by Lexi Blake
“She did mention that the last batch she had was the best,” Remy admitted.
He couldn’t stand the thought that she’d been a hungry child. She was so put together as an adult it was hard to believe her childhood had been rough. Of course, sometimes the roughest places turned out to be the most beautiful. It took time and pressure to create a diamond.
Well, if she hated it, he could always make another pot. He couldn’t blame Lisa for easing her into the coffee. Wasn’t he trying to ease her into a relationship?
Lisa took over. “Why don’t you see if she’s got some bread for toast and I’ll make breakfast. That way you’ve got total deniability. Now give me an update.”
Lila’s sister was a force of nature. He backed off. He wouldn’t mind a little deniability, and he would like it if he didn’t have to make two pots of coffee every morning because they couldn’t stand to drink the same one. If he could get her to half and half, he would compromise. “Rene is coming home today. Janice will be in the hospital a couple of days. The baby is fine. None of them would have survived if your sister hadn’t been there.”
“Is she okay?” Lisa asked.
There was no question who she was talking about. “She had a rough day, but she’s all right.”
“She bottles things up. She won’t even acknowledge that anything is bothering her,” Lisa explained. “You have to push her to get her to talk about it, and even then, she might not tell you anything.”
“She’s all right, Lisa. She had a good long cry and she managed to get some sleep.” She’d also wrapped herself around him. She’d held on to him while she’d cried, and he wasn’t sure he’d ever felt as good as he had when she’d needed him.
Remy and Lisa both stopped, staring at him.
“Lila cried?” Remy asked.
“Lila rarely cries. Never in front of anyone but her family.” Lisa glanced back at the bedroom. “Well, there was the once, but that was more like a total breakdown, and she had her reasons for it.”
“Well, she had a good cry last night, and I think she’s feeling better now.” He wasn’t going to tell Lisa that her sister had a nightmare. He probably shouldn’t have told her anything, but she seemed so worried. “Are the rumors already flying? What exactly is being said?”
He knew the way the gossip mill worked in town. A big event like this would be talked about for years, and it would take that long for some people to get the facts right. Oh, it would start out with eyewitness accounts, but it would roll downhill from there.
Remy chuckled as he sat down at the small bistro table. “Well, the way Sera told it, Janice had a heart attack while she was driving and Rene was in the way. The baby choked on a teething biscuit and Lila saved the day. My momma heard it a bit differently.”
Delphine Dellacourt Guidry was one of the town’s eccentrics. “Good lord. Tell me.”
Lisa looked far more cheerful now that she knew her sister was all right. She pressed the button to start the coffeemaker. “Janice tried to run Rene down because he wouldn’t marry Hallie all those years ago. Hallie was forced to marry an outsider because Rene spurned her. Janice saw him on the street walking by and her rage flashed through her and she was out of control. In that particular scenario, Lila and Rene made an obvious connection and that’s why she saved him first. There also might have been mention of some hoodoo Rene worked to make himself attractive to all women. I think he should have used the hoodoo to make his bones a little stronger.”
“She saved him first because she got to him first. Tell me they’re not matching Lila up with Rene.” That wasn’t happening. It didn’t matter that Rene was a better match, damn it. He didn’t care that Rene was incredibly wealthy and could give her a life of ease. Or that Rene was arguably handsomer. And younger. And without a kid who would need help for the rest of her life. Lila was his. He’d seen her first and he’d gotten his hands on her first, and Rene could deal with it.
Not that Rene wanted Lila. Or Lila wanted Rene. Damn rumors.
“She’s having his baby soon,” Remy said with a grin. “Hey, it got them to stop talking about how your vehicle was seen here in the early-morning hours, though they’ll probably start talking about how you’re trying to break them up since your vehicle is right back out there this morning. And might I mention I called this one? Lisa wanted Lila to fake date Rene, but I knew she’d be real dating you in no time at all.”
At least someone believed in him. “I’ll put those rumors to rest.”
“I only thought she should fake date Rene because he fit more with the kind of guy she liked in Dallas.” Lisa shrugged as she found a carton of eggs in the fridge. “Except for the part where Rene is a nice guy.”
“She didn’t like nice guys?” It occurred to him that he could learn a little more about her from her sister.
Lisa frowned at the stove. “Well, she thought they were nice. They were good at pretending to be nice, but they were often assholes. I’m afraid to turn this thing on.”
“I fixed it.” He grabbed the bread. The toaster looked like it was new, so Lila had probably brought it with her. “It works, and so do all the lights. I’ll check out the plumbing next. Now tell me why she dated assholes.”
“Because every man Lila has dated since college has been the right kind of man. At least in her head. She dated a couple of doctors, and then there was Brock. He was the CEO of a fairly successful company back in Dallas. I think in her head she believed he could give her the life she thought she was working for. He was incredibly supportive of her career, wouldn’t ever tell her what to do. In fact, he pretty much did what she wanted him to do. She was almost one hundred percent in control of that relationship.”
“And the percentage she wasn’t in control of?”
