You Shook Me All Night Long

by Simone Harlow

  “What answer do you want to hear?”

  Her gray eyebrows rose. “My daughter-in-law was right. You are a smart ass.” She smiled. “Of course, that’s not the name she called you.”

  He could only guess. “Do I want to know?”

  “No you do not.” She shook her head. “If I remember correctly you’re a Midwestern boy?”

  “Yes ma’am, Detroit.”

  She gave him a sly smile. “You are a big ole, corn fed man.”

  He was trying hard not to fidget. “I’m not sure what that means.”

  “The best beef is corn fed.”

  Was that a compliment? “Thank you, I think.”

  She laughed. “Escort an old lady to the veranda and we can get to know each other better.”

  Travis held out his arm and she slipped her hand through the crook of it. He could do this. He was a man. Men faced their fears. He could roll up in the fetal position later. He had to do this for Charlotte.

  “Are you enjoying your time in the city?”

  He could do small talk until she was ready to pull out the big guns. He was just hoping she’d get the assassination over quickly. “I like it here.”

  “I have lived all over the world, but there is no place as magical as Louisiana.” She sighed. “Have you been to the city before?”

  He shook his head. “My band has toured here, but I’ve never been here more than a night or two.”

  “I understand you are here recording an album. New Orleans isn’t known for rock music. Why here?”

  What did she know about rock and roll? “Our manger thought we needed to be out of our comfort zone.”

  “There are worse places in the world to be uncomfortable in.”

  He agreed. “This isn’t one of them.”

  “True. How long have you been pursuing my granddaughter?”

  Here it comes. Game on. “Is she a rabbit?”

  She pursed her lips and pinned him with a hard assessing stare. “Some men seem to think she’s prey.”

  Travis stared right back at her. She wasn’t going to run him off. Charlotte was his and he would fight to keep her. “They were idiots. She’s a prize to be won.”

  “A very good answer.”

  He saw respect in her eyes. Not that he was ready to let his guard down. For all he knew she could just be sizing him up for the kill. “Why am I here?”

  “You don’t have a lot subtlety do you, Mr. Rexford?”

  “Call me Travis. And no, I don’t.” He helped her up the stairs onto the veranda. Next to the tall windows, there was a small table with inlaid tiles and two white wicker chairs with white flowers on the black cushions.

  “You’re here because I paid for your company.”

  He held out her chair. “I thought this was going to be an interrogation.”

  “I keep my waterboarding equipment in the dining room.” She sat down and a servant poured them both a glass of iced tea. She pointed a finger at the tall glass. “Beverly, is this my special tea?”

  The middle-aged woman shook her head. “No, Doctor Burke said--”

  She waved her hand. “Child, doctor is a worry wart. If I want a nip of bourbon in my tea, I get one. I pay the bills around here.”

  Travis hid a smile as he sat down.

  Beverly rolled her eyes and reached into her apron pocket and took out a silver flask pouring it contents into her tea.

  “Don’t forget him. I need to take his measure.”

  Travis grinned. “I can hold my liquor.”

  “One time William Faulkner said the same thing in that very spot and I’m the one walked away.”

  She had some interesting friends. He had to remember to tell Malcolm that he’d sat in William Faulkner’s spot on the patio. “Impressive.”

  She sat back and folded her hands. “I understand you play rhythm guitar?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you as good as Hendrix?”

  How cool was that? Don’t fall over in your chair, Travis. “You know who Jimi Hendrix was?”

  “I met him on several occasions when I was in Europe. A great talent, but he wasn’t long for this world, you could tell.”

  “I don’t know whether to be shocked or impressed.” He was feeling a little of both, but hoped it didn’t show.

  She smiled. “Be both. I’m a great fan of music, possibly because I’m a frustrated singer.”

  He found himself relaxing. “Your family wouldn’t let you pursue it?”

  She laughed. “I have no talent. So I became a great supporter of the arts.”

  “So that’s where Charlotte gets it.”

