Henri tried to act nonchalant as he almost dropped his cigarette. Ėcoutez, he thought, a simple country boy on a luxury liner from France to that metropolis on the Hudson River! His diploma from the Sorbonne guaranteed his position with the French consulate. For the next week, he would be in the company of the most sophisticated people he�d ever met. If only he wasn�t so shy around women, so intimidated by their beauty.

Looking around the ship�s casino bar at businessmen, at a retired couple, he let his gaze linger on the American goddess. He recognized the awe-inspiring actress at the slot machine! She had been on TV � something about losing a husband or boyfriend in a gory accident. Drained of blood after being impaled on a ski pole.

Daringly, he introduced himself, twisting his tongue around foreign words. �Bon soir,� he said, working to keep his voice from breaking . My name is Henri DuBois. I am finish my� studies,� he said. �Now, I go to work with the Consulate des affaires � of business.�

�Admirable,� the goddess cooed.

Henri didn�t care if her eyelashes were false, her hair colored, her mannerisms affected. He had just one chance to interest a dream woman or be alone for the rest of the voyage, to remain a 24-year-old virgin. He sipped his Bordeaux and summoned sincerity. �I am very much, um, enjoy the cinema Americain � American movie. Brad Pitt, Angelia Jolie, George Clooney.� If only he could get her alone to truly communicate.

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