Force of Forever (All In #0.5)

Pia didn’t understand a word. Finally, he turned toward her. “Pia, meet Célia, my driver. Célia, this is Pia. We’re going to show her just how beautiful Paris can be. She’s never been.”

“It’s just croissants, Matt.” Though Pia was already taking in the city with eager eyes. The last time she’d left this airport, it had been dark.

“That’s not what I was told,” Célia replied. “We have a specific itinerary, or did Gabriel get it wrong again?” The woman glanced at them in the rearview. “I don’t know why you still let him work for you.”

Matt sighed. “The two of you, I swear. Gabriel did not make a mistake, and I haven’t had a chance to let Pia know about the change of plans.”

Pia felt a sudden squeeze of discomfort in her belly. Getting in this car with him had taken some faith. What if Matt wasn’t worthy of her trust? “You had the whole walk through the airport to let me know about a change in plans. Are you telling me I don’t get croissants now?”

She searched for malice as Matt smiled, but found none. “I would never keep a lady from baked goods. Or coffee. Célia?”

The woman handed over a box first, and a steaming cup of to-go coffee second. Pia hesitated only a moment before opening the box. Straight-up food porn greeted her. Nestled in brown waxed paper sat gleaming, flaky, powdered, and chocolate-studded confections of all kinds. The buttery smell made her mouth water. She was pretty sure she moaned aloud. Though it was nearing seven p.m. and she should have been having dinner instead of more caffeine, she took a sip of the still-warm liquid and nearly moaned again.

Americano with a splash of cream, no sugar, extra hot. Her perfect coffee. “Carol?”

Matt nodded, pivoting his body toward hers. His fingers brushed against hers on the leather seat, though both knew the gesture was not accidental. “I want to show you the Paris you want to see, and I wanted that change in plans to be a surprise.” His low voice dripped from his lips like honey.

Her heart tripped in her chest. Made for romance, all right. But Pia was nothing if not inquisitive. Some might even say pushy and self-sabotaging. “Well, we already covered pastries and coffee. Carbs were my top priority and you delivered.”

He shook his head, eyes alight and lips twitching. “We’ve been in this car five minutes.”

“And? My bucket list doesn’t have to be on you just because you live here. Thank you, but don’t go to any trouble. Dropping me at my hotel to decimate this box of pastries would be a lot easier for you, and less embarrassing for me.”

The movement of his fingers on hers grew more intentional. His ring finger traveled up and down and between each one of hers like her hand was the most sensual part of her body. Sparks ignited in her belly. “Taking you to your hotel now would not be easier for me, actually. Please don’t make me do that.”

She blinked. “Why?”

“Many reasons. I want to show you my city. I want to spend time with you. I really want to make you smile.”

Pia physically had to bite her tongue as she stared at the beautiful man next to her. Huffing disbelief and intelligent rebuttals like, “Yeah, right,” would shatter the moment.

“Please tour Paris with me, Pia. Then, after we’ve seen to your ‘bucket list,’ I’ll take you to your hotel. If that’s still what you want.”

The implications of that last sentence hung heavy in the shared air between them. Mattias Geier, not-even-thirty-and-insanely-sexy-CEO wasn’t just offering his driver’s services around the City of Lights. No, he was offering up himself. As much of him as Pia wanted to take.

4

The bold, presumptuous statement was a gamble with a steep price. Pia could demand to be taken to her hotel right fucking now and Matt would immediately oblige. Then he’d lose her and the spark of connection he’d clung to for the past ten hours.

The entire flight had turned into a game of Twenty Questions. She’d visited his seat many times, asking about favorite vacation destinations, siblings, most frequent takeaway spot, what he read for fun, all-time favorite film, what religion he practiced. He’d asked her the same in return. They’d joked and flirted and shared all manner of personal information.

They had something, he and Pia. Something easy and fun. And something more.

During the course of one transoceanic flight, this woman had scrambled his brain, his compass, his everything. He was entirely invested in keeping their little flame burning.

Matt did not want her to walk away now. But he couldn’t fucking help himself. Pia was desire brought to life, and he was not capable of hiding that fact.

He waited. Her dark brown eyes swept over his face. He squeezed her hand to let her know any decision she made was fine by him. It had to be.

“All right, Romeo. Let’s go make my Paris wishes come true.” Without waiting for a reply, she opened the box of pastries again. “You don’t want any of these, do you?”

Matt gave what could only be classified as a snort. “I do, actually. I’m a sucker forpain au chocolat. Célia, too. She’s going to want her share.”

He didn’t even have to look at his driver to know she was rolling her eyes. She was the only Parisian he knew who paid attention to carbs. Célia always said she had to since she spent her “whole damn life” driving him around.

“Pain au chocolatmust be this one.” Pia held up the crispy, elongated rolled pastry that had been his favorite since childhood. A dollop of chocolate filling seeped out one side. With a smirk, the petite woman next to him took a bite the size of a small city.

Matt laughed out loud. Crumbs cascaded onto her dress as she moaned. She’d been doing a lot of that since getting in his car, all food related. He hoped to change that as the night moved along. While he watched, she continued to demolish his pastry. He couldn’t stop laughing at her exaggerated teasing.