Turn Back Time (The Full Circle Series Book 1) by Annette Anders (best books to read for knowledge .TXT) 📕

Mom and Dad miss seeing him. I think they still hope he’ll come back to Philadelphia and settle down.”

She kept her eyes on the fountain while she talked, but could feel David watching her. She wanted to slide closer to him, but her head told her to stay where she was. When she looked at him, his eyes mirrored the same longing she felt.

“Oh, God, Stella,” he said and reached out to brush the backs of his fingers over the side of her face. “I can’t believe I’m sitting here with you.” He pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “What are you doing tomorrow?”

“I don’t know yet. I assume Naomi will have a battle plan worked out by the time I get to the hotel. You know her. She needs action. Being passive and waiting for others to act is hard for her. Which reminds me, I should get back.”

“What’s the address? I’ll pull up the directions,” he asked. “Or would you like me to call a taxi?”

“I’d like to walk, and I have a basic idea where we need to go,” she pointed toward the Louvre looming in the not-too-far distance. “This way, then take a right and across the Seine.”

They walked side by side, both lost in thoughts, when David asked, “Can I see you tomorrow?”

“You must have other things to do,” she glanced at him.

“Stella, the most important thing for me is to be there for you,” he repeated his earlier statement.

“Thank you. How ’bout if I text you after breakfast? Naomi might complain, but I think, deep down, she’s grateful for your support.”

They had left the park and stood in front of the glass pyramid. “Julia and I talked about visiting the Louvre. I mean, we have tons of time, but it just feels wrong to go sightseeing while Revan is in danger.”

Talking about Revan brought back the reality of why they were here. This wasn’t some random picking-up-where-we-left-off, and it wasn’t about her and David. She tried to blink away the tears puddling in her eyes, but a few managed to roll down her face.

He reached out and rubbed them away with his thumb, every nerve in her body responding to the feel of his skin on hers. She stepped a little closer and could smell his aftershave. He must have showered and shaved before meeting them, because she couldn’t see the usual stubble on his chin.

David continued his gentle caresses of her face and said, “You need to distract yourselves. We can check the news online throughout the day. If there’s any new development, we’ll hear about it. Or Alexander can let us know.”

Stella noticed how he said, we’ll hear about it. Not, you’ll hear about it. It was reassuring, yet there was no we anymore. Best to ignore his slip.

She stepped away from him, out of the reach of his touch. “I’ll ask Julia if she can arrange it.”

Crossing Pont Royal, they passed an accordionist sitting on a three-legged stool, playing a soulful melody. Stella stopped walking and looked up and down the river.

“Naomi and I went on a boat tour last Sunday and came by here. You know, I never thought I’d like Paris as much as I do.”

David reached for her hand and laced his fingers through hers. He pulled her closer and sang a few lines, in perfect harmony with the musician. The old man smiled at them and nodded.

She wanted to scream, “What are you doing to me?” But she remained silent. She’d figure it out later.

And she’d never listen to “La Vie en Rose” again without remembering this moment.

David pulled change out of his pocket and dropped a few euros into the man’s tin bowl. Still holding hands, they continued walking in silence until Stella pointed with her free hand and said, “There’s our hotel. Thank you for walking me home—well, not home, but here.”

“Stella, please call me first thing in the morning,” he said in a pleading voice, then pulled her into his arms and brushed his lips to the top of her head.

She closed her eyes and didn’t want to let go of him. The comfortable familiarity between them wasn’t lost on her, and she wanted to bask in it for the short time they had.

Stella nodded, “Bye, David. See you tomorrow.”

Without looking back, she walked into the lobby, and spotted Naomi sitting at the bar, deep in an animated conversation with—Kai.

What is he doing here? And didn’t she say she was tired and needed time to think? Stella shook off her confusion and joined them.

“Well, this is a surprise. What brings you here, Kai?”

“Hi, Stella.” Kai stood and hugged her.

“You won’t believe it, but listen to this!” Naomi said in a cheerful voice. “On my way back to the hotel, I walked past the entrance to the catacombs...”

Stella interrupted her and laughed. “Nice try, but to get to the catacombs from the bistro, you had to walk past our hotel, and probably keep walking for another ten minutes. Mmm-hm…Don’t give me that look. You did not just happen to walk by, you went there on purpose. You probably took a taxi from the bistro and got dropped off right there!”

“Yeah, well…anyhow,” Naomi waved her hand, “it doesn’t matter how I ended up there. But who do you think I ran into? Ta-da…” Naomi pointed to Kai. “The man who was face-to-face with the kidnapper!” Naomi copied Leo’s voice.

Kai grinned at Stella and said, “Your friend is fierce when she wants something.”

Stella rolled her eyes. “Tell me something new. But isn’t the area packed with police and news crews? How did you find each other?”

“I went there because I had nothing better to do, when I heard a commotion and saw a tall woman arguing with one of the cops.” Kai gave Naomi a stern look, then continued, “As soon as I recognized Naomi, I tried to pull her away before she was arrested. I don’t know what she told the poor guy, but