Captivated By The Brooding Billionaire

“Why don’t we drive to the cheese fondue restaurant Magda told us about and I’ll tell you everything. But first let’s get you settled.”

When the girls heard the news about Auguste, they would feel as sad as she had. Abby decided that it would be better to prolong their happiness by eating first. “Sounds great.”

The three of them hugged again. She helped carry their things inside and led them up the stairs. “You have your choice of four rooms.”

Zoe entered a room with an antique armoire and declared it her home away from home. Her dark blond hair worn in a windblown style had new highlights streaked by the sun while she’d been in Greece. With her azure blue eyes she was a knockout.

Abby’s friends were both attractive. Ginger’s gray eyes combined with her cap of black curls made her look French. She could be taken for a movie star. They inspected the other three rooms and she chose one that looked out on the lake. After opening her window, Ginger turned to them.

“I’m starving, you guys. We had to wait forever for the car. I say we unpack later and go eat!”

“You won’t get an argument out of me.” Abby ran to her bedroom for her purse and hurried outside with the girls.

Since Ginger had done the negotiating, she was the designated driver. That was fine with Abby who kept her eyes glued for any sign of Raoul, but he didn’t make an appearance. She should be thankful, not crushed that she might never see him again.

Determined to put him out of her mind, she sat back, resigned to enjoy the bucolic scenery. But that was easier said than done. Raoul’s image wouldn’t leave her mind.

Zoe served as navigator and pulled the directions Magda had given them out of her purse. “We have to drive to the small village of Chexbres, which according to Magda is seven hundred feet above the lake. We should pass through the most important Swiss wine region. Apparently their main product is a table grape wine.”

“The Swiss call it chasselas,” Abby added her two cents. She loved the sound of the word. “I’ve learned a lot about it while I’ve been working here.”

They drove higher, gasping over the landscape. “You guys—” Ginger cried out. “Look at those rows of grape vines going up that steep hill! It’s amazing!”

“That’s why they have to be terraced,” Abby explained. “Sometimes they use pulleys and have to be irrigated because the Rhône valley can get warm and dry here.”

Zoe had opened her window. “I love this climate. Smell that air. Delicious.”

Her comment reminded Abby of those moments with Raoul when he’d told her about the fragrance from the flowers at La Floraison. Nature truly was remarkable to have created a man like him, but she kept that memory to herself.

They continued to drive until they reached the town of Chexbres with its magnificent view. “There it is! The Lion d’Or.” Ginger pulled over to the curb near the restaurant and they went inside for a feast of cheese fondue eaten with French bread.

Their hunger was at a pitch and they ate every morsel of bread accompanied by goblets of chasselas.

“Before we plan what we’re going to do tomorrow, tell us about this Realtor who picked you up. You’ve been kind of quiet about that.”

Abby looked at Zoe. The time had come. “I have something important to tell you guys. It came as a shock to me.”

“What?” Ginger asked.

“Magda’s friend Auguste, the owner of the château, died last month.”

Both girls fell back into their seats. “What?”

“I think the man who came to get me must be a Realtor because he’s been here selling the estate. His name is Raoul Decorvet. We’ve been allowed to stay on until the end of June when the new owner takes possession. It’s Magda’s wish.”

Ginger frowned. “You’re kidding! She never said anything. We can’t go on living here now. It wouldn’t be right.” Zoe shook her head in agreement.

Abby knew that would be the girls’ reaction. “I feel the same way. Since we’re in Europe, where would you guys like to go? I need to conserve my funds, but I’ve been budgeting in my mind. I believe I have enough money to spend two weeks here. What about you two?”

They both figured two weeks would be all they could afford.

“Any ideas where you’d like to go?”

Zoe took a deep breath. “If I had the chance, I’d fly back to Greece in a minute.”

That didn’t surprise Abby. Their divorced friend hadn’t said anything, but Abby sensed there was a man involved. “What part exactly?”

“Patras. I didn’t get to spend nearly enough time in that area.”

“Maybe we could take a small tour of some of the Greek Islands too. What do you think, Ginger?”

“Not that I wouldn’t love to travel there, but to be honest, I’d rather go back to Italy. There’s so much to see and it’s so glorious. I couldn’t get enough of it.” By the tone in her voice, Abby wondered if Ginger had also experienced some kind of romantic interest.

As for Abby, she’d met a mysterious Frenchman earlier today, but it was best she never saw him again. “Where do you want to visit in Italy, Ginger?”

“Venice. It’s the most romantic city on earth.”

Well, well. Their friend did have a reason to want to go back. Abby was sure of it.

“I have an idea. If we pool our resources, we can afford a two-week vacation. Maybe we could drive to Venice tomorrow and spend a few days there before visiting Rome. From there we’ll fly to Patras and tour around that area for a week before we go back to California. What do you think?”

Ginger looked at Zoe before she said, “What do you want to do, Abby?”

She wanted to stay longer and see if she could find that rumored poem, but it probably didn’t exist. “I’ve been living in Switzerland since January and am ready for a new adventure.” Which was true.

“Not even one guy has caught your eye who wants you to hang around?”

Zoe had just given herself away.

Abby shook her head. “I’m not ready to meet a man.”

Ginger’s eyebrows shot up. “You will be when the right one comes along.”

Someone out of this world had come along earlier today, but she needed to run from him and keep running. “Let’s change the subject. Are you guys on board with our plans?”

“According to Magda, we have to visit the Maison Cailler Chocolate Factory in Broc,” Zoe interjected. “She has already paid for us to take the tour. Why don’t we at least do that tomorrow to make her happy?”

Abby eyed them both. “I toured that plant in March. It’s really worth the time. While you do that, I’d like to do a little more research on Byron while we’re in St. Saphorin.

“Maybe you guys should drop me off at the local library in the village. That’s one place I haven’t visited. Then I’ll walk back to the farmhouse and wait for you. If you two leave in the morning, you’ll be back by afternoon and we can leave for Italy.” Magda was funding their rental car.

They agreed it was a great idea and drove back to the château. If Raoul Decorvet was still around in the morning, Abby didn’t plan to be here. She would be insane to hope they might see each other again. She had the fear that getting involved with a man who made her feel this besotted without even knowing him could destroy her.

* * *

After a shower and shave, Raoul Capet Regnac Decorvet, the elder son of the duke of the Vosne-Romanée region in the Burgundy department of France, concluded his business with the new owner of La Floraison.

Once Raoul had assured him he’d be back at the end of June to tie up any loose ends, he hung up the phone and ate the breakfast Gabrielle had brought to his room in the château. He drank more coffee and made half a dozen calls to members of his staff while he looked down from the upstairs window that faced the courtyard.