The Legacy 2 - A house in France
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Yes, there is a second Legacy



Prologue

When Annabelle told her friends she was starting a new life in France, it sounded exciting. But when she looked out of the car window, she wasn't so sure anymore. The rain was pouring down and the sky looked grey and depressing.

She looked at the house in front of her. Was this it? Was this her dream house, her shelter from everything that had gone wrong in life?
In her imagination, the villa was situated between the green fields of France. The house was painted in warm colors, with green shutters to protect the rooms for the hot Mediterranean sun.

But the truth was nothing like her dreams. Maybe this had been an enchanting house a long time ago, but now it looked gloomy and neglected.
Maybe she took the wrong exit and this wasn't her house after all. She took the map with the directions and looked at the papers the lawyer had given her. The indications were clear. The chance that she had taken the wrong road was small. And there wasn't another house nearby.

Once again Annabelle stared at the dilapidated building. Dusk had set in, so if she wanted to inspect the whole thing before night, she had to hurry. Or she could turn her car and go back to the village to sleep in a hotel. Thinking about a hot shower and cool sheets was tempting. She was exhausted. She had left London at 4h30 in the morning and now it was 7h in the evening. But she knew she wouldn't be able to sleep before she knew if this was really "Villa Miracle", her legacy.

BIRGIT

Chapter 1: Exploring the house

Annabelle turned off the motor of her car. The rain was clattering hard on the roof. She put up the hood of her coat, took the keys, a flash light and sighed when she got out. Her feet immediately sank into the soggy ground. She felt like she was moving through a swamp. Within minutes her jeans were soaking wet and full of mud stains. She almost tripped over the 2 steps at the front door because of the rain drops in her eyes.

She knocked the front door, just in case this was the wrong house, and waited for a sound. The only thing she heard was the pouring rain.
Her hands were shaking when she put the key in the lock. It fitted, but she couldn't turn it. She laughed in relief, but then she turned the key the other way and the door opened. There were no more doubts. This was the right house.

For a moment Annabelle felt disappointed, but she immediately ignored it. It was very nice of Fabrice to leave her this house. She would always be grateful for that. Especially because the offer came when she needed it the most. And it had been a huge surprise. She wasn't even family, just his nurse. He had no reason to leave her a penny, let alone a house in France. And all the grounds surrounding it.

She pushed the door open and switched on the flash light. The ray of light fell on white sheets and it took her a second before she realized they protected the furniture. The wooden floor cracked under her feet, like it had been ages since someone had walked on them. It didn't surprise her that nothing happened when she turned on the lights. The electricity probably wasn't connected, if there even was electricity!

The room smelled dusty, but there was still a scent of lavender in the air. On the buffet were a few silver photo frames with people Annabelle didn't know. It made her realize how little she knew about her former boss. He wasn't the kind of man who talked about intimate subjects. She knew about this house because of his former neighbour, a tall dark haired Frenchman, Sébastien, Seb, Izambard.

While she looked at the pictures, she saw one familiar face between the unknown. Seb. She picked up the picture and blew the dust off it. It looked like his wedding picture. Next to him was a beautiful woman in a long white dress. She had dark hair and a twinkle in her eyes. The couple beamed with happiness.

Annabelle guessed the picture was about 15 years old, because Seb looked like he was in his early twenties. He already looked gorgeous back then, she thought when she studied the picture. And the years had only made him more handsome. Handsome, but not very open.
She looked at his bride once again. This must have been the woman that had been killed in a car accident. Something Seb never got over.

Annabelle had met Seb just a few times, but every time there had been a tension between them that completely blew her away. Never in her life had a man threated her with so much dislike.
Maybe it was because of the false start they made. The first time she opened the door for him, she was wearing shorts that barely covered her butt and a top. He stared at her with raised eyebrows when she told him she was Fabrices' nurse.
"Aren't you dressed a little unusually for your job?" he had asked dryly.

She should have told him that it had been her day off, but that she came back because Fabrice had insisted. She was worried when she had jumped in her car. When she came to the house, Fabrice was smiling widely and told her he wanted to introduce her to his visitor.
And that was the reason why she wasn't in the best mood when she opened the door for him. His disapproving remark had been the final straw.

"What I wear when I'm at work is between me and my employer." she had answered coldly before she proudly stepped outside. "He is in the living room. And you can tell him he can't call me anymore for these kind of things."


Sometimes Fabrice had been a real pain in the neck, she thought when she put back the picture. In the short time Seb came to visit him last summer, he said that the two of them would make a nice couple. Rubbish! They didn't like each other and she was together with David for more then 3 years.

After a couple of weeks of subtle hints, Fabrice had asked her if she was attracted to Seb. She remembered that she had blushed profoundly and answered that that certainly wasn't the case. Even now she didn't know why that question had embarrassed her.

Fabrice found her reaction funny. He was never the happiest person, at least not during the 2 years Annabelle had worked for him. But that day he had laughed so loud that it made even Annabelle smile.

"I love David." She had told him when he kept laughing.
"If you say so." He grinned.
"I do. We are engaged and are getting married soon." She showed him her engagement ring.
"You have been wearing that ring from the day you came to work for me." Fabrice said, shaking his head. "Yes, you have set the date but that is all."
She frowned. "I know Seb is good looking, Fabrice, but unfortunately so does he. He's arrogant and totally not my type."

For a moment she thought that the twinkle in his eyes was because of her defensive attitude, but then she realized they were not alone. Seb stood behind her in the door. At that moment she hoped the ground would open up and swallow her.

When he left, she had tried to apologize. "I'm sorry for... what I said... You know." She had tried not to get intimidated by the dark gaze in his eyes. "Fabrice was on my back and... Well, I shouldn't have reacted."

"You don't have to apologize." He said very confidently with a ridiculous smile. "To be honest, you're not my type either."

She wished she hadn't apologized. "Why didn't you warm me he stood behind me?" she had asked Fabrice later on.
His grin didn't show any guilt. "One of the little pleasures that are left for me, is watching the sparks between you and Seb."
Suddenly his smile had faded and he looked tired. "I didn't take my pills yet... You know I hate to take them..."

Fabrice hadn't been the easiest patient, but she would miss him. Even when he was grumpy, he was still adorable.

"Your house is a mess, Fabrice." She said out loud, looking around. "But I appreciate that you thought about me." Her voice sounded strange in the empty room.

"Did you know that talking to yourself is the first sign of craziness?" A voice behind her said.

Chapter 2: The Frenchman

Startled Annabelle turned around, her heart racing. For a moment she thought it was Fabrice who had come back to answer her. But when she took a better look, she saw it was a tall well built man.
"I was wondering when you would arrive." His voice with the French accent sounded amused and not spooky at all, but very familiar.

"Sébastien! You scared the hell out of me!" Her torch lit the figure in the door way. He was dressed in a jeans and a jacket. Very different than the suits she saw him in when he was in England. "What are you doing here?"

"I was on my way home when I saw your car."
"On your way home?" She asked surprised.
"Yes, my house. I live about 6 kilometers down the road."
"Oh! I didn't know that. I mean, I knew you lived in France but..." She was confused. "Fabrice told me you had an apartment in Paris, so I thought you lived there."
He nodded. "That's right. For my job I live in Paris, but this is home."

She noticed the cold in his voice. Why did she always feel so uncomfortable when he was around? Was he trying to tell her that this was his territory and that she wasn't welcome?

It was raining even harder outside. Lightening illuminated the room and was followed by thunder. Suddenly she didn't care about Seb's behavior. She was happy that there was someone around she knew.

"Well, I'm glad I have a neighbour that I know." She said happily. "It's always handy to know where you can go to borrow a cup of sugar."
"You're not planning to move in here, are you?"

The skepticism in his voice made her hesitate. Suddenly the plans she made to swap England for France seemed silly. She dreamt of transforming this house into a small pension. The few colleagues and friends she informed about her plans, had assured her that they would come and visit her.

