Tangled Up In You (Fleur de Lis Book 1)

by A. L. Vincent

  “Daniel? Be a DD. We may end up at 31. And that’s in La Fleur Parish. You know how those cops are. You breathe wrong and they pull you over.” Carly looked at Daniel.

  “I will.”

  “Me too,” Noah said.

  “Sounds like a deal, then,” Carly said. “Meet at the inn in an hour?”

  Everyone nodded; Glinda surprised Emily by nodding too. Seemed like everyone was all in. Emily let herself go with the flow. This was another new experience, and she was going to enjoy it.

  ***

  At the inn, they divided themselves into two groups. Glinda, Carly, and Emily climbed into Emily’s SUV with Daniel at the wheel. Noah was driving Joey’s Jeep with Joey and Ryder. Ryder had given the SUV full of women a long glance, but had joined the guys. Emily was sure he would have loved to be smack dab in the middle of Carly and Emily. But his glances at Noah and Joey spoke of his loyalty to his friends.

  Soon they were pulling into a parking lot. ‘The Wild Wahoo’, the sign proclaimed in huge flamingo pink letters. A big fish adorned the sign. A few cars littered the parking lot, a slow night it seemed, but it was Sunday, and the Saints had played a noon game.

  The group of them was bigger than the small crowd at the bar. The bartender looked up from a cell phone and smiled. Her night was about to get a bit busier.

  Everyone placed his or her orders. Carly ordered a round of shots and went to start up the jukebox. She had already declared it was ’80s Sunday, so Emily knew what to expect.

  The group found a small table off to the side. Grabbing their drinks, they all settled in. Carly came back with a round of shots.

  “What is this?” Emily asked.

  “A Carly Bomb,” Carly replied.

  “What’s that?”

  “Don’t worry about it, cher. Just drink it.”

  Carly raised the shot glass to toast. “To friends!”

  “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” played from the jukebox. Noah, Joey, and Ryder groaned.

  “Seriously, Carly?” Ryder asked. “Surely you can think of better eighties music than that.”

  He stood up and grabbed some dollars from his wallet. “I can’t take this. How are you supposed to dance to this?” He patted Carly on the shoulder. “Come see, let’s go play some good music.”

  “Hello, Daniel,” an older brunette said, sidling up to Daniel. The woman had cougar written all over her from the too tight leopard print shirt to the heavy-handed makeup painted on her face. Even her eyebrows had a fine brown line.

  Daniel grimaced. “Hello, Cecile.”

  “It’s been a while,” she said, dragging up a chair. She plopped in the middle of the guys and they all scooted back.

  Who was this woman? Emily wondered.

  The woman held a hand out to Emily. “Hi! I’m Cecile.”

  “I’m Emily.”

  “Nice to meet you. Aren’t you quite the looker? Which one of these cuties are you here with tonight? I like to know which ones are available.”

  Three sets of eyes pleaded with her to save them from the clutches of this crazy woman. How could she save them all?

  Glinda patted Daniel on the knee. “Not this guy. He’s with me.”

  “Noah,” Emily said. “Noah’s with me.”

  Joey grimaced and Emily smiled apologetically. Maybe Carly could figure out a way to save him. She was probably more adept at those kinds of social situations. Emily still wasn’t sure what they needed saving from.

  Cecile scooted closer to Joey and licked his arm. When Joey’s eyes grew as big around as saucers, Emily knew.

  “You’re a little young,” Cecile said to Joey. “But, I like ’em that way. Got lots of stamina, you young ones.”

  Cecile’s hand disappeared under the table and Joey stiffened.

  “Joey,” Emily said. “Come dance with me. You don’t mind, do you, Noah?”

  Noah grinned, as if he thought for a minute to disagree just to torture Joey, but he nodded. “You know I can’t dance, sweetie. You go on ahead.”

  Emily swayed along to the music with Joey. He really was such a sweet guy. The dance was over soon, and Emily shook her head as the familiar beat of the old “Macarena” song filled the bar.

  She was not dancing to that.

  Joey laughed as they walked back to their seats. Cecile had moved on to the next table. Her eyes still traveled back to the guys, and Emily knew the cougar would probably return.

