She pulled her shoulders back and caught his attention shift, the muscle at his temple twitching. She had to hold in a small whoop of triumph. Despite how he was trying to ignore her, he couldn’t. Not completely. It was a start.
“Now that the guest of honor has arrived, can we eat? The pregnant woman is hungry.” Allegra’s voice coming from the door to the dining room broke the tension, and everyone laughed and moved in her direction.
Only one person still looked as coiled up as a cornered rattlesnake, giving off the unmistakable air of leave-me-the-hell-alone. But Angelique knew she wasn’t going to be able to.
It wasn’t in her nature.
“YOU SURE YOU’RE OKAY, CHER?”
Angelique hid her smile behind her water glass as she noticed the beautiful BD continuing to worry over his bride throughout the meal. Bethany had come to New Orleans to help Michelle and Ben do some research on the last occupants of the mansion... and had won the heart of Bone Daddy. The “Love Doctor of the Big Easy” was well and truly caught, and he didn’t look like he had any interest in getting away.
Bethany smiled, but even to Angelique, who was only now getting to know her, it looked off. “We aren’t here to talk about me. Not right now. We’re here to welcome Gabriel home, and to celebrate Allegra and Rousseau’s upcoming home birth. Michelle and I are going to be the best midwives you’ve ever seen. I must have read thirty books on the subject so far.”
“Thank you, Bethany.” Allegra’s eyes grew misty. “I know you’re going to do a great job.”
“Midwives? You’re having the baby at your house?”
Angelique nibbled on a piece of corn bread as she watched Allegra lean forward with an excited smile to answer Gabriel’s question. “Actually, we’re doing it right here, at Ben and Michelle’s. I can’t wait.”
Gabriel paled and glanced down at his plate. “Here?”
Angelique choked on her corn bread and he glared in her direction. “She didn’t mean in the dining room.” She lifted an eyebrow, unfazed. “Although it’s not a bad idea. This table is certainly big enough.”
Allegra snorted. “I wasn’t planning on giving birth between courses, Gabriel. Don’t let our new college graduate scare you.”
Celestin leaned over and tugged on one of Angelique’s curls. “I love hearing that. College graduate. The first in our family. And you made the top of your class, right?”
She batted his hand away and glanced at Gabriel through her lashes. Since the meal started she’d been planning his seduction. The last thing she wanted was for him to see her as a child. Now her brother was one step away from showing baby pictures. That would make her evening perfect.
Ben took pity on her. “What was it you got your degree in? I keep thinking it’s sassin’ back, but I don’t know if they offer that major at LSU yet.”
Angelique stuck out her tongue. “Very funny. You know it was environmental engineering. Besides”—she pointed at him with her fork—“I don’t need a class on sass. I was taught by the master.”
Gabriel looked up at that, directly at Angelique, with an expression that was insultingly reminiscent of disbelief. “Interesting.”
Angelique knew what he wasn’t saying. She’d heard it before. Most of the guys she’d dated had said something to the effect of, “An engineer? I wouldn’t have guessed. Teacher, baker, or salsa dancer, maybe. Not engineer.” Why would he be any different?
She narrowed her gaze warningly. “Katrina hit during my first semester. When the levees failed, I wondered why. The more I learned about the erosion and the design flaws, the more I wanted to know. When I found out about the work that was needed in wetland preservation and coastline restoration, well...” She shared a smile with Celestin. “Being our mother’s child, I wanted to fix it.”
Bethany looked around her husband, an expression of true interest relaxing her features. “Allegra told me you also minored in Southern folklore. A girl after my own multitasking heart.”
Angelique nodded. “At first I thought it would be an easy A. Growing up here, I knew it all, right? But there’s more tall tales and folk legends in and around Louisiana than I imagined. It was fascinating.” She laughed. “Although we spent a lot of time focusing on my professor’s personal passion. He knew as much about the Loup Garou, or Rougarou as he called them, as I expect Mambo Toussaint knows about voodoo.”