She was horrified when she thought about the looks on their faces when they saw this house. And when David found out, he would laugh his head off. The thought of that broke her heart. He had accused her of being impulsive when she broke up with him. He just couldn't believe that she would cancel the wedding. He thought she would come back to him within days. And that's when she found out she inherited this house. It was like she was rescued.

Another thunderbolt lit the room which allowed Seb to catch a glimpse of Annabelle. Her wet hair was sticking against her pale face and made her bright blue eyes stand out.
"I'll decide what I'm going to do when I have seen the house in the daylight." She wasn't planning on giving up that easy.

"You can't stay here tonight." He said softly.
The friendly sound of his voice confused her. "I'll try to book a hotel room in the village."
"That is not an option. The roads will be dark by now. You better not drive in this weather." Lightening was followed by the rolling of thunder. "And your tyres will get stuck in the mud."

She looked at her old car and she knew he was right. "Well, I'll have to stay here then." She tried to sound light-hearted, but she was scared to death of staying here in a thunderstorm.
"Don't be silly."
"Do you have a better idea?" she asked irritated.
After a while, he shrugged. "I guess you'll have to come with me. There is nothing else to do about it."

It didn't sound like a friendly invitation. She proudly wanted to decline his offer. But on the other hand she was too tired to fight him, so she bent her head and mumbled "Thank you. That's very kind of you."
"And it gives us a chance to talk."
"Talk? What about?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.
His figure was lit by lightening. He looked rigid with his dark eyes. "About the reason Fabrice left you this house, of course. But let's get out of here first, before the roads are blocked and we both get stuck here."

Annabelle followed him, closed the door and ran into the pouring rain. Why did Seb want to talk about Fabrice's legacy? She couldn't come up with a reason so she decided to focus on more important things. Like the cold rain she felt on her back. "I'm gonna take some stuff out of my car." She yelled, but Seb didn't seem to hear her.

While she was looking for her overnight bag between the mess in her trunk, she thought back about her former warm and safe life. She and David had put a lot of time and effort in decorating their luxurious apartment in London. And then she thought about her wedding gown that still hung in the closet. It had been her dream gown: meters of silk with small rosebuds on the neckline. Within a few weeks she would have been Mrs. David Miller. Suddenly her stomach ached. She pulled out her bag. It would have been a big mistake to marry David, she said to herself. Their relationship was over. She didn't regret it because he wasn't the man she thought he was.

She turned around and jumped when she saw Seb standing behind her. He took her bag from her. "Be careful, you'll wash away."
"Thanks." She was glad he took her bag, but she ignored his hand. "I'll manage." She barely finished her sentence when she lost her balance and tripped. Because of Seb's quick reaction she didn't fall in the mud. She was close to his body. This unexpected intimacy gave her a strange feeling in the stomach. For a minute she forgot about the rain and she felt hot inside because of his touch.

She freed herself from his arms. "I'm sorry." She said breathless.
"I told you it was slippery here." He smiled.
Irritated Annabelle looked the other way. She hated it when people said "I told you so..." Without a doubt he was one of the most irritating men she had ever met. How could she think his touch was nice? Carefully she walked to his car, determined not to slip again. Her shoes sopped in the mud.

"So this is the sunny south?" she grumbled when she sat in the car.
Seb smiled. "When it rains here, it rains a lot. That's why the environment is so green and beautiful."
"Really?" She stared out of the window into the darkness. "I guess I'll have to take your word on that."

Chapter 3: A bumpy ride

When the small road got wider, they came to a gate.
"This gate separates your land from mine." He said, while he braked.
She frowned. "So, to get to your land, you have to cross mine? Isn't that a little strange?"
"It's just one way to get there, but you are right: it's not very practical." He said. "That is why I made Fabrice an offer for his land last year. But you probably knew that."
"No, I didn't." Annabelle said.
"It was a high offer, that's why I was surprised he declined it and left you the house."

Annabelle suddenly realized why he had acted so distant. He wanted Fabrice's land. She shifted uncomfortable in her seat. "His legacy was a surprise for me too."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes, really. I don't know what you are insinuating, but I don't like the sound of it, Seb."
Instead of answering her, he got out and opened the gate.

Was he insinuating that she asked Fabrice to leave her his house? What a ridiculous idea. She had been stunned when her lawyer told her. But it came at the right time, so she didn't hesitate to take the offer.
The thought that she had asked Fabrice for it, was a straight insult!

After Seb got back into the car, they drove further down the bendy road. The silence was tensed and Annabelle couldn't take it any longer.
"Look, I understand that you are disappointed that Fabrice didn't want to sell his property and left it to me. I know you two were friends for years and that I'm just a stranger. But I swear that I never did anything to seduce him into giving it to me."

"I never said so." Seb said calmly. "Although the word 'seduce' is very interesting because of the work clothes you were wearing when I first saw you."
Annabelle blushed when she thought about the shorts and top she had been wearing that day. "You totally misjudged the situation." She said. "I had the day off."
"And you visited Fabrice often on your day off, dressed like that?"

Annabelle got angry. "Of course not! I was there because Fabrice had called me and asked me to come immediately. I thought something had happened, but he called me because you were coming over."
"Because I was coming over?" Seb asked surprised.
"Yes... He had the strange idea that..." She didn't dare to finish her sentence.
"What kind of strange idea?" Seb looked at her.
She shrugged. "Well, he probably told you. He thought that... that you and I would be a nice couple."
"You've got to be kidding!" he laughed out loud.
"Yes, ok, Sébastien. We both know it is ridiculous. I don't like you and you hate me."
"Oh no, I never hated you, Annabelle." Seb shook his head. "I always thought you were attractive for... a gold digger."
"Ok, that's it! Turn the car around!" she yelled angrily.
"Why?"

His question almost made her explode. "Why? Because I'd rather spend the night in an old decayed house with no electricity than stay a minute longer in this car, let alone in your house! You are rude, insensitive and... you disgust me. That's why!"
"I'm not turning the car." He answered calmly. "So if you want to go back to Fabrice's house, you'll have to walk."

Annabelle looked at the stormy night. No matter how much she hated Seb, she knew it wasnt an option to walk back. "I'll call a cab later."
"Whatever you want. But don't count on it that a cab will drive through this kind of weather. It looks like you are stuck with me for the night."
Annabelle clenched her fists. "Right. Well, I guess there is no other option."
"Non, I don't think so." He said amused.

Chapter 4: Seb's estate

After a turn in the road, she could see an impressive building on the right side of the road. It had high windows and she saw the inviting light shining through. It was some kind of castle, like the ones you would see in expensive magazines. Very French with small fairytale towers on each side of the house.
Annabelle couldnt help but wonder why he was making such a fuss about an old neglected house when he owned this.

He parked his car in front of the front door. "I'll take your bag. You go in. The door is open."
Annabelle ran through the rain and stumbled through the front door. It was a relief to be away from Sebastien Izambard for a while. How dared he insinuate she was a gold digger? She felt her cheeks burning with anger.

She looked around. The inside of the house was as impressive as outside. She was in a large hall that looked like a film set, and looked straight into a room with an inviting open fire. Attracted by the warmth, she stepped inside. On both sides of the mantle, stood soft orange sofas. A small step led to the living room.

Annabelle stood with her back towards the fire and admired the antique furniture, crystal lamps and large vases with fresh flowers. It was a big house for a man alone. She wondered if there was a woman in his life. Fabrice didn't give that impression, but he couldn't know everything. Seb had lost his wife when he was in his twenties and she thought he was about 34 now. A long time for a man to be single.

Annabelle's heart was racing. She always thought Fabrice's dislike of David was just a joke. He barely knew him. But now it looked like Fabrice had been right all along.
One thing was for sure. It had been silly to think she and Seb would fit together.

With her bag in his hand, Seb came in. She looked at his strong arms and wanted to bet that there would be woman lying in them regularly.
"Have you eaten?" he asked.
She shook her head.
"Bien. I'll show you your room and you can change. In the meantime I'll try to find something to eat. My housekeeper isn't here, so you'll have to be satisfied with my cooking."

