before more joined them. She plugged up one sink, filled it with soapy water, and pulled on long yellow plastic gloves.
He appeared a few moments later looking annoyed. What was his problem now?
“Al-
ees
, how am I supposed to work when women cannot stay away from me.”
Good grief. What an ego. “Stay away from
them.
”
“Precisely. Why do they take it so personally?”
She slid some leftovers into Didon’s dish. “Once you sleep with someone, Jean-Luc, it’s pretty hard not to take things personally. Stay away from women
before
you—”
“I did! I told Pauline I was not interested and she persists in inviting me out.” He rested his index finger on his chin. “Where were you?”
Going back to the sink, she answered, “What are you, my father?”
In a low voice he snarled, “American she-devil.”
She wheeled around. “Your insults are like the birds that fly into the windows here and bounce off the screens.” She pretended she had just done the same and teetered with a stunned expression. “Boing! No harm done.”
“A most beautiful simile, Al-
ees!
” She thought he was going to hug her until he said, “If you weren’t from the United States, I might like you.”
“A man intelligent as you hating an entire nationality seems pretty dumb to me.”
“Mmmm,” he responded, as if he relished her harsh words.
She remembered one insult Julien taught her, held her right yellow-gloved arm out straight, slapped the soapy left one on the bicep and brought her right hand back sharply toward her face, sending water and bubbles everywhere.
“
Va te faire foutre.
”
His eyebrows arched. “Most women don’t tell me to fuck off until they know me better.”
“You really are pathetic.”
“That is true.”
“Incidentally,” she said, as she scrubbed coffee stains out of a cup, “I’d like to have a guest for dinner tomorrow. May we use your wonderful kitchen?”
“No.”
“So then you’ll cook for us?”
“Is it your lover Julien?”
“We’re
friends.
”
Reaching over her and the sink, he turned off the water and pulled off her gloves.
“Come, let’s have a glass of wine. And you will tell me why you are
friends
with Julien when you are supposed to be in love with Nelson.”
He set out a baguette, room-temperature brie, and insisted she try them together. She washed it down with two gulps of a local rosé that hardly tasted alcoholic.
“I came here to improve myself and get over Nelson, if he didn’t want me back.”
She went to cut another slab of cheese across its bottom and was stopped by the firm grasp of Jean-Luc’s hand.
“Please cut the cheese wedge from the side so it retains its shape.”
She stared at him a moment. “Is that a French thing, a Jean-Luc thing, or are you gay?”
She didn’t wait for an answer as she gulped down more of the cheese, baguette, and wine. Oh, that cheese. It had an earthy scent, and a taste that went from robust to almost burning her throat, and yet she could have eaten the whole wedge right there.
“Stop eating and drinking so fast!”
“Okay, okay.” She put her glass down. Between the wine with Julien and this, she was getting schnockered. “So I was sure it was over with Nelson but it isn’t over, so nothing is happening with Julien.”
“You are exhibiting remarkable restraint. I hope it works out with your Nelson.”
“So do I. How long were you and Isabella together?”
“Not long at all.”
“What happened?” She brought the yummy snack to her mouth and took a delicate bite instead of shoving it in.
“I did not love her and never would. It is as simple as that.”
Alyce wanted to ask him about the woman in the photo but couldn’t let him know she’d found it. “Jean-Luc, how many times have you been in true love?”
“I am not sure. Either countless times or never. Why?”
“I was just wondering who Colette was.”
He seemed to clench his teeth. “Why do you say that?”
“You know, your
He appeared a few moments later looking annoyed. What was his problem now?
“Al-
ees
, how am I supposed to work when women cannot stay away from me.”
Good grief. What an ego. “Stay away from
them.
”
“Precisely. Why do they take it so personally?”
She slid some leftovers into Didon’s dish. “Once you sleep with someone, Jean-Luc, it’s pretty hard not to take things personally. Stay away from women
before
you—”
“I did! I told Pauline I was not interested and she persists in inviting me out.” He rested his index finger on his chin. “Where were you?”
Going back to the sink, she answered, “What are you, my father?”
In a low voice he snarled, “American she-devil.”
She wheeled around. “Your insults are like the birds that fly into the windows here and bounce off the screens.” She pretended she had just done the same and teetered with a stunned expression. “Boing! No harm done.”
“A most beautiful simile, Al-
ees!
” She thought he was going to hug her until he said, “If you weren’t from the United States, I might like you.”
“A man intelligent as you hating an entire nationality seems pretty dumb to me.”
“Mmmm,” he responded, as if he relished her harsh words.
She remembered one insult Julien taught her, held her right yellow-gloved arm out straight, slapped the soapy left one on the bicep and brought her right hand back sharply toward her face, sending water and bubbles everywhere.
“
Va te faire foutre.
”
His eyebrows arched. “Most women don’t tell me to fuck off until they know me better.”
“You really are pathetic.”
“That is true.”
“Incidentally,” she said, as she scrubbed coffee stains out of a cup, “I’d like to have a guest for dinner tomorrow. May we use your wonderful kitchen?”
“No.”
“So then you’ll cook for us?”
“Is it your lover Julien?”
“We’re
friends.
”
Reaching over her and the sink, he turned off the water and pulled off her gloves.
“Come, let’s have a glass of wine. And you will tell me why you are
friends
with Julien when you are supposed to be in love with Nelson.”
He set out a baguette, room-temperature brie, and insisted she try them together. She washed it down with two gulps of a local rosé that hardly tasted alcoholic.
“I came here to improve myself and get over Nelson, if he didn’t want me back.”
She went to cut another slab of cheese across its bottom and was stopped by the firm grasp of Jean-Luc’s hand.
“Please cut the cheese wedge from the side so it retains its shape.”
She stared at him a moment. “Is that a French thing, a Jean-Luc thing, or are you gay?”
She didn’t wait for an answer as she gulped down more of the cheese, baguette, and wine. Oh, that cheese. It had an earthy scent, and a taste that went from robust to almost burning her throat, and yet she could have eaten the whole wedge right there.
“Stop eating and drinking so fast!”
“Okay, okay.” She put her glass down. Between the wine with Julien and this, she was getting schnockered. “So I was sure it was over with Nelson but it isn’t over, so nothing is happening with Julien.”
“You are exhibiting remarkable restraint. I hope it works out with your Nelson.”
“So do I. How long were you and Isabella together?”
“Not long at all.”
“What happened?” She brought the yummy snack to her mouth and took a delicate bite instead of shoving it in.
“I did not love her and never would. It is as simple as that.”
Alyce wanted to ask him about the woman in the photo but couldn’t let him know she’d found it. “Jean-Luc, how many times have you been in true love?”
“I am not sure. Either countless times or never. Why?”
“I was just wondering who Colette was.”
He seemed to clench his teeth. “Why do you say that?”
“You know, your
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