Who knew that a country with a kiss named after it would consider it illegal to share one.
When Hannah Walsh finds herself being held in a French police station after sharing a passionate kiss with the handsome Damien Jacques, will she be able to ignore her reawakened desires?
Damien must come to terms with the fact that vivacious Hannah has changed the man he thought he was. Born of aristocratic lineage and heir to the award-winning Jacque Vineyards, and descended from French kings, his life as a notorious playboy is about to be put to the test.
Hannah can’t ignore the passion that has sprung up between her and Damien, but is passion enough to bridge the cultural gap of differences between them?
Will they find their happy ending after all?
THE TROUBLE WITH FRENCH KISSES
The Trouble Series
{book one}
Kristi Ahlers
Published by Tirgearr Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-4658-9342-0
Smashwords Edition
Author Copyright 2012 Kristi Ahlers
Covert Art: Amanda Stephanie
Editor: Kemberlee Shortland
Proofreader: R. L. McCoy
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away. If you would like to share this book, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please log into the publisher’s website and purchase your own copy.
Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
DEDICATION
This one’s for you my friends! Georgia G, Debra G, Marilyn, Joelle, and my best friend, Meagan. You ladies are amazing; always there to encourage, make me laugh, and give me a kick in the backside when I need it. Everyone should be so lucky to call you friends!
AUTHOR’S NOTE
The Trouble With French Kisses was originally published as a short story in January 2006 as part of a themed anthology.
This version of The Trouble With French Kisses has been rewritten and extended into a novelette and includes scenes and situations not included in the original story.
THE TROUBLE WITH FRENCH KISSES
Kristi Ahlers
The Trouble with French Kisses is inspired by a law enacted on April 5, 1910, which is considered the day romance died on French railways. Kissing was reportedly banned to help deter lover-induced rail delays throughout the country. Strangely enough this law is still on the law books today although enforcement has completely been forgotten.
I hope you enjoy Hannah and Damien’s story.
PROLOGUE
Paris, France
Who would have guessed the country famous for its romantic city of Paris had a law regarding kissing on the public railways? Or, that said law would be enforced? It amazed Hannah that a country with a kiss named after it would actually arrest people for sharing one. Unbelievable.
She looked over at Damien and tried to find some humor in the situation they were currently in. No matter how she contemplated the circumstances, she failed to find any hilarity in her current predicament.
Now, sitting in a police station, waiting to pay a fine for public displays of affection was not funny. At least not yet, but that could change…or not. The expression ‘you’ll laugh about this later’ tripped through her mind, yet Hannah was pretty sure that wouldn’t be the case any time soon.
Closing her eyes, she leaned her head against the wall then quickly changed her mind about letting her head rest against the dirty surface. What she really wanted to do was lean into Damien and cuddle, but she was afraid instead of simply paying a fine, she’d be thrown into jail for doing more than kissing. She couldn’t seem to keep her hands off the man. That was disconcerting, to say the least. The very idea of spending the night in jail, or worse, having to go through the legal system in France, sent a visible chill through her body.
Damien looked over and clasped her hand. “No worries, ma chérie.” He brought their joined hands to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss to her the pulse point on her inner wrist. The simple touch and his velvety voice stilled some of the unrest racing through her body, but only just barely because reality set in once again. “Next time I have to go away and come back, I’ll say hello to you at home. That way I can kiss you until you are melting in my arms.”
Hannah felt her eyes widen before she moaned and let her head fall back against the wall. The man was going to be the death of her yet. But what a way to go!
CHAPTER 1
Five days earlier
“How do I get myself into these messes?” muttered Hannah as she hopped down the hallway of her apartment with one heeled shoe on while trying to put on the other uncomfortable one. She’d be late to work if she didn’t get her act together fast. “Why can’t I just say no?”
Chantal looked up from where she sat on the sofa reading her latest issue of Vogue and raised an eyebrow in enquiry. “And what mess would that be, mon ami?”
She quickly glanced at her friend while putting on her coat. Hannah wished she could lie around and read all morning, then in the afternoon, wander down to a sidewalk café for cappuccino.
But she had to work for a living. She didn’t have any hard feelings, as she enjoyed her work as an associate at Louis Vuitton, but every once in awhile she’d like to just do her own thing. Preferably in more comfortable shoes.
“I just got off the phone with my cousin Emilie and agreed to go out tonight after work with her and her boyfriend.”
“So, what’s the problem?” Chantal asked as she stood and slipped into her own comfy looking shoes.
“It’s a blind date.” Hannah blew a curl out of her face. “It’s one of Michel’s high profile friends. The circle he runs with are A-listers which intimidates me.”
“Why? They are people just like you.” Chantal cocked a brow. “They aren’t from outer space.”
“Oh, funny.” She smirked. “Seriously, as much as I have in common with an A-lister, they might as well be from outer space.”
Hannah looked around the room, searching for her purse and keys. She was running late—really late. She didn’t like being tardy. Frantically, she started lifting the decorative pillows on the sofa, looking for her missing items but only finding the magazines her best friend Sarah had sent her showcasing her new wedding dress designs. She was very proud of her friend but taking time to look at the fashion mags right now was out of the question, “Where did I put my keys?” She muttered to herself.
“It’s about time you started dating again, Hannah. After all, you’ve been living the life of a nun since you moved here. This is the city of love. Amour will find you eventually,” she said in her Parisian accented English.
“Yes, well, love will have to wait. Right now I need to find my keys and purse.”
Chantal walked over to the bench sitting in the hall and picked up the missing items. “Here they are. Come on, I’ll give you a lift to work,” she said, tossing the items to Hannah.