Ben shushed her and glanced around the room with a humorous impression of paranoia. “Rousseau, you’d better tell your little sister that there is no one, anywhere, who knows about anything as well as my mama-in-law knows about voodoo. She may be listening.”
BD chuckled. “Wouldn’t put it past her, or your mama, Adair. Those two are dangerous.” He winked at Angelique. “I should say those three now. The Mamas have officially added another member to their elite club, haven’t they? By all accounts your mother is more than holding her own.”
Grinning, Angelique popped a barbecued shrimp between her lips. Her mother, Theresa, had always shied away from her husband’s voodoo religion as well as her own family’s history with Santeria. She’d never spoken of it, had simply gone to church each week, volunteered, and made sure to have her babies crosses blessed by at least one Catholic priest. It had been her way to protect her children from their father’s darker practices. That was why Angelique and her siblings were so surprised and, yes, relieved that she was getting along with the empath Elise Adair and the voodoo priestess Mambo Toussaint. In fact, she’d been spending so much time with them that Celestin had wondered aloud the other day if the Mamas were up to no good.
She swallowed. “My mistake, Ben. But my professor, while nowhere near as knowledgeable as Michelle’s mama, was a font of information on the subject of werewolves.”
Celestin looked down at his sister, grimacing. “Werewolves, huh? I never understood that particular story. I always had a hard time believing there were Loup Garou mushing around in the bayou. A killer gator, maybe, but a dog-boy?” He shook his head.
Gabriel’s scratchy voice had a condescending tone. “I think we have enough to believe in as it is in this group without adding fairy tales about wolf-men to the list. What are they teaching kids in school these days? Next you’ll be telling me there are vampires and unicorns.”
Angelique lifted her chin at his obvious dismissal. Kids, huh? She had a sudden, mad desire to fling one of the plantains on her plate at his forehead. But as satisfying as that would be, it would serve only to prove him right. The jerk. “I’m sure education has changed dramatically in the last few decades, since you... matriculated? Is that the word they used back then? And you’re probably right. Just because a sexy professor spun stories about werewolves, Loa, and spirit possessions doesn’t mean any of that is true, right? I mean, everyone here knows none of that exists.”
Gabriel stared at her in stony silence, then scraped back his chair. “Excuse me. I need some air.”
He strode away from the table like the devil was on his heels. Maybe she was a masochist, after all, because all she wanted to do was follow him.
She bit her lip when she saw Ben and Michelle share a speaking look. “Was it something I said?”
“It’s okay, little one. No one told you.” Celestin spoke in a low voice beside her. “Michelle’s brother is... Well, he’s been through a lot.”
A frustrated Michelle slapped the table with the palm of her hand. “I don’t care what he’s been through. He’s being an ass, and I think I should go talk to him.” Her brows drew together in obvious concern. “Maybe he’ll tell me what’s wrong this time.”
Ben covered her hand with his own. “Mimi, you know what’s wrong. After what happened last year... that he came home to face it at all, to face you, shows he’s trying.”
“What happened last year?”
Every gaze turned to Angelique at her question. They all wore the same hesitant expressions. Secretive.
What on earth had Gabriel done to have everyone speaking in riddles and whispers?
Whatever had happened, it must have been important. She wondered if it had anything to do with Michelle’s and Ben’s abilities.
Since she’d been home, Angelique had spent a lot of time with Allegra and Michelle, and along with feeling an instant camaraderie with the sassy Toussaint, she’d learned about Michelle’s ability to see ghosts.
She’d already known Ben’s talent. That he could see into anyone’s mind with a touch. She’d always thought it was a magic trick, one he’d shown her several times when she was a child. Maybe that was why she was taking all this so well. This new magical reality. In one way or another, whether she’d known it or not, it had always been a part of her life.
Allegra pushed back her chair, shooing away Celestin when he tried to help her to her feet. “Let’s give him a little more time. All of us together at once can be overwhelming in the best of circumstances. Now, who wants to help me clear the table?”
“Bebe, don’t you dare. That’s why I’m here.” Celestin took the plate from her hand and gestured to Ben, who stood as well.