"I don't want anything to eat. If you don't mind, I'll go straight to bed." she said coldly.
"Of course you want to eat. You must be starving." Seb came closer. "Look, I'm sorry for calling you a gold digger, ok? So stop the chilly attitude."
"No, it's not ok at all. How dare you insult me like that?"
He shrugged. "You can't blame me for feeling that way. Fabrice kept saying how great and beautiful you were. I wanted to talk business with him but all he could talk about was you. I thought he was in love with you."
"He was 65. I'm 29." Annabelle said.
"So?" Seb asked amused.
"That's disgusting!"
He grinned. "You wouldn't be first 29 year old that fell for the charms of an older, rich guy."
"I was supposed to get married!" Annabelle said angrily.
"Fabrice never kept it a secret he didn't like your fiancé. So you can't blame me for wondering what was going on between the two of you." Seb said.
"There was nothing between us."
Seb raised his eyebrows. "And then there was the time you tried to reassure him by saying you weren't attracted to me."
"I wasn't trying to reassure him. I was trying to make clear that his idea about us was ridiculous!" she muttered.
"Ok, I admit it's possible I was wrong." Seb nodded.
"You were completely wrong." Annabelle said determined.
He nodded. "You're absolutely right. Now that we have cleared this, I'll show you your room so you can freshen up."

Annabelle shrugged. To be honest she was hungry and a hot shower was very tempting. And he did apologize. Kind of...
"Ok."
"Good." He said with a twinkle in his eyes. "I'm glad we talked it through." He stretched his hand and tucked her hair behind her ear. She was startled, but had to admit his touch was tender. Suddenly she felt the desire rising in her body and she quickly took a step back. What the hell was going on with her? She didn't like Seb. Not at all!

"So, where is your fiancé?"
She was shocked by his question. "He's still in London." She heard the thunder and the lights flickered. "I think it's just above us." She swallowed nervously.
"It looks like it." Seb turned around. "Come on, I'll show you to your room."

Grateful that he had changed the subject she followed him up the stairs to a large soft yellow bed room.
"The bath room is over there." Seb said, pointing towards a door. "Make yourself at home." He nodded and turned around, but then he stopped. "You haven't told me... Is your fiancé coming here?"

He looked at her with an incredible sexy and a disturbing piercing gaze like he was looking straight in her soul.
She wanted to tell him their engagement was over, but she said something completely different. "Yes, but he's busy at the moment."
"Ah oui." Seb smiled and she wondered if he could guess that the chance David would come over, was zero. "I'll leave you to it. Come downstairs when you are ready."

Annabelle stayed still when he closed the door behind him. She wondered why she lied to him. Maybe because she was too proud to admit she made a mistake with David. Or maybe she was too vulnerable when Seb was around. She couldn't describe it, but the man fascinated her in a strange way. He was dangerous.

Chapter 5: David

The storm was still raging when Annabelle was drying her hair. She looked at herself in the mirror. She had changed her muddy pants for fresh ones with a black t-shirt on top. It wasn't very hip, but at least she looked decent again. Her long black hair was shining and the hot shower brought back some color on her cheeks.

She looked at her waist. She sure lost weight. She had always been slim, but now her pants were hanging loose around her hips. That was always the case when she was worried about something. As soon as she started worrying, she lost weight. And the last couple of weeks had been the worst of her life.

Strangely enough, nothing had indicated that this would happen. Everything had been well planned. Her wedding date had been picked. And yes, she had doubts about it, but she had put them aside. It was normal to have healthy nerves for such an important step in life.

She really thought she loved David. The only thing that had her worried, was that he was never able to wake up passion inside of her. But she felt guilty about that thought. David was a very nice boy with a boyish charm: thick blond hair, grey eyes, nice figure. And she felt safe when she was with him. After the disastrous relationship she had before him, she needed safety. And with her 30th birthday coming up, she felt she was ready to start a family.

David had agreed to talk about children after the wedding. She remembered how he took her in his arms and whispered "I'll make you very happy, Annabelle, I swear."
He was someone who wasn't afraid to work hard. He had built up his career really fast with all the luxury that came with it, like a fancy sports car and expensive clothing. They had a good time together: eating out, a nice apartment, great friends. Nothing that showed that he wasnt the respected and responsible business man he pretended to be.

A couple of months ago he came home without his car. Stolen, he said, and she had no reason to doubt that. She was too preoccupied with Fabrice back then to think about it anyway. Fabrice's health had gotten worse quickly, so she had spent a lot of her time off with him.

When she came home one night, there had been burglars. The television was gone, together with the HiFi and DVD-player. But that wasn't all: anything of value was gone, including some of her beloved jewelry. She had been terrified, especially because she was all alone in the apartment.

David came in when she was calling the police.
"There's no need." He said calmly. "Everything is under control. They have been here already."
Annabelle believed him. Why shouldn't she? She trusted him.

But after a week, she found out something wasnt right. When she called the police about the investigation, they told her there hadn't been a notification of a burglary.
She didn't plan to say anything to Fabrice, but when she left he grabbed her arm. "Tell me what's going on." He said sternly.
"Nothing."
He didn't let her go. "We always talked to each other." He insisted.

She sat down next to the bed. "It's the burglary. David never went to the police and when I asked him about it, he got angry and said the police must have made a mistake. He would solve it and I shouldn't get involved."
Annabelle remembered the look on Fabrice's face. Although he already looked very skinny and grey, she saw a fierce flicker in his eyes.
"Do you believe him?" he asked.
She shrugged. "Why wouldn't I?"
"Maybe David isn't the person you think he is." He softly said. "I never wanted to tell you this, but about 5 months ago, just after you started working here, David came to pick you up. There was some money on the buffet in the hall and when David was gone, so was the money. I never told you because you wouldn't believe me and because I didn't have any proof."
"How much was it?" she asked numb.
"It doesn't matter. It's not about the money anyway, it's about you." He squeezed her hand tight. "If I would have had a daughter... I would have wanted her to be like you. You know that, right? I appreciate what you did for me..."
"Fabrice, you don't have to say that." She said with tears in her eyes.
"Yes, I do. There's not much time left to be with you. I want you to know that I care about you and I want you to be happy. And to be honest, I don't think David is the right person for you, Annabelle."

Thinking back at the conversation, one of their last, her eyes filled with tears again. It was strange she had developed such a firm bond with Fabrice. There was the age difference and they weren't even family. But when Fabrice died, it felt like a family member was gone.

Fabrice had been right about David. When she back home that night, she searched every cupboard and drawer to find out what was going on. She found tickets from a pawnbroker who he had given all her stuff to. And then she found the settlements of their joint credit card which showed that David had a lot of debts.

She found out David had a huge gambling problem, although he denied it in the beginning. He said he was going through a rough period and it would get solved in a couple of weeks.
Even when she took her suitcases and was about to leave, he guaranteed her everything would work out just fine and that she didn't have to behave like this. And that their wedding would take place.

No, if David waited till she returned, he could wait a very long time. But was it wise to stay here in France, she asked herself while she walked downstairs.

Chapter 6: A conversation

The only light in the living room came from the open fire.
"Seb?" Annabelle hesitated while she stood at the bottom of the stairs. There was no answer.
"Seb?" She walked through the dark corridor until she saw a light at the end of it and heard soft music.
"There you are." He turned away from the stove and his gaze wandered over her. "You look a lot better."
"That's no wonder, if you think how bad I looked before."
"Not at all. You looked..." He searched for the right word. "...exhausted."
"That could be true. I left early this morning and seeing the house was quite a shock. And then I'm not even talking about your accusations..."
"Wait a minute." He took her arm. "I apologised for that... Can't we just forget about it?"
She shrugged. "Sure."
"Bien."

