Christmas in Paris

CHAPTER 2

Daniel felt as if the whole world lit up as he stepped out of the store. The skies that had seemed so gloomy and grey when he had gone inside earlier now appeared bright and beautiful and the Christmas lights along the streets were festive. He quickly hailed a cab to his townhouse nearby.

After a shower, he took out at least three or four different shirts and tried them on, trying to decide which one to wear. He sighed when his phone kept ringing, and finally answered it, "Hey, listen, Alexis, can I call you back later? I'm in a hurry. I'm getting ready for a...lunch date."

"A DATE? Like a real date? That's awesome! I'm glad to hear it! So...you met someone? Finally? Who is she? Is she pretty? What does she do?"

"Uh...well, actually. It's someone you know."

"Really? Who?"

"Betty."

"Betty? You mean...your Betty? Betty Suarez? Seriously? What's she doing in Paris?"

"Yeah. My Betty. I...ran into her while I was shopping just now. Actually, I think...mom must have tipped her off to where I was. She...bumped into me."

"Mom; really?"

Daniel rolled his eyes, "Please! You're better at lying than I am, but you still suck at it. Especially to me. I know Mom must have told you all about it. Are you checking up on me for her?"

"I plead the fifth. So...how did it go? How long is she here in Paris?"

"Not long; like a week I think. Then back to London. She said she's not going back to New York for the holidays this year, partly because Mr. Dunne's getting ready to retire. I get the feeling she's going to take over for him."

"Wow! That's amazing! Although, I have to say, I'm not at all surprised about her doing so well. That girl always did your work for you back at Mode. She made you look good."

"Shut up! I did some things, too. Although it's true, she did work her ass off. And you do realize you just admitted you thought I looked good when I was at Mode! Anyway. I've got to go. Wish me luck!"

"Yeah, sure. Good luck. Do you even remember how to GO on a date? You realize women don't come with instructions. It's been a really, really long time for you. Are you sure you don't need a refresher course, maybe?"

"Ha ha! Look who's talking!"

"Okay, okay. Fine. Go, dumbass. Just don't forget to kiss her at the end so she knows for sure it's really a date."

He didn't know about that, considering how poorly that plan had worked the last time.

"Whatever. You can tell Mom her little plan worked. I know she set me up. But tell her...thanks." he grinned as he rushed out the door, giving himself a quick glance in his Armani pants and Gucci shirt in the mirror.

When he arrived, Daniel looked around the small cafe, trying to see if she was there yet. He found a small booth and ordered two coffees, only because that was one of the few things he could pronounce. "Deux cafes, s'il vous plait."

He held up two fingers, just in case his French was still as "sucky" as his nephew constantly chided him for being.

"Oui monsieur! Avec plaisir. Tu peux autre chose?"

Daniel wasn't sure what she was asking him, but he could tell she was hitting on him. He smiled and shook his head, "No, deux...cafes, seulement. Merci."

As soon as she had gone he checked his phone to make sure she hadn't texted, nervous that Betty might stand him up, when he looked up as she suddenly stood in the doorway, looking adorable and sexy at the same time somehow.

He rose to get her attention. She rushed over to him, smiling, tripping on a chair and practically landing on the floor if it weren't for Daniel's quick reflexes, catching her.

He smiled, "Falling for me already? And here I thought I'd have to work hard to win you."

She laughed nervously, "Very funny. Sorry, I…"

"Tripped? Yeah, well, it's good to know some things never change. It's great to see you again. I'll be honest, I was afraid you might chicken out and not show."

"So was I." He pulled out her chair as the waitress came with their coffees, "Here you are, sir. Two coffees. Sugar?"

"Yes, please. And cream. You know, um...cafe au lait?"

The girl smiled, "Oui. Bien sur, monsieur. Anything you need. I'll be right back, yeux bleus sexy" she winked at Daniel.

Betty shook her head, smiling, "Still charming the ladies, I see."

He shrugged, rolling his eyes at the flirtatious waitress."Not the right one, though. That I kind of ...managed to mess up, it seems." he noticed her shifting uncomfortably so he changed the subject.

"So, Betty. How have you been? Tell me all about what you've been up to these past few years. Catch me up."

She grinned, and launched into a detailed description of her job, stopping to ask Daniel questions about his work and family. Suddenly, she stopped, staring at him with her pretty brown eyes wide, "Sorry, I'm babbling, aren't I?"

He chuckled, putting his finger and thumb together, "Maybe just a little. But on you, it looks good. Very cute."

She blushed, "Thanks. I really have missed you, Daniel."

He tried to hide the bitter regret he felt at the last few years they had been apart. He couldn't blame her for wanting to follow her dreams. Betty was young; she still had worlds to conquer back then. He understood that.

