Driven by Jayne Rylon Page A

her company as they disembarked. What kind of fool did it make her that she still hoped Sebastian would show at the last moment? He’d checked every box on her wish list and then some in their oh-so-brief Cougar affair. She hoped they could part on favorable terms to keep the memories bright, untarnished.
    Mark turned to her as they neared the exit to the cab lanes. People streamed by in all directions across Paris’ congested airport. She planned to take the metro to her favorite hotel in the Etoile district, so she slowed to say goodbye when he peeled off.
    “Are you going to recommend private jets in your guides?”
    “Best in-flight service, hands down.”
    Mark threw back his head as he laughed. “Thank you, cara . For me too.”
    Lynn attempted a smile then angled her head so he wouldn’t notice her sniffle.
    “Ah, damn .” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I have no idea what il bastardo is thinking this morning…”
    “Don’t make excuses. He doesn’t owe me anything.” She accepted Mark’s comforting hug. A few more seconds then she’d buck up and start off on her own.
    “He’s never pulled something like this before. You really got to him. Still, this is no way to treat a lady. I swear I’ll kick his ass for you, okay?”
    “How about a knee to the balls?”
    “Deal.” He kissed her cheek. “I don’t suppose there’s any chance you’d call me if I gave you my number, is there?”
    Why couldn’t exhilaration make her heart dance at the idea of a relationship with Mark the way it had for Sebastian? Sure, they’d had steaming-hot sex, but she’d conned herself into believing there’d been a spark, something greater than the physical, between her and the young driver.
    “Oh affunculo no.” Sebastian stepped between her and Mark, knocking the card from the navigator’s fingers in the process.
    “Look who decided to show up,” Mark snarled, prepared to battle for her, but Sebastian ignored him.
    “Shit. I’m sorry, tesoro .” The endearment caused her to cringe. How could he mean it now? Had the whole thing been an act? “I was on the phone. Didn’t realize they’d opened the doors. Thank God I caught you. We need to talk.”
    Lynn would rather wait in the absurd line outside the Louvre with all the suckers who didn’t purchase advance tickets online on a Wednesday morning in July than listen to what Bastian had to say at that moment. Why couldn’t he let her go with her dignity intact?
    She’d already planned to stop by her favorite patisserie for a decadent fruit tart then wallow in her hotel for a few hours before burying the disappointment and savoring the wicked aches he’d inspired. But he refused to let her brush him off.
    “Grab a taxi, Mark? I’ll be out in a minute.”
    The other man looked to her for confirmation before nodding. “Safe travels, cara .”
    He left with a wave.
    Sebastian meshed their fingers together as though nothing odd had happened. “I have to head out. We’re taking the TGV to Toulouse. But I have a surprise for you.”
    “You do?” Why? She racked her brain for some parting gift to give him in return. Like maybe her middle finger jammed into his gut.
    “Yeah. I called my mom this morning and arranged for you to stay with her when you get to Erchie. It took some juggling to shift your reservation from Caprietto’s but we worked it out. I can’t wait for her to meet you. Then I figured you could swing by the circuit when we pass through Rome. I didn’t plan for it to take so long but it’s a bitch scheduling stuff this time of year. Tourists everywhere. But…all the tickets are here.” He shoved an envelope at her. “You can write a whole book about Rome, right?”
    She stared at him for a solid five seconds, trying to convince herself he was joking.
    “You did what ?” She scrubbed her hand over her cheeks. This couldn’t be happening. “You didn’t even stay this morning and now you’re telling me you intended for