His smile made her heart jump. What was going on? She didn't like the guy. He was arrogant, irritating and she had enough of men.
She walked past him towards the stove. "Is there anything I can help with?"
"Non, it's ready. I made pasta. Is that alright?"
"It sure is."
"Good, I'll set the table in the dining room."
"Can't we eat in here?" Annabelle asked. She didn't want to sit in the dark intimate dining room.
"If you like." He shrugged.
"Shall I set the table then?"
"Ca va, I'll open a bottle of wine."
"Sounds good." Annabelle cleared the table and put the plates on it.

A few minutes later they sat across each other. Curiously she looked at him. She noticed he had changed in black pants and a black shirt.
Why did she get so confused when she was around him? How come her heart was beating so fast when he was with her? Was she intimidated by his good looks? It was like he had magical powers that attracted her.

Everything about him was so natural. The way his shirt clung his shoulders and the way he spoke English with an accent that made her shiver. And those eyes... They were deadly; bright green but so intense like he was looking in your soul.

It was like he felt she was looking at him because suddenly he looked intensely at her. The effect was unbelievable. It had always been like that. Ever since they met for the first time, more then a year ago, until now.
It was wonderful and scary at the same time that a man had so much impact on her.

He smiled. "Well, I think Fabrice would have liked to sit at a table with us. Shall we make a toast to old friends?"
"To old friends." Annabelle touched his glass with hers. Those eyes again... The same uncomfortable feeling... She tried not to get confused. When she stared at the bottle of wine, she noticed the name 'Izambard' on the label. "Does it have to do anything with you?" she asked.
"It's my property but I'm not involved. My cousin is a wine producer, so I rent him the land."
"It tastes good."
"It's not bad." Seb nodded. "So, how long did it take you to get here?"
"Last night I slept at my mothers in London. And I left there at 4h30 this morning."
"That's quite a long way. You should have taken the plane in Manchester."
"I wanted to take as much of my stuff as I could. And I wanted to say goodbye to my mum." She thought about the look on her mothers face when she told her she had broken up with David and was moving to France.
"Couldn't David bring your stuff later on?" Seb asked.

Annabelle didn't answer. She was still thinking about her mother.
"Are you sure?" she had asked. "All the invitations have been sent. Maybe you're just nervous."
She didn't want to tell her mother that it was something far more important then nerves. The poor woman wouldn't have been able to accept the truth. So Annabelle thought it was better for her to think they broke up as friends.

"Annabelle?"
"Oh, sorry." She realised Seb had asked her something. "Yes, he could have brought my stuff, but like I said, he's kinda busy at the moment."
"What does he do?"
Annabelle played with her glass. Why did he keep asking about David? "He's in advertising." She looked him straight in the eyes. "What about you?"
"I'm an architect."
"That's right. Fabrice told me something about it." She smiled. "He said you are a combination of a creativity genius and tough businessman and that you are a little eccentric sometimes."
"He should speak!" Seb laughed.
"Yes, well... He was an artist so he had the right to be eccentric." Annabelle said.
"They say his paintings will make millions."
"Yes, I heard that."
"He left me two of them. I expect them next week."
"That's nice." She looked hesitating at him. "He seemed to like you."
"He was an old family friend." Seb shrugged. "He was my fathers' best man when they got married and was a huge support for my mother when my father died."
"I didn't know you were so close." Annabelle played with her glass. "Why weren't you at the funeral?" She had been surprised he wasn't there on that dreadful day.
"I was in Paris for business. A week I later I found out he was death."
"Oh."

"What are you going to do with Fabrices' house?" Seb asked. "I know it was quite a shock to inherit it, but when you saw the state of it, it must have been an even bigger shock."
"Yes. I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't... this."
"I tried to tell him his house was in a terrible state, but I don't think he listened to me."
"He was good in it." Annabelle smiled. "If he didn't want to hear it, he just didn't listen. He had what my grandmother called 'a selective hearing'."
Seb laughed. "He sure had."
"And he was such a grumpy man sometimes." She continued. "But the crazy thing is that I will miss him like crazy. We got close during the years I was taking care of him." She looked at him. "I mean, he was like a father to me." She said quickly.
"Take it easy, Annabelle. You already explained that."
"I still don't understand that you thought Fabrice was in love with me. That is really... ridiculous."
Seb shrugged. "He always noticed beautiful women."
"He was very ill."
"No to ill to try and set us up."
"He had crazy ideas sometimes." She mumbled.
"Very strange indeed." Seb said. "I even think that's the reason he left you the house. An ultimate try to bring us together."
"No, I don't believe that." Annabelle quickly said.
Seb looked intently at her. "Why not? It makes sense. Fabrice could be very determined if he had an idea in his head."
"I still can't imagine he was that crazy." She sounded definite. She had to get that idea out of his head. Thinking about it, made her blush. "It's really ridiculous."
"I agree." Seb laughed and looked at her. "Just like the idea that you are going to live in that house. It's dilapidated and it will cost you lots of money and work before you can live there. It might be a good idea to sell it to me..."

Chapter 7: Challenges

"Hang on a minute!" Annabelle interrupted him. "I just came here and I'm planning to keep the house. I think living in the French countryside must be great and I don't mind working hard."
"I believe you, but is your French good enough to talk with constructors and construction workers?"
"I do speak some French!" she snapped. She was gonna decide on her own if she was staying or not. "And I can paint!"
To her annoyance he seemed to think that last remark was funny. "That house needs more then a bit of paint."
"I am perfectly able to handle certain things."

"And then there are the fields." Seb continued. "More then hundred olive trees and a small vineyard. It asks for a lot of experience and hard work."
"I didn't know there was a vineyard."
Seb nodded. "Fabrice didn't make wine, he sold the grapes. It was more like a hobby actually."
"I could do that." She thought out loud.
"Come on, Annabelle. Are you serious?"
She raised her eyebrows. "Why not?"
"Because, like I said, you need experience."
"I can learn it. People can learn anything."
"Maybe..." Seb slowly said. "But why would you? You're a nurse."

"A little change won't hurt." She loved working as a nurse, but lately she found it exhausting, both physically as mentally. And after the break up with David she needed a fresh start. "I'm thinking about transforming the house into a boarding house."
Seb squeezed his eyes. "How does David feel about that?"
Annabelle frowned. Why did he have to bring up David again? She started to get annoyed. "Nothing is for sure yet. I want to take a good look at it during the day." She said.
"You mean he doesn't agree." Seb said sarcastically.
"It's my decision, not David's."
"Call me old fashioned, but I always thought you take those decisions together when you are supposed to get married." When he saw her blush, he quickly added "I'm sorry. It's none of my business."
"No, it's not."

Seb rubbed the rim of his glass with his finger. "The house seems to cause trouble already and it will only get worse. It is a mess and certainly no place for a woman on her own."
"You sound pretty arrogant sometimes, you know that?"
"I'm sorry, but I'm just being honest. Let's talk business eh? I would like to have the property and the offer I did to Fabrice still stands." He said.
"Seb, I didn't even have the time to decide what I'm gonna do with the house..."
"Well, let me help you with that." He interrupted her. The amount of money he offered, made her gasp. For a moment she was too shocked to react.
"It's a royal offer, if you see what state the house is in."
"Oh, I'm sure." She mumbled.
"Bien, think about it." Suddenly he grinned. "As soon as you have seen the house in the daylight, you can decide."

In other words, he was convinced she would take his offer as soon as she saw how much work there had to be done.
She would have loved to bite his head off and tell him that she didn't needed the money and that she was determined to stay. She hated that arrogant tone that let her know that she wasnt able to do it. On the other hand she had to be realistic. Because of all the problems with David, she didn't have much savings left and she didn't even know if she had enough for the work the house needed.

"Ok." She bent her head. "I'll think about it, but you need to know that selling the house isn't possible right now."
"Why not?"
Annabelle shrugged. "Fabrice mentioned something in his will to avoid that the house would be sold immediately."
"What do you mean?" Seb asked.

She smiled. He probably thought he could solve every problem with money, but then he didn't know Fabrice well. "To be honest, I haven't read it all, but I remember something about waiting 6 months. Or me living there for 6 months. Something like that."
Sebs' fingers drummed the table. "Well, a good lawyer probably knows how we can evade that."
"Maybe." Annabelle sipped her wine. "If I decide to sell the house." She couldn't resist saying it.
"As soon as you see the house, you'll have to admit it's a great offer."

