Transformed Into The Frenchman’s Mistress

“Do you want my money?”

“I never wanted your money. If you’ll recall, I tried my damnedest to get you to stop spending it.”

“I thought it was part of the plot.” He paced back the other way.

“The plot?” The only plot she’d ever had was to keep away from Alec. When that became impossible, she convinced herself to have a fling. Falling for him was entirely accidental, and it would have been the stupidest plot in the world.

“To convince me you were different, so I’d let my guard down.”

“Did it ever occur to you that I was different?”

He continued pacing. “Only every second we spent together.”

“So?” What was this all about?

He came to a sudden halt. “You can’t love me, Charlotte.”

A chill poured over her body.

“It’s not possible,” he said. “It makes no sense.” His expression was totally and completely sincere.

“Why not?” she dared ask.

“I’m self-centered and suspicious. I have no depth of character. And I’ve skated along on my family’s legacy my entire life.”

Charlotte couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“I accused you of sabotaging our condoms,” he continued. “And, and at the time, I meant it.” A note of desperation came into his voice. “If it’s not my money-Without my money-” The question seemed torn from his soul. “What is there to love?”

Charlotte’s shoulders slumped, half in astonishment and half in abject relief. “I love you, Alec.”

He shook his head.

“I don’t want your money.”

“I know,” he admitted.

“Then there’s no other explanation, is there?”

“There could be,” he argued.

She moved toward him. “Then come up with one.”

He watched her in suspicious silence.

She moved in closer. “Come up with one,” she dared him.

Then she stopped less than a foot away, tipping her chin to gaze at his tense expression in the dusky light. She gathered the final shreds of her courage, going for broke. “Come up with a logical explanation, or tell me that you love me back.”

He stared at her, and something flickered in the depths of his dark eyes. “Are those my only choices?”

“Yeah.”

“Can I propose instead?”

The burning weight lifted off Charlotte’s chest, and she blinked against tears of relief. “Only if you say you love me first.”

“I love you first.” He reached for her. “I’ve loved you since I saw you on that dance floor in Rome.”

“I didn’t love you then,” she admitted, and he laughed.

“Just so long as you caught on eventually.”

“I caught on a few weeks ago.” She smacked him in the shoulder. “Why weren’t you paying attention?”

“Ouch.” He rubbed his shoulder, pretending she’d hurt him. “You’re as bad as your brother.”

She peered at Alec’s face. “Where’d he hit you?”

Alec pointed to his jaw.

She came up on tiptoe and kissed it better. Then she leaned forward to kiss the shoulder she’d smacked.

“I was paying attention,” said Alec. “But all I could tell was that I wanted to be with you more than any other woman, other person, ever in my life. I was afraid it wasn’t real.” He paused. “So I guess I took steps to make sure it couldn’t be real.”

“It’s real,” she whispered, looping her arms around his neck.

His hand slipped between their bodies to rest on her stomach. “Our baby,” he whispered, “is going to be loved and protected and cared for by two very happy parents.”

Charlotte smiled, hope and joy flowing freely through her veins. Their baby would have loving parents, and Jack and Cece and Theo. Raine and-Raine!

“Raine was getting me the limo,” said Charlotte. “She’ll wonder-”

“Don’t you worry about Raine.” Alec settled his arms around Charlotte’s waist. “Kiefer’s taking her on a date tonight.”

“That’s nice.” Charlotte smiled.

“He’s bringing along a pretty impressive diamond solitaire.”

“Really?” Charlotte was thrilled for her friend.

“He’s a good man,” said Alec.

She nodded in return.

“So, what about you?” he asked.

“What about me?”

He cocked his head to one side. “What are you doing tonight?”

She pretended to ponder. “Well, I do have this plane reservation.”

“Canceled,” he said, settling his arms more firmly at her waist.

“Then I guess I’m free.”

“Care to join me for dinner?”

She smiled and pulled up for a quick kiss. “Love to.”

“There’s a safe in my bedroom.”

“Really, Alec, condoms are no longer necess-”

He laughed. “I mean a jewelry safe.”

“I thought I’d made it pretty clear that you didn’t need to bribe me,” she teased.

“I was thinking we could look for an engagement ring. There’s no end of heirloom jewelry up there. As I recall, my grandmother-Charlotte?”

She couldn’t stop her tears this time. “You were serious?”

“About marrying you? Hell, yes. Right away. Right now. As soon as we can get a license.” He sobered. “You’re carrying my baby, Charlotte. My heir. I’m not giving you a chance to change your mind.”

“I won’t change my mind,” she told him sincerely. In Alec’s arms for the rest of her life was exactly where she wanted to be.

In a secluded corner of the Montcalm garden, screened by cypress trees, with the scent of lavender wafting through the air, Charlotte and Alec stood next to Raine and Kiefer as the priest intoned their vows.

Charlotte wore a strapless white dress, three-quarter-length satin with flat lace over a fitted bodice, with a white satin bow tied over one hip. Raine’s dress was slightly fuller, more formal, with clouds of soft tulle following to just below her knees. She had cap sleeves and a princess neckline. Both women carried bouquets of lavender and white roses.

Jack and Cece served as witnesses and, along with Theo, were the only guests. Dressed in a little gray suit, Theo played in the grass, picking wildflowers as the ceremony wore on.

Alec slipped an antique gold band onto Charlotte’s finger, snuggling it up to the two-carat, princess-cut solitaire once worn by his grandmother. As they were pronounced man and wife, he drew her to him for a long, tender kiss. When it ended, Charlotte had to force herself to let go.

Then Kiefer kissed Raine, and Jack popped the cork on the bottle of Montcalm champagne.

“Welcome to the family,” Jack told Alec, pouring the pale, bubbly liquid into the waiting champagne flutes. “I trust this means we’ll get a discount on renting your chateau?”

“Discount?” asked Alec, brows raised as Cece caught Theo’s hands going for the small white and lavender wedding cake.

“Surely you won’t charge your own family full price.” Jack held up his glass to propose a toast.

“Surely,” Kiefer echoed.