ONE MONTH LATER

The six of us exited the plane. Saito, Cobb, Yusuf, Eames, Arthur and I made up our inception team. We were a success. Our subject, Mr. Browning, would no longer stop Robert from tearing apart his fathers empire. We acted as if we did not know each other. But we did.

I glanced at Arthur and he winked. Arthur and I knew each other better than the others realized. Even Eames, my dearest friend, had no clue. Our relationship was a secret and had been for a couple weeks. It had really started when I'd first joined the team. He was always a bit more careful with me, a little more concerned. Now, even though we had never come right out and said it, we were a couple. I figured that much, for after we left the airport, Arthur and I would be going out for dinner.

As we began to go our separate ways, Eames gave me a small wave, which I returned quickly. Who knows when I would ever see him again? I hoped it was soon. I would miss him and his cute little pet names. I wondered with a smile if he knew my real name. Besides, I kind of liked how it got under Arthur's skin when he called me darling or kitten.

Once we were sure the rest of the team had left- we didn't want them to see that we were breaking the rules- Arthur placed a hand on the small of my back, guiding me out of the airport.

"How about we get a couple hotel rooms and get cleaned up before we figure out where we're going to eat." He proposed.

"Sounds good." I agreed, fidgeting uncomfortably in my wrinkled, sweaty clothes. I needed to shower.

Arthur called a taxi and grabbed my hand. I wondered in he knew the gravity of that action. It sent a fresh wave of not unpleasant tingling through my fingers and up my arm.

He held the door open for me and packed my bags into the trunk before sliding in next to me.

"I can't wait to shower." Arthur sighed and slipped my hand into his, entwining our fingers together. His thumb moved slowly, lightly tracing circular designs on the back of my hand. Again, I wondered if he knew the gravity of that action. I tingled from my nose to my toes, my shoulders shuddering.

Arthur smiled.

I turned my attention away from him and looked out the window, watching Paris pass by. "Paris is so beautiful." I murmured softly, very aware of his fingers through mine.

"That it is." Arthur agreed nonchalantly and looked away.

"What? You don't like the view?"

"I've seen better." He shrugged.

"Like what?" I prodded.

Arthur tried to hide a sly smile, but he didn't answer me.

"What?"

"What you see every day when you look in the mirror." Arthur gazed at my face.

It took me a moment to realize that he was talking about me. I found it hard to believe. I was more beautiful than Paris itself? Even with the light spray of freckles that dotted my cheeks? "Me?"

"Yes, you." His dark brown eyes stared into my dark blue ones.

I swallowed hard, trying not to melt under his gaze. More beautiful than Paris...

Within about ten minutes we reached a nice hotel. The taxi cab pulled up to the entrance and we quickly grabbed our bags and headed inside. After ordering separate rooms, we climbed into the elevator, rising up to the fifth floor.

"This is against the rules you know." I pointed out as we rose. "We aren't even supposed to acknowledge each other."

Arthur's mouth was set in a tight line. "I know."

And that was it. He didn't say anymore.

We were both silent for a moment, realizing the problem and refusing to acknowledge it.

"So do you have any idea where you want to eat?" Arthur asked, glancing over at me.

"Somewhere Italian."

"I think I can arrange that." He grinned.

The elevator stopped and the doors slid open. We walked down the hall until we found our rooms across the hall from each other.

"I'll meet you in the lobby at seven." Arthur stepped back and unlocked his door.

"I'll see you then."

And then we parted, the feeling of his eyes on me never leaving until I closed the door. I smiled to myself.

The hot shower was refreshing and when I had finished scrubbing, I wanted to do nothing more than stand there and let the water run down my face. Eventually, I forced myself to shut the water off and step out. I blow dried my hair and then dressed in a dark blue and white dressed that I knew brought out my eyes. I still had about half an hour so I decided to to my hair in large, loose ringlets.

I was on the last curl when I heard a knock on the door.

"I'm heading down. Are you ready?"

"Not quite." I called back to Arthur. "I'm be down in a couple minutes."

I finished the last curl and turned the iron off. I applied a little make up and looked in the mirror. I realized that even though it was summer, the night was bound to be chilly. I grabbed my short, thin, white sweater and slipped it on. I put on my white flats and headed to the Lobby.

Arthur's eyes followed me as I walked across the Lobby towards him. He stood up out of the waiting chair to greet me, dressed in a trim black suit and bow tie.

"You look beautiful."

"And you look gorgeous." I answered.

He shrugged off my complement and waved mis hand in the air. "Twirl for me darling."

I spun.

"Ravishing. I like it." He said simply.

"Thank you." I thanked him quickly, eying Arthur up and down in his trim suit.

Arthur held out his arm and I slipped mine through it.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"Don't ask. It's a surprise." His eyes sparkled mischievously.

"I like surprises."