She played with her cutlery. She didn't want to think about selling the house. The thought of a new beginning in France had kept her going during the last couple of weeks. It had been the only flicker of light in that dark period. The idea of going back to England didn't attract her.

"I'm not promising anything." She said calmly. "And I don't feel like avoiding the terms in Fabrices' will. I respected him too much for that."
"You're so upright." Seb said.
She looked suspicious. "For a gold digger, you mean?"
For a minute they looked at each other without saying a word. It was his strong gaze that made her take on a defensive attitude. "Like I said, I'm not making promises. Maybe the house is the challenge I was looking for."

A smile appeared on his sensual lips. "Suddenly I can imagine why Fabrice thought we belonged together."
"Oh?" His remark took her by surprise. "Why is that?"
"Because I like a challenge myself, Annabelle."

The only sound they heard, was the thunderstorm. Suddenly Annabelle felt she needed to be alone. It had been a long day.
"I think I better go to bed." She said.
"Yes, of course." He started to clean the dishes. "Would you like some coffee first?"
"No, thank you. I am really tired." When she stood up her mobile rang. She had placed in on the table just before.
Seb took it and looked at the screen. "It's your fiancé."
"Thanks." Her heart was pounding hard when she took the phone. She turned her back and rejected the call. The last thing she needed tonight was talking to David.
"It got disconnected." She said when Seb looked questionable at her. Before she could turn her phone off, it rang again. "I'll take it next door." She said and quickly walked out. Annabelle immediately turned her phone off.

Chapter 8: Confusion

The living room was still dark. The fire was almost out. Annabelle was shaking when she sat down. The idea that she had to talk to David made her sick. She felt so much pain in her heart. She was so hurt because of everything that had happened.

It was quiet in the room. She only heard the rain against the window. In their apartment in Manchester she would have heard the noisy traffic. Was David calling form there? Was he sorry for what he did?
Although she had been furious, she felt sorry as well. It was obvious that he needed help.

"Are you alright?"
When she heard Seb's voice, she stood up. "I'm fine." Her voice was trembling. "Everything is fine."
He turned on the lights and looked intensely at her.
"The weather in Manchester was terrible." She said while she forced a smile.
"I know you didn't talk to him, Annabelle."
"Of course I have." She said quickly.
"No, you hung up." Seb threw another chopping-block of wood in the fire and poked it.

She decided not to go into it. She didn't want to talk about it and it was none of his business. "I don't know where you got that crazy idea. Thanks for diner. I'm going to bed, if you don't mind."

She had to walk past him to reach the stairs. He grabbed her left hand.
"I got that crazy idea when I saw this." His thumb softly stroked the white circle on her ring finger. "It's very clear, Annabelle." He softly said. "When we where having dinner, I immediately saw it. If you were my fiancée, I wouldn't let you go without the symbol of our love on your finger."

She stared at her finger where she wore David's ring for over 3 years. She shivered. Strangely enough not because of the memory of her break up. It was because of Seb's tender touch and the strange intimacy in his voice.

She took a step back. "How perceptive of you." Her voice still sounded uncertain. "If you immediately saw it, why did you keep asking about David?"
"Because I thought it was better for you to tell me when you felt up to it."
"Thank you, Mr. therapist. And now you are probably gonna tell me what I need right now?" she mumbled.

Seb softly pushed her chin up so she had to look him in the eyes. "You need a good friend. And because Fabrice isn't here anymore and all your family and friends stayed in England, I'm here for you if you want to talk."
"I don't need to talk." The touch of his hand against her skin, made her feel strange things. "I'm ok... Fine even."
"If you say so."
"I do."
"So Fabrice was right all long when he said David wasn't right for you." Seb's intense gaze made her knees weak.
She bent her head. "Maybe."
"You should be happy you got away from him in time."

Annabelle thought about the dreams she had for the future. The wedding... The baby she wanted... "I don't feel happy." She mumbled.
For a minute she let her mask down and Seb saw the vulnerability in her beautiful eyes.

But she quickly recovered. "Anyway, I'm going to bed. Goodnight."
"Bonne nuit, Chérie." His voice followed her upstairs. "Sweet dreams."

Chapter 9: Interfering

Although she was exhausted, Annabelle couldn't sleep. She was tossing and turning, and thought about the big changes in her life. She listened to the rain and thought about the house that was hers now. Had it been a mistake to come here?

When she finally fell asleep, she had a confused dream. She saw David, who asked her if she was really gonna live in that house. "Come back home, Annabelle." he whispered seriously. "Come home and we'll get married. This is crazy."

Suddenly she walked down the aisle, dressed in her cream coloured dress. She heard the organ play and could even smell the roses in her bouquet.
Her best friend Karina waved at her. "I knew it would work out." She whispered.

Her mother was wearing a new blue dress with matching hat. She looked all over London for it. She wiped away a single tear when Annabelle walked past her. "You look beautiful, sweetheart." She said softly. "I told you it was just nerves!"

At the aisle David was waiting for her. He looked very handsome in his dark suit, his hair shining in the sunlight. He turned around slowly and smiled at her. But it wasn't David, it was Seb!

Her heart was racing when she woke up. The sun was shining through the curtains. She didn't recognise the yellow room.
It took her a moment before she realised where she was. With a heavy sigh she leaned back into the pillows. What a crazy dream, getting married to Seb! Imagine that! If she would ever get married, it wouldn't be with a man like him.

Annabelle got out of bed and walked towards the window. The clouds were gone and she saw a beautiful blue sky. Warm air swayed over the countryside, where vineyards and green fields diverged. The view was breathtaking and she couldn't wait to get outside and look around.

After a shower, she walked downstairs but there didn't seem to be anyone. She made some coffee and starred out of the window, looking at the mountains in the distance.
What would this day bring? Maybe she could call her mother to tell her she had safely arrived. But where was her mobile? Maybe it was still in the living room.
While she was searching for it, Seb came down.

"Is this what you are looking for?" he asked and showed her the mobile.
"Yes." Annabelle looked at him while he came to her. He looked even more handsome today. He was wearing jeans, tight around the waist and hips. The blue shirt showed off his broad chest. She tried not to touch him when she took her mobile. Why was she always so careful when he was around?

"Did you sleep ok?"
She almost drowned in his eyes. "Yes, I did. Thank you." She answered, trying not to think at the ridiculous dream.
"Good." He smiled. "Well, let's have breakfast and afterwards we'll go see how your car is. By the way, you missed 2 phone calls this morning."
"I did?" Annabelle looked at her mobile, but there was no indication of the missed calls.
"Oui. One of your mother. She's really sweet. We had a long talk."
"Wait a minute!" She followed him to the kitchen. "Do you mean that you answered my phone?"
"Eh... oui. It was right next to me."
"You have no right to answer my calls!" she replied angrily. "Whoever it was, could have left a message!"
"They did... To me." Seb didn't seem to notice her anger. He took a few croissants from a bag. "Voilà. I think you English like bacon and eggs..."
"I don't want breakfast."
"Annabelle, I promised your mother I would keep an eye on you. That means you have to eat well." He said calmly.
"How dare you speak to my mother..."
Seb shook his head. "She is very concerned about you, you know? She thinks you're far too skinny right now." He looked at her. "And to be honest, I think she is right."
Annabelle felt her cheeks glow as if she was about to explode. "That is my mobile and you have to keep your hands of it."
"Ok. Shall I bake some eggs and bacon or do you only want croissants?"
"I don't want anything."
"At least have a croissant. I've got chocolate ones and you can have as much butter on them as you like." He pulled a chair out. "Sit down first. Mon Dieu, I answered your phone... Is that such a drama?"

