LILLY WEST is a twenty-eight-year-old independent woman working at an advertising company in Paris, France since past four years. Her life usually surrounds around her aunt (who's her rock), her bestie (who's getting married!), her bestie's fiancé (...
I sang and knocked on Julian's door at six-thirty in the morning. Two minutes later the oakwood door opened and I came inside to see a very shirtless Julian in his joggers standing before me with disheveled hair.
My breath hitched when I saw his six pack abs and I felt heat rising on my cheeks.
"I- what the hell Julian? You just woke up?" I tried to not let my gaze wander back to his naked chest and closed the door behind me.
Julian smirked and came closer to me, trapping me between him and the door when he spoke in his husky morning voice, "I forgot to set an alarm last night Noodle."
I legit felt goosebumps and a tingly sensation went through my body.
I gulped audibly, "What kind of dad are you, Julian? Everyone is almost done with breakfast. We have to leave in half an hour."
"Don't worry Noodle. I'll be done in no time. Although, I've a question for you," he came impossibly closer, pressing his body against mine and I bit my lip to not let a squeak escape from my mouth.
"If we're the parents then why aren't we sleeping in the same room?" He whispered in my ear before he gently bit my earlobe.
I inhaled sharply and my eyes closed involuntarily. My mind was giving me several warnings to not do what I was thinking to next because I would regret it later but my heart was spewing another story of its own.
Just when I was about to press my lips on his, Julian backed away and started laughing maniacally. Suddenly the memory of me trying to seduce him a few weeks ago came in my mind and I stormed out of his room in annoyance.
Of-fucking-course he was just messing with me. Because that's what we did, didn't we? I mentally kicked myself for losing my composure back there and made my way downstairs where everyone must be waiting.
I was a fool for thinking something could happen between us.
Our tour was not only for the village of Saint-Paul-De-Vence but for surrounding places as well. It wasn't really possible to find a tour for only the village since it was very small town so we had to book one of the tours for French Riviera.
Our first stop was at the medieval village of Eze popular for exotic gardens, fine art and Fragonard factory.
"This is so cool," Hannah whispered when we reached the Fragonard factory where we saw millions of perfume bottles being manufactured by the process of distillation and other procedures.
Everyone agreed and our tour guide kept on explaining the history of the factory but it was difficult to make out what he was saying because the noise of machinery was echoing everywhere.
In the next room sat loads of perfume bottles in rows which could have been mistaken as wine bottles if the stench of different fragrances was any indication.
"Perfume making is a lot like composing music. Just like a musician, the perfumer composes his perfumes seated at an organ, a stand on which all the bottles of essences he will be using are laid out. A perfume is made up of an accord, which means a blend of several notes: woody accords, chypre accords, fruity notes, floral notes. A perfume can take several years to compose." Our guide motioned towards the tower of bottles.
Next, we went to the gift shop where perfumes, Eaux de toilette, soaps, candles, diffusers, as well as cosmetics, shower gels, gift sets and more were available.
"These are so pretty," Manon exclaimed once she saw the various perfume bottles and the girls giggled.
I stood on the opposite counter where cosmetics were displayed when I felt a presence beside me.
I turned my head to see Blake's cousin Charles leaning against the counter with a lazy smile and his shaggy black hair nearly reached his eyes.
"I lost my phone number, can I have yours?"
His green eyes twinkled and a blush rose on his cheeks when I laughed.
"Does that usually work?" I raised an eyebrow at him.
He shook his head with a tiny smile, "Nah, that was the first try."
I laughed again and he brought a hand towards me, "Charles. I don't think we were introduced properly yesterday. Oh, by the way I'm Blake's favorite cousin he just doesn't know it yet."
Chuckling I shook his hand, "Lilly. The organizer of the trip. And don't worry, Blake can be oblivious sometimes I'm his true love he just doesn't know it yet."
We laughed again when we heard someone clearing their throat behind us.
Julian stood there expressionless and spoke directly to me, "The guide said we've to go now."
Without letting me respond he left just as quickly. Was that...jealousy that I heard in his voice?
