Three days have passed since we went to Vence. Three glorious days. Spencer spends the days working while I enjoy the beautiful property. I can’t remember the last time I’ve been able to unwind like this. To not have anything to think about other than just being happy. But it’s bittersweet as I know our time together will end soon.
Shaking off the thoughts, I head back inside from the balcony and sit down next to Spencer on the couch. He has files in front of him as he listens to someone speak on the phone. He doesn’t look at me, but his hand lifts and lays on my forearm, the pads of his fingers making circles on my skin.
“Okay, find out for me,” he says before putting the phone away. “So what do you want to do today?”
I turn my head and look up at him. ”Are you speaking to me?”
“Who else would I be speaking to, Olivia?” He has the most delicious smirk I have ever seen and I just stare at him loving the way his eyes watch me. “So what do you want to do today?” he repeats pulling me from my thoughts.
“Wow, Mr. Lancaster. You’re letting me choose? How very gracious of you.” He shuts me up by placing his mouth on mine and I laugh into his lips.
“I let you choose all the time. Everyone else, no. I call the shots,” he responds as he pulls away from me.
“Can’t always be the boss.”
He chuckles at that. “Oh no, Olivia, I’ll always be the boss.” His voice is husky, his gaze dancing over my skin and making me feel all warm and tingly inside. “So what’s it going to be?”
“How far are we from Provence?” I joke, knowing it’s too far for us to go when he has so much work to do.
“Is that what you want to do?” He starts to fiddle with his phone.
“You have to work,” I reply. Secretly hoping and praying that he doesn’t.
“I don’t have to do anything today. Only what I want. And today, I want to go to Provence with you.” He stands up and walks out of the room.
An hour later I’m dressed and standing at a heliport in Nice.
“I can’t believe you rented us a helicopter.”
“You said you wanted to go to Provence, so come on. Let me help you up.”
He helps me in and buckles me up. Once we’re both seated in the back, he reaches out and takes my hand in his. Our fingers entwine, his lip pulls up into a relaxed smile. It’s a smile I’ve never seen on him before, the way it cracks his face makes him look younger, peaceful.
Through beautiful scenery we hold hands, and I watch as we pass over quaint towns on our journey. When we land, I’m even more shocked to see a driver and car waiting for us. And not just any car. It’s a Mercedes Maybach.
“Bonjour, Mr. Lancaster, je suis François. Je serai votre chauffeur pour la journée. Voici le colis que vous avez demandé. ” I have no idea what the driver says to Spencer, but he hands Spencer a small nondescript brown bag before opening the back door for us.
Stepping into the back seat of the Maybach, we begin the short drive to the vineyard Spencer has arranged for us to tour. We drive through tiny roads that weave in and out of lavender fields. Purple stretches into the horizon. It’s like a dream.
When we arrive at the family run vineyard near the village of Sault, we’re greeted by a handsome older man. He looks to be in his early sixties, salt and pepper hair surrounding his tanned and weathered face. He shows us to a rustic rough iron table set in the midst of sprawling hills, and in the far distance, mountains loom. The sun beats down on us, and the air is thick with the scent of flowers. The man walks away and when he returns he places a series of flight glasses in front of us, I smile at all the wine that we are going to be tasting.
“This is perfect.”
“I knew you’d like it.”
“Like it? I love it. Rosé is my favorite. I can’t wait to taste all of these.”
He lifts his chin. “Noted.”
For the next hour, we sit and sip the wines. We talk of nothing important but everything. He makes me laugh. Makes me smile. He listens to me intently, as if he finds me interesting, as if I’m more than my profession, more than my face. He can see past the walls of perfection I hide behind. It’s unnerving and exhilarating all at the same time.
When I put down my most recent glass, I see Spencer staring at me intently.
“I bought something for you,” he says.
“You didn’t have to buy me anything.”
“I didn’t have to, but I wanted to.”
“When?”
