“What do you think of it?” Xavier asked me after a few minutes.
“It’s a wonderful painting. It’s so ornate and rich.” I spoke timidly, not knowing what he wanted me to say.
“What does it make you think?”
“I don’t know.” I mumbled and stared at the painting again. It was weird to me that everyone was staring at the girl. “I guess it makes me wonder who she is.” I spoke again. “Why is everyone staring at her? Why is she the focal point of the painting? Why is she so important?”
“Exactement.” Xavier grinned. “And past that, I want to know how she feels about being the center of attention. I want to know if she can handle it. From all appearances, she seems as if she were made for the role, but then we don’t know what’s on the inside, do we?”
“She looks uncomfortable.” I stared at her face and then her blue outfit. “But that could be her outfit. It looks so stuffy.”
“That was the appropriate outfit.” He looked me in the eyes. “When I am in Romerius, I have to wear my royal garb. It is heavy and itchy, but it is tradition.”
“I suppose you do what you have to do.”
“My wife, if I ever take one, will be faced with a lot of scrutiny. She will also have to wear the traditional garb and she will be subjected to a lot of talk.”
“Poor lady.”
“Most women would love to become princess of Romerius.”
“Good for you and good for them.” I looked away from him. Was he deliberately trying to irritate me and make me jealous?
“I don’t see myself getting married anytime soon.” He gave me a sharp look.
“I didn’t propose, so no skin off my back.” I snapped at him, and he laughed. His green eyes seemed to jump with humor and joy and his classically handsome face looked boyish and young. For a moment he looked like Sebastian.
“You remind me of Sebastian when you laugh.” I smiled at him, and he frowned.
“You love to bring up my brother.”
“He’s my friend.”
“Just make sure of that.” His lips curled up and I felt my stomach sink.
“I’m sorry you don’t think I’m good enough for your brother.”
“You’re only good enough for me.” His eyes flashed at me and my eyes widened. Was he jealous? “Let us look at the Monets now.”
“I love Monet.” I nodded, happy to change the subject.
“Claude Monet was an artist’s artist.” He grabbed my hand and we walked to the other side of the room. I gasped as I saw the selection of paintings, each one more beautiful than the next. I rushed over and stood in front of the painting that attracted me the most. It depicted a bridge over a water lily pond. I laughed when I saw the name of the painting was The Water Lily Pond. Such an accurate name.
“You like this one?”
“Yes, it’s so calm and colorful and full of nature. It makes me want to close eyes and find myself in that setting.”
“It is beautiful.” He nodded. “Monet has many paintings of lilies. He seemed to find something in them that was beautiful. Something that made him want to tell their story over and over again.”
“He was so talented.”
“This was painted in his own water garden in 1899. The bridge is Japanese.”
“It’s awesome.” I stared at the painting, but all I could think about was how close he was to me. My fingers were still tingling from where he had grabbed them. Part of me longed to grab his hand and stand there as if we were a couple. I stared at his profile for a couple of seconds and swallowed hard. He had such a perfect Roman nose. And his hair was so soft and silky. I wanted to reach over and run my fingers through his hair and down his face. I wanted to touch him. I shivered as I remembered the first time we’d met and the night we’d spent together. It had seemed surreal. Magical almost. This whole situation was like a movie. I was standing here with a handsome prince. I froze for a moment as I remembered he was also my professor and my boss. And he was also older than me. Not that I cared.
“So what do you think, Lola?” Xavier’s voice interrupted my thoughts and I nodded eagerly.
“Yes, I agree.” I smiled at him hoping that my answer made sense.
“You agree, do you?” He licked his lips and moved in closer to me.
“Uh yes.” My smile fell a little.
“So you’re willing to go into the restroom with me and bend over?”
“Wait, what?” My eyes nearly popped out as my voice rose. I saw the woman from earlier giving me a dirty look as she tried to get her rowdy kids to pay attention to her little speech.