conference room. She entered to find a small group of the top four recruiters chattering excitedly and passing around what looked like colorful brochures. Julien was nowhere to be seen, but as she prepared to move farther into the room, she felt an arm brush hers; she looked up to see Cole Dorset, tall and striking as ever, studying the room at large.

“What’s going on in here?” he questioned without looking at her.

She forced her gaze away and back to the group before them. “I don’t know. Henri said something about a company getaway.”

“Henri?”

“The janitor,” she replied with distraction.

Cole fell silent so she dared to look at him once more. He was staring at her.

“You’re friends with the janitor?”

She stiffened. “It’s not like we go to lunch every day, but we’re friendly, yes. Why?”

“No reason. I just...never thought about being friends with the janitor.”

She looked away from him. “Well, maybe you should. Henri’s really nice.”

His voice sounded amused as he replied, “Maybe you’re right.” He waited a beat before speaking again. “By the way, we heard from Delacroix this morning. He’s decided to take the job with Arrow Tech after all. I guess he really was unhappy enough with his current company to make a switch.”

She felt a jolt of surprise at this news.

“What the heart wants, remember, Aquitaine?”

She didn’t reply. After another pause, she felt his touch, warm and solid, beneath her elbow as he began to steer her farther into the room. “Let’s see what Julien has gotten us into now, shall we?”

She didn’t protest how he moved her along, and when his hand finally dropped away, she found that she missed the gentle touch.

“Good morning,” Cole greeted everyone.

The room suddenly fell silent as they turned to face their new boss. “Um...bonjour?” he tried again, and Emma nearly rolled her eyes at how the group broke into smiles and returned Cole’s attempt at the French greeting.

“Everyone seems particularly cheerful for a Monday morning,” he remarked. “Does it have something to do with that?” He pointed a finger at one of the leaflets.

Giselle handed it over, and Emma was forced to ease closer to Cole in order to see what sort of information the literature contained.

Scenic pictures of woodlands, a dining hall and rustically chic suites were splashed across the glossy paper beneath words advertising the “Château Bonnaire: an idyllic, team-oriented retreat center for professionals.”

She felt Cole shift uncomfortably beside her and clear his throat. Ah. She realized the brochure was entirely in French, and Cole had no idea what it said.

“A team-oriented retreat center for professionals?” she prompted. “Where did you get these?”

“Julien,” Louis informed her. “He said to look it over, and that he’d be back shortly.”

“Is Julien sending us on a retreat?” Aurora questioned.

Emma looked at Cole and found his frown mirroring her own. If Julien had chosen to send them on a retreat, he hadn’t informed her...nor Cole, it seemed.

“I’m sure Julien will be back soon to enlighten us,” Cole offered.

“You mean, you don’t know?” Marc asked.

Emma felt Cole stiffen beside her at the implication he was clueless as to the goings-on at the very company he was meant to be heading.

“You know Julien enjoys his little surprises,” she jumped in to spare Cole having to reply.

“Emma is correct.”

They all turned at the sound of Julien’s voice. “I decided to surprise you. I thought it would be good for you all to get away for a weekend, as a team. To get to know your new leadership.” He dipped his head in Cole’s direction.

Excited murmurs rippled through the group, but Emma watched Cole carefully. He frowned in dismay, obviously not quite as pleased as the rest of the group. Little wonder, given that Julien hadn’t clued them in to his plans beforehand. She slid her gaze in the older man’s direction, but he did not seem to recognize that he had possibly caused offense.

“Julien,” she murmured, but he was too busy beaming in reaction to his other employees’ responses to the news.

“Julien,” she repeated more forcefully. His eyes found hers, and she frowned. “Could we speak for a moment in your office? Please?”

His pleased expression faltered, and she noticed his eyes shift from her face to Cole’s.

“Oui. Certainly.”

The others didn’t seem to pick up on the unease clouding around their American counterparts as Julien led Cole and Emma from the room. As they arrived at Julien’s door, Emma reached out and laid a hand on Cole’s arm, leaning in to whisper softly enough that Julien would not hear.