With a smile, she caught the small missiles and headed for the front door. She really needed to get to work. She’d worry about the ‘date’ later. She quickly shut and locked the door then ran after Chantal and out into the beautiful Paris morning.
♥ ♥ ♥
“I just can’t decide which of these purses I want,” the petite Parisian woman said as she continued peering inside the oversized purse. “Do I really need this much room.”
“Perhaps you’d like to look at the Signature monogram Speedy. It comes in a smaller size.”
Hannah resisted the urge to sigh or say something sassy. She kept thinking of ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears.’ Hopefully, the Speedy purse would be just right and, therefore, the winner. After all, she worked on commission and it wouldn’t do to tick off her current customer. On the other hand, the woman had looked at and summarily dismissed six other purses.
She wished Goldie would hurry, as she was Hannah’s last customer. However, in the past when the woman came in, Hannah had witness how the woman normally took her sweet time selecting her next great purchase. This was the first time Hannah had served her and feared it would be awhile before she’d be free to leave.
“Well, I don’t want the purse to be too small, dear.”
“Yes, madame. However, the style of purse I’m suggesting comes in three different sizes.” Hannah was getting ready to ask if the woman would like to look at one but something caught her attention.
“Oh, my goodness, it’s him!” The woman’s head almost spun totally around on her neck as she tracked the progress of a gentleman who moved casually through the crowd.
Hannah watched the man and acknowledged he was indeed breathtakingly handsome. She’d seen him once or twice before in the store but never had the pleasure to wait on him. However, that had not stopped him from flirting a little bit with her. And silly woman she was, she’d enjoyed it more than she wanted to admit.
Instantly, her heart began to pound and she felt a little breathless when she watched as he moved with such confidence. When he turned and met her curious gaze, she instantly wondered what it would be like to be the center of his attention.
Goldie twirled back to Hannah and said, “He’s even more handsome in person!”
Hannah smiled. She’d have to take the woman’s word for it since “in person” was the only way she’d seen the man.
“Madame would you like to look at a Speedy purse?”
“I must say, I do wish I was a decade younger.” Then she actually fluffed her hair and waved coquettishly at the man, who in turn smiled ever so slightly but didn’t encourage the woman further.
Hannah looked at her customer and figured even a decade younger she’d probably be too old for the man standing across the store from them. It was time to reel the woman in and get her back to the task at hand. “Madame would you like to see another purse?”
“What? Oh, yes, yes, I’ll look at what you suggest.” Goldie focused once again on the man. She waved a hand in Hannah’s direction. “Whatever you think would be best.”
Well, that was a first. Hannah picked up the three rejected purses and made her way back to the stockroom. At this point, she felt she could suggest a steamer trunk and Goldie wouldn’t care. What was it about that man that made the woman forget all about the purses she’d been so obsessed with before?
“You’re back?” Juliana asked as Hannah stepped into the stockroom.
“Yes, Goldilocks can’t seem to make up her mind, and to make matters worse, there’s eye candy strolling about and derailing her from focusing.” Hannah laughed.
“Ah, that is a good one my friend. Goldilocks is a perfect name for her.” Juliana smiled. “Who is this eye candy?
“I don’t know. I mean, he’s been in the store before and once he was real a flirt with me.” Hannah remembered how he’d smiled and teased her. And how she’d sighed as she’d watched him walk away, purse in hand for some lucky woman, wishing a man like him would look twice at her. But that was just crazy dreaming. Men like him weren’t interested in working class girls.
Shrugging, she kept her private thoughts to herself as she walked over to where the Speedy purses were stored.
Juliana moved around Hannah and poked her head out of the stockroom. “Mon Dieu. That’s Damien Jacques.”
“Who is Damien Jacques?” Hannah asked as she gathered the purses she wanted.
“Why, he’s only the most handsome and eligible bachelor to be found in Paris. Do you not read the tabloids? He’s featured almost monthly. He’s said to be a magnificent lover,” Juliana added, winking at Hannah.
Hannah arched her brow at this statement. She really didn’t have time for this stuff. And she really didn’t want to contemplate how amazing the man was in bed, since she wasn’t the one in it.
Selecting the small and medium size purses, hoping to save herself another trip to the stockroom, she said, “Wish me luck.”
“Bon chance, mon ami. Madame Bichon is a tough person to please.” Juliana laughed. “Yet, you’re handling her beautifully. Welcome to Louis Vuitton.”
Hannah rolled her eyes as she left the stockroom. A quick glance at her watch showed she needed to hurry if she was going to have enough time to get home, shower, and get ready for her big date.
“I really need to relax,” she muttered to herself as she made her way through the crowded store. She hurried around a luggage display, dodging a woman with a baby stroller, only to run into someone—someone with a very hard chest.
Immediately, she felt strong arms encircle her as she wobbled back on her high heels. The way the day was going, it would be just her luck upsetting the display behind her.
Hannah lost her grasp on the purses she carried and held onto the arms of her rescuer in order to steady herself.
“I’m sorry.” His voice was like a masculine purr.
Looking up, she met the most extraordinary green eyes she’d ever seen—a combination of emerald and forest greens, dark but also light. They were so mesmerizing—she knew she was staring but couldn’t help herself. After all, she’d just been told the man steadying her was reported to be a fantastic lover. If his strong hold was any indication of his virility, the gossips were spot on. Even his name, Damien, was sexy.
She was being rude. Blushing, she forced her gaze away and took in the rest of his face. She swore that for a second she quit breathing.
Madame Bichon had been correct. He was eye candy. The cleft in his chin, combined with the sensual, full lips, and beautiful green eyes, made him look aristocratic. His slightly long, wavy brown hair softened his otherwise striking features. And his tanned skin meant he enjoyed the outdoors, and when he smiled as he was now, faint dimples creased his cheeks.