Read Under My Skin: A Contemporary Romance Set in Paris (Bistro La Bohème Book 2) for Free Online

after three years of no contact? The half dozen curvaceous, beautiful
women he associated with on a daily basis left him as cold as ice. What was it
about Jeanne that affected him like this?
    He finally fell asleep after convincing himself
that his visceral reaction was residue from his youthful crush. It would peter
out. All he needed to do was stay away from her. It would be madness to risk
losing Cécile—the woman he planned to marry one day—over a romp
with a hot babe he had nothing in common with.
    ***

“I’ll have a double this morning,” José said. “Haven’t slept well.”
    “A double it is.” Jeanne tilted her head to the side. “You do look a
little tired.”
    “That kid on the third floor played the guitar again . . .
almost until dawn.” José shook his head in despair.
    “Is he any good?”
    José blinked. “Pardon me?”
    “Not that it matters, of course,” she said quickly. “He shouldn’t disturb
his neighbors’ sleep.”
    José gave a tentative nod .
    She handed him his coffee and smiled to reassure him she was on his side .
    His face relaxed. “I see you hired a new server,” he said, taking a sip
and nodding in Amar’s direction.
    “Nothing escapes your notice, José.”
    “Looks a little too . . . young.” He grimaced as he said young .
    “It’ll pass. And it isn’t contagious,” Jeanne said.
    José sighed and drank the rest of his coffee in thoughtful silence.
    During the staff lunchtime three hours later, Jeanne caught Amar
red-handed: He was about to shove a plate into the microwave.
    “Freeze!” she yelled.
    He dutifully froze, holding the plate midair while gripping the microwave
door with his other hand.
    “Now slowly close the microwave, put the plate down, and turn to face
me,” she ordered.
    He turned around.
    She shook her head. “Thank God it was me and not Claude who caught you
trying to nuke that meat.”
    “Why?”
    “Isn’t it obvious? First, if Claude gives you a cold dish for lunch, it’s supposed to be eaten cold.”
    “And second?” Amar tilted his head.
    “No one ever uses the microwave. It’s a firing offense.”
    “Then why do you keep one here?”
    “How shall I explain it . . .” Jeanne pinched her chin.
“You see, every bistro must have a microwave oven. Yet, every good bistro makes a point of never using it.”
    “Of course, it’s totally obvious,” Amar said, deadpan.
    “I’m glad we’re on the same page.” Jeanne nodded, somehow managing not to
smile. “So, I’ll forget what I just saw, and we’ll pretend it never happened,
OK?”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    She turned away to greet Amanda who’d just come in. Her office was around
the corner, and she was a regular during lunch at La Bohème , eating it at the counter to chat with
Jeanne. She once told Jeanne she would have come more often if it hadn’t been
for fear of running into Lena or Rob. Being the latter’s ex, she didn’t
particularly relish the prospect.
    “Do you think you could close the place off after nine on Friday?” Amanda
asked.
    “Depends on the number of people you’re bringing. What’s the occasion?”
Jeanne asked.
    Amanda beamed. “My big promotion. I’m now officially number two in the
department.”
    “We’ll close if you can get twenty-five people. Thirty would be better.”
    “I’m inviting all the colleagues I’ve worked with directly, which should
be about twenty,” Amanda said. “And all my friends.” She paused before adding,
“Which should bring us to twenty-five . . . I hope.”
    “Are you inviting Rob?”
    “No way,” Amanda said.
    Jeanne gave her a sympathetic look.
    Amanda sighed. “I’m not . . . angry anymore. I just don’t
want to see him, that’s all.” Then her face brightened. “But I’m inviting Mat
and Rob’s business partner, Patrick. They’re my friends regardless of their
connection with Rob.”
    Jeanne didn’t register much after the word “Mat.”
    I’m going to see him Friday