Part 3 of 3

The anxiety vanishes off his face and the hope blossoms, "Really? You sure?" She nods but then his anxiety creeps in around the edges, "But I don't have a house in the hills."

She holds her breath then blurts out, "There's three I'd like you to look at..."

He stares at her for a long moment then nods, "Alright, if you're really sure, but Camille, we can't just live together. I don't want a roomer, I want someone a bit more… um…"

Her face falls, "Impressive?"

He blinks a few times then jerks in his chair, "No! No, of course not! God, how can you think such a thing? I only meant we can't co-habit and not be… er… you know…" She frowns and shakes her head. He leans back and groans, "Legal, it needs to be legal."

Her eyes widen in disbelief, "You want me to sign a LEASE? Pay RENT?!"

That last word is spit out like a bullet, he practically hears it whiz past his head as he throws up a hand and stutters, "No! No, no, not that type of 'legal'. Oh, why is this so hard? You make me so nervous! Can you maybe look away with those laser eyes and let me catch my breath?"

She crosses her arms tightly and twists away, her face like thunder.

He sighs and passes a hand over his chin, "OK, good, thanks." He's quiet for a moment then starts out slow, "No, I don't want a lease or rent, that's not what I meant. I meant 'LEE-gal, you know? Legal? As in legally married? Lawfully wed? Um, spliced?"

He throws out both hands to forestall her from turning back to him, "Now hear me out, will you? You ARE impressive… and I'm not referring to your… er… physical attributes… although I'm sure… ah, based on your other charms... um, well, no, best not go there just yet, I think." He takes a deep breath, " What I'm trying to say is you're actually TOO impressive, you scare the hell out of me. No, if anyone is woefully unimpressive, it's bloody well me! It makes no sense for you to settle for me when there are so many better men out there…"

She spins like a top, the anger gone like a summer sun-shower, "Better men who don't exist! I'm telling you, Richard, it's you, definitely you! You with your brilliant mind and gentlemanly ways, your shy manner and handsome self, of course I'll marry you... if you'll marry me. Oh, I know you've got some rough spots but so do I. Even so, I think we're perfectly suited."

"You do? Really?"

"Yes, really. We're perfect partners at work because we fill in each other's blanks. Together we're unbeatable. Why can't we have that in our personal lives too? I've wasted so much time on blind dates and men who can't compare to you. Plus, I know you probably don't believe it but you're very attractive and I fancy you rotten!"

His eyebrows fly up, "My goodness, where did you learn that phrase?"

She's hitching her chair around the table, coming closer, and looks up from this arduous maneuver to huff, "From some Brit show on TV. Did I say it wrong?"

He watches her dock at his side, all the better to slip a welcome hand onto his knee, "No, you said it right." His hand settles over hers, edging her touch slightly higher, "Tell me, did you also come across the phrase 'a right seeing to' as well?"

Her smile is slightly dreamy as her fingertips register firm muscle and fine wool, "No, I don't think so, why?"

He signals their server, "Well, since you've agreed to marry me, I think it only proper that I teach you some British customs… and 'a right seeing to' is right at the top of the list. Come, let's away to my soon-to-be-former abode and start the lessons!"

As they make their way to the street, she leans into him and whispers, "And the French lessons! Don't forget there's a lot of French coming your way soon as we're alone."

Out in the darkening evening, he wraps her hand around his forearm and pulls her to his side, "Oh, Camille, I can hardly wait. Tomorrow the rings and house tours but tonight…" he growls "… tonight we impress each other, yes?"

Her heart swells, "Oui, mon Coeur, mais oui."

After they have faded into the night, walking slow and enjoying it immensely, a shadow slips from the tree at La Kaz's side door and calls to the bartender inside, "Emile! Vite, vite, a bottle of chilled champagne and two flutes into a covered basket. Get on your bike and leave it by the back door of the police chief's house before he gets there!"

As Emile motors away a minute later, the shadow sighs, "Lah, such stubbornness, they deserve each other... but they got there at last and that's what finally counts. "

END