Annabelle sat down. "Who else called?"
"Someone named... Karina. Yes, that's it. Karina."
Annabelle relaxed a little. Thank God, it hadn't been David! That would have been an impossible situation.
"Karina is worried about you as well. She sounded very nice."
She nodded. "She's my best friend."
Seb put a plate with croissants and a cup of coffee in front of her.
"And what was the message?" she snapped.
"They both want you to call them back."

Annabelle nodded. It could have been worse. Her mother who didn't exactly know why she and David had broken up, could have asked Seb about the details. That would have been horrible. She knew Karina was too discrete for it.
"Ok, thanks." She mumbled and sipped her coffee. "But don't answer any of my calls anymore, will you?"
Seb sat down in front of her. "Someone might think you work for the Secret Services."
"I just like my privacy, that's all."
He nodded. "Oh and your mother wants to come and visit soon." He said.
Startled she almost dropped her coffee. "Now you're kidding, right?"
He shook his head. "Unfortunately I had to tell her about the state the house is in. She was very concerned."
"Excuse me?" She put her coffee down with a bang. "Tell me you didn't."
"Yes, I did. It is your mother, Annabelle. She asked for details, so I had to be honest."
Her eyes could have killed him. "You did it on purpose."
"I don't know what you mean." Seb shrugged but by the look in his eyes she knew that he was well aware of what he had done.
"You know perfectly well what I mean. You told my mother how bad the house looks, hoping that she would convince me to sell it to you. That was really low, Seb."
"Nonsense." He shook his head. "But yes, I hope she makes you see what you're starting with."
"How much do you want it, anyway?" she suddenly asked.
"I'm not gonna raise my bid." He said sharply.
Annabelle pushed her plate away and stood up. "Let's go. The sooner you take me to the house, the sooner I can decide what to do with it."
Seb didn't move. "You haven't finished your breakfast. You'll mother won't be happy."
"She's not here, is she?" she stated.
"No, not yet." He grinned.

Chapter 10: A well prepared man

They drove to the house. The soft wind was hot and smelled like eucalyptus trees, which stood along the road. The sky was blue and there were wild flowers everywhere. Even the front of the house looked different. Yesterday it looked sat and deteriorated, but now it looked quite charming. The terracotta roof sparkled in the sunlight and the paint was peeling off the walls, which were covered with ivy and honeysuckle.

"It is gonna cost a lot of time and money, don't you think?" Seb asked when he got out of the car.
"I was just thinking that it didn't look as bad as I thought." Annabelle looked at the frontage. "I must say, it's a nice surprise. I really like it."
Seb shook his head. "It's up to you to decide, but I can already tell you it needs a new roof and it's probably full of termites."
"Yes, I know you want me out of here." She smiled.
"I didn't mean that." Seb smiled back at her. "I just want to help."

The way he looked at her made her knees weak. She looked quickly to the other side. "Yes, I bet."
Her car was still in the same place. The mud on her tires was dry by now. "Any ideas how we can get my car out of the mud?" she asked. While she said it, she saw he already took a shovel out of his trunk. "You're well prepared."

"Being well prepared is half the work. That's my device." He said. "You better keep that in mind if you want to stay here."
Annabelle watched him when he was digging out her car. His sleeves were rolled up and she saw his muscles when he was working. His physical appearance awoke strong feelings deep inside of her, although she tried to suppress them. It had always been like that. From the moment she opened Fabrice's door for him, she had been well aware of his attraction.

He turned around. "Can you start the car and try to drive away?"
"Yeah, sure." Irritated by the thoughts that crossed her mind, she took her keys and opened the car door.
Ok, he was good looking, but he was dangerous as well and that's something she wasn't interested in. The next man she would get involved with, must be faithful and predictable, a real family man. She wasn't waiting for adventures.
She got into the hot car, turned the key and pushed the gas pedal. The car smoothly got back on the road. She felt so relieved.

"Thank you so much." Annabelle said when she got out of the car. "That was very kind of you. I owe you a lot by now." She said without thinking.
"You're right." He teased. "Have you got plans for Monday evening?"
She felt butterflies in her stomach. "Monday?" she asked, completely surprised by his question.
"The day after tomorrow." He said. He leaned against her car and looked intently at her.
She wiped of her sweaty hands at her jeans. Her mouth suddenly felt dry. "Well, if you are asking me for a date, Seb... I'm not really up to it yet." Her heart was racing. She felt like a teenager who had been asked out for the first time.
"Take it easy." His voice sounded cool comparing to hers. "I'm not asking you out."
"Oh." She felt her cheeks burn. "What did you want to ask then?"
Seb smirked. "I'm giving a dinner party for some business relatives and I could use your help."
"You want me to cook for you?" Her shame was replaced by resentment. How dared he?
"No, you don't need to cook. I'm hiring a caterer. I just wanted to ask if you want to play hostess so that everything runs smooth."
"Oh." She said confused. "I don't know. Isn't that something a girlfriend should do?"
"Don't worry about getting in someone's way." He smiled. "I don't have a girlfriend right now, so you would do me a huge favour."
"I..." She didn't know what to say.
"Thanks, Annabelle." He said determined. "You know what? I'll come by this afternoon to see how you are doing and then we can make plans for Monday."

Before she had the chance to react, he walked to his car, put the shovel in the trunk and drove away while waving.
Annabelle stayed behind, confused by the quickness he got her into it. "The brutality." She mumbled while she searched for the key of the front door.

Chapter 11: Cleaning

The door opened cracking when she pushed it. The outside of the house got a certain charm because of the Mediterranean sun, something you couldn't say about the inside. It was just as dark and spooky as the night before. Floor tiles lay crooked and it looked as if a couple of steps were rotten. Maybe Seb was right about the termits, she thought while she walked to the living room.

She opened the windows and the sun streamed in. For a moment she saw dust particles whirling but then she took a bit better look at the room. It was a large room with a huge open fire. She uncovered the furniture. The blue couch looked soft and comfortable. On the ground was a large crème coloured carpet that looked like it had had his best time. But she knew this room had opportunities.

Annabelle walked to the kitchen. It had dark wooden cabinets and looked a bit out-of-date. The stove seemed to be ok and in the corner was a large old-fashioned woodstove. On the left was the dining room but in stead of going there, she opened the back door which led outside.

She stood on the sunny courtyard and saw a path leading towards the olives- and nut trees. The path was curvy and suddenly she stood in the middle of the vineyard. A wooden swing hung at an old nut tree. Annabelle sat on it and took a good look at the house.

She saw that there were a few red roof tiles missing and in one of the chimneys seemed to grow a bush. It looked like renovating the house was gonna cost a lot of money. She didn't have that much savings but the wave of happiness that she felt couldn't be stopped. The house had opportunities and she loved it. She was already in love with the red roof, the old shutters, the blue Iris flowers along the path, the blossom in de nut trees... She wanted to keep this house even if it would cost al her energy and her last savings.


When Seb returned, it was late afternoon. The front door was open so he walked in and called her name. The strong smell of bleach welcomed him. The furniture in the living room had disappeared, the windows were open and the floor had been scrubbed.
"Annabelle." He yelled, but there was still no answer. Dizzy from the smell he walked over the cleaned floor to the kitchen where he found her on her knees. Dressed in shorts and a blue t-shirt she was cleaning the floor with an old wooden broom while she was singing out loud.
When she turned around to put the broom in a bucket of water he saw the headphone and realized she was listening to an I-pod. Seb smiled at the way she was working. Her energy fascinated him, just like her nice butt that stood out in the tight shorts.
She was still singing when she leaned back to admire her work. When she put her arms in the air, Seb saw her flat belly. His feelings confused him.
"Annabelle." He took a step forward so she would see him.

"Jeez! You scared the hell out of me!" She blushed when she took the headphone off and brushed the hair out of her face. She turned off her I-pod and looked at him. "How long are you standing here?"
"Just a couple of minutes. I called your name but you were busy singing." He loved to make her blush. "That you don't enroll in a talent show with such a voice. It's unbelievable!"
"Oh, very funny!"
He smiled when he saw the soft blush on her cheeks. Would she look like that if he kissed her? Or after they made love?