“Give him a chance to explain.”

Cole glanced at her briefly and then nodded before stepping into Julien’s office. Emma closed the door behind them.

“Julien, why wasn’t I consulted about this decision?”

Julien frowned at Cole’s question. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

Emma stepped forward before Cole could speak again. “Julien, I think you should have informed Cole of your idea before announcing it to the others. He— We both,” she corrected, “were at a loss in there.”

Julien’s eyes suddenly widened in understanding. “Ah, I am so sorry.” He shifted his gaze from Emma to Cole. “I apologize, to both of you. I only thought a retreat might be a helpful way for you to get to know your team and give them the opportunity to embrace you as a leader.” Julien took a step forward and addressed Cole. “It was utterly thoughtless of me. I have been so used to making all the decisions as owner of the company, I forget that as my CEO, you should be allowed to take the lead.”

From the corner of her eye, she saw Cole relax. “It’s all right, Julien. No harm done.”

He didn’t say so, but she knew that if it hadn’t been for the rocky start between them, he might not be so on edge.

“But I’m not sure if this is a good idea. Won’t the board find a weekend at a château a bit extravagant?”

“As board chairman, I can make those kinds of decisions. You leave the board to me.”

“But shouldn’t our efforts be focused on the company and making sure our clients are still confident in our abilities after the merger?”

Julien waved a hand. “It is only one weekend. It will be the perfect opportunity to learn each other’s strengths. You will find it invaluable, I promise you.”

Emma was surprised when Cole turned to her.

“What about you? Do you think this is a good idea?”

She found her jaw sagging slightly in surprise that Cole had asked her opinion. Snapping her mouth closed, she looked from Cole’s hesitant expression to Julien’s hopeful one and then back to Cole.

“Yes, I think it’s a good idea.” She straightened her shoulders before speaking again. “It will solidify your position as our boss.”

He eyed her a moment more before nodding. “All right, then. When did you book this retreat for?”

Julien smiled proudly. “You leave on Friday.”

* * *

EMMA DEFTLY GRABBED a bottle of perfume out of Avery’s fingers as her daughter ran from her bedroom. She tossed the fragrance into her cosmetic bag as Jacqueline shook her head.

“She has so much energy. I grow tired just watching her.”

Emma reached for a blouse and folded it neatly before tucking it into her bag. “She’s really excited that you’ll be watching her this weekend. She’s been looking forward to it ever since I told her you’d be coming.” She moved toward her former mother-in-law and took her hand. “Thanks for agreeing to babysit while I’m away. I’d have hated to ask Melanie to change her plans for the weekend.”

Jacqueline squeezed her fingers in return. “It is my pleasure, dear. You know I am always eager for a chance to spend time with my granddaughter.”

“I know, but I’m sure it’s still a bit of an inconvenience, taking the train from Le Mans into the city on such short notice.”

Jacqueline waved this consideration away. “Only an hour’s ride.”

Just then, Avery sailed back into the room. She was dividing her time between watching Melanie pack for her own trip to the Loire Valley, and “helping” her mother prepare for the corporate retreat. Jacqueline reached out and managed to catch her granddaughter in her arms. Avery giggled and squirmed as her grandmother dropped kisses all over the crown of her head. She released Avery, who planted a kiss on her grandmother’s cheek before rummaging through Emma’s cosmetic bag. She pulled out a container of blush and ran toward the mirror to apply some.

“Besides,” Jacqueline went on after the interruption, “I would gladly take the train for twelve hours if it meant a weekend with my granddaughter.”

Avery turned with a grin, one cheek covered in a swath of pink.

“Avery, put that back,” Emma chastised and then reached for a pair of sturdy shoes.

Jacqueline eyed the contents going into the bag.

“This trip was unexpected, was it not?”

Emma shrugged. “I don’t know how long Julien’s had it in mind, but he didn’t consult me ahead of time. Nor the new CEO.”

