I walk with my family to the restaurant where we’re meeting Neli and Boz for dinner. We’re really here! Bordeaux is beautiful with so many well-preserved majestic buildings. I’ve already seen a cathedral, a palace, and an opera house in the neoclassical style with impressive Greek columns. The wine competition takes place at a modern-looking conference center and exhibit hall with lots of glass to let the light shine in.
My pulse thrums through my veins in my eagerness to see Boz again. I spent extra time getting ready tonight. I’m wearing my long hair down, and I applied just enough makeup for a subtle glow. My dress is new—a steal from Target—but I think it says elegant sophistication. It’s a pale pink floral dress with cap sleeves and a shallow V neck in the formfitting bodice. The hem ends at my knees, falling in a diagonal to my ankles in back. Light beige open-toed high-heeled sandals complete the look. Will he notice?
My dad stops at an elegant-looking restaurant, ornate carved pillars flanking the door. He holds the door for us and ushers us in. “Ladies.”
I step in first, noticing the crisp white tablecloths and expensive-looking art on the walls—all colorful abstract splashes or clumpy portraits of people holding black umbrellas. But none of that holds my attention as my body starts to tingle, sensing Boz is near. How or why I react physically to him in such a strange way, I don’t know.
My eyes search the dimly lit space for the man I can’t seem to stop thinking about. And Neli, of course. I spot them at a long banquette table in the back. Neli’s glaring at a man sitting alone at a nearby table.
I wave to her. She immediately smiles and stands. “Bonsoir! Glad you found the place.”
Boz stands and inclines his head in greeting. My breath catches. He’s stunning in an expensive-looking navy suit tailored to his exquisite muscular perfection. Every nerve ending sparks to life.
My mom rushes forward, thanking them both profusely for everything.
“It is nothing,” Boz says modestly.
“It’s everything,” I say.
His silvery eyes lock on mine for an intense moment. I fight the urge to draw closer. His pull is magnetic.
Eliza and Mabel bound forward, hugging Neli and thanking her for everything. Then they gush over Boz.
“You’re so generous,” Eliza says, looking up at him under her lashes.
Oh my God, is my baby sister flirting with him? She’s seventeen!
“We can’t thank you enough,” Mabel says in a high reedy voice.
Boz holds up a hand. “Consider me thanked, girls. We are happy to have you as our guests.”
“Killer suit,” Eliza says, looking up and down Boz’s body.
Boz shoots Neli a questioning look. She does a quick head shake.
“You look…” Mabel starts.
“So hot,” my sisters say in appreciative unison and then giggle madly. So embarrassing.
Boz studies the ceiling, refraining from comment.
“Girls, take a seat,” Mom says, shooing them over to sit by Neli. “You’re embarrassing yourselves.” She follows closely behind, whispering in a low fierce tone to them. Mom lecture on manners coming right up!
Boz holds out the chair next to him and catches my eye, gesturing toward it. I take the seat, smiling at his old-fashioned manners. My dad takes the chair on my other side.
After we’re all seated and the waiter takes our drink order, Mom fills Neli and Boz in on the safe delivery of the wine to the judging area. My parents took care of that while I took a much-needed nap. I definitely shouldn’t have slept because now I feel wide awake and wired. Like I could stay up all night.
Neli’s gaze lands again on the man sitting alone. I glance over, and he quickly brings a newspaper up in front of his face. I only caught a glimpse of thick glasses, but something about him seems familiar.
I lean across the table to whisper to Neli, “Is that someone from home? He looks familiar, but I can’t place him.”
“Who?” Neli asks, shooting a glance at Boz.
I point toward my own palm to indicate the guy without directly pointing. “The guy you keep looking at sitting alone with the thick glasses.”
She shakes her head. “Never seen him before. I caught him checking me out and was letting him know I’m not interested.” She sounds tense.
“Oh.”
Boz slowly turns, his steely gaze settling on the man. The guy peeks around his newspaper and startles, dropping it. He quickly leaves.
Wow. Boz is better than my dad at getting guys to leave. He sure looks out for Neli. Wait, is Boz involved with Neli? She is beautiful with her red hair and sparkling green eyes. Smart too. I rub the wine charm on my bracelet, as I often do when I think of Boz. He gave me jewelry. Did he also give Neli the pearl necklace she’s wearing? Have I been pining for a man whose heart is already taken?
For the rest of dinner, in between my father’s and Boz’s entertaining debates about the best grapes from Europe, I find myself studying Boz and Neli. First thing I notice is that Boz barely touches his food, and when he does, I’m pretty sure he tucks it into his napkin. Maybe he’s one of those health nuts, who only eats a few select items to keep up their spectacular physique. Really working for him. The second thing that hits me is how close Boz and Neli seem, often following the same line of thinking. Sometimes it sounds like playful banter, though the playfulness is on Neli’s side. Boz seems to take everything seriously. Maybe he secretly enjoys it, but he’s one of those manly men who don’t show much emotion.
After the meal concludes, we thank Boz for the fantastic food, which he paid for before my parents even got the chance to contribute. I linger behind on our way out, hoping to talk to Boz alone. I need to thank him personally for his incredible generosity—it’s a lot, and my family needs to find a way to repay him someday—but also, I want to know what the story is with him and Neli.
Luckily, my mom is talking Neli’s ear off. My dad and the twins are already on the sidewalk, waiting outside, probably coming up with ideas about pastry recipes to name after Boz. I love that they adore him as much as I do, given where things started, but now I worry about how attached I’ve become so quickly. Is it a mistake? Did I jump before I looked?
Before I can come up with a subtle way to ask about the situation, Boz says, “You were very quiet at dinner. Is something not to your liking?”
“Oh, no. I loved everything. Not one single word of complaint about anything. This restaurant has such a romantic ambiance with the dark wood paneling and soft lighting.” I suddenly realize how much I wish it were just the two of us for a romantic night. I fear my secret longing for him is too obvious, so I quickly add, “This whole trip is like a dream come true for my family.”
A smile tugs at his lips. “A happy dream, I hope.”
“Yes,” I breathe, taken in once again by his rare smile. Then I remember myself. “You and Neli seem close.”
“We have a bond that cannot be broken,” he says matter-of-factly.
“Ah. Are you two more than just coworkers?” I ask.
I hold my breath, praying he says no.
He lifts a shoulder in a casual shrug.
And it seems he’s done talking about that. I don’t press. But she must mean a lot to him. I mean, what guy talks about a bond that can’t be broken if they’re not serious about a woman? Plus they live together. I don’t know why I hadn’t considered it before. I was so caught up in his magnetism, his sexy good looks, his incredible kindness toward me and my family, I was blind to the truth. Now I feel like an idiot. And I’m crushed.