But I refused the red rose bush

And gained the willow tree

That all the world may plainly see

How my love slighted me

How my love slighted me

The haunting song from the night before plays in my head as I lay quietly watching the morning sun filter slowly into the room. Mornings here are my favorite, they're so peaceful and quiet, with nothing but the sound of the ocean in the background.

Jake stirs beside me, sleepily opening one eye. "Morning," he mumbles as he reaches his arm out to pull me into him, kissing me softly on the lips.

"I was letting you sleep." I smile at him, gently moving his hair out of his eyes as he groggily kisses me again.

"Well I'm awake now," he whispers against my ear, leaving deliberate kisses along my jaw and then lower to my neck.

He certainly is. I can feel how awake he is against my leg. My body is awake too and already buzzing with need.

"I'm planning on keeping you captive in this bed all day. But first things first we need to get rid of these." He tugs on the edge of my panties. "And this." His hand pushes my t-shirt up as he moves down to kiss the exposed skin, his mouth moving dangerously south.

I can't help the moan that escapes as he brushes his lips over the soft fabric between my thighs. With a sharp intake of breath, I lift his face to meet my eyes. "Jake I want nothing more, believe me." My body is angrily shouting at me to shut up. "But there are things I need to do today. I'm hosting a dinner-" I stop mid-sentence, my eyes going wide at the realization.

"You're hosting a dinner?" He answers distractedly, teasing my underwear to the side with one finger.

Oh shit oh shit oh shit! "Ummm I'll be right back!"

Wiggling out from under him I grab my phone and quickly stow away to the safety of the bathroom, slamming the door behind me. My brain is blank as I stare at my phone – how did I miss the glaring problem about dinner tonight? Do I cancel with Colin? Do I make some excuse to get rid of Jake? Whatever scenario I come up with, someone is going to get hurt.

"Hey, is everything ok?" Jake says from the other side of the door.

"Yeah, everything's fine! Just one sec!" I respond.

You really got yourself in a pickle this time, didn't you Lara? I stare back at myself in the mirror silently admonishing myself. You just couldn't keep your hands off him and now look what's happened!

My phone lights up with a text from Juliette about tonight. It's then I see in my notifications the missed call from Colin. With everything that's happened in the last 24 hours, I had completely forgotten about his voicemail. Holding my phone up to my ear I click play.

"Hi, Lara. Sorry I missed you. My cell reception has been spotty here so I'm just going to say everything on this message. I'm sorry to say I can't make dinner Saturday night due to our filming schedule changing. I'm disappointed as I was looking forward to spending more time together. But to make it up to you I have a proposition. I'll be heading to Monaco post-filming for some early promos and I wanted to know if you would come with me. You could come for the whole week or just a couple of days, it doesn't have to be for the whole trip but let me know what you think. And if you need time to decide no problem....and if the answer is no that's fine too – I only hope I can see you again. Have a good night and talk to you soon."

With relief, I sink back against the bathroom door. Running my hands down my face I think about Colin's proposal. I've never been to Monaco, even just a couple of days would be really fun. But then I think about Jake in the next room. I have no idea what I've stepped into with him. Last night was incredible, but was it just sexual tension we needed to make good on so we could move on?

Yes, that must be it, I think as I open the bathroom door. That's all it is.

Jake has picked up all our scattered clothing from last night and stacked them neatly on the chair in the corner of the bedroom. Sitting on the bed in his briefs, he looks up at me as I come back into the room before looking back down at his phone.

"I didn't know where you wanted all your things," he says quietly.

"Oh, thanks, that's fine," I respond, glancing at the chair again. It's then I notice Colin's jacket underneath my neatly stacked clothes. With a grimace I scoop everything up off the chair and quickly shove it in my closet, hoping Jake didn't notice the clear-as-day men's item.

I turn around guiltily to see Jake set his phone aside and run a hand through his hair.

"So, I can shower and get out of your hair."

Biting my lip, I plop down on the bed next to him. "Were you planning on going back today anyway?" I ask, trying to mask the disappointment in my voice.

He shrugs, not making eye contact. "My schedule is flexible this weekend, but you have plans and I don't want to intrude."