Avery, with her cheeks so pink it looked as though she’d been sunburned, dropped the blush back into the cosmetic bag resting on the bed and then skipped out of the room once more.

“Did you ask Brice,” Jacqueline finally ventured, “if he would be willing to watch Avery this weekend?”

Emma couldn’t meet Jacqueline’s eye, so she kept her attention focused on the remainder of her packing. She knew it disappointed her that her son didn’t exhibit more care for his daughter.

“He had other plans, I believe.” She didn’t explain that this was to have been Brice’s weekend with Avery anyway, and that he had canceled, as he so often did.

Jacqueline expelled a long sigh. “One day he will recognize what it is he takes for granted. I am always telling him that at some point, he will have to grow up.” The sadness in Jacqueline’s tone caused Emma to reach out and squeeze her former mother-in-law’s shoulder. Jacqueline reached up and touched her hand.

“Don’t worry. As long as Avery has you, she has all the love she needs.”

Jacqueline shook her head but wisely chose to let the matter drop.

“Tell me more about this retreat and everything you will be doing. It sounds delightful.”

Emma filled her in on the activities listed in the estate literature, as well as Julien’s attempts to unify Cole with his senior recruiting team.

“Are you looking forward to it?” Jacqueline often asked her the most pointed of questions.

“A little bit. It will be fun to get away. I only wish I could bring Avery along.”

“Don’t even think of depriving me of a weekend with my granddaughter.”

Avery padded into the room right on cue, wearing what Emma recognized as one of Melanie’s hats. Emma went to her daughter and scooped her up for a kiss before turning back to Jacqueline.

“You may wish you could have switched places with me by Sunday. I have a feeling this little one is going to keep you quite busy.”

Jacqueline opened her arms, and Avery wiggled free of her mother to vault herself into them.

Emma watched them and wondered if her words would be truer for herself. What if this weekend didn’t go well, and she found herself wishing she had stayed home with Avery instead?

* * *

THE NEXT DAY, Emma stood before the eighteenth-century château and simply stared. The others were unloading from the van they had rented to bring them from the train station, their voices overlapping in a melody of excitement, but she was transfixed by the elegant stone facade with diamond-grid windows in front of the circular drive. The exterior of their weekend home displayed an air of old-world charm coupled with new-world adornment in the form of a contemporary white entry door and topiary shrubs in classic stone pots. She relaxed a bit, seeing this inviting atmosphere. She may have been uncertain about the trip to the countryside—feeling guilty for leaving Avery in her grandmother’s care and uncertain about spending so much time in Cole’s company. But now, seeing the welcoming sight of the château, she thought perhaps the next few days might not be so bad.

As the others came up behind her, they began to offer compliments on the grounds, equally as enamored with their surroundings as she was. They dropped their luggage on the lawn as Marc approached the front door and Cole came up behind her.

“Not too bad,” he remarked from beside her, “but I thought it would be bigger. Like a castle.”

Emma resisted the urge to laugh. “A château served as a manor house for the landed gentry. Though some were large enough to be castles, many were simply large country homes, such as this one.”

Just then, their host opened the front door in response to Marc’s knocking.

“Bonjour! I am René Denis,” the man said in French. “I assume you are the party from the city, Aquitaine Enterprises?”

Emma quickly translated this for Cole as Marc politely requested the gentleman switch to English, if possible, in deference to their American boss.

“Oui, but of course. Come, bring your bags and place them in the front hall so I can give you the tour.”

They each hefted their luggage and followed Marc into the cool interior of the house. Leaving their bags in the entry area, they were given a quick overview of the château’s first floor. There was a lounge area with quaint furniture and wooden beams adjacent to a game and TV room, a Provençal-style kitchen with a cozy table for intimate meals, as well as a larger dining hall and laundry facilities in the back of the house.

René explained the schedule of meals and then suggested they retrieve their luggage and follow him up to the first floor. There were a total of six bedrooms, each with a private bath, meaning everyone would have their own room. They quickly claimed their quarters and René announced he would give them a half hour to unpack and settle in before they should join him in the kitchen for lunch and then further orientation.