But he dared to hope that now...things had changed and she was willing to give them a chance this time. He kissed her hand, "Enough to go out with me? On a real date this time? I hear from my mom that you finally saw my letter?"

She drew in a breath. She knew of course, that he was referring to his final Letter from the Editor before he quit Mode, the one where he basically confessed his love for her to the world.

Betty nodded, smiling, "I did. It was...very sweet, Daniel. I don't know what to say. I…"

He smirked, looking like a young boy, rather than a man ten years her senior, "That's easy. Say you'll go out with me. You know you want to, Betty."

"I do?"

He grinned at her, "See, I told you you did. Great! So, I'll pick you up at eight at your hotel, then? Where are you staying?"

"The George Cinq. Room five twenty-eight."

He raised his eyebrows, "The George Cinq, huh? Fancy! Somebody's sure a big shot! Now I really wish I would have sent you my resume.

I'd still be working for you, but we would have had fun ...working late. You being my boss, I mean."

He reached over and touched her cheek gently, "We used to have lots of fun working late, didn't we, Betty?"

She giggled, shaking her head, "Daniel. You're so…"

"Irresistible? Yeah, I know."

"I was going to say incorrigible. Are you trying to go back to your playboy ways?

He laughed, "Playboy, huh? Well, at least that's better than man-whore. Okay, I deserve that, I guess. Maybe I did come on a little strong."

"Maybe?"

"What can I say? Sorry. I'm really out of practice on how to court a lady, I guess. How about...you just forget anything I said that was too much and we'll pretend you don't know quite so much bad stuff about me, huh? We could...act like we just met. So… how do you do, miss! It's nice to meet you." he put out his hand.

She laughed, but shook his hand, "Oh, of course! It's wonderful to meet you, Mr….?"

He grinned, "Meade. Daniel Meade."

Betty raised her eyebrows, "Ooh, is that like James Bond? Impressive! I'm Suarez. Betty Suarez. I USED to be a little like my old boss's Moneypenny, I suppose."

"Is that so? You mean, because you did all the work while he got all the credit?"

She shrugged, "Maybe sometimes. But he also gave me a lot of opportunities. Opportunities I would NEVER have had if not for him. He was always my biggest cheerleader."

"Is that so? Sounds like a really great boss."

"He was."

"Do you sometimes wish he was still your boss?"

"No."

He laughed at her bluntness, "Okay. I see. Don't be shy,Betty. Tell me how you really feel!"

She smiled, "I sometimes wish I was HIS boss. I'd like him to be under me."

He raised his eyebrows, "You would? Really? Kinky, Betty! But it works for me."

She blushed, "Not like that! I meant…under my supervision."

He laughed, "Sure you did! So...anyway, it was nice ...meeting you, Miss Suarez. I hope we can meet again sometime."

"Don't push it, Daniel. I already agreed to go out with you. You can come to my 'fancy' hotel to pick me up at eight."

He grinned, "Okay. If you insist."

"If I insist?"

The waitress appeared, "Excuse moi, monsieur et mademoiselle. Is there something else I can get you?"

Betty nodded, "Yes, we'll have the homemade chocolate mousse. To share. Thank you." she turned to Daniel and surprised him with another small kiss on the cheek. She didn't know why, but she felt somehow protectively towards Daniel. Who was that waitress, thinking she could hit on HER Daniel? Wait, did she just call him hers?

The waitress smiled fakely, "Certainly, Miss. Coming right up. Good choice. You have excellent taste." She looked at Daniel.

Daniel looked at Betty, ignoring the silent battle over him, "Homemade mousse, huh? I take it you've been here before?"

She nodded, "I have."

"Why didn't you…." he started to ask her if she knew he lived here now and thought better of it. He didn't want to argue with her about the past, about what could have been.

Not now. Not for Christmas. He knew what it felt like to be without Betty in his life. He wasn't going to take a chance on messing up the chemistry he could sense with her now.

So he sighed, and smiled, "Sounds good. Can't go wrong with chocolate. Especially French chocolate, right?"

"Right. So...how about you? Are you going home for Christmas?"

He shrugged, "No. Not this year. Mom is coming here to spend the holidays with Alexis and DJ, so...we're having a Meade family Christmas in Paris this year."

She smiled, "That sounds great! You're all going to be together. That's what's important."

"Well, yeah. Tyler and Amanda are bringing the baby, too. Besides, it's not like Paris is...bad or anything. I mean, it's...Paris!"

"I know. You don't have to sell me on Paris, Daniel."

"Yeah, it's great here! I love it. I mean...my French still sucks, but...it's slightly better after living here for almost three years.

Wow, has it really been that long? And yet, I've never been here. And you have. How many times have you been here?"

He found himself curious, wondering why she had never looked him up before. Surely his mother had mentioned where her son lived.

Betty shifted uncomfortably, "I...um...a few times. For work. And...I...excuse me. I have to go freshen up."

