Read Online NorthernPassion by Cynnamon Foster - Free Book Online Page A

the force of a farm
tractor.
    The front room of the house was supposed to be a formal
area, but they had converted the whole thing into a giant sitting room. So very
American in the midst of a more traditionally formal place. France had its customs
and everything about this gathering appeared to be going against the grain.
Desiree’s skin prickled. They had to practically push their way through the
crowd as people clumped together in groups of four. Desiree couldn’t shake the sense
that all eyes were on them, the feeling akin to being on stage, only the people
in the audience had mastered looking without looking. She shivered. It was odd
to her, as if something was off. Since coming to France, she had gotten so used
to the French stare. It was just what they did. And unlike back home, staring
at someone wasn’t considered rude, it sort of meant that people liked the look
of you. Staring was a very French thing to do but when French people stared,
you knew. There were no eyes darting away in apology once they were caught in
the act. French stares were full-on ogles and what was happening here was
anything but that.
    Just as they reached the end of the room, someone grabbed
Desiree’s arm. She stopped in her tracks, but Sam continued without her.
Desiree looked around frantically as the crowd closed around him and he and
Geneva disappeared. She bristled. It all felt so intentional. Geneva had
purposely planned to get her and Sam separated and everyone in the room was in
cahoots with her.
    “Hey, now.” A very blond, very tall, thin man held on to her
wrist. “We haven’t met you. You must be the new neighbors. Welcome.” He gave
her a glassy-eyed smile, not bothering to conceal his curiosity as he raked her
body with his eyes.
    It took Desiree a second to focus herself. She fought back
the confusion that threatened to take over. “My husband…” She looked in the
direction where Sam and Geneva had disappeared and back to the couple who were
blocking her way. Anger mounted inside her. Desiree closed her eyes and then opened
them again, taking a deep breath to try to quell the unwelcome feeling. Just
what was she angry at? That they’d been separated? Or that Sam was off
somewhere with an obviously inebriated and hopelessly handsy Geneva?
    “Will be fine. GG will bring him right back.” A younger-looking
woman slipped underneath the man’s arm. Her impossibly low cleavage was so
revealing, it looked as if she might jump out of her shirt at any minute.
Desiree’s eyes were riveted to her overflowing blouse, even though she knew what
she was doing was rude. She just couldn’t bring herself to tear her eyes away.
    “I’m sorry,” she stammered.
    The woman laughed. “I’m so used to it. We live across the
street.” She laughed again. “And my girls live there too.”
    “Your girls?” Desiree’s brows furrowed. She was finally able
to make eye contact with the woman. She was less inebriated than her partner
seemed to be, but the smell of alcohol still lingered around her. “My breasts.”
She laughed, touching her breasts gently. “You have to have a sense of humor
around here. That’s what I call my breasts. Wanna touch?”
    There was no time to protest. Before she knew what was
happening, Desiree’s new friend had grabbed her wrist and snatched her hand,
placing it so it was dead center on her left breast. Desiree’s mouth dropped
open, but she couldn’t bring herself to move away.
    The woman kept talking normally while her companionlooked bored. “I just had them done. Hubby thinks they’re hard,
but I don’t. I love my new boobs. They’re supposed to soften up, but they need
to be massaged daily. What do you think? Go ahead. Squeeze.”
    All Desiree could do was nod. Being invited to sample
another woman’s parts was a new one for her. “They feel…nice. Very real.”
    Finally the husband spoke up. “They’d better get more than
nice for what they cost. Plastic surgery is like highway