The Reunion: The Secret of Cypriere Bayou

by Jana DeLeon

  “Then why don’t you do us both a favor and stop coming.” He started to close the door, but Carter put his hand on the door to stop him.

  “It’s not that easy, Bert. I got problems in Calais, and I think you know something about them.”

  Bert crossed his arms over his chest and smirked. “That right. Let me guess, you got another rich bitch on your hands whining about keeping her and her money safe.”

  A rush of anger passed through Tyler and he itched to punch the man right in his smug jaw.

  “What I’ve got,” Carter said, “is a stalker, a kidnapper and someone who breaks into houses and assaults women.”

  “Sounds like a real problem. Maybe you should stop hassling me and do something about it.”

  “I am doing something about it. Any of those descriptions fit you?”

  Something flickered in Bert’s eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. Bert dropped his hands. “Look, I already told you all I did for Purcell was cart stuff up and down the highway to New Orleans. I don’t know nothing about kidnappings and beating up on women, especially rich bitches.”

  “Who says the assault was on a rich woman?”

  “Please. Everyone in Calais knows the sheriff’s department works for the LeBeau sisters.”

  Tyler glanced at Bert’s shack. “A woman with money might come in handy.”

  “Yeah,” Bert said. “That worked out well for Purcell. Don’t worry about me. I make my own money.”

  “Like Roger and Jack?” Carter asked. “Making money the Purcell way got them killed. If you know anything about that, you need to tell me now.”

  Bert sneered. “You afraid I’m in danger, Sheriff?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Well, don’t worry your pretty little head about it. I can take care of myself.”

  He stepped back and slammed the door.

  “I see what you mean,” Tyler said as they climbed into Carter’s truck.

  “He’s hiding something, right?”

  “Yeah. I’d bet on it. But we already know Victor Brant, not Bert, attacked Joelle.”

  Carter nodded. “But did you see his look when I mentioned the assault?”

  “It bothered him, but I can’t figure why.”

  Carter sighed. “I can’t help thinking if we knew the answer to that question, we’d be halfway to solving all of this.”

  Tyler looked at Bert’s cabin in the passenger’s mirror as they drove away and saw curtains on the kitchen window slide back into place. It was clear to Tyler that Bert was nervous about something. He only hoped Carter figured out what it was before someone else wound up dead.

  * * *

  JOELLE PULLED THE T-shirt over her head, wincing as she lifted her right arm up and caught sight of it in the mirror. It was throbbing a little and she could see a light purple shade was already setting in on it. By tomorrow, she had no doubt it’d look like her entire biceps had been caught in a vise.

  She pulled her wet hair back with a clip, not about to bother with a blow-dryer, and slipped her feet into flip-flops. When she pulled open the bathroom door, she drew up short for a second, then remembered that the armed man standing outside the door was Tyler.

  “Sorry,” he said as he caught sight of her. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  She waved a hand in dismissal. “I knew you were out here. I don’t know why I’m so jumpy.”

  “Don’t you?”

  She sighed. “I guess those meds aren’t doing much.”

  “They’re doing enough. We don’t want you drugged beyond the point of reaction.”

  The thought of being so out of it she couldn’t move and wouldn’t even care held a sliver of appeal, but Joelle knew Tyler was right. She had to be able to run or fight or whatever else may be called for.

  “What about you?” she asked.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I assume you’d like to take a shower. How do you intend to do that if you’re not letting me out of your sight?”

  “I’ve been thinking about that. I know this will be uncomfortable for you, but I thought I’d put a chair in the bathroom. You can sit with your back to the shower.”

  She stared. “You want me to sit in the bathroom with you while you shower? Are you going to shower with your gun?”

  “No, but there’s a shelf at shoulder height right outside the shower. It will be within easy reach.”

  A million reasons why this was a horrible idea ran through her mind. A million reasons to choose from and all she had to do was select one.

  “That’s okay,” he said. “I’ll just wait until tomorrow when Carter can guard you.”

  Great. Now she felt guilty. Tyler had spent half the day tromping around the swamp, with unseasonably warm temperatures and humidity that made you sweat indoors, much less outside. She wasn’t about to send him to bed dirty, itchy and sweaty.

  “Fine,” she said. “I’ll file my nails or something.”

  “Thanks,” he said, and the grateful look he gave her made her feel guilty for hesitating.

  He dragged a small chair from one of the bedrooms into the bathroom, then squeezed by to the shower. “Close the door and lock it,” he instructed as he pulled her pistol from his waistband and handed it to her.

  She closed and locked the door, then pulled the chair up a bit to allow him more room to undress. The bathroom was tiny, and with the two of them and the chair, the floor space was almost gone. She set her gun on the edge of the sink, next to the chair, and grabbed her makeup bag.

  “Ready when you are,” she called out as she slid onto the chair, her back to the shower.

