Beyond Chance Read Online Free PDF Page B

his
body rocked back and forth. “If we need to stay here longer, we
can.”
    I shook my head. “Thanks. I don’t know what
to do or make of it.”
    He nodded. “I know and there’s no rush.”
    Searching for my two bags, I nodded and
watched the carousel intently. Catching a familiar gleam in Aaron’s
eyes, my stomach flip-flopped at the thought of being alone with
him again. Three weeks had been far too long. If anything could
help get my mind off things, it would be spending some quality time
with him alone in an apartment in Paris. I was so busy daydreaming,
I didn’t even notice the first bag until he said something.
    “Suitcase one,” he said, reaching over and
hauling the large, brown suitcase off the belt. It hit the floor
with a thud as I spied the next suitcase rounding the corner.
    “And suitcase two,” I said, pointing.
    He picked it off the carousel and positioned
my carryon bag on top of one of the large suitcases, wrapping it
with a strap.
    “I can take one of those,” I said.
    “You’ve got enough to worry about. Just keep
an eye on your purse and other bag. Keep them in front of you and
zipped until we reach the car. There are a lot of greedy little
hands willing to dig right into our bags and pockets.”
    “Seriously?” I asked.
    “Seriously. I actually got to meet one of
the friendly thieves as she was reaching her fingers into my pocket
as I walked into the airport this afternoon.” He shook his head and
adjusted the bags before taking a step.
    “She? No way. What did you do?”
    “She ran away as soon as I grabbed for her
hand, but from what everyone’s told me, that’s just how it is. It’s
even worse around the tourist traps and on the Metro.”
    “That’s not exactly what I imagined.” I
followed him out of the airport and to a waiting car. The driver
jumped out of the sedan and took the bags from Aaron, securing them
in the trunk.
    I looked around the busy terminal, hearing
the honks of horns and yelling as I stepped inside the vehicle,
which he’d filled with white roses.
    Aaron followed behind. “Welcome to
Paris.”
    My entire body warmed as I took a seat next
to one of the large, wrapped bouquets. The air was filled with the
glorious scent of roses, and the electricity charging between us
was filled with hunger for one another.
    “This is quite the welcome,” I whispered,
buckling in.
    Aaron skirted a finger along my arm and
leaned in as the driver got us on our way. “You look even more
sensational than I remembered,” Aaron murmured.
    My entire body sprang to life as the spark
between us renewed.
    “You’re not looking so bad yourself,” I
teased. “Paris has been good to you.”
    He shrugged and sat back in the seat, taking
my hand in his. “It’s been interesting. I’ve been trying to get as
much work done as I could before you got here so I wouldn’t be
completely buried when you arrived.”
    “You’re here for work. That comes first,” I
said, nestling my head on his shoulder. It felt so good to be back
in his arms.
    “You come first,” he corrected. “But I think
I’ve got some great things planned for us. Unfortunately, tonight
won’t be one of them.”
    “What’s going on tonight?” I asked.
    “The owner of the gallery is holding a
dinner that we’ve been invited to.”
    “That sounds fun.”
    “I know what would be more fun.” He smiled
and squeezed my hand.
    “Who’s to say we can’t do both?” My brow
arched, and he swept a kiss along my cheek giving a low chuckle in
return.
    I watched the scenery go by as we drove down
the highway. Surprised by the amount of graffiti tagged on
different buildings and walls, I pointed and Aaron laughed.
    “For some reason, I assumed Paris was immune
to graffiti artists,” I said.
    “Wait until you see it in the city. Nothing
like seeing a beautiful masonry building with stepped terraces and
red geraniums overflowing through the wrought iron, and then a huge
tag right next to it.”
    I