“That was the part where he hit on anything with boobs, including her sisters.”
“Lila only thinks she wants to be in charge,” Remy pointed out. “Don’t get me wrong. She’s a strong-willed woman and she’s smart as a whip, but I think she picked men who didn’t challenge her so she didn’t have to get close to them. She’s got serious intimacy issues, but she’s better now.”
“Well, nearly dying will do that to you,” Lisa said, her voice somber. “I think she had to face a whole lot of reality that day.” She took a deep breath and nodded, obviously choosing to be positive. “It was a good thing for her to get out of her comfort zone and come down here.”
“The question is what happens when she’s healed,” Remy said, concern in his eyes.
“What do you mean?” Armie asked.
Lisa waved him off as she started cracking eggs in a bowl. “It’s nothing.”
“It’s not nothing,” Remy replied. “What happens to this town when she’s feeling better and realizes she needs more than this place can give her? Lila likes nice things more than you do. She likes the theater and fancy restaurants.”
“New Orleans isn’t that far away.” He’d lived in the city for years, but when he’d needed to, he’d settled back in. Lila could do the same. She hadn’t grown up wealthy. Of course, didn’t that mean she would want all the things she’d worked so hard to have? Wouldn’t she want educated conversation? Not that there weren’t educated people in town. There were plenty. And they had plays. Twice a year, Alma Hannaford and her Papillon Players put on a show at the rec center, and the local high school had a band concert he was forced to survive.
She might get bored.
A knock on the door sounded through the house and then there was a deep bark.
He rushed to the door because that could only mean one thing.
Noelle was on the porch, having used the ramp Bill had put in when his wife had gotten so sick. Noelle grinned his way and pointed to a big box emblazoned with the local donut store logo. “Morning, Dad. Beth had to help her mom with the church’s pancake breakfast so Roxie came over and gave me a
ride.”
His deputy gave him a nod as she opened the driver’s side door of her SUV. “Morning, boss.” She shook her head. “How could you come between two new lovers? Rene is going to be so sad.”
Armie groaned. “You know she met Rene when she was putting a damn tourniquet on his leg. Don’t let that rumor get out there.”
Roxie shrugged. “I don’t think that’s my job, boss. Good luck.”
Noelle grinned as Peanut lumbered in around Armie. “I heard Lila is my new mommy.”
He grimaced for more than one reason. He was never going to be able to get Noelle’s chair through the hallway because they hadn’t moved all the storage boxes out. “The chair’s going to have to stay on the porch.”
“I’ll trade you donuts for a Dad taxi ride,” she offered.
He leaned over and picked her up. It was something he’d done a million times in the months since the accident, and it always reminded him how small and fragile she was. His heart ached at his daughter’s slight weight in his arms.
He knew Lila had been lashing out at him, but he couldn’t help but think about the words they’d had the day before.
I know she should be more mobile than she is.
He shook it off as he carried his daughter to the living room. He’d learned long ago to accept the things he couldn’t change, and this was one of those things.
“Morning, Noelle.” Lisa smiled at his daughter. “Are those donuts? If they are glazed and coated in sprinkles, you’re my favorite.”
“A donut is not a donut without sprinkles.” Noelle settled down on Lila’s couch. “I will trade you a pink sprinkled for a cup of coffee. I’m all about negotiating today.”
Noelle offered up her box of treats and Armie noticed she also had a couple of envelopes in her hands.
He passed the box to Lisa. “Did the mailman come early?”
“Is there a reason you’ve invaded my home, sis?” Lila yawned as she entered the kitchen. She wore pajama bottoms and a tank top, a brightly colored robe around her shoulders. She looked gorgeous and rumpled and perfect. “Should I leave a sock on the door or something?”
Lisa flew over to her sister, throwing her arms around her. “I’m so glad you’re okay. We didn’t hear about it until last night and then it was late and we’d had some hurricanes, but we should have come home.”
“Three hurricanes,” Remy pointed out. “And they were not light on the pours.”
Lisa ignored him. “And you wouldn’t answer your phone.”
Lila hugged her sister, but her eyes found Armie’s and she smiled. “I was busy.”
“She was busy with my dad,” Noelle said with a grin.
Lila’s eyes flared as she seemed to realize her sister and brother-in-law weren’t the only interlopers. “Hey. I . . . uhm . . .” She shook her head and obviously gave up. “Yep. I was. No way around that one.”
It was good to know she wasn’t going to try to hide the relationship from his daughter. He had no plans to.
Lisa frowned and took a step back. “I was worried about you.”
“I wasn’t the one with a compound fracture that managed to nick the femoral artery,” Lila pointed out. “Nor was I the one who had the heart attack. I’m fine. All in all, everything went our way and everyone is healthy and happy.”
“But it must have been traumatic,” Lisa insisted.
Lila simply nodded. “That is why they call it trauma. I’m feeling good today. The coffee smells great.”
“And you are looking good, too,” Remy said with a grin. “Especially given your blessed state. You are glowing, girl.”