Left to their own devices, they retreated to their respective rooms. Emma was glad to have grabbed one of the middle-size bedrooms near the top of the stairs. Rather than unpack, Giselle joined her. They commented on the beauty of their surroundings.

The view from Emma’s bedroom window revealed a spacious stone-paved patio as well as a glimpse of a sparkling lake. Emma had also read there were hiking and bicycle trails, a nearby outdoor activities course, a forest chapel and, of course, the lake for swimming and fishing.

“We must tell Julien this should be an annual event,” Giselle announced as she stretched out on Emma’s bed.

Despite the charming setting, Emma remained skeptical on that score. “Let’s wait and see what’s in store for us before we sign up for anything regular,” she said.

“Don’t be so worried, Emma. It’s going to be a perfect weekend.”

Emma hurriedly hung her clothes in the wardrobe and placed her cosmetic bag in the bath. She checked her watch. “I’m going to call Avery before lunch and the orientation. I’ll meet you downstairs in a bit.”

“Suit yourself,” Giselle replied with another stretch and peered out the window once more as Emma grabbed her cell phone and headed for the door.

* * *

EMMA ENDED THE phone call and allowed her shoulders to sag with relief. Now that she had spoken to both Avery and Jacqueline, she felt as if she could enjoy the rest of the day. She wasn’t accustomed to leaving Avery for a whole weekend at a time, and she’d grown a little uneasy during the train ride as she imagined everything that could happen in her absence.

Now that she had heard Avery’s voice and received Jacqueline’s reassurances, she determined to lay her worries to rest and focus on the retreat. She was just pocketing her phone as she turned and caught sight of Cole coming around the side of the house.

“Checking in with your daughter?”

“Yes,” she admitted and then noticed he was holding his cell phone. “You?” She gestured.

“Just letting Julien know we arrived.”

They came to a stop at the château’s front door. “It’s a lovely estate, and René seems like a competent host. Julien must have done his research,” he observed.

“He always does. Julien is decidedly thorough.”

Cole eyed her after this statement. “I never meant to imply he isn’t.”

Belatedly, she realized how defensive her words had sounded.

“I admire Julien,” Cole went on, “and despite any misgivings I might have about being in France, I’m honored to be working with him thanks to this merger.”

“I’m...glad to hear it since I’m pretty fond of Julien myself.”

The conversation stalled, and Emma folded her arms awkwardly.

“So, you ready for this?” Cole asked.

“I guess so. How about you?”

Cole shrugged. “After lunch and the orientation, René said our first activity will be at a nearby ropes activity course. He said the purpose of the exercise is to give us ‘the opportunity to bond as a team and find our spirit of camaraderie.’”

Emma couldn’t help grinning at how Cole repeated René’s words, imitating the man’s French accent.

“Sounds like René is determined to unite us.” She didn’t add that he might have his work cut out for him. While she got along with her coworkers well enough, none of them had ever participated in an event like this and certainly not with the intention of bonding with a new boss.

She cleared her throat. “Did Lillian ever send you on a corporate retreat before?”

He shook his head. “This is a first for me. I have to admit, I’m curious to see how it goes.”

“Me, too.”

Just then, René opened the front door and called them in for lunch. Cole gestured for her to go ahead of him into the house, and she followed René into the château’s dining room.

Lunch was served on a table laid with chipped, antique plates and elegant silverware wrapped in linen napkins. The dishes were simple but delicious: quiche Lorraine with salty bacon and creamy egg custard nestled in a puff pastry; salad with crisp, fresh vegetables in a tangy red wine vinaigrette; and several varieties of cheese along with still-warm, round loaves of peasant bread and a jar of local honey.

Famished after their train ride to the countryside and further transportation in the rental van, the Aquitaine recruiters descended on the luncheon with ferocity. When they had finished, René clapped his hands and asked that they follow him outside for their orientation.

