Sudden Legacy Read Online Free Page A

she said, motioning for me to follow her.
    She led me down a series of hallways and into a small dining room that was open to the deck on one side. The table was laid with a variety of breakfast foods and fresh fruits. She indicated that I should sit, and to help myself to a plate. “ Monsieur Julien arrivera bientôt .” She must have gone to collect Julien, because it wasn’t long before I heard his smooth voice in the hall. He was speaking in rapid French, his tone cajoling and playful.
    He was just as beautiful in the light of day. He had showered, and dressed in linen trousers and a tight, white v-neck t-shirt. He looked like he had been custom made for this yacht like the dining table or deck loungers. My stomach did a little flutter dance, remembering how we had spent the night, this sexy stranger and me.
    He paused upon seeing me, and a quick, flirty smile touched his mouth before he turned to his companion, letting her enter first. “Here she is now, Marla, may I introduce Lara Divoll. Lara, this is Marla, the beautiful benefactress of which I spoke.”
    I stood and offered her my hand across the table. She nodded warmly in acknowledgment, but didn’t reach to accept it, waving it away instead. “Sit, please. It is lovely to meet you.” Julien pulled out a chair for her and she sat with a feline grace, leaning fully back against the chair back and watching intently as Julien sat himself beside me. “So, Lara,” she said, “You’re quite the dancer. Have you had professional training?”
    I blushed under her scrutiny. Up close I could see that she was older than I had previously thought, probably in her late forties. That made sense, I guess. Julien had said she was a friend of his mother’s. “Oh, thank you, no. I just kind of let loose and go with it...” I cringed inwardly at my lame answer. There was something unnerving about this woman.
    Julien put his hand on my thigh under the table. “She is a natural. She has impeccable rhythm.” My leg jumped, knocking into the table pedestal and causing the water glasses to rattle.
    Marla arched an aristocratic brow. “That’s quite an endorsement, mon jouet préféré. ” Marla served herself some fruit. “What brings you to Cassis?”
    The uniformed woman reentered carrying a tray with champagne and orange juice. She set about making mimosas and placing them before each of us.
    I took some fruit of my own. There was a lot of honeydew melon. I didn’t much care for honeydew, but I didn’t want to seem unappreciative, so I discretely aimed for the grapes and cantaloupe, hoping no one would notice. “Fate, I guess. I just sort of spun the globe and decided to go wherever my finger landed.”
    Julien looked at me with new interest. “How adventuresome, mademoiselle .” His hand pressed lightly against me in a subtle caress.
    I smiled back. “Not as adventuresome as it seems. I cheated a little. The first go round I landed on Greenland.”
    Julien chuckled and raised his mimosa. “Well then, au deuxième tours! To second spins.” I clinked glasses with him, and Marla raised hers as well.
    “ Oui, au deuxième tours, et la vie de petits plaisirs .” Her voice was silky and she was smiling, but I couldn’t help noticing a small tone of condescension.
    I smiled back as pleasantly as possible. “I’m sorry, I don’t speak French...”
    Her eyes flicked to Julien again for a fraction of a second, then returned to me. “I said, ‘to second spins, and life’s little pleasures’. After all, what is more pleasurable than enjoying the Mediterranean with good company and good food?”

    “Mama, where’s my yeyow car?”
    Alex abandoned his post at the toy corner in the living room, and came over to lean against my legs. I ran my hand over his soft curls. “I don’t know, sweetheart. Maybe in your bed?”
    Alex stared at Julien, the shield of my legs giving him courage to talk to a stranger. “Who are you?” he asked.
    Julien opened his mouth to