  Carly walked back to the group as well, with another round of shots. Emily groaned inwardly. This was going to be a long night. After Carly put the shots down, she went through the movements of the “Macarena.” Emily just shook her head.

  “Did you play any decent music?” Joey asked. “At least Ryder’s over there now. He’ll play something that’s not going to make my ears bleed.”

  Carly stuck out her tongue at Joey.

  An older blond man pulled a seat up beside Carly. She glared at Ryder, who had been sitting in that spot. Busy making selections at the jukebox, Ryder didn’t see.

  “I’m Richard,” he said to Carly, extending a hand.

  She reached out and clasped his hand, then cringed.

  “Ouch!” she said, pulling her hand back.

  “Oh, sorry. I’m a karate instructor. I think I accidentally grabbed a pressure point.”

  “How do you just accidentally grab a pressure point?” Carly asked. She rubbed her sore hand with the other.

  Emily felt Noah tense. She looked over at him. His eyes narrowed, but he said nothing. He was one to let Carly fight her own battles, but would be there just in case.

  “Sometimes I just don’t know my own strength,” Richard said. Emily stifled a giggle as he assumed a pose that flexed arm muscles.

  “I think I need another drink,” Emily said.

  “I’ll go with you,” Noah said. He looked at Carly, but Carly just rolled her eyes.

  Emily rested her arms on the bar and waited for the bartender to come back. When she did, Emily ordered.

  The strains of a lively Cajun dance song came on. Ryder’s music was now playing. Emily looked to see who he would dance with.

  Just then, someone squeezed Emily’s rear end. She looked over at Noah. Both of his hands were on the bar. She looked to the right. Cecile had come up. It was her hand on Emily’s rear. Emily grabbed Noah’s arm.

  “You have a nice butt,” Cecile said to Emily.

  Emily shot a look at Noah. “Yes, my husband says that all the time. Don’t you, hun?”

  Noah bit his bottom lip in an attempt not to laugh. “The best, baby.” He smiled and winked, also patting Emily on the behind. Her eyes widened and Noah chuckled. Then he glanced down at her drink. “You ready to go back over there, hun?”

  “Yes,” she said through gritted teeth. “Yes, I am.”

  His hand settled on her waist this time as they walked back to the table.

  “I can teach you some self-defense moves if you want,” Richard was saying to Carly.

  “I don’t need self-defense,” Carly said. “I have wasp spray. Much more effective than pepper spray. Longer spray and you would need a trip to the ER. Wanna see?”

  “Let me show you anyway,” he said.

  “Go ahead,” Carly said sipping a beer. “But I’m not getting up.”

  Richard started demonstrating some karate moves, moving his hands in big sweeping motions.

  “Hi-yah!” he said, and karate chopped the table.

  Emily looked at Carly. Carly was staring at the ceiling, hand covering her mouth.

  “Ryder!” Carly yelled. “You got some credits? I have a request!”

  “I got some. C’mere,” he said, motioning Carly over.

  “I’m coming.”

  Carly joined Ryder at the jukebox. Everyone else was simply watching Richard go through the karate moves. He reminded Emily of Mr. Miyagi from the Karate Kid movies. Wax on. Wax off.

  The beginning strains of the seventies song “Kung Fu Fighting” started playing.


  Carly settled back into her seat with a wide-eyed innocent look. A look Emily had seen before.

  As the song started playing, Emily spewed Crown and Coke all over the table. All over Mr. Wanna Be Miyagi.

  He glared at Emily, wiping the tight white shirt with a napkin.

  “I’m so sorry,” Emily said, still laughing.

  “Let’s go see what’s going on at 31,” Carly said. “I think it’s time for a change in scenery.”

  ***

  The next stop was 31, and it was right on the edge of St. Andrew Parish. The building was bigger than the Wahoo, and there were more cars in the parking long. Karaoke night seemed to attract the customers.

  The group bounded in and was greeted by a bad rendition of Patsy Cline’s “Crazy”. They found a table in a dark corner. Hopefully, they wouldn’t attract any unwanted attention this time.

