Read Online There's Something About St. Tropez by Elizabeth Adler - Free Book Online Page A

a flowery courtyard with a fountain and more tables set with coral-pink cloths. And everywhere were great bowls of old-fashioned carnations, the deeply scented kind, picked fresh from the flower fields above Grasse and rarely seen anywhere else in the world.
    It was the perfect small, unpretentious family hotel.
    â€œOmygod,”
Belinda said, stunned. “All my life and all that money, and I’ve never seen a room as inviting as this.”
    Sara was nervous. “I know I can’t afford it,” she whispered, and Belinda snorted impatiently and told her to wait and see what it cost before she complained.
    â€œGee, this is great,” Billy said appreciatively. “Beats the hell out of Chez La Violette.”
    Little Laureen, still clutching her daddy’s hand, took a quick look around. Her face wore its usual impassive expression, as though she were determined not to allow anything to affect her emotionally.
    The young woman behind the gigantic bowl of flowers at the reception desk wore a pink carnation in her tight blond chignon. She was pretty, with a charming smile that matched her attitude. The badge pinned to her crisp white shirt said her name was Caroline Cavalaire.
    â€œBonjour, messieurs, mesdames.”
Her voice had that sweet high French singsong that sounded so much prettier that just plain “Good morning, sir, madam.” Sunny decided immediately she needed to learn it.
    â€œBonjour, mademoiselle, est-ce que vous avez des chambres à louer?
Mac said.
“J’espère l’hôtel n’est pas complet par-ce-que nous n’avons pas de choix. La maison que nous louons n’est pas propre à habiter et nous sommes loins de la maison.”
    Caroline Cavalaire looked surprised, then she laughed, and said in English. “
Eh bien
, well done,
monsieur
. I understood every word. You are without a home.”
    â€œThen you’ll also understand why I’m praying.” Mac stopped and waved an arm at the others. “
We
are
all
praying, that you might have
six
rooms?”He glanced ruefully at Pirate, sitting quietly at his side, and at Tesoro, hunched in Sunny’s arms. “We also have two dogs.”
    â€œNo problem.” Like many French hotels, the des Rêves welcomed dogs. “Though of course there will be a small extra charge.” Caroline consulted her computer, fingers bouncing rapidly across the keys.
    Sunny noticed that Caroline was wearing a beautiful ring, a square emerald offset with twin diamonds, large enough to impress, but since it was not on the third finger of her left hand obviously it was not an engagement ring.
    â€œAlors.”
Caroline looked up from her computer. “Yesterday an entire family party canceled due to the illness of the grandmother. Their misfortune is your good luck. But we have only
five
rooms, and of those only three are doubles. The other two are singles, at the back of the hotel but still with a pretty view of the courtyard where you can take breakfast and other meals. All have balconies and the doubles have a sea view. And of course, as it is the season, you must take
demi-pension
, half board. That means a larger price, but it does include breakfast and either lunch or dinner.”
    She consulted her computer again and came up with the prices. Mac asked the others what they thought.
    â€œThree doubles,” Belinda said. “One for me, one for you and Sunny, and one for the Bashfords.”
    â€œLittle Laureen prefers her own room,” Billy said.
    â€œAnd I can’t afford any of them.” Sara’s voice was flat. She wasn’t into self-pity, she was simply stating a truth.
    Belinda turned to look at her. “Tell you what,” she said. “Since Little Laureen has to have her own room, Sara can bunk in with me. Cost you nothing, girl. I’ll charge it all to the husband.”
    Sara’s brown eyes bugged with gratitude. “Are you
sure
? I mean, a