Emma shuffled toward the door along with the others and emerged into the early afternoon sunshine bathing the stone patio in the back of the house.

René began by reiterating his welcome from their arrival and proceeding with a grandiose speech about the importance of teamwork and their united purpose in the next couple of days together. Emma yawned, feeling full after lunch and warmed by the sunshine, and wishing she could just return to her room for a nap. But as Cole had already told her, René had other plans for them.

“We will begin this afternoon by driving to a nearby activity course where you will establish the foundation of your teamwork exercises by utilizing the ropes. Following this afternoon’s activity, there will be some time for personal reflection and then dinner, followed by various team-building games.”

There were a few murmurs of interest as they all wondered what sort of games might be in store.

“Tomorrow morning, we will have breakfast on the patio, after which we will move to the lawn for the archery portion of our exercises.”

“Archery?” Emma bit her lip. She wasn’t sure she liked the idea of her coworkers wielding weaponry.

To her right, Marc snorted. “What is this, medieval mayhem? How is using a bow and arrow going to bond us?”

René frowned at the interruption. “I would ask that you please take this weekend and its activities seriously. Your employer has arranged for you to be here and expects results. You can only achieve the harmony of teamwork if you are open to the exercises.”

Giselle, in her typical flirtatious style, winked at their host. “I am fully prepared to embrace the possibilities, René.”

This declaration appeared to startle the man, and he rushed to continue highlighting the activities for their stay. Though she continued to keep one ear tuned to the orientation, Emma couldn’t help observing Cole and thinking about their brief conversation earlier. She had meant it when she’d said Julien was very thorough. She was sure he had weighed the options and done the appropriate research before sending them all on this retreat. But given how she had questioned his recent decision to merge his company with Reid Recruiting, she couldn’t help wondering if Julien was losing his edge.

And what if trying to force them all to bond with their new boss was a mistake?

CHAPTER FOUR

EMMA FELT THE tug and vibration of the tightrope beneath her and quickly redistributed her weight to accommodate the shift. Behind her, she sensed Aurora struggling, her arms flapping wildly. They were only a few inches off the ground, but it was still a struggle to remain balanced.

“Easy, easy...” René coached from the sidelines. “Work in harmony. Together.”

From farther down the line, Emma recognized Marc’s scoff. “Easy for you to say. You’re still on solid ground and not relying on these idiots to stay balanced!”

Emma inhaled sharply at Marc’s criticism but didn’t tear her eyes from Cole, whose back remained poised and straight in front of her. He made the exercise seem effortless, and she felt a swell of irritation at the sight.

From several feet away, René clucked his tongue at Marc in disapproval. “Monsieur, it is a team effort. You must anticipate each other’s movements, must be as one—”

“If you say ‘as one with the rope,’ I’m going to tear this thing off the stakes and strangle you with it.”

“Marc!” Emma blurted out, embarrassed by her coworker’s vehemence.

“It’s all right, René!” Emma heard Giselle call from farther down the line. “I’m sure you would do a much better job than Marc if you were to join us. Care to take his place?”

Emma tore her gaze from the task of balancing and shot it in René’s direction. She found him frowning in disapproval.

“You are all out of sync with each other. You must aim for cooperation. Understanding. Coordination. See how your boss holds his position?” René gave a nod of approval. “You must look to him as your example.”

Irritation flickered in Emma’s chest.

“Sacré bleu,” Marc muttered. “He has the easiest position in the entire line.”

For the first time since the exercise began, Emma saw Cole’s back stiffen in front of her. He turned his head to speak over his shoulder. “Want to switch places, Marc?”

“Absolutely.”

Marc jumped off the rope and to the ground so unexpectedly that the rest of them shifted and flailed, reaching out blindly to maintain a balance they could not re-create. One by one, they fell off the line and onto the ground mere inches below.

Cole was the last to waver, and if Emma hadn’t reached out without thinking, grabbing him to maintain her balance, he might have remained steady. Her momentary fumbling, though, caused him to stagger with the rest of them, and both she and Cole jumped to the ground at the same moment.