Noelle clapped her hands. “I heard that one, too. Beth and I spent most of the night calling around and finding out all the crazy rumors about the accident. Did you know that Mabel actually set up the whole thing so that Doc would come back and save the town because she’s been secretly in love with him for years?”
Lila frowned. “She’s married. I know that because she regularly overshares about her sex life. She’s quite flexible for her age. And why would I glow?”
“She’s not pregnant.” Armie sent Remy a dark stare.
Lila turned the sweetest shade of pink. “What? Why would you think I’m pregnant? I just slept with him and he used a condom and everything. I’m on the pill, by the way, but I’m going to need a test on you. Sexually transmitted infections can lie in wait for years. I’ll do one on me, too. We can exchange them over dinner.”
“That’s very modern of you,” Noelle said, watching the conversation like it was the best tennis match ever.
Lila’s skin went from pink to red. “Damn it. I should not have said that. I’ve been around Mabel for too long. I’m starting to put everything out there.”
“Well, I think it’s refreshing,” Lisa said, moving back to the stove. “I like this side of you. And according to all the rumors, Armie shouldn’t have any trouble passing that particular test.”
“He hasn’t had sex in years and years,” Noelle confirmed. “It’s been a long drought for him, and it makes him cranky. I would have asked you for some kind of sex toy for him that I could slip into his nightstand, but I don’t know if they have those for men.”
He turned to his very precocious teen. “You asked Lila about sex toys?”
It was Noelle’s turn to go pink. “Just joking. Maybe. It’s doctor-patient privilege.”
He put his hands on his hips. “Not until you’re eighteen.”
He turned to Lila, ready to find out exactly how much she was already influencing his daughter.
* * *
• • •
How could her morning have already gone so wrong? She’d woken up only moments before. She shouldn’t be dealing with this kind of drama. The night before had been a revelation, but she was confronted with all the reasons they might not be able to work this morning. All it had taken was the addition of a few people and she was right back to worrying they didn’t really fit together.
“I think this is a conversation we should have in private.” She loved her sister and she should have called her apparently. Back in Dallas, it would have been no big deal. Lisa likely wouldn’t have even heard about the incident. Here, she was discovering, everything was a big deal.
Maybe he would see reason and she could put off the conversation until they could have it in a professional setting. Like the clinic, where she would be properly dressed and in the right place to deal with the fact that she’d had a conversation with his daughter he might be angry about.
“Hey, the eggs are ready.” Lisa stepped in and gave her another hug. “I’m glad you’re okay, and I will see you the day after tomorrow? Remember? We’ve got a day of beauty scheduled at Miss Marcelle’s.”
“I might need to work.” She didn’t need a day of beauty. She needed patients. She needed to not step on the land mines that seemed to be buried everywhere in this town.
“You don’t.” Lisa took her husband’s hand. “I already had Mabel clear your calendar.”
That probably hadn’t taken much. But yesterday had proven that even though the people in town might not like her, they sometimes needed her. “Emergencies. I need to be available for emergencies.”
Lisa shrugged. “It’s okay. The beauty parlor is a block away from the clinic, and Mabel can call. She has your full schedule for the rest of the week and she’s ready to take care of everything. I’ll be by to pick you up for lunch.” Her voice went low. “And don’t think we won’t talk about this. Because we will. All of it.”
There might not be much to talk about given how grim Armie looked.
Remy frowned the sheriff’s way. “You think before you say anything you can’t take back, because you do not want to have a talk with me. Remember who she is.”
“Why would you forget who I am?” She watched as Lisa and Remy headed out.
“Why would he do that?”
“Because you’re his sister-in-law, and that’s how we do things down here. I’ll be honest, though—I’m more worried about Lisa. Now tell me what’s going on.”
“Dad, it’s private.” Noelle shifted, her frustration at not being able to move evident.
But she moved more than Lila had seen her move before. Her hips actually shifted a bit. With some serious PT, Noelle might be able to have more freedom. She needed to do some research. Armie hadn’t liked her talking about this yesterday, but maybe if she came to him with hard facts and a plan, she could convince him. Of course, he might not talk to her at all after this morning. “Noelle and I had a talk. She had a few questions and I answered them.”
“What were the questions?” Armie asked, looking from her to his daughter.
Damn, that man could be intimidating. She’d worked with law enforcement a lot over her years, but she’d rarely met one who could make her think about backing down. “She wanted to know what the normal flow for a period is. She’s worried hers is quite heavy.”
Noelle had asked about that. And she’d told Lila it was the way to shut Armie down. Technically HIPAA didn’t protect children under the age of eighteen from their parents asking for medical information, but Noelle should have someone she could talk to.
Armie winced but soldiered on. “No. I don’t think that’s what she meant. She talked about sex, Lila. I want to know what’s happening with my daughter. She’s sixteen years old. She’s not an adult and I have the right to know what’s happening.”
She squared off with him. “And she has the right to some privacy when it comes to her own body.”
The moment lengthened, silence between them.
“Don’t be mad at Lila,” Noelle said. “I asked her to do it, to order it for me.”
