Hidden Devotion Read Online Free PDF Page B

apartment owned by a member of the Trinity Masters. Lisa’s family wasn’t part of the Trinity Masters, but Rebecca’s was. As far as both girls knew, the apartment belonged to a Hollywood producer friend of Juliette’s mother. Though Rebecca was a legacy, she didn’t know Juliette’s brother was the Grand Master, which was more than fine with Juliette. It wouldn’t exactly be fun if one of your best friends found out that your brother was the person who had nearly God-like control over her life.
    Grimacing at the thought, Juliette snatched up her jacket. “I’m going for a walk.”
    “Wait, we’re coming.”
    “I’m leaving,” she warned, taking dramatically slow steps towards the door.
    “Coming, coming.”
    “ On y va !”
    Once outside, she let herself forget about the Trinity Masters. They wandered until they found a small neighborhood bakery, snagging croissants and strong coffee. Feeling like locals, they walked until they reached the river Seine, taking the steps down to the path beside the water. Trying to blend in, they spoke in French instead of English, turning their noses up at the tourists they passed.
    “When are we meeting up with Sebastian and the guys?” Rebecca asked.
    “Rome. They’re backpacking right now.” Juliette stopped to take a photo of a pretty bit of ironwork on a bridge, feeling quite artistic as she did so.
    “Blegh. Why would anyone want to sleep on the ground and be dirty when they could be doing this?” Lisa spread her arms.
    Juliette wouldn’t have minded going backpacking, which her best friend in the whole world, Sebastian, and two other guys were doing before joining her, Rebecca and Lisa for the last two weeks of the trip. But then again, there was something to be said for a whole week of freedom in Paris.
    They stopped to shop, Juliette purchasing a slinky silk dress that her mother would never have let her wear. She wore it when they went to dinner that night, deciding to eat at the famous Hotel Meurice. They didn’t have reservations, but they were early by Paris standards and able to get a table without too much trouble. They ordered a bottle of Champagne— real Champagne, from Champagne—and delicately nibbled their rich, buttery food.
    It was a glamorous evening—dressed in their recently acquired Paris fashions, dining in one of the most elegant restaurants in the world and drinking inexcusably expensive wine.
    The only thing that was missing, the only thing that would have made eighteen-year-old Juliette’s night the stuff of dreams, was romance. They received more than a few appreciative glances from men in the restaurant, but most were old enough to be their fathers. When they moved to the hotel bar, complimentary drinks arrived with semi regularity, and after consuming more than a few of them, the age of the men sending the beverages mattered less and less.
    The drinks also helped Juliette forget that she was essentially already engaged. Rebecca didn’t know that Juliette’s trinity had already been selected. Normally members took advantage of the fact that they didn’t have to go looking for their own long-term relationships by messing around. Rebecca was clearly going down that path—a well-dressed man had his hand on her knee.
    When a slightly portly man in a pale gray suit put his hand on Juliette’s back—which was left bare by the daringly cut dress—she smiled and played with her hair. Devon and Rose mostly just ignored her anytime they were together. Maybe if she practiced her flirting they would stop treating her like a kid. She was eighteen, after all.
    “ Parlez-vous Anglais? ”
    “ Oui. Je suis Américaine. ”
    “Maybe you will help me practice my English, no?”
    “Of course, Monsieur. ” Juliette crossed her legs, biting back a grin when the man’s attention dropped to her knees.
    “You are, ah, in Paris for the vacation?”
    “ Excusez-moi. ”
    Both Juliette and her admirer turned at the sound of a new voice—a