Broken French: A widowed, billionaire, single dad romance by Natasha Boyd (books like beach read txt) 📕

“Yes, but where?” he pressed.

“Charleston. It’s on the east coast, in South Carolina.”

“Ahh, yes. I know of it.” His gaze shifted to his son, his eyes narrowing slightly. “You spent some time there recently, didn’t you?”

I glanced at my boss, surprised, as I bit down on the sweet and chewy cherry, rolling it around my tongue. He’d been in my city?

Xavier hadn’t taken his sunglasses off, but I felt the shadow of his gaze on my mouth as I chewed. Then he shook his head and took a sip of water. His breath hitched and made him cough. His father must really make him uncomfortable. “I was there briefly, yes,” he responded. “Visiting a yacht company.”

“Oh? Which one?” I asked.

He mentioned a name, and I wondered if it was the one on King Street where the French lady, Sylvie, worked. She and I often ended up getting coffee at about the same time at Armand’s Coffee Shop. We didn’t know each other well, but over time, we’d started to greet each other and make small talk, which was how I knew where she worked. “I think I know it.” It felt odd to know he’d been in my hometown, walking my streets. So close. No, not odd. Destined. My insides squeezed tight at the thought he’d been there before I’d known him. As if there was a break in the timeline of my life somehow. Like I should have known. How could I have had this strong a reaction to him from the very second of meeting him and not known when he’d been near me before? Which was all ridiculous really. I shook my head, grabbed my water glass, and took a long sip, turning my attention to Dauphine’s drawing of a mermaid. “She’s beautiful,” I said.

Etienne Pascale shook his head with a light snort as if what I was saying was somehow amusing.

I frowned, lost and uncomfortable, this time by the odd tension that thrummed between father and son.

“Papa, can Josie take me down to the beach now?”

“Of course, mon chou.” Xavier sounded relieved.

Etienne Pascale leaned sideways and hauled out a fat brown wallet from his shorts. “Tenez,” he said to me and Dauphine and held out a large denomination of euro bill. “For ice-cream.” He switched to English.

Dauphine snatched it.

“It’s a bit much, don’t you think?” Xavier grumbled.

His father chuckled. “Let an old man spoil his only granddaughter.”

“Merci, Papie! Come,” she said to me, and I was all too eager to leave.

“Bathroom first,” I said, and I grabbed our shared beach bag. “Nice to meet you,” I said to her grandfather.

He stood as I did, and when I offered him my hand, he took it and brought his mouth down to meet my skin again. “Pleasure is all mine. And I apologize for messing up your name … Josie.”

At my side, Xavier was rigid. His leg that I could still see under the table froze as he reached calmly for his water. I glanced at his face and saw nothing but sunglasses and a placid smile before he stood too. Ever the gentleman. “Text me and let me know where you set up on the beach,” he said to us. “I’ll join you when I am done here.”

I nodded.

“Will you swim with me, papa? Please?” Dauphine came around me and gave her dad a quick squeeze and kisses on both cheeks.

“Bien sûr,” he murmured. Of course.

My charge then gave her grandfather a kiss on each cheek, and we made our way into the low slung white-washed clay building. It was dark inside with a large empty room and a cold fireplace. I took a huge inhale, thankful to be free of the tension at the table. There were single unisex restrooms off a small hallway and one was free. I made sure it didn’t have a hinky lock and then told Dauphine I’d wait for her.

As soon as she’d closed the door behind her, another restroom door opened and Alfredo Morosto stepped out.

I smiled politely.

“Ahh, bella. I was hoping I would get a chance to talk with you.”

“I’m just waiting for Dauphine.”

“Of course, of course you are. You are even more beautiful up close.”

I cleared my throat as I backed to the wall and folded my arms across my chest. “Thank you. They’re waiting for you at the table.”

“Let them wait.” He stepped a tad closer and a hand reached out and I flinched, but he merely picked up a piece of my hair that had fallen from my bun and studied it. “Fascinating color,” he said as he immediately dropped it. “Real?”

My heart thudded, and I smoothed my hair and tucked the piece behind my ear as he lifted his hand in an innocent gesture. Hurry up, Dauphine, I willed her.

“So how long have you known Xavier? He’s a smart one, that. Passing you off as the nanny.”

“I am the nanny.”

“Of course, of course. But a man like him, so much judgment. I bet people are wondering. I’m wondering. Listen, uh, here’s my number. I always like to chat. I love to know what work the young Pascale is up to in business these days. I’m a fan, you know.”

I frowned. “Are you asking me to spy on him?”

“No, no, just … for us to be friends. Good friends. Friends who might do … favors for each other. Chat. There’s a lot in it for you. Information you might have access to. Think about it. Rumor has it he’s working on something big. Something I might be able to help with.”

I scoffed and glanced at the door to the bathroom. “Why don’t you call him then.” My God. How long did a pee pee from a tiny bladder take?

“You know,” he stepped a tad closer, and I had to resist a shudder, “I have an opening for a nanny at my home.” His fingers hovered over my shoulder, skimming my swimsuit halter string. “Just in case you were looking for something more … interesting. My