She ran off, leaving him puzzled. The waitress reappeared with the mousse and Daniel merely smiled, thinking he sort of liked the way Betty had kissed his cheeks before, clearly a little jealous of the attention the French girl was paying him, "Merci."

Betty tried to get herself together as she looked in the mirror. What was she doing here? Daniel hadn't mentioned any new women in his life and his mother hadn't thought he had a girlfriend, but he was so handsome, still, she couldn't imagine he hadn't been dating anyone in all the time since she last saw him in London.

She wished she had kept in better touch with him. Yes, things were hectic for her when she first started at Dunne, and in fact, they still were, but especially over the past few years, and after talking to Claire and now, seeing how he acted around her, she saw a glimpse of what could have been.

Of course the thought of changing her relationship with Daniel to something more, to something romantic scared the hell out of her, but because she had pushed him away, now they had NO relationship and hadn't for far too long.

She took a deep breath and looked at her reflection, "You are an intelligent, attractive, successful businesswoman and you CAN...date Daniel. He's sweet and kind and you care about him a lot. It's okay to admit you like him.

He's NOT your boss anymore! And you're NOT ugly Betty anymore. You never were. You're just Betty. You can do this!"

She came out and saw the waitress sitting down the mousse and flirting with Daniel again. She narrowed her eyes and marched over to the table, and sat practically on Daniel's lap to his surprise.

He raised his eyebrows, "Betty! Hey...uh...hi! Our mousse is here."

She stuck her finger in the mousse then into Daniel's mouth, "You've got to try this! It's delicious, isn't it?"

He was taken aback by her boldness, but laughed at her, "Mmmhmmm...it sure is. Really delicious." he stuck his own finger into the mousse, then leaned closer and whispered, "I'm flattered, but are you really THAT jealous of that silly girl, Betty? She means nothing to me. It's you….it's always been you I care about."

"Not always, Daniel. But...thank you. I guess you're right. I'm being silly, acting so possessive just because some waitress is hitting on you. I mean, you're Daniel Meade, Bachelor of the Year. You have those sexy blue eyes. You constantly have girls hitting on you."

He grinned, "Yeah, thanks, but that was a LONG time ago!"

She shrugged, "Maybe since you were 'Bachelor of the year', but don't tell me you don't still have girls like that hitting on you all the time. You are still Daniel Meade."

He shook his head, "Maybe I still get a few girls...coming onto me, here and there. But being Daniel Meade doesn't mean that much here. There are tons of hot French guys who have blue eyes too, plus French accents."

She smiled, "Yes, but everybody is French here, so that doesn't mean anything. They probably like your cute New York accent."

"I suppose you have a point. Fine, I give up. I've still got it. But you...I'm sure you have hot British guys chasing you around, too, right? You mean to tell me you...don't have a boyfriend?"

"Not really. I've been working too hard. Besides, the few times I have dated, they all had something seriously wrong with them."

"Oh yeah? What's that?"

"They weren't you."

This time, it was Daniel who kissed Betty's cheek, or at least he started to, but she turned just in time to get him full on the lips. "Mmm...chocolate! Delicious lips, Betty."

She pushed away, "Sorry. I shouldn't have done that."

He shook his head, looking her in the eyes, as he pushed her glasses up on top of her head, and raised his eyebrows, "You're right. I should have. Years ago!"

He put his arms around her and pulled her close to show her what a real kiss from him felt like.

"You know, those red lips of yours...are delicious, Betty."

"Really?"

Yes, really. But unless you want me to attack you right here, maybe we should go our separate ways for a while.

At least, until I can think of a good way to sweep you off your feet tonight. You said you've been to Paris a few times before. So...do I take it you've been to the Eiffel Tower, then?"

She shook her head, smiling, "No! I haven't. I've only been here for work. I never had time. Besides, I always told myself the first time I went, I wanted it to be with…"

He grinned, "A guy with blue eyes."

She nodded, "Sexy blue eyes."

"Well, that works out perfectly. Because I've seen it. But never with a beautiful girl who looks like you, with brown eyes, sexy red lips, and a great smile.

You know you really do make my life brighter, Betty. I can't wait to show you around Paris tonight."

He got up and took her hand, helping her up and leading her outside. He called her a cab, and bowed as he put her inside, kissing her hand, with a wink, "Au revoir, Mademoiselle. A bientôt. Um...J'attends ce soir avec impatience." he struggled slightly with his pronunciation, but looked at her proudly.

She smiled, "Wow! That's pretty good. Don't listen to your nephew. Your French doesn't suck, Daniel! Especially your French kissing. That was really good."

He laughed as she waved goodbye, "Thanks. Yours, too. I'm glad you conspired with my Mom to hunt me down. It's been...way too long. See you tonight, Betty. "

"I can't wait."