CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

TAMARA

After I agreed to go with him, Shane, who was already standing up, helped me to my feet while grinning broadly and casting an adoring glance my way. His eyelashes were longer than any male I have ever met, but he rocked them and they also complemented his eyes.
I was abruptly snapped out of my reverie when a loud ship's horn filled the air. I blushed slightly at having been caught eyeing him, but Shane didn't seem to mind as his grin grew wider. I quickly turned away from him and bent down to gather my belongings. Shane helped me, softly chuckling before taking the bag from my hands and lunging it over his shoulder.
"I can carry my own stuff, Shane." I told him not to be rude, but I couldn't let him be inconvenienced on my behalf and I was still embarrassed about what had happened before.
"I know you can, Tamara, but I want to help, so it's no big deal your bag is as light as a feather." Shane said with a smile, but I was still uncomfortable with the idea, but before I could protest, Shane had already started walking forward, pulling me along with him as he led the way to his restaurant, at first we didn't say anything to each other, so I took advantage of the opportunity to sneak a quick glance at him, his gaze was taking in his surroundings a d he looked at ease.
"No matter how many times I come to Paris, it's still as beautiful as the first time," Shane said unexpectedly, drawing my attention to him. He had this look of awe in his eyes as he stared up at the Eiffel tower.
"It really is a beautiful country," I replied, and his gaze moved to me, intense as usual, forcing me to look away from him; I couldn't handle his gaze when he gets like this, and we were plunged into another few minutes of silence before arriving at Shane's restaurant. It is a two-story building that has been beautifully decorated with rose flowers and paper rose wall hangings, see-through glass windows, and dainty wooden tables and chairs outside the front door.
I looked up at the restaurant's name, Rose, which was boldly written in gold, and I wondered why he named it that. Did he choose it at random, or did it mean something to him?
"I've always enjoyed cooking with my mother and father since I was a child, but my mother died when I was young, and my father later remarried Joe's mother a few years later. I don't dislike my stepmother Arianna; she is the best mother anyone could ask for, but I still miss my mother from time to time "Shane said, with a sad smile and a distant look in his eyes, "I'm sorry Tamara, I did mean to ruin the mood with bad memories," Shane said, and my heart broke at his confession and apology; he doesn't have to be sorry for anything, it's a natural reaction, it's okay to be sad and miss her.
"Shane, how did she die? You are under no obligation to tell me if you do not wish to." I didn't want to push him because, based on his expression, it was a very sensitive subject for him; of course, Tamara, a dead loved one. Is a delicate subject for everyone.
My internal conflict was cut short when Shane placed his hand on my shoulder in an attempt to get my attention "Tamara, it's okay, I can talk about it; it happened a while ago, so it's easier to discuss. She died in a car accident when I was twelve years old; her car was hit by a drunk garbage truck driver and she died instantly; the night she died, she was attempting to get to a baking competition I was competing in at my school because she had promised to be there "Shane said with a humourless laugh, his fist clenched by his side, sadness in his eyes.
"Shane, oh my. I'm deeply sorry " i said, as I took his clenched fist in my hands and ran my fingers over the top of his hand in a comforting manner, I watched as his tense body relaxed and he returned my sad smile.
"I'm sorry for getting worked up, Tamara," Shane apologized, making me frown; he didn't have to apologize to me or anyone else for expressing his emotions.
"Shane, if I hear you apologize one more time I will smack you" I threatened and a smile broke out on his face, his prior sad expression was gone.
"So much violence in such a small person" Shane joked, causing me to punch him in the arm.
"Short girl jokes will not be tolerated" I said, faking annoyance, as Shane raised his hands in surrender with a playful smile on his face. I was glad I could make him feel better.
"My mother would have loved you, you both have similar personalities, my mother, like you, would have done anything in her power to save what she loved," Shane said, and I knew he was referring to my contract marriage to Mr Kingston to save my mother's company.
"I wish I could have met her; she seems like a wonderful woman."
"She was Tamara, so in order to keep her memory alive, I named every restaurant I opened after my mother's favorite flowers, hence the name Rose," Shane said as his gaze moved to the restaurant sign.
"That's thoughtful, Shane, but why her favorite flowers? Why not use her name instead?" I inquired.
"Because she loved gardening, in addition to cooking, my father used to call her his little garden fairy funny thing was she wasvso small the nickname stuck," Shane said, and my heart warmed at the affection in his eyes.
"So that's why I chose to name my restaurants after her favorite flowers,"
"That's quite beautiful and thoughtful Shane,"
"It's more than she deserves, come on, let's go in, I have to give you a tour." Shane tried to change the subject, but I wouldn't let him until I thanked him.
"Thank you for telling me about your mother, Shane; I appreciate your trust in telling me about her."
"Tamara, as I previously stated, you're special to me, and I feel like I can tell you anything."
"Oh Shane, you're going to make me cry, and you don't want to see me cry," I said as tears welled up in my eyes at his beautiful declaration.
"No tears, I didn't mean to make you sad, and I apologize." Shane apologized, prompting me to fulfill my promise and punch him, "What was that for?" Shane asked, while rubbing the spot where I punched him.
"I did warn you that if you apologized for behaving humanly, I would punch you," I said grinning from ear to ear.
"OK, firefly, I won't apologize again." "Seriously, another pet name, I can't live down the one Alex gave me and now you give me another, what's with you guys and naming me after insects?" Shane laughed at my annoyed tone as I pouted.

