Je t’aime

Chapter 3

The restaurant was dark when they arrived. Kendra let them in the back door, only turning on the kitchen lights so no one would think the place was open. It was soothing to be in her kitchen and she felt herself relax.

Over the next hour, they chopped, seared, steamed and sautéed their own four course dinner. While they were cooking, Remy found any excuse to touch Kendra. He brushed her hand when he reached for a knife. He leaned over her to stir a pot, fitting himself up against her tightly for the briefest moment.

By the time dinner was cooked she felt like she might jump out of her skin. Every nerve ending was on fire, she was never sure how he would touch her or where. The anticipation was almost more than she could stand. It was all she could do not to grab him and kiss him.

They took their food into the dark dining room, and with only a candle for light enjoyed their creations while Remy told her more about where he had been for the last year. She was surprised to learn that he hadn’t been traveling around the world partying and sleeping around. He had instead taken his monthly trust fund check and used it to help people in remote villages in both South America and Africa.

Stunned to learn that there was more to this man than what she had heard, she began to look at him with different eyes. She sensed that this was a side of him that most people didn’t know. She wondered if it was a side that was new to him as well. The way he talked about his travels was like a kid with a new toy. It was infectious and she found herself laughing and enjoying herself. It turned out that they made a good pair in the kitchen, the food was wonderful and they both ate every bite.

“I suppose I should clean up our mess. I can just imagine what Francois would say if I left this mess for him.” Kendra said.

“It won’t take long if we work together.” Remy said, beginning to clear the table.

Glad that he had offered to help, she followed him into the kitchen. The dishes were done and kitchen returned to normal in no time at all. It was late so they had agreed to call it a night, but as Kendra was turning off the lights, Remy backed her up against the door.

“We didn’t have dessert.” He said, bending down to kiss her.

He didn’t know how long it would take for her to trust him enough to take this further, but he was eagerly anticipating when she did. Dropping her off, he promised to call her in the morning and kissed her good night at the door. He didn’t trust himself enough to see her all the way into the apartment.

*****

The next day at work, Margot dragged all the details about her two dates with Remy out of Kendra. She was surprised that Remy had been doing charity work and equally surprised to find out he could not only cook but did the dishes.

“That just doesn’t sound like the Remy that Greta talks about.” She said.

“Well, it feels like he’s just beginning to find this new person. I have a pretty good idea who he was before and I think I got a glimpse of who he wants to be. I know this, I like the new Remy.” Kendra said.

“I’m glad it’s working out so well, he might just be more than a Paris fling. I have tickets to a concert on Saturday, do you think Remy might want to go with us?” Margot asked.

“I’ll ask him. We talked this morning already, but he said he’d call me later tonight.” Kendra said, feeling a small thrill to be able to say that a man would be calling her tonight.

Remy did call her later that day, he had been volunteering at a school in the inner city that day, but was hoping they could have dinner that night. Kendra had to explain that she was working, she was worried he might react like Mark did, but Remy understood. When she brought up the idea of going to the concert, he was happy to go.

“I can pick you up in a limo if you want and I might be able to get us back stage passes.” He offered.

Kendra was reluctant to take him up on his offer. She really just wanted to go to the concert like everyone else. One night of running around in a fancy sports car with people fawning over Remy, had been enough for her.

“How about if you meet us at the restaurant then we’ll go with everyone else.” Kendra said.

“Okay, whatever you want. I just thought you might like to ride in style.” He said.

“It’s not that I don’t appreciate the offer, but I just don’t feel comfortable being the center of attention.” Kendra explained, realizing that once again they were very different people.