“I wouldn’t want to face the Mamas if they found out I let my pregnant guest clean up in my house.” Ben winked at her, filling his hands with the take-out boxes and plates in front of him.
Allegra made a face. “I’m not a guest and you know it. And being pregnant doesn’t mean I can’t wash the dishes.”
Michelle, who had gotten up along with everyone else, placed her palm over Allegra’s forehead. “You must be feverish, child. You have men waiting on you hand and foot and you want to argue about it? If I were pregnant, I’d be putting you to shame.”
Ben stilled, sending his wife a sizzling look. “I’d be willing to beg to see that, Mimi.”
“Well, I’m a guest, too. And I’m perfectly fine letting the men do all the work,” Angelique muttered, reminding them they still had company.
Ben shook his finger at her playfully. “Sassy and spoiled. Just as I suspected.”
The rest of them headed out of the dining room in a whirlwind of chatter and clinking china, leaving her behind with BD and Bethany. They were speaking so intently to each other that they’d barely noticed anyone had gone.
“Blue Eyes, tell me what’s wrong. You know you can’t lie to me.”
Bethany shook her head. “Nothing is wrong. It’s just, well...”
She sent a pleading glance in Angelique’s direction. Even for a natural eavesdropper, it was an easy look to interpret. She pushed back her chair and got to her feet. “Speaking of air, I think I’ll get a little myself and leave you two alone.”
BD raised a speculative brow but Bethany just smiled in absentminded thanks.
She should really be thanking them. They’d given her exactly the excuse she needed to disappear, a fact BD no doubt suspected. She headed down the hall, away from the kitchen, before anyone else could notice.
The way Gabriel had gone.
He’d been headed outside. To the sprawling backyard thick with oak and magnolia trees . . . and happy memories.
She opened the glass-paneled doors that led outside, smelled the sweet, damp grass and magnolia blossoms, but saw no sign of her elusive prey. She took the path to the pristinely white gazebo, reaching out to skim her fingers along the wood grain when she reached it.
This was where Celestin and Allegra had gotten married. Angelique remembered how beautiful everything was. She’d cried to see her brother so happy, and, she was honest enough to admit to herself, she’d been more than a little envious. Not because of the beautiful ceremony, but the utter contentment and joy that shone like a halo around the couple. They knew what they wanted, where they were going, and that they would get there together.
She would give anything to be that sure. Someday. Right now she was just interested in how Gabriel made her feel. She had no illusions about those feelings. They weren’t sweet and romantic. They were agitated and restless. Shameless.
She was shameless. She should probably go back inside before he realized she’d followed him out here like a hopeless puppy. Maybe go out and look for a handsome, low-maintenance tourist on Bourbon Street to let off some of this steam. Though she had a feeling it wouldn’t do any good. Her inner desires were very specific. They wanted Gabriel.
“Why don’t you just leave me the fuck alone?”
Angelique stumbled backward at the insult that seemed to be a response to her thoughts, and saw Gabriel standing beside the tree out of sight of the house.
That did it.
“Excuse me?”
Gabriel swore and spun around. Noticing her standing by the gazebo, he swore again. “I didn’t see you there. I didn’t mean—I was talking to . . . myself.” He sighed and ran a hand through his already tousled hair. “I’m truly sorry if I offended you. It’s a bad habit of mine.”
She took a step closer, arms crossed defensively at her waist. “You seem to have a lot of those.”
“Huh?”
“Bad habits,” she clarified. “Drinking. Fighting. Offending people. And you talk to yourself, too.”
He tilted his head, green eyes gleaming at her through the darkness. “Been listening to gossip, little girl? I don’t think you pressed your ear to the keyhole long enough. Otherwise you wouldn’t be out here. Go back inside, where it’s safe.”
She ignored the warning in his tone and sighed. “Angelique. In case you were wondering, since you never bothered with introductions, that’s my name.” She walked over to the tree and leaned against it, feeling the bark scrape against her back. “And I’m no little girl, as you can plainly see. I’m also not stupid.” She made a face. “Top of my class. So who was it you were you talking to?”