"Well, get used to it because I'm not going to stop calling you my little firefly; because you light up my world," Shane said as he looked down at me with a warm gaze that made my stomach flutter.
"You're so cheesy," I remarked, hoping my blush wasn't too visible.
"You like it, and you look lovely when you blush." Shane said in a sing-song voice, causing my blush to deepen, as he opened the door to the restaurant for me. Once inside, I fell in love with the interior, which was really beautiful, with chandeliers that looked like roses hanging from the ceiling, the furniture was the same as the one outside, and the walls were painted rose gold and black.
"It's stunning, Shane."
"Thank you, Tamara; please take your seat so I can quickly run in and finish things up before giving you a proper tour of Paris; I promise I won't be long."
"Is the tour the surprise you mentioned earlier, Shane?"
"Nope, that comes later, firefly," Shane simply said.
"Okay then, now off you go, you can't be late," I said, shooing Shane off. With one last smile directed at me, he disappeared up the doorway leading to the first floor. When Shane left, a waiter brought me a cup of coffee to where I was sitting drawing.
"Oh sorry, I didn't order coffee," I apologized to the waiter, who simply smiled and placed the coffee in front of me, taking care not to spill it on my drawings.
"It's free, Miss Tamara," the waiter said briefly before leaving me to my thoughts. When I examined the coffee, I noticed a little rose art on the top, which made me smile. I felt bad about destroying the art, but the coffee was so good.
While waiting for Shane to return, I finished my coffee and continued sketching ideas for the interior of the smart house project.
After about an hour, Shane rushed out of the doorway towards me, an apologetic smile on his face.
"I'm so sorry, Tamara, I took longer than I expected."
"It's not a problem, Shane; are you finished yet? You still owe me a tour and a surprise, so "I said this in the hopes of alleviating his guilt for spending more time than he had planned.
"That I do, come on, let me pack some snacks before we head out," Shane said, walking towards a door I assumed was the kitchen, and emerging a few minutes later with a small brown basket.
"Let's start your tour, firefly," Shane said as we left his restaurant after saying our goodbyes to the employees, and he took me around the main tourist sites in Paris, then we had a small picnic on a boat ride before he continued the tour, and I was able to take a lot of goofy pictures of him and I. To be honest, I had more fun with Shane in three hours than I did with Mr Tony in the morning, but our fun had to come to an end because I had to return to the hotel before Mr Kingston returned.
When Shane drove me back to the hotel, we just stood there staring at each other in front of the door, until I remembered he had a surprise for me.
"What about the surprise, Shane?" I inquired, and a smile spread across his face.
"I made reservations for us at Mario's, will you please do me the honor of having dinner with me before I leave tomorrow?" Shane asked, hopeful.
"Yes, Shane, I would love to," I replied, not wanting our time together to end so soon. I can deal with Mr. Kingston later because the night is still young.
"Thank you Tamara, I'll pick you up in a few minutes," Shane said, and we quickly said our goodbyes before I dashed up to my hotel room to change for my dinner with Shane. I couldn't stop grinning because I was so happy.