Not only did we get away, we did it in style. I wasn’t running from anything anymore. Not if I could help it.
By the time we were landing in Paris, I was showered, rested, and thoroughly relaxed from Ian’s admission to the mile-high club. Coop didn’t complain because he got to watch, though he called dibs on the flight home. Jake said he’d get his ticket punched at the same time, and the imagery just made me laugh.
I had no idea what time it was. Midmorning, I thought, but the day was confusing ’cause it was like midmorning on the same day we’d left the island. Yeah. Don’t ask me, I wasn’t going to try and do that math again. Despite the food on the plane, I was starving. The guys promised we’d grab food as soon as we cleared customs.
One perk of flying on a private plane? Customs came out to meet you.
Or maybe it was a perk of money, but I was excited to get through and find food, but more than that, I wanted to see Rachel. Sure enough, she was waiting for us in the private lounge, phone in hand and looking all kinds of boho elegant in her black skinny jeans, white T-shirt with a black arty print on it, and a black denim jacket. Her reddish-brown hair was pulled into two long braids, and a pair of sunglasses perched on the top of her head.
“Bonjour, Rachel, espèce de salope sournoise!” I cried out, because she really was a sneaky bitch, knowing all about their plans and not cluing me in.
Jake and Coop had plucked my leather backpack purse and carry-on from me before we’d even exited the terminal to the lounge area, so my hands were free. The rest of our bags were already on their way to our hotel. All good things, because I hurried across the space separating us.
The red gloss of Rachel’s lipstick positively gleamed as she grinned at me. “Bonjour ma chérie.” She was still laughing when I reached her. She stood and had the wisdom to brace herself, because I half tackled her with my hug. “Bienvenue à Paris!”
“Fuck me,” Coop muttered somewhere behind me. “I forgot how hot that was.”
“Vous ai-je manqué?” she asked as she squeezed me tight before pulling back and giving me a once-over.
“Terribly,” I admitted. Because I had missed her.
“Liar,” she teased, tweaking me. “You look too fabulous to have missed me. And, bitch, you got laid on the flight, don’t even try to deny it.”
I grinned. “I would never.”
Her snort just ballooned the happiness in me all over again. “Right.” She flicked a gaze past me toward the guys, and for a moment, horror filtered through her expression as Coop gave her a hug.
“Just shut up and take it, Manning,” he teased her.
“Don’t touch me with your boner.”
“I wouldn’t,” he promised, then dropped a kiss on her cheek. Jake burst out laughing at Rachel’s scowl, and I hooked an arm through hers as Jake followed Coop’s lead with an air kiss rather than a real one.
Ian and Archie stared at her a beat, and then she glanced at me and groaned.
“Fine.” Dropping my arm, she gave Jake a side hug, then crossed over to welcome Archie and Ian with air kisses to each cheek before backing off. Ian winked at me with a grin, and Archie rolled his eyes but his own smile warmed. “Thank you for bringing me Frankie.”
“You’re not keeping her, Manning,” Jake said. “Just remember that. We’re sharing. ’Cause we’re nice like that.”
“Really nice,” Ian added.
“Like gift from the gods nice,” Archie tacked on, and I couldn’t smother my own laughter at their snarking.
“However,” Coop said as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “I do insist that you do all the French from here out, because Frankie’s is way too much of a turn-on.”
I elbowed him lightly, but he gave me such an intent look that I realized he wasn’t really kidding. Oh boy.
I could have a lot of fun with that.
“Let’s go, ladies. Frankie is starving.” Archie motioned us toward the doors. “The car should be here.”
“It is,” Rachel said, falling into step with me and linking our arms together. “Your people swept in to pick me up last evening and moved me over to the new hotel… That was really not necessary, I was enjoying the hostel.”
“You’ll enjoy five-star room service too,” Archie told her. “And there are enough arty types in Paris to distract the pair of you that I’d rather know you were somewhere secure at night.”
“Aww, Rich Boy is worried that I’ll seduce you with my bohemian ways,” Rachel teased, and I rolled my eyes.
“Nah, we’re pretty sure we have Frankie all locked up, but we don’t want her to have to keep telling you no. Then there are all the French boys.” Jake’s rumble carried just a hint of seriousness that I cocked an eyebrow at him. “Not that I expect you would,” he continued. “But I don’t want to get arrested on your first trip to Paris.”
Outside, the cooler air hit me, and I shivered just a little. After the warmth of the island, it seemed awfully chilly.
A car met us at the curb, and the driver was already out to take our overnight bags. We could have sent those with the other luggage to the hotel, but I’d wanted my laptop and stuff and so had the guys. Besides, we were heading there right after food. Rachel and I slid inside while the guys talked to the driver, who greeted Archie in English.
“He’s cute,” Rachel said as soon as we were tucked in. “The driver. His name is Arnold. He’s doing this job to help pay for university. He’s twenty-two and very sweet.”
I stared at her. “You learned a lot about him.”
“I’m experiencing the continent,” she told me, and her grin widened. “And don’t be so dirty.