Gabriel looked distracted. “What?”
She shrugged. “I’m not assuming. Trust me. Personally I’d love it if there were someone besides me who hadn’t been intimately involved with something supernatural. Then I wouldn’t feel so left out. But your mother is a mambo, your sister can see ghosts, and you two are twins . . .” She let the sentence dangle, biting her lip when he flinched.
She could see the barriers come up across his handsome face. She’d hit a nerve.
“Doing a paper for that sexy professor on the unusual Toussaint lineage? Following up the Loup Garou with ghosts and possession? Wouldn’t you rather look at your own family line? You should ask your brother what life was like being ridden by a fuck-hungry spirit because your father liked to dabble in the darkness and had an eye for the ladies.” Gabriel’s smile was sharp, adding to the sting. “The eavesdropping is so much more interesting at my mother’s house. You should try it.”
DAMN, HE WAS A BASTARD. HE’D BARELY COME HOME AND already his sister was defensive, his mother disappointed, and now he was purposely trying to hurt this innocent.
This young, succulent, luscious little innocent in snug blue jeans and an off-the-shoulder peasant blouse. She made him feel like an old pervert. Like a kid with his first hard-on. He couldn’t tear his gaze from the sweep of those smooth, bared shoulders. Couldn’t keep himself from noticing the way the fabric fell against the firm rise of those unconfined, lush breasts.
Shit. If Little Miss Hot Coed was so clever, she should be smart enough to stay far away from him.
“Keep going,” Emmanuel taunted, reminding Gabriel of his presence. “Your obvious charm is sure to win her over. The cleavage leering is really working, too. I know my heart’s all atwitter.”
Gabriel gritted his teeth, trying not to look at the tall man lounging, unseen, beside Angelique. Emmanuel had barely left him alone since he’d woken up with a hangover and a swollen jaw in his mother’s house.
He wouldn’t admit this to anyone, and he still wasn’t planning on thanking Emmanuel anytime soon, but in a way it had been a relief. The protections his priestess mother had insulated her home with had offered him some respite. Peace of a kind he hadn’t felt since he’d left a year ago.
There was no darkness under the Mambo’s roof. It was a fact that didn’
t soothe him as much as he thought it would. It meant he wasn’t crazy. It meant there really was something out there. That it hadn’t all been in his mind. Had the djab escaped his prison and come after him again? Did it want to finish the job? Or was it something more dangerous?
Maybe he should listen to what Emmanuel had been trying to tell him. Maybe he should follow his advice and tell his mother about his experiences this past year. But he hadn’t yet. Mainly because he just didn’t want to give the irritating bastard the satisfaction.
Instead he was walking around like a bear with a thorn in his paw and no information . . . but at least he had his pride.
And his impeccable sense of sarcasm.
Not knowing was one of the reasons he hadn’t wanted to come here tonight. To go out in the world where the shadows dwelt among humanity. Heading back here of all places; the old mansion he and Ben and Michelle used to play behind. The house where they met the youthful specter who, it seemed, had grown up to become a serious pain in his ass.
But he’d had no choice. The Mamas had taken turns glaring and giving him sorrowful looks until he’d agreed to play nice and go spend time with his sister and the rest of the brood. They were argumentative and affectionate. Irreverent and loving. A family. He felt like a fraud among them, like he didn’t belong. Their closeness, their obvious warmth for one another, was alien. Strange. He didn’t fit, and he was in no shape to carry on a civilized conversation. Especially when the young beauty had turned the conversation to spirit possession as he sat beside his sister and BD, the two people who had seen him at his weakest moment . . . who’d saved him.
He’d come out to the backyard to get away from Celestin’s feisty sister, almost daring himself to see something in the darkness. A test, he assured himself. If only to remind him that sparring with a beautiful woman wasn’t for someone like him. Not anymore. It was an action Emmanuel had been questioning when Angelique had come upon them.
Tempt Me Page 3