  Noah and Carly went to take care of the beverage orders. Noah came back with soft drinks for him and Daniel, and beer and drinks for the rest. Carly came bearing shots again. Emily was glad for the respite from drinking on the way over. She was already beginning to feel the effects of the alcohol. She would have to sip this drink.

  “To friends!” Carly toasted before they did their shots. “I’m going to sing. Emily, you want to sing with me?”

  “Um. No,” Emily said.

  “Oh, you’re no fun,” Carly teased.

  “You go ahead. I’ll enjoy the show from here.”

  “Fine. You have any requests?” Carly said to the group.

  “Something not stupid,” Ryder said.

  “How about “Hammer Time?”” Joey said. “That’s a horrible song you haven’t tortured us with yet.”

  “I can’t do the dance,” Carly said. “If I were wearing my eighties pants, you bet your sweet ass I’d sing it.”

  Joey just shook his head.

  She rolled her eyes. “You’re no fun.”

  She thought for a moment, then said, “I know what I’m going to sing.”

  Ryder and Joey groaned.

  Carly took the little pencil and the slip of paper and wrote the request down. She gave it to the karaoke guy and returned to the table.

  Emily sat back and sipped her drink. Carly was definitely a handful. The next karaoke performer was up, and he began singing an old country song.

  “C’mon, Em. Let’s dance,” Noah said, nudging her arm.

  She smiled at him. “Sure.”

  As they got up, Daniel and Glinda joined them, and Carly surprised Emily by grabbing up Joey. Ryder, not be outdone, charmed a pretty lady sitting by herself at the bar into dancing.

  Emily felt a little lightheaded, although she didn’t know if it was from Noah’s closeness, the alcohol, or a combination of both. She relished the closeness, his smell, the gentle touch on her back. She stepped forward just a bit.

  He brought her a hair closer. Emily’s breath caught, and she missed a step.

  Noah smiled and hugged her close. “You okay?”

  “Yeah,” she said.

  He smiled down at her. “I’m sorry about this morning.”

  “It’s okay,” she said.

  “You sure?”

  “I’m sure,” she said, resting her head on his shoulder.

  Too soon, the song was over, and they went back to the table. All but Ryder, who had decided to join the pretty woman back at the bar.

  “And now, we have Miss Carly Devereaux, singing “Jose Cuervo,” the karaoke guy’s deep voice announced as he held out the microphone.

  Carly slinked over to the guy and took the mic.

  As Carly began singing, Emily was impressed. What Carly lacked in actual singing ability, she made up for in showmanship.

  She hopped up onto the bar and sang to the crowd. She flirted with the guys who were alone and soon had the crowd eating up the performance.

  The door to the bar opened and two police officers walked in. One wore a St. Andrew Parish Sheriff's uniform, one a city. In the dark, it was hard to see what city, but Emily assumed it was Pointe Shade, the town where 31 was located.

  Carly faltered, and the bar went quiet. One of the officers, the younger one in the city uniform, walked up to the bar.

  “Oh, go ahead, don’t let us interrupt you,” he said.

  “You know what?” Carly said. “I think I just lost my voice.”

  She walked to where Ryder was still standing, and he gave her a hand down from the bar.

  The officers stalked through the place, checking for possible misbehavior, as if looking for prey.

  Carly and Ryder rejoined the group in the corner, and Emily hoped the two officers would leave them alone. They hadn’t been doing anything wrong. And had very sober designated drivers.

  The officers had other ideas though, and the way the younger one was eyeing Carly, it was apparent he had more than one kind of hunt in mind. Emily shuddered. The look was cold and calculating. Instinctively, she scooted back.

  The cop grabbed a chair and turned it around backward, straddling it. He looked at Carly.

  “Nice performance you had going on there,” he told Carly.

  “Thank you,” Carly said.

  “What are you guys up to tonight?” he asked, glancing at each of them.

  “We were enjoying ourselves,” Glinda said, shooting him a pointed glance.

  Emily stifled a smile.

  “Oh, don’t let me interrupt you,” he said, eyes drifting back to Carly.

  “You have a name?” he asked.

  “Carly,” she said, then sat back in the chair and crossed arms over her chest.