She stumbled, and he quickly turned and caught her, his hands firm but gentle on her waist to keep her upright.

“Careful there,” he murmured.

As she collected herself, she looked up into the concerned depths of his hazel eyes. She stared for a moment, caught in his watchful gaze. She jerked to awareness seconds later as she realized how tightly she gripped his forearms and how his hands remained on her waist.

“Oh, um, thanks,” she muttered and released him. His own hands dropped back to his sides.

“No problem. I guess we all need a bit more practice.”

“Not me.”

Emma turned away from Cole to see Marc dusting off his pants. “I am done with these circus acts.”

“Marc,” Cole said, his tone soft but warning. “Julien sent us here for a reason.”

“Well, then, Julien can come out here himself and see what a waste of time this is. How is balancing on a tightrope going to improve how we work together? The rest of us have known each other for years. No offense, Cole,” he rushed to add, “but wouldn’t the company be better served if we each devoted ourselves to what we’re already good at?”

René grumbled. “My program is of the highest caliber. It works, if you only give it a chance.”

“I just did, and I can’t say I was impressed.”

Emma watched as René’s mouth flattened to a straight line. “With such attitudes, it takes time to form the bond.”

Emma caught Giselle’s eye and saw her own concern reflected in her friend’s gaze. Cole must have seen it, too.

“René, would you be so kind a host as to give the rest of the group a quick tour of the other activities here while I have a word alone with Marc?”

René’s expression remained peeved.

“Please, René,” Emma spoke up, “I know we would all love to see what other opportunities there are in a course such as this.”

Her plea seemed to soften their host slightly.

“I thought the rope bridge looked fun,” Aurora added.

“My kids would go crazy here,” Louis put in. “They’d love it.”

Giselle sealed the deal by moving to René’s side and tugging at his stiff arm until she could weave her own through it. “Of course, you must show us!”

He finally relaxed. “Very well, if that is what you wish. Please, follow me.”

Aurora and Louis trailed after Giselle and René, but Emma lingered for a moment.

“You, too, Emma,” Cole said. “Join the others. Marc and I will be along shortly.”

Emma’s gaze shifted between the two men, from Marc’s sour expression to Cole’s neutral one. She gave a little shrug, decided it was Cole’s job to see to Marc and followed the others, refusing to allow herself a backward glance.

* * *

COLE WATCHED UNTIL he was certain the others were out of earshot, and then he turned his full attention to Marc.

“Not a fan of the tightrope, huh?”

“Children’s games,” Marc spat.

Cole shrugged and then crouched down to test the tautness of the rope. He tugged on it and watched as it vibrated from the touch. He sensed Marc watching him so he turned his head and looked up.

“You have to admit, though, it’s not a bad exercise. Trying to get us to work in rhythm? It’s a good icebreaker, a nice method to get you comfortable around your new boss.”

Marc appeared slightly chastened. “My apologies. You are not the problem.”

Cole stood and brushed his hands against the hem of his T-shirt, dusting off the dirt from the rope. “I’m glad to hear it. I’d hate to think that display just now was solely because of me.”

Marc shook his head. “Sometimes I find myself short of patience where my coworkers are concerned.”

“Oh? How so?”

Cole watched as Marc shifted his eyes away.

“It’s okay, Marc. You can be honest.”

It seemed to be the invitation Marc was waiting for.

“Aurora is a mouse. She’s not cut out for work as a recruiter. Giselle is more interested in finding dates than placing recruits. Louis isn’t so bad, so long as that wife of his isn’t calling him at his desk all day long. And Emma. Don’t even get me started.”

Cole felt a stab of curiosity. “What about Emma?”

Marc sneered. “Julien’s little lackey. She’s his favorite, and it shows. She doesn’t have half the talent I do, and yet, she’s the managing director and was slated for promotion before you came along.”

