The Best Man novel Chapter 14

"Tu es vraiment belle, Citrouille", he said and my eyebrows knitted in confusion, waiting for him to explain to me what he just said. One word stood out there though, in fact it was the only one I heard, belle....because you know...ahem ahem. Tony called me Bella and all that, must mean one and the same thing, right?

"It meant you're very beautiful"

"You added Pumpkin there at the end in French, didn't you?", I narrowed my eyes at him and he laughed

"Is it that obvious?"

"You have this thing of lowering your voice when you say Pumpkin, it's kinda hard to ignore"

"It's the first word I learned actually", he seemed quite proud by telling me this as he removed invisible dust on his shoulders

"I see you've even polished your accents"

"Your mother finds French accents sexy so hey", he shrugged his shoulders. "The things we do for love"

"That's really cute", I loosened his tie and took it off, and I could see he was about to formulate a protest and I quicky interrupted

"It's a brunch Dad, there's no need for a tie"

"It's just that I really look good wearing a tie. I look like I mean serious business".

"If you were going to a boardroom meeting then maybe but were just going to a brunch, no need to look this formal"

"I guess you have a point", he pouted his bottom lip. "You're starting to sound like your mother now, and I don't know how I feel about it"

"Is that so bad?", I questioned, and he seemed uncertain

"I don't think I like it", the humor in his voice made me smile as I fixed his shirt for him after he unbuttoned the collar button

"See?", I cooed as we looked at our reflections in the mirror. "Now you look really handsome"

"Yep", he gave an approving nod. "I'm still good-looking"

"Are the two of you ready?", my mother appeared on my door and we both gave her a thumbs up

"Ready", we chorused together, and she smiled at me

"You look beautiful, my darling"

"Thanks Mom", I wrapped my arm around her. "You look dashing in this outfit", I complimented, and she smiled widely as she thanked me. She looked really beautiful in her ankle length maxi dress and scandals, her shoulder-high brunette hair styled with barrettes.

"Doesn't she just!", my Dad exclaimed as he kissed her on her cheek. " J'ai beaucoup de chance de t'avoir comme femme" (I'm very lucky to have you as my wife)

"Ne l'oublie pas" (Don't you forget it), she smiled as she wiped crumbs on the side of his mouth. "You really helped yourself to the cookies downstairs for someone who wasn't hungry a few minutes", she rose a brow at him.

"What was I supposed to do while I waited for the both of you to finish freshening up?", he folded his arms in a playful protest, and she hummed in response as she threw him a glare

"We can go now"

*****

Olivia's POV

Smile.

"This has nothing to do with that one-night stand you had the other day?", he questioned with his eyes narrowed and I groaned

"Of course you would bring that up at a time like this", I sighed heavily. "I don't know why I told you"

He laughed. "You have this thing of wanting to hide things but eventually end up telling me because you're not so good at keeping things from me"

At least that makes one of us

"Well at least I now have a wild night experience"

"You used protection, right?"

"Of course we did, Tristan"

"I'm just making sure", he put his hands up before he fixed his eyes on me, like he was waiting for me to say something

"There's something you're just dying to ask me, isn't there?"

"Eh", he shrugged carelessly. "Not that I'm being noisy or anything", his face turned serious suddenly. "But who's the guy? Do I know him?"

"Tsk tsk tsk", I shook my head and he laughed

"I don't think you know him-"

A knock on the window interrupted, and we turned to see Catherine, Tristan's mother looking at us with her eyebrow raised