“I was wondering if you’d gotten lost,” she exclaimed as Anne-Marie and Cordero climbed the steps.
Anne-Marie left Cordero’s side to go to her cousin. “What a surprise,” she murmured as she kissed the other woman’s cheek. “I didn’t know you were coming.”
Audra chuckled. “I wanted to surprise you. I didn’t have to go in to work today, so I thought I’d come out and see what was happening on the plantation. I didn’t realize you had company until Darcella told me.”
Anne-Marie quickly motioned for him to join them. “Cordero, this is my cousin Audra. The one that lives in Thibodaux.”
With a charming smile, Cordero swept off his Stetson and extended his hand to the woman. “Very nice to meet you, Audra. So you’re the cousin with the smart brother.”
Audra glanced with faint surprise at Anne-Marie, before she smiled at Cordero. “That’s right. Anne-Marie must have been talking about her relatives.”
“Believe me, it was all nice talk,” he said as he slowly dropped her hand.
“Darcella tells me you’re from Texas,” Audra replied. “I hope you’re enjoying your stay here in Louisiana.”
Anne-Marie felt him glance her way.
“Every minute, thank you,” he told her, then quickly added. “I’ll leave you two ladies alone so that you can visit. I have several phone calls to make.”
He quickly excused himself and both women watched him go into the house before either one of them spoke.
“Whew!” Audra exclaimed as she sank back into the lawn chair. “What a man! Darcella wasn’t kidding when she told me he was sexy.”
Normally it never bothered Anne-Marie when her cousin spoke her mind. But for some reason Audra’s blatant gushing over Cordero annoyed her.
“Darcella thinks any man under eighty is sexy,” Anne-Marie mumbled as she sat in a chair that faced her cousin’s. As she bent forward and unbuckled her spurs, she added, “And Cordero is Father’s friend. Not mine.”
Audra’s chuckles were skeptical. “When you two were walking up here a moment ago, you looked pretty chummy to me.”
Frowning, Anne-Marie looked up at her. “Just because he’s gentleman enough to offer me his arm? Really, Audra, you should have been a writer. Your imagination is overactive.”
Not a bit bothered by her cousin’s sarcasm, Audra sighed. “Okay, so he’s not your friend. He’s just a houseguest.”
Anne-Marie pulled the tiny spurs from her boot heels, then straightened back in her seat. Without even glancing Audra’s way, she knew her cousin was taking in her tumbled hair and swollen lips. Drat it. Of all the times for her to show up, it had to be this morning.
“That’s right,” Anne-Marie said primly. “And since Father is still in the hospital, I’m merely acting as hostess.”
Audra sighed wistfully as she picked up her glass of lemonade. “If only I could be so lucky.”
Anne-Marie darted a glare at her. “What are you talking about? You haven’t dated in years. Not since you and Doug got divorced. Don’t tell me you’re pining for male company. I wouldn’t believe it.”
Audra rolled her eyes. “If the company looked like your Cordero I certainly might consider it,” she said in a teasing voice, then batted a dismissive hand through the air. “But that’s not important. How is Jules?”
Grateful that the other woman was going to get off the subject of Cordero, Anne-Marie leaned back in her chair and shook her hair loose of the brown scarf. “Thankfully he’s doing well. I talked to him this morning before breakfast. He actually sounded chipper. And he expects the doctor to be finished with all the tests by the end of the week. He’ll probably be releasing him from the hospital then.”
“Good,” Audra replied, then after a sip of lemonade she added, “Actually, I went by the hospital yesterday morning to see Uncle Jules. If I hadn’t known better, I would’ve thought the man was as well as you or I.”
“Well, we’re not doctors or nurses,” Anne-Marie reasoned. “In any case, I hope you’re right.”
Over the rim of her glass, Audra thoughtfully studied her. “I hope I am, too. Maybe you’ll finally decide your father is well enough for you to get back to the land of the living.”