  “I started the foundation but she has taken it to a level I never dreamed of. I am very proud of her.”

  “She’s an incredible woman.” Did he just sound a little breathless?

  Mrs. Lambert tilted her head and studied him. “You like her as a person?”

  Who the hell didn’t? What still surprised him was that she liked him. “I like the way she thinks, I like the way she talks, her sense of humor. I just like her.”

  She took a sip of her iced tea. “Her mother called me in a panic telling me this shiftless musician was on the hunt for Charlotte’s trust fund. I had to leave my sick sister’s bedside and save the family’s future.”

  Now that she’d taken a drink, he knew he could take a drink. So he did and the sweet tea rolled over his tongue with just enough tart from the smoky bourbon. “That’s kinda dramatic.”

  “My daughter-in-law is…” She sighed and shook her head.

  Yeah, she was. “So what are you going to do to get rid of me?” He wasn’t even going to let this cool old lady get between him and Charlotte.

  She narrowed her blue eyes and leaned back in her chair. “Not a damn thing. Nicole is going to have to suck it up. I like you.”

  Did he just hear her right? “You do?”

  She nodded. “There is a spark in that child’s eyes I haven’t seen in a long time. I miss it. I’m assuming you put it there.”

  “I don’t know about all that, Mrs. Lambert.”

  “Call me Mary. We are going to be allies.”

  They were? Holy shit. “Why?”

  She took another sip of her tea. “Do you know about the accident when Charlotte was a child?”

  “I think it had something do with a horse.”

  A sad frown marred her beautiful face. “My Charlotte and Vivienne were wild girls. The two of them would get into some interesting situations. It drove their mother insane. I loved it.” There was a mischievous glint in her eyes.

  He paused, leaving his glass about half way to his mouth. “Charlotte and trouble are two words I’d never use in the same sentence.” This old girl was a hell raiser. Sweet.

  “Charlotte and Viv were both exceptional riders. Viv had a natural talent, but no discipline. Charlotte had passion and drive. They could have both been Olympic caliber had they wanted it. One day Viv took Charlotte’s horse, Mr. Darcy, for a ride and Charlotte was so mad, she pulled Viv off the horse. It startled and Viv’s foot got stuck in the stirrup and she was dragged. Viv almost died that day. Charlotte was so shocked by what she’d done, she never got back on a horse again. And, from that moment, she became the most obedient child on the planet.”

  Travis could let her know some of what Charlotte was doing. “She is trying to get back on a horse again, we just haven’t got to that one yet.”

  “I don’t understand?”

  “Vivienne gave Charlotte a list of things to do after she died. Charlotte’s been working on her list. Getting back on a horse is one of those things. I’ve been helping her when I could.”

  She eyed him. “What is else is on that list?”

  Really he wanted to confess everything, but he didn’t think he’d make it out of here alive if he did. Part of him did suspect if he told her what was on Charlotte’s list, she wouldn’t be shocked. “Charlotte did climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.”

  “My daughter-in law-nearly lost
her mind when Charlotte went to Africa.”

  “It’s hard to be a parent.”

  “What is hard is outliving your descendants. I didn’t think I would survive the loss of my husband, but I was able to throw all that love into my children and when I lost my son, I thought I would die. Then I lost Vivienne, who was so much like me I didn’t want to go on. But I have my grandson, his boys, and I have my Charlotte. Life is tragic, but then the wonderful sneaks up on you and you can go on.”

  She had gone through the shit. He found himself admiring her. “A year ago I lost my best friend. We started the band together and he was always there keeping us together. I didn’t think I could do this without him, but I am.”

  She nodded. “I suspected you knew tragedy.”

  “Andy is the reason I am the man I am today.”

  They sat in silence for a few minutes.

  “So what do you think we should do about my daughter-in-law?”

  Travis shrugged. “I’ve only met her twice. I don’t know how to handle her.”

  She raised the glass to her mouth. “She’s not finished trying to break you two apart. She is not an enemy to take lightly. She’s cunning and quite determined.”

