Transformed Into The Frenchman’s Mistress

said I wouldn’t-”

“I slept with Alec,” Charlotte admitted in an effort to lessen Raine’s embarrassment.

Raine drew back. “Huh?”

“I didn’t go back to the hotel suite, either.”

“You slept with Alec?” Raine hissed.

“Shh.” Charlotte checked out the backs of the men’s heads to make sure they weren’t listening. “Yes.”

“So you didn’t even know I wasn’t there?”

“Didn’t have a clue,” said Charlotte.

“I could have gotten away with it?”

Charlotte nodded. “But you slept with Kiefer? What happened?”

“After the meeting,” said Raine, keeping her voice down, “we went to dinner. I wondered why you guys didn’t call, by the way.”

“I wondered why you didn’t call us.”

“There was dancing,” said Raine. “And, well…”

“He now knows you think he’s hot?” Charlotte suggested.

“He knows now.”

Both women stared ahead in silence for a moment.

“And Alec?” asked Raine.

“Knows I think he’s hot, too.”

Raine nodded, a grin growing rapidly on her face.

Suddenly, both women burst out laughing.

The two men turned to stare.

“Nothing,” Raine assured them.

“Girl talk,” said Charlotte.

Alec’s eyes narrowed in suspicion, but Charlotte gave him a benign shrug. It wasn’t her place to give away secrets. After a minute, the men went back to their conversation.

“What now?” asked Raine.

Charlotte didn’t know how to answer that. Last night had been magic, from shopping to coffee to the yacht. But in the cold light of day, she had no idea what Alec would expect.

“What now for you?” she asked Raine, stalling for time.

“Honestly? I think it’s going to get really awkward, really fast,” said Raine. “It was great, but now we have to work together.” She folded her arms over her chest and leaned her head back on the seat. “There’s just no way this ends well.”

Charlotte nodded, understanding completely. Really awkward, really fast, was a good way to put it. It was some consolation that she’d be done with the movie in a few weeks. After that, she and Alec’s paths didn’t need to cross. But for Raine, a fling with Kiefer was a whole lot more complicated. She wished she had some helpful advice to offer. But she had nothing.

Alec rose from his seat and moved down the aisle, his expression serious. He nodded to Raine. “Kiefer would like to talk to you.”

Without meeting her brother’s eyes, Raine scrambled to her feet and moved up the cabin.

Alec stayed behind, taking the seat next to Charlotte. And when he turned to her, his expression softened.

“Hey.” He smiled.

“Hey.” Despite the circumstances, she couldn’t help but smile back.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine.”

“Tired?”

“A little.”

Between their bodies, he took her hand in his. “So, what do you want to do in London?”

She didn’t want to be presumptuous. Though she’d happily spend more time with him. “What do you want to do in London?” She put it back on him.

Unexpectedly, he cupped her cheek, raking spread fingers back into her loose hair, pulling her forward for a kiss.

“Kiefer,” she warned in an undertone, as Alec’s lips closed over hers.

“Kiefer knows,” said Alec against her mouth. Then he kissed her deeply. “This is what I want to do in London.”

“For two whole days?”

“Yes.”

“Did Kiefer say…anything?” Charlotte asked carefully.

Alec nodded toward the front of the cabin. “Take a look.”

She twisted her head to see Raine sitting across Kiefer’s lap in the big armchair. They were whispering and giggling together.

“I feel like I’m in high school,” she told Alec.

He agreed with a nod. “But with much better transportation and a platinum card.”

“You’re going to try to spend money on me in London, aren’t you?”

“Try?” he scoffed, cocking his head and giving her a smirk. “I’ve already booked a suite at the Ritz and a box on the Grand Tier at Covent Garden.”

Eight

By the time they made it through London and Paris, Charlotte felt like a spoiled princess. She’d given up arguing with Alec about money. She even gave up trying to pay for her own clothes. He’d simply worn her down.

But now they were back in Provence. One of Alec’s drivers had delivered the Lamborghini to the airport. So they’d stowed the luggage in the limo with Raine and Kiefer and were speeding under the streetlights, top down, along the highway with jazz pouring out of the sound system. She’d dressed casually for the trip, in a new pair of designer jeans and a cropped, peach tank top with flat lace insets.

Alec was a steady, confident driver. And as their speed increased, she kicked off her sandals and tipped her head back, letting the cool wind flow over her skin.

“Almost home,” said Alec, shifting out of Sixth as the turnoff to Chateau Montcalm came into view.

She tried to formulate the right sentiment. She watched Alec’s profile as the aspen and oak trees flashed by.

“What?” He glanced over.

Straightforward seemed like the best choice. “I had a really great time, Alec.”

He grinned. “Me, too.”

Their gazes caught and held.

“Thank you,” she told him sincerely.

“Anytime,” he breathed, turning his attention back to the road, slowing down further as the chateau’s driveway loomed.

Charlotte let out a sigh, sliding her feet back into her sandals. As the headlights caught the semitrailers, the scarred lawn and the open-air buffet tables that provided craft services to the crew during the day, she tried to smooth her hair into some sort of order. But she quickly gave up. And when Alec brought the convertible to a halt at the front door, she decided a shower would be first on her list. She might as well get rid of the dust along with the tangles.

Alec swung around to open her door, and Charlotte came to her feet, stretching out her neck and back after the long journey. The film set was quiet as they crossed to the front door, with just a few grips, production assistants and security guards putting things in place for the morning.

Alec pushed open the wide door, and the quiet of the yard disappeared. Chitchat and music wafted out from