Part 181 (1/2)

opening act's creating quite a sensation.”

He laid a hand over hers. ”The response has been great.” He s.h.i.+fted his

gaze from Marianne to Emma. ”Everything's been great.”

Marianne sipped her wine, measuring him. If she had been into religious

art, she would have painted him as John the Apostle. He had that

dreamy, dedicated look. Or skipping a few centuries, Hamlet. The young

prince shadowed by tragedy. She smiled as the waiter served the fresh

drinks. Then again, she could have dipped back only a few years and

used him as a model for the young Brian McAvoy. She wondered if Emma

saw the resemblance.

”Where to from here?” she asked.

”Nice.” Drew stretched out his legs. ”But I'm not in any hurry to leave

Paris.” He glanced toward the street where cars and bicycles whizzed by

with careless disregard for life and limb. ”What's it like to live

herb?”

”Noisy. Exciting.” She laughed. ”Wonderful. I have this little

apartment right over a bakery. There is nothing, believe me nothing,

that smells like a French bakery first thing in the morning.”

They spent an hour loitering over their drinks before Drew leaned over

to kiss Emma. ”Look, I've got to get to rehearsal and I know you want

to talk. I'll see you tonight. You too, Marianne.”

”I'm looking forward to it.” She, along with half the women around the

cafe, watched him walk away. ”I believe he's the most beautiful man

I've ever seen.”

”He is, isn't he?” She leaned over to grip Marianne's hands. ”You do

like him, don't you?”