"You've been to the village?" he asked and pointed to a bag with groceries.
"No, I didn't get that far. I got them from a small store a few kilometres down the road." She stood up to get rid off the dirty water. "I was surprised they had so many things."
"You mean Madeline's store." He nodded. "Oui, it comes in handy."
"She's very nice and speaks English. She told me her cousin is a construction worker. She'll send him over so that he can make an estimation for the work that I want to do."
Seb frowned. "So, you are staying?"
"Yes." She answered him with her back facing him, while she washed her hands. When he didn't react, she turned around. "Look, I know you think I'm crazy and that you want these grounds. But I'm gonna give this a try." She said honestly. "I'm really sorry that I have to decline your... royal offer."
"I think you are making a mistake." He frowned.

His words annoyed her. It was crystal clear he wanted to get rid of her. "I guess I'll have to experience that myself, don't I?' she said abruptly.
"Of course." He bent his head. "But wait until you have an estimation of the costs before you decline my offer for good."
Annabelle shook her head. "I want this house. I'm sorry Seb, I made a decision..."
"And I would like to advice you to get some more quotations." He cut in. "Madelines' cousin, Arnaud, is a nice guy but inexperienced."
"Yes, yes. I know how it works. You ask a few quotations and choose the best one."
He nodded. "And don't forget the best one isn't always the cheapest."
She looked angrily at him. "You think you are dealing with a helpless little woman, don't you?"
"Non." He said, smiling when he saw the look in her angry eyes. "I just want to give you advice."
"No, you don't. You're just a calculated guy. You think: she's not gonna make it here... in 2 months she'll give up and I will lower my offer which she'll accept desperately."
"That might be right. You don't know what you are getting into, Annabelle."
"Yes, well... I'm gonna go for it, a hundred percent." She said determined. "So, maybe we can drink a cup of coffee now and talk about Monday?"

Seb shrugged. "Sure. We'll talk about it as soon as you've got the quotations."
She ignored his last remark. She didn't want to go into it once again. She wanted this to work out. "Ok, what time do you want me to come over on Monday?" she asked while she put a pan with water on the stove.

"Around half past six. But don't worry, I'll pick you up. Where are you staying? I know a hotel that is..."
"A hotel?" Annabelle looked surprised. "Why would I go to a hotel? I'm staying here."
"You are not telling me that you are sleeping here?" He sounded shocked.
"Of course I am. This is my house." She looked at him. "I hope milk powder is ok? I don't have a fridge yet, so I didn't buy fresh milk."
"I drink my coffee black. Look Annabelle, you really can't stay here." He looked intently at her.
"Why not?"
"There is no electricity."
"Oh, I already solved that." She took some candles out of her bag. "And I heard it will take a few weeks before I get electricity, so this seemed convenient."
He shook his head. "I don't know how you can even consider sleeping here, before you have a new staircase and a new roof."
"I'm gonna sleep in the living room." She took a few cups from a box. "I'm afraid I only have instant coffee. It will be a while before everything is in place."
"Really?" he said dryly. "You know, you can stay with me. At least till you've got electricity."
"That's very kind, Seb, but I'll manage."
"I don't believe you." He softly stroked her cheek. "Come and live with me for a few days, Annabelle. I don't like the idea of you being here on your own."

His kind words, the touch of his hand and the idea to be in his company much longer, made her happy and scared at the same time.
The water in the pan was boiling. Just like her body heat when he was around. "That's very kind of you, Seb, but the house isn't as bad as you think."

He didn't answer, so she turned around and started to pour the coffee in the cups. "I discovered you can pull out the couch to a bed. So I can sleep on it."
She saw the disbelief on his face when she gave him his coffee. "This house is uninhabitable." He said bluntly.
"No, it isn't. And I have a beautiful stove here. You can burn anything in it and at the back I found a pile of wood, enough for years."
He still didn't seem convinced, so she put down her cup. "Downstairs is ok, Seb. There is even a bathroom. Come on, I'll show you what I did to the dining room."

Chapter 12: What is Seb up to?

Seb followed her to the dining room. It was a nice room with windows on the south. You could see the olive trees and the dark mountains in the distance. This room was cleaned as well. There was a white tablecloth on the wooden table with a white vase with blue Iris flowers on top of it. On the bed couch lay white sheets, a colourful blanket and soft pillows.

He must admit that she made the room cosy with just a few changes. And that in a short amount of time. Maybe he had underestimated her and she did have more hidden talents then he thought.

"You see, I can manage perfectly well here." Annabelle defended herself. When she saw him looking at the cracks in the ceiling, she quickly added "Of course there are a few things that need to be fixed, but it will happen."

Seb leaned against a cabinet. "I must admit you brightened up the room nicely."
"I feel a 'but' coming." She said suspiciously.
"Really?" He smiled at her. "Well, that could be right, but I won't say it... For now anyway. You are a stubborn woman, Annabelle."

She shrugged. Sometimes he looked at her in such a way that it made her light-headed. She loved it when he said her name. When he pronounced it, it was like a caress.
Annabelle tried to get rid of those thoughts. Her name just sounded funny because he had that cute accent. And the teasing sensual way he looked at her, he probably used on all women.

"All I want to say is that you can call me if something is wrong." He took a pen out of his pocket. "Have you got a piece of paper? I'll write down the number of my mobile."
"There is no need." She said determined. "There are no problems. I've got everything under control."

"Ah oui, I bet you do." He grinned. "But you never know. Maybe you want to call me sometime." He took her arm. "Forget about the piece of paper." In blue ink he wrote down his number on her arm.
The touch of his hand and the movement of his pen on her skin confused her. His naughty smile confused her even more.

"Thank you." Her heart was racing when she took a step back. "But like I said, I've got everything under control, so dont expect any calls from me."
"Maybe you will change your mind when you listened all night to quacking frogs or cracking ceilings. Or if you have enough of waiting for construction workers to turn up."

"Dream on." She said coldly. "I'm not gonna get scared because of a few quacking frogs. I'll be fine. By the end of the year I'll have this place turned into a bed and breakfast. The five bedrooms on the first floor are perfect for it."
"Quite ambitious."
"Maybe, but I usually finish what I've started." She said proudly.
"That's something else we have in common then." Seb smiled. "You are very courageous, Annabelle. I must admit."

That sexy tone again... The man should wear a billboard around his neck with 'Be careful! This man is a danger for your heartbeat!'
"Ok, I'll see you on Monday." She said quickly. "Oh, you don't have to pick me up. I can find it myself." It was important for her to show him she was completely independent.
To her surprise, he didnt protest. "Ca va." He turned around when he got to the door. "Don't forget to call me when you need anything."
She looked at him while he got in his car and drove off. Afterwards it was silent and dusk set in.

Annabelle went back in the house to wash of his number, but she wrote it down first. She didn't know why because she would never call him. Never, she said to herself. She walked to the phone and called her mother.


When Seb got home, he immediately called his business partner in Paris. "We have a bigger problem with number 26 then I expected. ... Yes, Fabrices' grounds. ... A very determined woman moved in and the whole deal could go wrong because of her."

His fingers drummed the table. When his partner answered, he grinned. "Oui, she is. ... Non, I will handle it myself. I'm sure it's just a spur of the moment. Try to get a copy of Fabrices will if you can."

Chapter 13: Memories

Annabelle had never lived on her own. When she was 18, she got a job in a hospital in London and immediately got a room in a small house. She shared the house with 2 other girls and they had the time of their lives. When they weren't studying or working, they were partying. There hadnt been a dull or quiet moment.

That's when she met Julian Blake, a doctors' apprentice. Very charming and sexy. Annabelle immediately had a crush on him. He had been her boyfriend for more then a year and she thought he was her true love... But she hadn't been the only one the slick doctor had whispered sweet words to.

Julian was the reason she moved to Manchester. She moved in with her best friend Karina, who was a nurse as well. Slowly she recovered from her broken heart. It had been great to live with Karina. She hadn't felt lonely for a single moment. They made a lot of new friends and they both fell in love. Karina with Carlos and Annabelle with David.