“I have my ways.” He winks. Reaching into the bag the driver gave him, he pulls out a tiny snow globe.
“For your collection.”
It might be small, but the gesture makes my heart race.
The next morning, I wake once again to an empty bed. This has become an everyday occurrence since I’ve known Spencer Lancaster, but this time I hear Spencer’s voice as it carries through the villa.
“That’s fantastic news. Thank you for getting back to me. I’ll have the money wired by the end of today.”
I try to pretend like I’m sleeping as Spencer comes waltzing in. I don’t want him to think I was eavesdropping.
“Get up, woman. We have some celebrating to do,” he says excitedly.
“Is that so?” I say, popping upright. “To what do I owe this pleasant mood?”
“They accepted my offer, and we can close the deal by the end of today. We’ll be able to break ground this coming spring.”
“That’s wonderful news. Congratulations, Spencer.” I beam.
“I like to think it’s because of my good luck charm.” He winks, moving toward me.
“I’m pretty lucky,” I smirk.
“Of that, I’m sure, Olivia.” He leans in to kiss me. “Would you like to come and see the property with me?”
“You want to show me the property?” I say, shocked.
“Don’t freak, Olivia. I’m not asking you to buy a house, just to see a piece of land.” He grins.
“Good thing because if you were, I’d be running.”
He chuckles.
“Sure, I’ll come. It would be great to see a day in the life of Spencer Lancaster.”
“It’s pretty boring.”
“I doubt that,” I quip.
“It’s been much more exciting lately,” he says as he pulls me in close.
“Yeah?”
“Definitely.” He places a small kiss on my lips. “Get dressed. We leave in an hour.”
The view is breathtaking. I have no doubt a lovely building will sit on the sand some day. It makes me a little sad. It’s such an exclusive piece of property, hidden from the rest of Antibes. It’s a shame that a massive hotel will be placed on top of it, making it no longer so private.
“What’s on your mind?” Spencer asks from my side.
“This piece of land is so beautiful and a hotel will take away from that.”
Small lines start to crease Spencer’s forehead.
“It’s just so peaceful here like its own little slice of heaven. You build a hotel, people will come, and it will no longer be quiet.”
“Then what, my dear Olivia, would you put on this property?”
I think for a moment before answering. “Nothing. It would just be my own little paradise to come and sit and watch the waves lap.”
“You’re quite the romantic.”
“Because I have a lack of it in my life.” The words slip out before I can stop them. And I hope it doesn’t make the moment awkward, but when I hear him chuckle, I let out the air I didn’t even realize I’m holding.
“Something tells me it won’t always be like that for you, Olivia.”
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “I’m not in any rush. When he comes along, I’ll know it. He just hasn’t shown up yet.”
He turns his head as if done with the conversation.
It’s a little awkward talking to him about my future with someone else, but there’s no future for us. And in this moment, I get a little pang of sadness at that realization.
“I take it back,” I say to change the subject.
He turns his head toward me.
“I think I’d put a private residence right here. I wouldn’t want to just come here occasionally. I’d want to wake up to this view.”
He smiles. “I can see you here.”
We walk hand in hand down the shoreline, taking in the magnificent waters that stretch out in front of us. The French Riviera is something to behold. I’m sad that this is my first time ever being here. I vow to myself to come back here one day.
“Are you ready to move on to Barcelona?”
My head turns to him quickly. “We still have a few more days here.”
“But I sealed the deal. There’s no reason to stay here any longer. The sooner I get to Barcelona, the sooner I can start those negotiations, and hopefully, can be on a plane back home.”
That familiar ache returns when I remember what Spencer and I are doing together. He isn’t just enjoying his time here with me. It’s all business, and I’m just along for the ride. A part of me grows sad at the thought, but he did warn me not to get caught up with ideas that wouldn’t happen, and I have no one to blame but myself. I’ve gotten wrapped up in the beauty of everything surrounding me that I forgot my place in his life. This reminder will stick with me.
I won’t make the same mistake again.