Want a preview of French Kissing: Episode One? You can read the first 4000 words here (PDF) and over the next five days I’ll also be posting them on my blog. This way, you can decide for yourself if 25.000 words of this is worth $0.99. đ
French Kissing: Episode One
Preview
Copyright © Harper Bliss 2014
JULIETTE
âWe havenât had sex in months.â Juliette gazed out of Claireâs corner office window, hesitant to look her oldest friend and business partner in the eye. She could see Claire shuffle around nervously in her seat in the reflection of the window. âNadia, sheâs just⊠hardly there anymore. And Iâm not saying itâs her fault, but since she got promotedââ
âItâs her time, Jules,â Claire interrupted. âYou had yours. Now itâs her turn.â
This remark made Juliette spin around instantly. âI had mine?â She opened her palms to the sky and made a sweeping gesture. âPast tense? Then whatâs all this?â
âThis is what we built. Through years of hard work and spousal neglect. Iâm the best example of that.â
âYouâre just single because youâre so bloody difficult and no oneâs ever good enough.â Juliette scanned Claireâs flawless face. A few laughter lines bracketed her eyes and she dyed her hair now, but she still looked a decade below her physical age.
Claire pushed herself out of her chair and walked towards Juliette. âNo need to take it out on me, dear. I may be single but Iâm getting plenty.â
Frustration flared beneath Julietteâs skin. âAs long as you stay away from the internsââ
A loud knock on the door stopped Juliette mid-insult. Steph, dressed in tight jeans and equally tight blazer, appeared in the doorway and Juliette and Claire both burst out laughing.
âWhat?â The puzzled look on Stephâs face made it difficult to stop the giggles, but this was their place of business and, in the end, everything always stopped for business.
âWe were just talking about you. Thatâs all,â Claire said.
âGlad to be the source of such gaiety.â Steph always kept her cool, no matter the circumstances. It was one of the main reasons they had decided to hire her straight out of school ten years ago, despite her indiscretion with one of the bosses. âDominique Laroche wants to meet first thing on Monday.â
âSheâs keen,â Juliette said. âWe want you in that meeting, Steph. Try to wear something⊠politically correct.â
âSure. I just bought a really cool red tank topââ
âDonât you fucking dare. Sheâs MRLâs rising star and we want to make an impression.â Juliette stared into Stephâs grinning face, realising too late her friend and employee was winding her up. âJust be on time tonight.â
âIs there a dress code?â Steph asked.
âJust your usual ĂŒber-lesbian attire will do.â
âIf everybody looked the sameâŠâ Steph hummed before turning on her heels and exiting Claireâs office.
Juliette checked her watch. âIâd better get going.â She couldnât stifle a sigh. âOh, and just a heads-up, even though I wasnât supposed to tell you to avoid awkwardness⊠Nadia has invited some doctor from the hospital she wants you to meet.â
Juliette watched Claire roll her eyes. âI thought we had agreed on no more set-ups?â
âWe had, but Nadia only seems to follow her own rules these days.â
âHey, cut her some slack, okay? Sheâs put up with your workaholic habits for years. Youâll find a way to make it work again.â
âWe have talked about, um, means to spice things upâŠâ A blush bloomed on Julietteâs cheeks. She headed towards the visitor chair opposite Claireâs desk, against which Claire was still leaning, and sat down. âBut this does not leave this room, yeah?â
âOf course not.â Claireâs eyebrows were already arched up expectantly.
âWe were a bit tipsy at the time, mind you, otherwise, I mean, we would neverâŠâ Juliette knew she was rambling. She took a deep breath and continued. âWe were thinking about going to Les PĂȘches one of these weekends with the sole purpose of picking someone up for a threesome.â
Claireâs face broke out in a grin. âYou? Miss Control Freak? Inviting a stranger into your bed?â
âBetter a stranger than someone I know.â
âIâm not so sure, Jules.â
Juliette ignored the smirk tugging at Claireâs lips. âWhat? Are you volunteering?â
âBeen there, done that.â Claireâs face was now completely split by a smile baring her impeccable white teeth.
âIâm serious.â Juliette wanted nothing more than to have a giggle at it all. âMy relationship is falling apart and I donât know what to do about it.â
Claire scooted closer and put a hand on her knee. âItâs not falling apart. Youâre just going through a rough patch, adjusting to changes in your life. Youâll be fine. Youâre Juliette and Nadia for heavenâs sake.â
âWhat if weâre not, though? What if weâre not fine?â
Claire gave her knee a squeeze. âDonât even think about it.â She looked at her watch. âDonât you have a dinner party to prepare for?â
âYes, heaven forbid I screw that up as well.â
âDo you need help?â
Juliette shot Claire a disdainful glare. âYouâd only end up setting my kitchen on fire.â
âFair enough.â Claire pulled Juliette out of her chair and pecked her on the cheek before spinning her around and gently coaxing her towards the door. âIâll see you at eight.â
Juliette made a brief stop in her office next door, powered off her computer and headed home. The Barbier & Cyr office was located on a side street of the Champs-ĂlysĂ©es and it was a fifteen-minute downhill walk to her and Nadiaâs flat. Juliette pushed any negative thoughts about her relationship to the back of her mind and focused on the dish she would prepare tonight. Coq au vin with gratin dauphinois. Not that she was overcompensating.
(TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW…)
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