Anne-Marie stiffened. She wasn’t in the mood for a lecture from Audra. As much as she loved her cousin, they were as opposite as night and day. Audra had a high-paying job as a secretary to a prominent lawyer in New Orleans. She loved all the luxuries her father’s inheritance had given her and made no attempt to hide it. Whereas, Anne-Marie had often wished she’d been born into a poor family. At least then she would know that people wanted to be with her just for herself and not her money.
She’d been a naive fool for ever letting Ian into her life. But he’d been so charming and smooth and had presented himself as a man of integrity. Instead, he’d been a fake, a con out to find himself a rich wife to make his life easy. He’d lied about coming from a respected family in South Carolina. He’d lied about going to medical school. And, most of all, he’d lied about loving her.
“I don’t want to hear it, Audra. Not today.”
“Don’t get all angry with me, honey. It’s just that I worry about you.” She shook her head with disbelief. “I’d rather see you traipsing around in some muddy jungle handing out boxes of food and jugs of water to the needy than to see you hiding yourself away here on Cane’s Landing.”
Anne-Marie turned around in her chair so that she was facing her cousin head-on. “I can’t think of a more beautiful place to be than Cane’s Landing.”
Crossing her long legs, Audra restlessly tapped the toe of her high-heeled sandal. “It is lovely here. And it would be the perfect place for you if —” she cut her eyes toward the front door of the house “— that sexy cowboy was here to share it with you.”
“Oh my word, Audra,” Anne-Marie said under her breath. “You’re out of your mind. Cordero lives on a rich ranch out in Texas. He has a big family there. And he’s not in the market for marriage or anything like it. Neither am I.”
Audra let out another wistful sigh. “Okay. So I’ll do the dreaming for you, honey.”
Anne-Marie slid the brown scarf through her fingers and tried not to think how Cordero had used it to rope her back into his arms. Touching him, kissing him had shaken everything inside her. He’d not only left her burning with desire, but he’d left her wanting to snuggle in the shelter of his arms, to be protected and comforted. The unexpected emotions had troubled her — were still troubling her.
“So did you drop by for some reason other than to scold me?” Anne-Marie asked pointedly.
Audra smiled. “Actually, I came over to invite you out tonight for supper and a movie. They’re showing some classic film noir at the Balfour this month. Tonight is Bogart night.”
Anne-Marie shifted uncomfortably in her chair. “Sounds good, but I can’t. I’ve promised Father to take Cordero to New Orleans for supper and a little jazz.”
Audra’s black brows shot upward. “You’re kidding! You’re actually going out on a date with the man? To Bourbon Street!”
Frowning, Anne-Marie rose to her feet. “No. I didn’t say anything about a date. I’m merely acting as hostess, remember? And what’s so shocking about me going to Bourbon Street? That’s where fallen angels go, isn’t it?” she asked sardonically, then started toward the door. “Come on, let’s go in. I need to change and get something to drink.”
After fetching a glass of ice water from the kitchen, Audra followed Anne-Marie upstairs to her bedroom. While her cousin lounged on the bed, Anne-Marie stood behind a dressing screen and changed into jeans and a T-shirt.
“Darcella told me that you and Cordero had gone riding,” Audra commented. “I’m so glad that Uncle Jules bought the horses. It’s about time you got interested in them again. Aunt Fiona would be so happy.”
Shoving her feet into a pair of leather thongs, Anne-Marie stepped from behind the screen. “Yes, I suppose she would be. But Mama was the sort that — w
ell, she was so rounded. She was good at everything.”
Frowning slightly, Audra rolled onto her side and stared out the window. “When are you ever going to realize that Fiona wasn’t a saint, Anne-Marie? And you’re not, either. You’re a flesh-and-blood woman. I wish you’d start acting like one.”
Pensively, Anne-Marie walked around the bed to stand at the window. Below them was the backyard garden where Cordero had kissed her. The memory of that moment was still so ripe in her mind that merely thinking of it made her bite down on her lip to keep from groaning aloud. As she stared down at the cherub pouring water from his jug, she murmured, “Cordero got the feeling, Audra.”
“Hmm? What are you talking about?”
“You know. In the garden. I’ve told you about it before — that sense of presence, Mama’s spirit. Cordero felt it.”