  Travis didn’t figure the mother was done. “Are we Romeo and Juliet?”

  “That ended rather tragically.”

  He took a swig of his tea. He really liked this stuff. “I don’t know where it’s going, I just know I like what we have.”

  “If you continue seeing her, you will have to make a decision. Charlotte wants to be a wife and a mother.”

  He’d guessed that already. “She’s never said anything to me about that.”

  “She doesn’t have a lot of experience with men. She was barely out of diapers before Preston’s family and her mother had her future all sewn up.”

  “Are you a Preston fan?”

  “The boy has an appealing nature and it’s hard to not like him. He would have been a good father and he did want to be a good husband to her.”

  “You know he’s gay right?”

  She rolled her eyes. “I knew when he was ten.”

  Damn this woman was cool as shit. “Not much gets by you does it?”

  “Not a damn thing.”

  He held out his glass and toasted her. “You know, Mary, you’re alright.”

  “I’m glad you approve of me, Travis. And I do approve of you.”

  Having Charlotte’s grandmother on his side was better than a trump card. He would use that to his advantage. “Thanks.” Travis took a long drink of his spiked iced tea. He was thinking about sitting on the veranda for the rest of day and getting drunk with Charlotte’s grandmother, listening to her stories. There were worse ways to spend a day.

  Chapter Twenty

  Charlotte refused to sit outside on the veranda and wait for Travis. She was a jangle of nerves and thought she was going to explode at any moment.

  “Charlotte, are you okay?”

  She turned around to find Malcolm standing next to the sofa. “I’m fine.”

  He sat on the sofa next to her. “You look like you’re ready to cry.”

  “He’s late.” She checked her watch again for the umpteenth time.

  “It doesn’t mean he’s dead.”

  “She’s really not a dragon.” Her grandmother could be quite sweet when it suited her. She could only imagine what her mother had told her about Travis.

  “She’s checking him out.” He put a hand on her shoulder. “That’s what family does.”

  “Who checks out your girlfriends?”

  “There’s a long list of people who like to stick their nose in my business.”

  “My logical mind says it’s because they care, but there is a part of me that thinks they need to make sure I don’t make another Preston mistake.” She didn’t know what she’d do if her grandmother didn’t like him.

  “Travis isn’t gay.”

  “He’s a whole other animal.”

  Malcolm stared at her for a moment. “Is that bad or good?”

  “Good.”

  “Listen, the car just pulled up.”

  They sat there not talking, waiting for Travis to come in. Charlotte looked at her watch again. She bit her bottom lip. “He is taking his time, isn’t he?”

  “Do you think she hurt him?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Should we go out and check?” He stood up.

  “I’m scared.” Folding her hands in her lap, she sat.

  “How much damage can an old lady do?”

  “You don’t know Southern women.” Poor man didn’t understand the contradiction that Southern women could be. Sweet as cake, until you got on their bad side, then hell would be a safe place.

  Malcolm sat back down. “Let’s give him another minute.”

  She did appreciate that he was here to support her. He was usually so quiet she couldn’t always get a read on him, but she liked him. “We should.”

  Another minute passed and Charlotte stood. “I’m going out.”

  “I got your back.”

  They walked outside. Charlotte reached the car first and took a deep breath and opened the door. A wave of bourbon scented air washed over her. Travis was sleeping on the backseat. The driver stepped out of the car. “Lionel, is he drunk?”

  The tall driver nodded. “Your grandmamma broke out the good stuff.”

  Charlotte poked him in the leg. “Travis?”

  One of his blue eyes popped open. “Hey, Sweet Baby.”

  She put her hands on her hips. “Are you drunk?”

  He smiled and closed his eye, his head falling back on the seat. “Yes, I am.”

  She couldn’t believe this. “You got drunk with my grandmother?”

  Travis covered his eyes with his hand. “She just kept pouring.”

  Malcolm started snickering.

  Charlotte turned to Malcolm. He wasn’t helping. “This is not amusing.”

