I walk through the open doors of the cafe and towards the serving counter, Beau trailing after me in what I can assume can only be embarrassed silence. I look up at the counter to see the same brunette girl who served Rene and I the last time we were here.

"Oh, hello again!" she greets in french, looking up at Beau. "Your boyfriend is very tall!"

I scowl, realizing that this assumption is probably going to be a recurring theme. "He's not my boyfriend," I growl in English, causing the girl to tilt her head to the side in confusion.

"What she means," Beau speaks in french, cutting me a warning glare. "Can we get a table outside?"

"Oh sure!" the girl exclaims, reaching under the table to grab two menus. "You can seat yourselves, and I'll have someone out shortly to take your order."

Beau nods and gives her a gentle smile as he hands me one of the menus. "Thank you."

I stand there for a moment looking down at the menu. I really hope Beau isn't developing feelings for me... that would be quite problematic. I think to myself, before a shadow falls across my face as Beau leans down.

"You gonna just stand there all day or are we going to eat?" he growls, his breath is warm against my cheek, and the scab that slashes down it.

I feel my body freeze at the closeness of his face next to mine, grinding my teeth together when I realize I can't move.

What will you do, Harper? I hear his voice sing. Are you really going to let him be that close to you?

I scowl as my limbs unfreeze, allowing me to quickly step away from Beau and towards the seating area outside. "This is not a game you want to play," I say slowly as I feel him walk up behind me. He reaches around me and pulls out the chair for me, gesturing for me to sit when I don't move.

"Game? What game?" he asks annoyedly as I sit down in the black chair.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about," I growl, as he walks around the table and drops into the chair on the other side.

"Funny you say that, since I tend to make you freeze with just the touch of a hand," he taunts cruelly, his jade eyes burning into mine.

If you really want to prove that you love me and only me, you might as well place this game. I hear his voice suggest interestedly.

My lips press together as an idea pops into my head. If I play this game, will you leave me alone? Obviously he's going to attempt to touch and woo me, and if I have you giving me a panic attack when he does, I won't be able to win.

I feel him mull over the idea, before he relents. Alright, I'll agree to that.

"If you really don't have feelings for me, then a little friendly competition of seeing who falls for the other first would be harmless, right?" I ask Beau boredly, as I pretend to glance over the menu in my hands, though my stomach pulses anxiously.

I see Beau give me an odd look from across the table. "So what I'm hearing is that you want me to prove to you that I don't like you... but try and get you to like me? That sounds like a terrible idea." he snaps, as I slam down the menu in front of me.

"Why? Do you think that you'll be able to win?" I challenge him, crossing my arms over the table.

Take the bait Beau, I can get rid of my panic attacks if you agree to this! I urge him silently. Just take the bait like the cocky bastard you are!

"I don't know," Beau sighs, dragging a hand down his face. "I just don't think it's a good idea, given the way you're uncomfortable around me enough as it is."

"But that's just it! Don't you think this would be a good way to help each other get to know one another better?" I urge him, leaning forward on the table as I desperately plead for him to say yes.

"There are certainly better ways than this to do it!" he states, my heart sinking when I see that he's not going to budge. "We are absolutely not going to do this 'game' of yours and that's final."

"Why, are you afraid?" I growl, trying to bait him even more. Beau's fingers curl into fists on the table as he glares at me, when suddenly an idea pops into my mind.

"Fine, have it your way," I say suddenly, dropping back into my chair. Beau eyes me suspiciously as I pretend to pick at my fingernails. "I guess you're just a coward when it comes to things like this... but that's alright. Not all of us are cut out for it anyway." I sigh, fighting a grin when I see Beau seethe before me.

There's no better way to get a man to do what you want than by insulting his ego.

"A coward? Why you insolent little brat!" he snaps, lurching to his feet as he towers over me. "Fine, I'll play your little game, but don't come crying to me when it is you who has fallen head over heels."