He looks so sad I have the sudden urge to grab his face and kiss the sadness right out of him. It's an impulse I don't act on, and instead say, "Actually, I was going to see if you could stay for the dinner I'm having tonight. I'd love for Juliette and Philippe to meet you."

His face brightens as he looks at me. "Are you sure? I don't want to intrude."

"You wouldn't be! Juliette already knows all about you and I know she'd love to meet you."

He gives me a lopsided grin. "You been talking me up?"

"Well...I mean.." I stutter, a blush creeping up my neck.

There's a twinkle in his eye as he leans in closer, his hand finding my thigh. "I'll stay on one condition."

"What's that?" I ask, trying to ignore my accelerating heart rate as he inches closer.

"That you get out of those damn clothes." He moves suddenly and lifting me throws me back against the sheets. I giggle as he presses his body against mine and leaves an eager kiss on my lips. Reaching down I lift my t-shirt up and over my head with an expectant smile.

Maybe I have a bit more to get out of my system.

My body trembles as he moves his hand up my legs with slow, languid attention, his eyes full of adoration as he gazes at the path his fingers trace. I watch transfixed, my breath quickening as he maps the contours of my stomach, the curve of my breasts, then higher to trace the outline of my collarbone before leaving a kiss in the hollow there. Along my shoulder and down my arm his touch leaves a trail of goosebumps. Meeting my hand with his, he presses my knuckles to his lips.

"You are so beautiful."

~*~

I look over to see Jake shaking the tin box close to his ear.

"Jake! What if there's something breakable in there!?"

"More like broken hearts."

I gape at him with a feigned look of hurt on my face. "Wow, I'm so happy my grandmother's secret love is entertaining to you."

His face grows pensive. "What if it wasn't a secret?'

"What do you mean?"

"What if they were the talk of the town? Would have made a stir given the times."

I pause in my cleaning. "Yeah, I don't know. I hope for their sake it wasn't like that."

He comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist, leaning in to kiss the side of my neck. "Or maybe it was a secret, and this was a love nest cottage. Would make sense."

I ignore the anticipation of my body to his touch. "Jake! This is going to take forever if you keep distracting me!"

He smiles slyly. "Sorry, I won't distract you any longer."

He goes back to mopping the floor, his muscular arms pushing the mop suggestively, his eyebrows wiggling as he looks over at me.

I roll my eyes; he is something else. "You're incorrigible, you know that?"

"Has anyone ever told you you use really big words?" he shoots back.

I throw a napkin at his head, napkin ring included. It whizzes right past him.

"Wow, now that was violent. You're going to have to be punished for that." He sets the mop down and stalks towards me grinning wickedly.

"I'm not afraid of you!" I screech as I run to the other side of the table.

He lunges and chases me around the table and out the back door. I think I've escaped but his hands land on my waist as he hoists me off the ground and over his shoulder.

Between uncontrollable laughter, I protest, "Let me down Jake!"

He laughs as I kick my legs frantically and finally sets me down. We look at each other, cheeks flushed and smiling. Has he always been this handsome? I wonder.

Tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, Jake lets his hand linger on my cheek and I instinctively lean into it. His thumb draws small circles in response, unveiled emotion reflecting in his dark eyes as he gazes down at me.

Clearing my throat, I feign lightheartedness, "I will never get ready for this dinner party if you don't keep your hands to yourself."

He gives me a lopsided grin. "I'm that good aren't I?" He moves his hands down to my hips, tugging me closer to his chest.

If he only knew.

"Ha, you wish!" I joke, playfully swatting his arms away. "Seriously, we better get going."

"Do we have time to take that antique box to a locksmith? Since you can't find the key I think that's our best option."

"Our best option?" I tease, heading back inside.

"Hey, I'm invested in this story too. Maybe I'm wrong but my Spidey senses tell me there's something in here of interest." Jake picks the box up again from the counter, shaking it gently for emphasis.

"Spidey senses huh? You're a big dork, you know that?"

"Yeah but you love me." Jake retorts, then realizing what he uttered into the air between us starts to turn a shade of pink. Swiping his phone off the kitchen counter he starts for the bedroom, calling over his shoulder, "I'm going to change my shirt. There's a locksmith nearby we can try."

~*~

"So, they won't have it done till tomorrow."

We exit the locksmith in Lannion and discuss where to go next.

