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arsenal. The moment had been worth cherishing, tucking aside for a rainy day long in the future to pull her out of a mood.
    Mara rolled and grunted something inaudible from her bed. Celeste quietly laughed at her friend. Would he call? she wondered. He was nothing like what her parents had described. She noted that she hadn’t felt a pull this strong toward a man since she met Matteo. She was besotted. Questions burned in her mind. Her heart raced and her blush persisted as she tried to get comfortable in her bed.
    Gabriel Fontaine had worked her into a hormonal frenzy.
    ~ *** ~
    You have to eat,” Mara pushed giving her a pointed look.
    “What if he calls?”
    “Exactly.” Mara said.
    “Huh?” She raised her eyebrows confused.
    “So what if he does, Cece? You can’t sit here all day because he kissed you.”
    “Twice,” she clarified with a smile.
    “My God, I’ve never seen you this . . . worked up.” Celeste bit her lip to stifle the grin on her face.
    “It would be really, extra lame to sit here wouldn’t it?” Celeste finally gave in. She knew it was foolish to sit by the phone waiting for a man to call, but the anticipation made it hard to risk missing hearing his voice.
    “It would. It would also be very un-Celeste-like.” She thought about Mara’s statement. She was absolutely correct. She stood before slipping her feet into flats.
    “You’re right. Breakfast.”
    “Crepes or croissants this morning?” Mara asked, looping an arm through hers.
    “Crepes. Always crepes.”
    “Let’s stop and grab Matteo too,” Mara suggested.
    “I wouldn’t dream of leaving him out.”
    At four o’clock, Celeste had nearly tricked herself into forgetting that Gabriel may call her. Brunch had been delicious and packed with witty banter from her two favorite people. She was thick-in-the-thrall of her studying when the phone rang. She jumped, clutched her chest and tried to calm her breathing. Mara, unaffected by the intrusive noise, picked up the phone.
    “Bonjour,” she giggled. Mara only answered the phone in French when she was trying to be funny. Celeste shook her head in amusement. “Hmm, I’m not sure, let me check.” Mara grinned at Celeste.
    Celeste shot her a look that begged to know who her friend was talking to.
    “Aw, yes. Celeste is here, but she’s studying, because she gave up hope that the handsome prince from last night would actually call.”
    She jumped from her desk chair and snatched the phone from Mara’s hand. “Hello?” she answered breathless.
    “Cheri, your friend thinks she’s witty.” Gabriel’s deep baritone vibrated through the receiver and straight to her core.
    “True. She does. Sometimes she even is. ” She laughed, but glared at her friend.
    “Did I really keep you waiting?” he asked. Celeste drew in a breath, not wanting to answer. “Je suis tellement désolé, cheri,” I’m so sorry, darling. She puddled on the floor at his words.
    “I was plenty busy today,” she finally spat out.
    “I’m sure. Listen, I’d like to take you out, tomorrow.” Bold. Straight to the point. Celeste appreciated those qualities.
    “I’m sure that can be arranged.”
    “Is there someone else I should arrange it with? Please don’t tell me Mara is your keeper. I think that one would torture me for fun.” He chuckled.
    Celeste let out a laugh before answering. “I might like to see that, actually.”
    “S’il vous plaît, pas de,” Please, no, he groaned.
    “What did you have in mind? Sundays I try to get home for dinner with my parents.”
    “I will pick you up at eight tomorrow morning, then. We’ll be outside mostly, so dress for that.”
    “And my parents’ dinner?” she hedged.
    “Tell them you can’t make it. We’ll be late.”
    Celeste twisted the phone cord around a finger. “That’s bold. What makes you think I won’t tire of you by dinner time?”
    “Mon instinct.” My gut. He seemed to have an answer for everything.
    “ Are you always