Karina and Carlos were so certain about each other that they decided to get married after a year. During Karina's wedding preparations, David had asked Annabelle to move in with him. She didn't agree at once, because she wasn't sure if she wanted to. David tried to persuade her with beautiful flowers and expensive gifts. Every time he told her how much he loved her, how much he needed her and how he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

That last remark did it for her. When Annabelle was 12, her parents divorced and it caused her a lot of pain. Every since, dedication and fidelity were very important to her. When she moved in with David, she honestly thought it would be forever.

A few months later they got engaged and decided to get married in the spring, but the final date was set two years later.
Fabrice had said a few times that David wasn't the right one for her, because she wouldn't have postponed the wedding date every time.
Back then she laughed at that remark, but now she wondered if he hadn't been right after all. Maybe she knew all along that David wasn't her true love. She probably wasn't over Julian yet.

She lay on the couch, in the darkness and silence of the French night and thought about the past. Maybe it was her fate to fall for the wrong guys. But she had honestly thought David was stable and reliable.

When she found out he had gambling debts, her trust in him had disappeared. If he lied about that, what else would he have lied about? The worst part was that he denied he had a gambling problem. Suddenly their life seemed to be a charade and she didn't even want to think about marrying him. After weeks of thinking she called her friends and family and told them the wedding was off. It had been the most difficult decision she ever made.


When the sun rose, Annabelle got up. Working hard would make her forget her problems. And there was enough to do. She worked all Sunday and on Monday Arnaud arrived.
He was a good looking guy in his late twenties with messy hair and serious eyes. He walked through the house, scratched his head and looked worried. Annabelle felt like she was at the doctors' office, waiting for an important test.

"So, what do you think, Arnaud?" she asked when she couldn't stand it any longer.
"I think..." he said with a French accent "that there is a lot that needs to be done. First of all you need new wiring... then isolation... a new staircase... new roof..."
"How much will that cost? I want new bathrooms as well."
Arnaud scratched his head again. "My brother Thierry can fix the roof. The rest I can do. It will take a couple of months. If you want to, you can pay me by week and pay for the material separately."
"That sounds good. So, how much do you think it will be?"
"I don't know exactly, but approximately..." He thought for a minute and named a price that covered her budget. She was relieved, but not for long, because Arnaud spoke again.

"Unfortunately that's not all." He slowly said. "You're not connected to the water supply, so that should be arranged as well."
"How is that possible? I have water." Annabelle frowned.
"Yes, but that's from a small local water spring. You don't know how long you can use it. A month, maybe six, maybe six years..." Arnaud shrugged. "The connection to the spring is... how you say it... unreliable. You need to get connected to the head supply."
"And that's going to cost how much?"
"It's quite a job and I can't do it myself." Arnaud said. "The whole estate needs new pipes. My cousin had the same problem last year."
"And what did he have to pay to get it done?"
Arnaud shrugged and named a price that was way over her budget.

When dusk set in and Annabelle was getting ready for her evening with Seb, she still thought about the price Arnaud said. When she would be without water, she would be defeated before she even started. But if she could arrange to get connected to the central water supply, she wouldn't have any money left to fix the house. It was a dilemma to make you depressed.

While she washed her hair with cold water, she tried to convince herself everything would work out. Maybe she could get water from the local spring for the next sixteen years. Arnaud admitted that he wasn't an expert in that area. She might as well think positive.

She put on a little black dress and looked in the mirror. The last time she wore this, was at a party in David's' office. It had been tight on her hips back then; now it hung loose. But in the candlelight she looked ok. Her hair seemed to sparkle and her skin had gotten a tan because of the sun.

Could she pass the test under the bright lights in Seb's house? She felt butterflies in her stomach. Irritated by her own thoughts, she took her purse and walked downstairs. What did it matter how she looked like? It wasn't a date!

Chapter 14: Interference

When she blew out the candles in the living room, she heard a car outside. She carefully peered through the curtains. She liked the silence during the day, but at night it was a bit scary sometimes. A tall man walked to the front door. Suddenly she saw it was Seb. He was wearing a dark suit and his brown hair shimmered in the silver moonlight. She was relieved it wasn't a burglar, so she swung the door open before he had the chance to knock.

"Hi." She said as casual as possible. Now that she knew it wasn't a psychopath with an axe, her heart shouldn't be beating so fast, but it was racing even harder. "I thought we agreed you didn't have to pick me up."

"I know." He smiled. "But I drove by and I thought I might as well give you a ride."
"Thank you. And you're just in time because I was blowing out the candles. Just a minute, I'll get my purse."

He walked in and his eyes followed her when she walked to the chair where her purse was. "You look beautiful, Annabelle." He said softly.
"Thank you." Her heart skipped a beat. It was ridiculous to be so nervous. He was just polite. The reason she looked for something behind those words was because of his sexy voice.

"So, how is the house?" he asked.
"Everything is fine." She tried to sound positive because she didn't want to admit she already had problems. "Arnaud starts tomorrow."
"I thought you were going to ask for several quotations before you decided?"
"Yes, but I like Arnaud and he can start immediately, which is great. The sooner he starts, the sooner I can earn money."
"Sounds wise."
"That's what I thought." She felt she could trust Arnaud and that everything would turn out just fine. "So, how are your dinner preparations?" she asked to change the subject.
Seb smiled. "Everything is under control."

'It looks like he always has everything under control', Annabelle thought. He held her arm when they walked outside and she smelled his cologne: a fresh smell that made him even more attractive. She was well aware of the touch of his fingers on her bare skin. It made her light-headed.
"I guess the caterer you hired, is already there?" she asked when they sat in the car.
Seb started the engine. "Yes. It smelled delicious when I left. So don't worry, we don't need to rely on your cooking."
"Thank god." She said relieved. "Last night I dreamt I burnt the food for your party. All your guests shook their head and said they didn't expect anything else from an English woman."
"Strange that you dreamt that." Seb said. "I told you I was hiring caterers?"
"I know." Annabelle looked outside. She didn't tell him that she also dreamt that Fabrice came in and asked why they didn't set a wedding date yet. "The last days I always have weird dreams." She mumbled.

"I bet those nightmares are about the house?" he teased.
She frowned. "The house will turn out just fine, Seb. It's a place with a lot of opportunities."
"Yes and a lot more disasters." He said. "Did Arnaud tell you about the water supply?"
"You knew about that?"
"Of course. I suggested Fabrice so many times that he should solve it."
"Well, it has been working for years like this. So I don't see why it should be fixed right away."
Seb laughed. "You've got to be kidding. If you ask me that is the first thing you should deal with."
"Thank you, but right now I trust Arnauds advice more."
"Arnaud can't fix the problem. You need other people for it. And you better double the prize Arnaud gave you."
"Double it?" she asked surprised. "That's absurd! Sorry, Seb, but I don't think you know what you are talking about."
"I know the house is a bottomless well."
"Maybe, but I calculated my budget." She said. His arrogant attitude was getting on her nerves.

Seb smiled. "Tell me, how much did you set aside for the renovation?"
"That's none of you business."
"Ok, let me guess." He pretended to be thinking and named the exact amount she discussed with Arnaud.
She turned towards him. "What? How did you know...?"
He smiled. "I was in Madeline's store. Arnaud is her cousin."
"Yes, I know that, but that didn't give her the right to talk to you about my money." She said angrily.

Seb parked his car in the front of his estate and looked seriously at her. "She's just concerned, Annabelle. You know, years ago Fabrice asked for a quotation to fix everything and it was twice the prize that you agreed on with Arnaud."
"Well, maybe I'm a bit more inventive then Fabrice." She said. "I'm not worrying about the water, because after the rain from the last few days, the water level must be pretty high."
"It's only spring, Annabelle." Seb calmly said.
"Seb, please. I don't want to talk about it anymore." She said and got out of the car.
He followed her, shaking his head. He had to admit that he admired her determination. Too bad she wasn't going to succeed.