Cole thought how appropriate it was that this conversation was taking place beside a tightrope, where each step had to be measured carefully. He felt as if he was still balancing on that thin line.

“Her record speaks for itself,” he pointed out. “Her satisfaction rating with her clients is impeccable. Her recruitments love their placements at their new jobs, and the companies who hired them couldn’t be happier.”

“Of course. But her talents are no better than my own. Why should she have the opportunities to advance when they are denied to the rest of us?”

“The rest of us?” Cole repeated. “Or denied to you specifically?”

Marc released a rush of breath in a quick huff. “The old man plays favorites. He gives to Emma with one hand and withholds from me with the other. And he thinks sending his supposed top recruiters on a little holiday is going to unite us?” Another scoff. “I had hoped, with your coming, that matters could be set right.”

Balance, Cole reminded himself. He was an outsider here, new to this country and this office. Was this Marc’s attempt at a corporate coup? If so, he’d approached the wrong man. Cole had no intention of overthrowing Julien. He was still president and chairman of the board, even if Cole did now possess daily operational control.

“I think you’re going to have to be a bit more specific in what you want me to do,” Cole said.

He watched as Marc took a step back, turned and walked a few feet and then came back to stand before him. His agitation was evident in how he met Cole’s eyes and then quickly looked away.

“Emma has made her dislike of you clear.”

Cole eyed him but said nothing in response to this.

“She left you waiting at the airport on your first day. Things were tense between you.”

Marc had been paying far more attention to the situation between him and Emma than Cole had realized.

“We simply had a few misunderstandings at first. She had a good reason for being late to pick me up on that first day.” Despite the initial tensions, they had formed an unspoken truce, and he felt compelled to defend her.

Marc made a face. “Traffic? She has lived in Paris for ten years. She should know to allow the appropriate amount of time to reach the airport.”

Cole felt a ripple of irritation run through him.

“Marc—” Before he could get another word out, the other man began speaking again.

“It’s curious, though, isn’t it?”

Cole stopped. “Curious? What’s curious?”

“Emma. And Julien.”

Cole reared back in surprise. “What are you saying, Marc?”

“Well.” Marc shifted from one foot to the other, ran a hand through his hair and then paused to rub the back of his neck. Cole felt his impatience growing.

“Marc? Just say whatever it is that’s on your mind.”

Marc dropped his hand. “It is no small matter, though, and I need to be certain I can trust your discretion.”

Forcing himself to relax his posture, Cole nodded. “I understand your concerns, but that’s what this weekend is for—to build trust between us all.”

He waited as Marc eyed him for several seconds. “I believe you are trustworthy, but it is a delicate consideration.”

Cole gritted his teeth and tried to be patient as he waited. Marc obviously had something to say; Cole needn’t push him to say it.

Marc drew a breath and then slowly exhaled it. “All right. Have you considered that perhaps there is more between Julien and Emma than they would have you believe?”

Cole blinked. “Are you suggesting...?”

“I think they are in a secret relationship.”

Cole couldn’t stop himself. He burst out laughing at this idea but soon cut it off when he saw how Marc stiffened. He couldn’t help wondering if this conversation was staged in some way. He looked away from Marc, his gaze sweeping the forest around him. The activities course contained several different areas where other groups and instructors were engaged in various exercises, but this particular corner of the ropes course remained isolated from the rest. There were a handful of people gathered around an instructor many yards away, but here, he and Marc were alone. No one was listening in, at least that’s how it appeared. He shifted his focus back to the man before him.

“Sorry, Marc, but no. I don’t believe that’s the case.” He thought about Emma, her classic beauty, and then Julien’s round form, a product of too many years of a gourmand’s indulgence. He could not imagine Emma and Julien together. The idea was preposterous. He had to give Marc credit, though; the man possessed far more imagination than he would have thought.

“You are thinking of superficial considerations, I can see,” Marc stated as he crossed his arms over his chest. “But imagine Emma’s advancement—he was prepared to name her CEO before your company took over. How does someone as young as Emma move up so quickly?”

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