"Oh we'll see," I snap back, pushing up from my chair as well. I stick out my hand as I give him a withering glare. "The first one to catch feelings first loses, deal loverboy?"

Beau grits his teeth as he clasps my hand and jerks it up and down. "Deal, mon chérie."

***

After a waiter came to take our orders, Beau and I spent the duration of the time glaring at each other, both of us no doubt thinking about the deal we had just struck. I'm surer Beau was just in it for the sake of his pride, but I had much more to lose...

Though I am relieved that I don't have to worry about him causing me panic attacks, at least for a little while. Now, I can just focus on passing the evaluation Sunday, and resuming my rightful role as mission leader.

The only difference, is not that Beau will be with me every step of the way, but that he will be trying to woo me into having feelings for him.

"Are we just going to sit here and stare at each other this entire time, or are we going to at least try and have a pleasant conversation?" Beau drawls finally, uncrossing his arms and leaning forward against the table.

"That depends," I sigh, moving my chin from my resting on my hand to tilt my head to the side. "Are you going to continue being an ass, or are we going to try and get along?"

"I'm not being the ass," Beau snaps annoyedly, causing me to roll my eyes.

"You have been since last night. Look, I understand that you're... worried, but there is no reason for you to be concerned or protective of me. How many times do I need to tell you that?" I demand, as a ginger-haired waiter walks up to us with two plates, one with slices of glazed ham, and on the other a salad.

Beau waits for the waiter to set the plates down and gives him a polite nod, before turning back to me with a serious look. "Harper, I know just how capable you are of defending yourself. But these assassins have years of experience, and show no mercy. I just don't want you to have to see their brutality." Beau shakes his head and looks down at his plate of hame.

"It's already hard enough, knowing that any moment they could be hurting my brother... and there's nothing I can do." he grits out, his fists tightening on the table.

"Hey, hopefully we'll gain some information about where the Serpent's Circle is holding your brother and the other captured agents at the Louvre's ball," I say hopefully, reaching forward to set my hand on his.

I wait for my lungs to tighten, or for him to start yelling at me, but there's only silence as Beau stares at my hand. I breathe in a sigh of relief, but freeze when I see Beau's jade eyes narrow into slits.

"I really hope this isn't you trying to win your little game," Beau says slowly, as he looks up at me.

"Oh God no!" I exclaim, quickly drawing my hand away from his."You don't really think I would do that... do you?"

I feel my brows knit together as Beau scrutinizes my expression for a few seconds. Well shit, I think to myself as I quickly look away. Do I really seem that manipulative?

"No," Beau finally says, causing me to jump slightly. My eyes dart back up to his pale ones, as he drags a hand down his face tiredly. "You wouldn't try to exploit someone's feelings like that... not when you empathize with them."

"Empathize?" I ask curiously, as Beau nods and picks up the fork from his plate.

"I don't know what you've gone through, or what you've seen in your past, but I can tell that when you see another in pain, you seem to resonate with them on a deeper level. You always try to understand their situation, and give them some kind of relief." Beau looks away as he stabs a slice of ham with his fork. "It's one of the things I admire about you."

I sit there for a moment, shocked by his words.

And then I realize that he's complimenting me.

I stare down at my food as I process Beau's observation, and how it makes my heart lift slightly. I've never really noticed that I did that, but it feels nice that someone else seems to understand it... no... admire it.

My train of thought cuts off when I realize the awkward silence that hangs over Beau and I, as he focuses all of his attention on playing with the slices of ham on his plate. I quickly lean forward and place my chin on the palm of my hand as I watch him lift a piece of ham to his mouth, eager to quickly get rid of the silence. "And what else do you admire about me, hmm?"

Beau raises an eyebrow as he glances up at me, a small smirk on his lips. "Why, wouldn't you like to know?"

I match his smile as he bites into the ham, my eyes darting down to his lips as he chews. "Fine, you can keep your secrets. I'll just get them out of you later anyways."