Audra scooted to a cross-legged position in the middle of the bed and looked at her with faint surprise. “You mean after you told him about it?”
“No. I hadn’t said anything. He kept looking around the garden and said he felt as though someone was there, watching us. It really took me by surprise. No one but me has ever felt it. I wonder — what could it mean?”
Audra shrugged. “I don’t know. The man doesn’t look the spiritual sort to me.”
Shaking her head, Anne-Marie continued to stare down at the fountain. “I think you’re wrong about that, Audra. For more than two years, Cordero’s father was handicapped with a brain injury. He never lost faith that his father would one day be better. And he was right, his father is well now.” She sighed. “I’m not sure I still have that depth of faith.”
“Well hell, how could you?” Audra practically snorted. “That cracker, Ian, broke your heart. You lost faith in men, yourself, even God. But you’ll get it back, sweetheart.”
Yes, Anne-Marie thought desperately, she would get it all back. She had to. As Cordero had said, she couldn’t keep running and hiding from life.
She heard the bedclothes rustle and looked around to see Audra walking over to a large, intricately carved armoire.
“Come on,” she said, “that’s enough dark talk. Let’s pick out something for you to wear tonight. I think it should be something sizzling. You still have that skinny thing with the spaghetti straps that I gave you for Christmas?”
Anne-Marie rushed over to where Audra was busily pushing garments back and forth across the metal rack.
“Not that red thing! It shows way too much cleavage. I’ve never worn it and I definitely won’t wear it tonight!”
Audra chuckled as she found the dress she was searching for and pulled it from the armoire. “Why not? I’m sure your Texas cowboy would love it.”
That was exactly what Anne-Marie was afraid of. “Forget it, Audra. I’m not dressing for him tonight.”
Later that evening, long after her cousin had left the plantation, Anne-Marie stood in front of the cheval glass in her bedroom and stared at the image before her.
The red dress fit her slender body to just below the curve of her bottom, then flared into graceful swirls around her knees. The bodice was covered with thin chiffon tucked into tiny pleats, yet Anne-Marie couldn’t appreciate the fine fabric or the detailed tailoring. Her gaze was fixed upon the faint slope of her breasts that was bared above the straight neckline.
On anyone else the dress wouldn’t seem all that provocative; it only hinted at the body beneath. But on her, it appeared scandalous. Or was that simply because she’d never allowed herself to wear such clothing?
Thoughtfully, her hand drifted up to the single strand of pearls lying against her chest. She did look nice, even sexy, she decided, and the knowledge thrilled her in a way she didn’t understand. Is that what Cordero was doing to her? Making a part of her long to be a sexual, sensual siren? Even Ian hadn’t given her the urge to wear a dress like this.
She was wondering what that could possibly mean, when a light knock sounded on the bedroom door. Darcella stuck her head around the panel of wood. “Jules is on the phone. He wants to speak to you,” she said, then seeing Anne-Marie in the red dress, she stepped into the room.
Anne-Marie turned to face her and Darcella gave her a broad smile of approval. “I’ve never seen anyone more beautiful than you are right now, honey. My, oh my, that cowboy is gonna have his eyes full tonight.”
“You’re the closest thing I have to a mother, Darcella,” Anne-Marie said soberly. “So be truthful with me. Do I look like a…harlot?”
Darcella closed the short distance between them and clasped Anne-Marie’s face between her work-worn hands. “Don’t you ever talk that way ’bout yourself, Anne-Marie! You’re a lovely young woman. You look just like you’re supposed to look — finally. I only wish Jules could see you.” She dropped her hands and motioned for the telephone on the nightstand. “You better get the phone. We’ll talk later.”
As the cook left the room, Anne-Marie walked over and picked up the portable telephone. “Hello, Father.”
“Sweetheart, I thought you were going to call this evening. Is everything okay?”
Clutching the phone to her ear, Anne-Marie sank onto the edge of the bed. “Everything is fine. I was just about to call you. I’ve been busy getting ready to go over to New Orleans.”
She could hear Jules sigh with something suspiciously close to relief.
“So you’re not trying to make up some excuse to stay home?”