  “Carly, that’s a very nice name for such a beautiful lady.”

  Emily watched as Carly glanced down at his hands. She saw the grey wedding band when Carly did.

  “And your wife?” Carly asked.

  “Well, what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her, will it?” He flashed a smile that didn’t match the dark gleam in his eyes.

  Emily’s stomach twisted.

  “I’m Officer Mouton, by the way. Denis Mouton,” he said, holding a hand out to Carly. He eyed her up and down. “It’s a pleasure.”

  Emily watched as indecision danced across Carly’s face. Emily wasn’t sure if Carly was going to shake his hand or slap him.

  Carly held out a hand, but said nothing. She simply looked him in the eye.

  The other officer returned from his rounds through the building, obviously disappointed at having found nothing going on. There would be no excitement for them here tonight. No civilians to arrest. No tickets to write. Officer Mouton stood up, eyes still on Carly.

  “I’ll see you soon,” he said. To Emily, his tone sounded like a threat.

  Mouton winked at Carly, and the two cops walked out the door.

  Daniel stood up to peek out the window.

  “Oh God,” Carly said. “I think I just threw up a little in my mouth. Let’s finish these drinks and go home. We’ll just drink at Snapper’s. Seems safer that way. Is it a full moon?”

  “Let’s give St. Andrew’s finest some time to get down the road,” Daniel said. “You know they looked at all of our cars while they were here. I don’t feel like the hassle of them inventing a reason to pull me over. They went the other way, but they may come back around.”

  “Good plan,” they agreed.

  Soon, they finished their drinks and decided that the coast was probably clear. The mood was definitely more somber on the ride from 31 back to Bon Chance. The celebratory feeling was gone. Daniel and Glinda called it a night when they got to the inn and the rest went to Snapper’s.

  Carly began making drinks for everyone, and another round of shots. Emily definitely needed one after the encounter at 31. That cop had made her skin crawl.

  After their shots, Carly headed to the jukebox.

  “Play something you can dance to,” Ryder said. “I haven’t really gotten to dance all night.”

  “Ryder, who you gonna dance with? Carly can’t dance to anything!”
Joey teased.

  Carly turned and stuck her tongue out at the two. “How about some Wayne Toups?”

  “Sure,” Ryder said.

  Noah settled into the stool beside her and smiled. “Having fun?”

  She smiled back. “I am, actually. Didn’t really care for that run-in with the cop though.”

  He grimaced. “Yeah, I know.”

  “Take My Hand,” the popular Cajun song, played.

  “Dance?” Noah asked.

  “Sure.”

  Noah led Emily to the dance floor, holding her closer than earlier. She relaxed in his arms, enjoying the comfort and security of his arms.

  Emily looked over to see Carly and Joey sharing a dance. Emily felt bad for Joey. And Carly. Maybe a few dances would clear the cloudy air around them and they could see how much they cared about each other.

  Noah pulled her closer, leaned down, and placed a kiss on the top of her head. Emily smiled. Her heart melted. This was not a good idea.

  The song ended, and they resumed their seats. Carly soon had another round of shots lined up.

  “To friends!” they all toasted.

  Noah scooted his seat closer and wrapped an arm around Emily, and she leaned into his embrace.

  ***

  Noah guided Emily home.

  One, two, three, she recited in her head, counting footsteps, trying to walk a straight line.

  She should not have done that last round of shots. Or the last three rounds of shots. She was grateful for Noah’s steadying arm. He laughed as she swayed one way then the other.

  He helped her up the stairs, took the key, and opened the door.

  Noah shook his head, still smiling.

  “C’mere, cher.” He led her to the bedroom. He pulled the sheets back and patted the bed. “Climb in.”

  Emily obeyed, and all but fell into the bed.

  Noah tucked the blankets around her and leaned over. He eyed her mouth, and Emily bit her bottom lip. His eyes darkened. He was going to kiss her.

  Emily closed her eyes.

  His lips were warm against her forehead.

  Emily’s eyes popped open. He saw the question in them.

  “When I kiss you the first time, cher, I want to be sure you know what you’re doing.” He kissed her forehead again and chuckled. “And that you’ll actually remember it.”