A Perfect Paris Christmas - Mandy Baggot Page 0,62

it for Ethan’s benefit. To make him laugh. Reluctant to bid farewell to the taste and texture, she finally swallowed the mouthful down. Except Ethan wasn’t laughing. She actually couldn’t quite read the expression on his face but now she felt awkward. Why had she done that? It was probably because Erica’s voice was still echoing in her ears telling her to take all the chances including trying to look seductive while salivating over soft yolks…

‘It’s so delicious,’ Keeley said quickly. ‘Really delicious. And so different to the food at my hotel.’ Why couldn’t she think of something better to say?

‘There is something wrong with the food at your hotel?’ Ethan asked sitting up a little straighter in his seat.

‘No,’ Keeley said fast. ‘No, it’s lovely, it’s just… little pretty things. They’re really tasty but… I don’t know… ignore me.’ Why was she now dying on her arse when it came to normal conversation? They’d had this relaxed vibe to their chatting on the Metro here, everything feeling so chilled, but now she was somehow tongue-tied. Was it the cosy and intimate setting of this low-lit café? Or was it the close proximity of him and just how attractive he was?

‘It is maybe time the menu was changed,’ he suggested.

‘Ignore me,’ she begged. ‘I’m not an expert in cuisine. It’s my mum, who likes to experiment. Usually on me. Always with the five-a-day… or six a day if Waitrose has a special offer on organic celery.’

‘Five a day,’ Ethan said with a sigh, beginning to eat again. ‘Who are the people to decide how much of anything a person should have?’ He seemed to muse as he chewed his food. ‘No cigarettes at all. Only so many units of alcohol. A required amount of exercise.’ He shook his head. ‘All this information to try to force us to make a decision a certain way.’

‘I take it you don’t follow all the advice,’ Keeley said.

‘Do you?’ he turned the question around, those grey eyes meeting hers.

‘Well…’ What did she say? If she wanted to, this was the opportunity to tell him she was supposed to be watching her health closely – that sometimes she did have to hold off from having what she really wanted. That she had had a kidney transplant… ‘Everything is OK in moderation, isn’t it? I mean, I’m sure even if you eat too many vegetables or do too much exercise that would be equally as bad for you, wouldn’t it?’

Ethan laughed then, wholeheartedly. ‘You are right! All these people who compete in marathons who have never run a marathon in their entire lives become surprised when they have a heart attack.’

‘Or… I read about a husband and wife who made a stew out of courgettes their neighbour had given them and the husband died because of some sort of toxin in them.’

‘No!’ Ethan exclaimed, eyes wide. ‘Death by vegetables?’

‘I swear it’s true.’ She smiled. Still not Kidney Girl. Rach would be proud and Erica would be practically buzzing.

‘Then,’ Ethan said, ‘leave room for dessert. The crepes are also very good here.’

Twenty-Seven

The Seine, Paris

Having eaten sweet crepes that were as light as clouds, but a whole lot sweeter and definitely highly calorific, they had got back on the Metro. Now they were walking along the banks of the famous river that flowed through the heart of Paris on the way back to Keeley’s hotel. It had been the most unexpected evening and Keeley wasn’t sure she wanted it to end. For the first time in so long she was reconnecting with the her she thought had been lost long ago.

‘Some people say the river has a smell,’ Ethan remarked. He was walking close to her, hands in his pockets, the air chill.

‘A good smell or a bad smell?’ Keeley answered, eyes looking to the water. There were some boats docked, dark and tied up for the night, others were still floating and carrying diners, bright lights and soft music rising up from the river. A bridge spanned the water, soft arches and piers connecting one bank to the other.

‘You decide,’ Ethan suggested. ‘Take a breath.’

‘Oh… well… the thing is… I… don’t have the very best sense of smell.’ She swallowed. Her taste buds were all still in good order but since her operation she hadn’t been able to smell so well. Some people might think it was a small price to pay, but it was a loss not to be able to experience the simple pleasure of