“That’s wonderful, darling. Did you hear anything back about the condo search?”
I’ve been looking for a condo of my own for several weeks. My parents have a grand home in Manhattan and they’ve urged me to stay, but I need a place of my own. I’ve been living in New York for almost a year, and it’s time.
“Actually, Caden Taylor thinks that one of their buyers fell through, so I’m going to look at it tomorrow after work.”
“Ewwww, isn’t that in Brooklyn?” she scrunches her face up, but not a whole lot moves. My mother and botox are very well-acquainted.
“Yes. I happen to like that area. It’s young and alive. There’s tons of culture and art exhibits,” I say, hoping she’ll understand.
I need space. I need to find my own way.
She shakes her head. “Fine. But that’s far from Jeremy as well.”
My jaw drops.
“Not this again. Maman, I came back here after school and I gave it a shot, I truly did. Jeremy and I will always be friends. He’s part of the family. But we are long done. It’s been months. And besides, we’re in Brooklyn right now!” I laugh. Sometimes she amazes me with her snobbery.
She makes a face. “I tried to talk your father out of this location.” She sighs. “But Jeremy is your soul mate…”
“He is not.” I can’t help but laugh. Jeremy is a lot of things, but a soul mate … no. He’s a complete narcissist, so the only person he’d be a soul mate for is himself. “He wasn’t even faithful when we were together. How does that not bother you?”
“Boys will be boys, darling. It’s very French of him. He’ll outgrow it. He’s a Toussaint,” she says the word like the name is royalty. “Our families go way back, you two were meant to be together.”
“We’re over. You all need to get on board with that.”
“Get on board with what?” Jeremy’s voice startles me as he comes up behind me and wraps his hands around my waist. I don’t miss the way the hostess watches us when I look up to find her staring. I’m quite certain they were sleeping together when we were still dating. “Are we getting on board with a possible engagement?”
Yes. He has the nerve to speak of an engagement when we aren’t even together. And the man is not grieving our breakup. He has a weird obsession with my family and keeping me as his side piece works to his favor. My father is a well-known restaurateur and he brought Jeremy in as a partner to Dussaint Cafe. Yes, they merged our two last names, Dubois and Toussaint, to create a unique one. Just like Jeremy wants to do with our two families. Apparently old money joined with old money makes for lots of new money.
His words, not mine.
But much like our merging, the name means nothing. It’s a pretty word with no substance behind it. I think the name is ridiculous and have told Jeremy and my parents so. And like everything else, they have ignored my feelings and gone ahead with it like we’re all in this together. Another reason I most likely don’t feel any connection to the place. The most hurtful part of this entire situation is my father’s reaction. I feel like he’s completely pulled away from me. He’s always had my back and I never thought he would react this way to me ending things with my boyfriend.
“Engagement? You have lost your mind. Both of you. I-I don’t know how to even say this. I’ve tried gently and I’ve tried yelling it. We are over. And in fact … Jeremy...” I take a deep breath and go for it. “I am seeing someone. He won’t appreciate the fact that you aren’t letting this go.”
Jeremy looks stunned for a moment and then his head falls back in laughter. “Please, Cosette. We both know that’s not true. Where would you have met someone? All you do is work these days.”
“We’ve been broken up for three months. And we weren’t happy the few months that we were together. You’ve certainly moved on with more than I can count. Why wouldn’t I?” I’ve shaken him off me and turned to face him. My hands are on my hips. I don’t want to be cruel, but I’m done being walked on by both him and my mother. And I’m hoping my father will realize how he’s hurt me most of all. I expected Jeremy and my mother to react this way. They are completely predictable. But my father—never in a million years would I have thought he’d be so distant.
“Who are you dating then?” Jeremy smirks, and Louie lunges from my mother’s purse and catches his forearm with his snaggletooth. Jeremy jolts away and my mother gasps as if this is shocking. Louie has hated my ex-boyfriend since the first time they met. This is not new.
I look up to see the front door swing open, and Caden Taylor steps inside with more swagger than should be allowed for one man. Tall, with light brown hair and dark eyes that are impossible to look away from. His gaze locks with mine and he smiles. He has a smile that reaches his eyes, and my breath catches at the sight of him.
“Hello? Earth to Cosette. Why are you staring at him? Is he the guy? Isn’t he a construction worker from the Bronx?” Jeremy says with such disdain, I can’t help but roll my eyes.
The man is so snobby I can barely stand to be in his presence any longer. If it weren’t for the love I have for his family, I’d have walked away and never looked back.
“Yes. We’re together. And he’s an incredible developer, so I’d appreciate it if you’d show him the respect that he deserves.” I raise a brow at both Jeremy and my mother. She’s busy shoving Louie back down in the plush silk lining that he’s grown accustomed to.
“Caden Taylor? You’re dating him?” my mother finally says, as she glances over at him and back to me. “He’s so … American.”
“He sure is.” I curtsy with a fake smile plastered on my face. “Now, if you’ll excuse me. I’d like to greet him properly.”
My hands are shaking when I storm away, and Caden’s gaze doesn’t leave mine as I close the space between us, ignoring all the people waving and smiling at me as I do so. I know my mother and Jeremy are watching and I need to make a point, once and for all. This madness needs to stop. I’m just hoping Caden is willing to play along.
“Hey,” I say as a wide grin spreads across his face. His brother Gus is beside him, but I don’t have time to greet him just yet. “I need a favor. Will you play along with something?”
“You don’t even have to ask,” his voice is smooth and confident.
I glance over my shoulder to see my mother and Jeremy watching me. Jeremy smirks, as if he doesn’t believe anything about this.
It’s time to up my game.
I push up on my tiptoes and wrap my hands around Caden’s neck and pull his mouth down to mine. I only intend to peck his perfect lips, just enough to get my point across. But when his mouth covers mine and his hands reach up to hold either side of my face, everything changes. I step in closer, enjoying the hard heat of his body, and his tongue slips in, deepening our kiss.
I couldn’t pull away if I wanted to.
And I most definitely don’t want to.
I haven’t been kissed like this … ever.
My first kiss was with Jeremy Toussaint on my fifteenth birthday. It was a bit traumatizing, if I’m being honest. But I assumed all first kisses were bad back then. I had a few boyfriends after I left for school to attend ESMOD International in France. And when I returned to the States, Jeremy had been shoved down my throat. Literally and figuratively, if that says anything about Jeremy and his aggressive tongue kiss.