"This town definitely has more shopping options. Need any paint supplies while we're here?" Jake asks.

"No!" I say more emphatically than I mean to.

Jake gives me a strange look.

"I..uh..it's just I need to get some fresh ingredients for dinner tonight." It's a terrible save but I don't wait for a response. Grabbing his hand, I pull him after me. "Let's see if the farmers market is going today."

Jake squeezes my hand, but I can't shake the strange feeling of having him beside me on the same streets where I met Colin.

We arrive in the square I stumbled upon before, but in the place of the market is a fair. A small stage is set up in the center with colorful booths surrounding it.

"We're not leaving till we get one of those." Jake points to a stand selling fresh crepes.

I pat his tummy as I hear it rumble. "Sorry, I didn't feed you very well this morning, did I?"

"Hmmm." His voice rumbles deeply as he pulls me closer. "I got my fill. But now I'm hungry again."

My knees feel weak as I laugh off his innuendo. "Last weekend in France – I think crepes are a perfect idea."

Melodious folk music trickles over the square as we find a bench to sit at and eat.

"What do you think is the story there?" Jake asks between mouthfuls of the warm savory crepe we're sharing.

"The woman and man with that dog?" I ask, motioning with my head in their direction.

"Yeah, looks like they're exchanging paperwork and he just handed her the leash. Adoption maybe?"

"I don't think so," I answer. "I bet it's a shared custody situation. She's probably taking their dog for the week. He's handing her divorce papers."

Jake lets out a loud laugh. "You are so morbid." He grins down at me. "I love this by the way."

"This?"

He shrugs. "I probably haven't said it enough over the years but all the little things in our friendship - I don't take any of it for granted. Like sitting here in this square people watching. You're the only person I know who doesn't make me feel foolish for being nosey about strangers. I just appreciate us – what we have." He reaches for my hand beside him.

His feelings are on display, unmasked revelations in the dark pools of his eyes. I hesitate, apprehensive about the way my heart flutters in anticipation as his gaze travels to my lips.

"Jake..." I begin, but the words get caught in my throat. There's an inward struggle I can't yet make sense of. As much as I want to kiss him – in public like this it would be a declaration I'm not sure I'm ready to make just yet. Clearing my throat, I finish with, "We should get going." .

Like a spark that flames an emotion I did not ask for, the surest way to douse it is to ignore it.

~*~

"Hey, do you want to take over this sauce and I'll make the cocktails? I'm usually a whiz at sauces I promise, but this one is giving me no end of grief."

I can't help but smile at the picture of Jake concentrating over the pan of sauce on the stove, brows knit and his bottom lip protruding in consternation. He is so damn cute cooking in my kitchen, I think before I catch myself.

"I was hoping you'd ask so I wouldn't have to offend you," I say as I sidle up next to him, peering over his shoulder.

He grins. "Hey, I've got thick skin, you know."

I raise an eyebrow in challenge, "Oh, like when our science project didn't win?"

He balks at me with his mouth open in surprise. "Are you really going there? After all these years, that's still your story." He shakes his head with mock disbelief. "I was just incredibly sad for you! Because you finally had to accept the fact you were the weak link in this science duo." He motions between us with the sauce spoon.

I playfully slap his arm as the doorbell rings. "This is not over Jake! You can't just rewrite history."

On the way to the front door, I wipe my hands on my apron and fix my hair in the hall mirror. I'm taken aback by my rosy cheeks and the brightness of my eyes.

Opening the door I find both Juliette and Philippe have arrived. "Bonsoir Juliette! Bonsoir Philippe!"

We greet each other with a kiss on the cheek and take the bottle of wine and flowers they brought. "Thank you both, you didn't have to bring anything."

"But of course, Lara. Thank you for hosting us!" Philippe answers with a grin.

"Oh, here just put your coats and umbrella in here," I motion to the entryway closet.

"There is a storm coming later," Juliette says.

"I know, that's why I set us up inside for dinner. Otherwise, it would have been nice to eat outside on the veranda."

I usher them into the kitchen as Jake is mixing cocktails. He wipes his hands on a towel and comes around the counter.

"Ah Colin, it is a pleasure." Philippe moves to shake Jake's hand before I get the chance to introduce him.

My eyes go wide as Jake looks with confusion at Philippe and then over at me.