Anne-Marie passed a hand over her skirt. The slinky fabric felt smooth as it slipped across her skin, but it couldn’t compare to the sensation of Cordero’s palm gliding across her back. “No. I’m actually looking forward to it. So is Cordero.”
“Good! That’s the best medicine I’ve had today! So you two are getting along okay?”
Suddenly Anne-Marie was standing back in the tall cane with her eyes closed against the morning sun and Cordero’s lips rocking over hers.
She swallowed. “Uh, yes. No problems. He’s been very nice. And we had a pleasant ride this morning. I rode Taco. He’s beautiful and affectionate and very well mannered. I — oh, Father, I’m so glad you didn’t listen to me. I love the horses. I only wished you hadn’t spent so much money —”
“Nonsense!” he interrupted, his voice gruffly covering his emotion. “You’re all I have, honey. Don’t deprive me of the joy of spoiling you just a little. Besides, Cordero has spent many hours training those horses. They’re worth every penny I paid for them — especially if you’re happy with them.”
She was happy. Whether the upbeat feeling in her heart was from being with horses again, or from Cordero’s company, she didn’t know. Nor was she going to start analyzing the question this evening. She was simply thankful that the dark weight she’d been carrying around for so long now seemed to be lifting.
“How are you feeling, Father? What does the doctor say?”
“I’m feeling like a young rooster. No need to worry about me. Doc says he still has three or four more tests to do and then he’ll turn me loose.”
“Three or four!” she exclaimed with disbelief. “What could he possibly have left to do to you?” There’re only so many tests that can be run. Maybe I should speak to him.”
“No! I mean — there’s no need for that. Doc knows what he’s doing. You know, honey, he wants to take all sorts of pictures of my ticker while I’m resting and walking. It’s nothing to get alarmed about. He says everything is checking out just great.”
“Hmm. Well, that’s wonderful news. But it would be nice if you could get out of the hospital before Cordero went home. I know you two had planned on doing things together.”
“Never you mind that. Cordero isn’t blind. He’d much rather have a few days with a pretty lady like you than an old crank like me. Now you just put your mind to rest about your father and go enjoy yourself tonight.”
Anne-Marie assured him that she’d do her best to show Cordero a pleasant evening, then quickly gave him her love and hung up. She’d just put the telephone back o
n its cradle and picked up her evening bag when another knock sounded on the door. This time she found Cordero standing on the other side and, for a moment, the sight of him stunned her into silence.
Starched jeans and a white long-sleeved shirt covered his long, lean body. Except for a wayward lock that had fallen near his temple, his black hair, still damp from a shower, was combed straight back from his forehead. He smelled like sweet grasses and dark musk and the sexy curve to the corner of his lips made something in her stomach twist into an aching knot.
“Hi, beautiful.”
Anne-Marie’s first instinct was to glance over her shoulder to make sure he wasn’t seeing an apparition behind her. When she realized his words were actually meant for her, a blush formed on her cheeks.
In nervous reaction, her fingers lifted to her upswept hair and fiddled with a pearl and rhinestone clasp embedded in the red waves. “Hi, yourself. Ready to go?”
He nodded while his gaze swept down to her strapped high heels and back up to the top of her hair. “You certainly look as though you’re ready.” His lips spread into a wide grin as he reached for her hand. “Come here and let me see you.”
Pulling her out onto the landing, he twirled her around as though they were on the dance floor. Anne-Marie suddenly found herself giggling, something she could never remember doing before.
“Cordero! This is crazy. You’re crazy!”
Laughing along with her, he slipped his arm around her and guided her down the curved staircase. Anne-Marie wondered if this was how it felt to step into a fairy tale. Cordero was certainly equal to any Prince Charming she’d ever read about.
Once they reached the living room, Darcella saw them off. She followed them onto the porch and waited long enough to wave as they drove away.
“I think she’s happy to see us go,” Cordero said as he steered the car down the oak-lined lane.
Anne-Marie smiled. “She’s happy because she doesn’t have to cook supper tonight.”
“Poor woman. My being here has put an extra burden on her.”
Having the Cowboy's Baby Page 8
