Bonjour Cherie (13 page)

I nodded. It made sense the way he was telling it. I just wished he had told me earlier.

Zach continued, ‘When I met you—that first time I saw you in French class, and you turned me down flat, I have to admit I was surprised.'

I chuckled. ‘Your ego was dented, admit it.'

‘It was good for me, though I didn't think so at the time. Then you became a challenge.'

‘Oh, nice. I thought you were attracted to me.'

‘I was, right from the moment I saw your red hair and those ridiculous high heels you were wearing.'

‘Auburn, thanks, and those high heels cost half a week's salary.'

‘Anyway, I couldn't believe my luck when your car wouldn't start. I was determined to make you interested, but I wanted to do it on my own, and not because I was some rich guy who wowed you.'

‘So, you thought I was the type of girl who would be impressed by money and prestige?' I wasn't sure I liked the sound of that.

‘No, not exactly, but you seemed to judge me instantly and made it clear you weren't interested in my kind of bloke. I wanted to change your mind about that, but I wanted you to like me for who I was and not what I was.'

His words made me realise just how prejudiced I had been. I had jumped to conclusions and they had been all the wrong ones. Thinking about that made me feel ashamed. I really had no right to blame Zach for not opening up to me, when I had given myself no opportunities to find out who he really was as a person.

‘I'm sorry. I wasn't very nice to you and I just gave you attitude, with a capital A.'

‘You certainly kept me on my toes.'

‘But, you know, I was attracted to you from the start too. I just wouldn't admit it to myself. I had this stupid obsession about André, just because he was French. I never really knew him and to be honest, I never really felt anything for him.'

‘You gave me a few anxious moments, especially when you were dancing with him.'

I looked at Zach, ‘You do know he's gay, don't you?'

‘Babe, I think the whole of Clearwater Creek knows that now, especially after Sunday.'

I wondered if I would ever get over the embarrassment of that night.

Zach continued, ‘So you can see why I never told you I was French, because then I knew you'd never like me for myself.'

‘What?' I sat up straight and looked at him.

‘You never did ask me why I was studying French, did you? My mother was French Canadian, although we never spoke French at home. Charlotte and I still have grandparents living in Quebec. She's been over several times to visit them, but I haven't been since I was a kid. I'm planning to go over at Christmas time to visit them, so I was brushing up on my French for that reason.'

It was one of the few times in my life that I was absolutely speechless.

He put his arms around me and tightened them, pressing me close to his side. ‘Come on, don't you think that makes me more sexy now?'

‘You know, I've gone off all things French—threw out my French posters and my guidebook, and I haven't gone back to French class.' I was not going to let him off lightly after dropping a bombshell like that.

‘You've already told me you loved me. Too late to go back on that now.'

A sudden thought hit me. ‘You haven't said you love me, though.'

He lowered his lips and said softly against mine, ‘Oh, I'll do more than just tell you, let me show you.'

‘I agree. There's been enough talking, for now.' And then I started to show Zach Mills just how sexy I did find him, French or not.

Christmas—Eight months later

I was going to Quebec. That was a definite. And with my ticket purchased (thanks to some help from my parents, who were very proud of my first semester's results), there was no question over when. I had visualised it—looked at guidebooks with Zach, put Canadian posters up of Quebec City and Montreal, and practiced making pancakes with real maple syrup. I had even taken up a course in French at university. Really, except for the fine print, I was there.

With my boyfriend. Zach Mills. Sigh. He was not your typical Aussie or even French bloke. But I loved him anyway. How he ended up in Clearwater Creek last year, I don't know—unless it was to meet me. There you go, the law of attraction. I wished for someone fantastic, thought it and—voilà, Zach Mills appeared in my French class.

Don't tell me the power of positive thinking doesn't work.

King Hall

by Scarlett Dawn

A fresh, meaty, sink-your-teeth-in-and-hold-on-tight new adult fantasy series kicks off with
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King Hall—where the Mysticals go to learn their craft, get their degrees, and transition into adulthood. And where four new Rulers will rise and meet their destinies.

Lily Ruckler is adept at one thing: survival. Born a Mystical hybrid, her mere existence is forbidden, but her nightmare is only about to start. Fluke, happenstance, and a deep personal loss finds Lily deeply entrenched with those who would destroy her simply for existing—The Mystical Kings. Being named future Queen of the Shifters shoves Lily into the spotlight, making her one of the most visible Mysticals in the world. But with risk comes a certain solace—her burgeoning friendships with the other three Rulers: a wicked Vampire, a wild-child Mage, and a playboy Elemental. Backed by their faith and trust, Lily begins to relax into her new life.

Then chaos erupts as the fragile peace between Commoners and Mysticals is broken, and suddenly Lily realises the greatest threat was never from within, and her fear takes on a new name: the Revolution.

Lost in Kakadu

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An action adventure novel set in the Australian jungle where two unlikely people prove just how attractive opposites can be…

It's pretentious socialite Abigail Mulholland's worst nightmare when her plane crashes into an ancient Australian wilderness. Things go from bad to downright hellish when rescuers never come. As she battles to survive in an environment that's as brutal as it is beautiful, Abigail finds herself also fighting her unlikely attraction to Mackenzie—another survivor, and a much younger man.

Mackenzie Steel is devastated by his partner's death in the crash, the only person with whom he shared his painful past. Now, as he confronts his own demons, he finds he has a new battle on his hands: his growing feelings for Abigail, a woman who's as frustratingly naïve as she is funny.

Fate brought them together, but they'll need more than luck to escape Kakadu alive. Could the letters of a dead man hold the key to their survival?

The Lies We Tell

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From the author of
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Ten years ago, Todd Lansing stood over his father's grave, his heart thumping out curses on Sia Collins for causing his death. When he returns to Oberon and sees Sia again, his heart thumps with a different emotion, one he fights with all the anger he still feels.

Sia didn't commit the break-in that ended up killing Mr Lansing, but to admit that would send her father to jail. She has rebuilt her life in the small town, atoned for her accused crime, and carved out a niche using her talent with paint to reach out to the community, raise funds, and support her family.

When Todd finds out the truth, he can't understand why Sia won't speak out and clear her name, and it threatens to tear them apart. With her relationship with Todd on the line, will Sia choose loyalty or love?

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ISBN: 9780857990754

Title: Bonjour Cherie

Copyright © 2013 by Robin Thomas

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