  “Yes it is. I’m going to get the guys.” He turned toward the house.

  She grabbed Malcolm’s arm. That’s all she needed, all of them outside to witness this. “Malcolm.”

  “What? This is epic.”

  “Will you at least help get him into the house?”

  Malcolm’s shoulders slumped. “Oh, alright.” He reached in the car and grabbed Travis’s legs and pulled him until his butt was on the edge of the backseat. Taking his arms, he got Travis into a sitting position, and then pulled him out of the car into a standing position. He propped Travis against the side of the limo and frowned. “Dude, lay off the beignets.”

  Travis slapped his hand away. “Dude, I can walk on my own.”

  Lionel laughed. “He did make it into the car on his own.”

  Charlotte pointed at Travis. “How could you let this happen?”

  Lionel puffed up his chest. “I’m the driver, not the nanny.”

  Charlotte let out a frustrated breath. “You’re right. I apologize.” This wasn’t Lionel’s fault. The blame squarely fell on her grandmother and Travis. “I’m tempted to leave him here.”

  Travis touched her cheek. “Are you mad? Your grandmother likes me.”

  Which would have been romantic if he hadn’t almost fallen on his butt. Charlotte sighed. “No.”

  Travis smiled. “Good. ‘Cause I gotta remember the stories about Hendrix, Morrison and Janis Joplin.”

  “Your grandmother knew all those people?” Malcolm asked.

  Charlotte flicked her hand. “You should hear her stories about the Rat Pack.”

  Malcolm slipped Travis’s arm around his shoulder and began to lead him up the sidewalk and into the house. Charlotte reached into the car, grabbed his suit jacket, and followed behind them.

  She was thrilled that he got along with her grandmother, but she wasn’t sure how she felt about him being drunk. Then again, her grandmother probably fixed him her special iced tea and from what she heard, it just snuck up on a body and smacked you upside the head.

>   At the top of the stairs, Vaughn was coming out of his room. “What’s wrong with him?”

  “He’s drunk.” Malcolm sniggered.

  Charlotte frowned. He was not helping any.

  “He got drunk with an old lady?”

  “Yes.”

  Vaughn started laughing. “Fucking pussy.” Then walked past them and headed down stairs.

  Malcolm leaned Travis against the door jamb and opened the door. “A little help here.”

  “That man is such an ass.” Heavens, her language was just deteriorating.

  “Vaughn, not Travis, right?”

  “Of course. Even drunk Travis is sweet.” At least that was true.

  “I know.” Malcolm pinched his cheek.

  “Stop that.” Travis pushed Malcolm’s chest.

  “You’re no fun.”

  “Fuck you.”

  Malcolm sighed. “Guess I’m not going to get a chance to take advantage of you.”

  “Malcolm!” These men were such children sometimes.

  “Please, Charlotte, let me have some fun at his expense. It’s been years since Travis tied one on. I’m going to have to blog about this.”

  She was glad to hear that. She glanced at Travis with a ridiculous smile on his face. He just looked so adorable she knew she couldn’t be that mad at him. “At least this is a rare occurrence. I don’t think I could abide by a man who made this a regular activity.”

  Malcolm slapped Travis’s cheek. “He’s good.”

  Charlotte went into the bedroom. “Should we sober him up or let him sleep it off.”

  Malcolm got him into the room and laid him on the bed. “I kinda want to hear his stories.”

  “I want to know what went on with my grandmother.”

  Travis rolled over on his side.

  “What do you think went on?” Malcolm asked.

  Charlotte sat on the edge of the bed and looked at Travis. He had a smile on his face. He just looked so adorable. “Well, my grandmother tends not to eat or drink with people she doesn’t like, so I’m hopeful it was a good meeting.”

  “If she breaks out the top shelf liquor, I want to meet her.”

  One probably needed the bourbon to get through a meeting with her. “It can be rather nerve-racking.”

  “Hey, what’s going on in here?” Gavin walked into the room.

  Charlotte sighed. “Travis just got home.”