  The water came on, and then she heard the sound of clothes falling on the tile floor. She pulled her nail file from her makeup bag, trying to force her mind from thinking about Tyler and his perfect chest and back. Then she heard a zipper and knew he’d removed his jeans. She’d bet the entire LeBeau estate that his legs were just as impressive as everything else on him.

  Her compact rested at the top of her makeup bag—almost daring her to take it out and open it up. She shoved it to the bottom of the bag, chastising herself for high school thoughts, but couldn’t stop the sliver of disappointment she felt at her lack of adventure. Sighing, she began to file her nails.

  She was about to spend the entire night in a twin bed not two feet away from the man. The last thing she needed was to go to bed with a clear mental picture of exactly what rested beneath those covers.

  When Tyler had told her they would be sharing a room from this point forward, she’d protested, but his argument was sound. The patio off her bedroom was a security risk. It was smarter to move into Tyler’s room, which had no patio and only one window with no trees offering access. The problem was, Tyler’s room was tiny—maybe ten by ten—and even though she had a separate bed, they were so close that she may as well be sleeping alongside him.

  Still, although she’d never admit it, she did feel safer knowing he would be so close she could reach out and touch him. He’d placed her bed against the wall on the opposite side of the door. If anyone came inside, they’d have to go through Tyler to get to her. Of course, if she wanted to go to the restroom in the middle of the night, she’d have to practically climb over him to get out.

  The thought of climbing over Tyler led to a whole other set of images, and she bent her file against her finger and it flicked over her shoulder. She leaned over and felt the floor behind her, still facing the door, and finally, her fingertips touched the edge of the elusive board. She leaned over a tiny bit farther to get her fingers on top of it and realized too late that she’d completely miscalculated her balance.

  The chair tipped a tiny bit to the side, then the legs slid across the tile floor, sweeping the chair out from under her.

 
Chapter Sixteen

  Joelle crashed onto the floor, groaning as her left shoulder hit the hard tile. Great, now she’d have two purple arms tomorrow. She could wear a muscle shirt and double as Barney.

  In the excitement of the fall, she didn’t realize that the shower had shut off, but now the quiet of the bathroom seemed to echo around her. She closed her eyes for a second, wondering what in the world she’d done to deserve this.

  Just get up and stand in the corner until he’s dressed.

  That sounded reasonable, so she opened her eyes, preparing to rise, and a giant foot appeared in front of her.

  “Are you all right?”

  Tyler’s voice sounded above her and she held in another groan. Her mortification hadn’t been this high since she’d ripped her gym shorts during square-dancing class in eighth grade.

  “I’m fine,” she managed.

  “Let me help you up.”

  The “No” was still on the tip of her tongue when his hands slid under her arms and he pulled her straight up to a standing position. She clenched her eyes again, praying that when she opened them, she would find it had all been a really bad dream.

  “You can open your eyes,” he said. “I’m wearing a towel.”

  Definitely not a dream.

  She opened one eye and saw him standing directly in front of her, wearing nothing but a towel and a sexy grin.

  “If I’d known sitting in the bathroom could be so dangerous, I would have gotten you shoulder pads.”

  “I dropped my fingernail file,” she said, cringing inwardly at how incredibly lame she sounded.

  “And the potential of seeing me naked was so horrible that you risked breaking your arm instead?”

  “No...I mean...I...” She clamped her mouth shut, unable to fathom any response that didn’t implicate her one way or another.

  He stepped closer to her and she could feel the heat coming off of his skin. A flush ran through her from head to toe as an overwhelming desire to touch his bare chest came over her. Then he lowered his lips to hers and all apprehension melted away. Lost in his kiss, she ran her hand across his chest, feeling every square inch of his perfectly toned body.

  He put his arms around her and pulled her body next to his. That’s when she realized his towel had slipped to the floor, and the reality of being pressed against his completely naked body sent a chill through her. Moving his lips from hers, he trailed kisses down her neck and she moaned.

  Then without warning, he swept her up in his arms and carried her out of the bathroom and into the bedroom, where he placed her on one of the twin beds. She looked up at him, marveling at his physique. Even the scars that graced his skin made him more masculine, more attractive.

  “Protection?” she asked, praying that he had some.

  He nodded and reached into a nightstand for his wallet. While he was otherwise engaged, she shrugged off her T-shirt, yoga pants and undies. Her body trembled as he moved into position over her, lowering his lips to hers again. He entered her in one fluid motion and she gasped, digging her fingernails into the soft skin of his shoulders.

  Her body felt as if it were on fire, starting at her center and flaming out through every square inch of her. She clutched his back and moaned as he set the pace. The last thing she could remember thinking before he sent them both over the edge was how much she wished this moment would never end.

  * * *

  THE TINY BED didn’t leave much room for two grown adults, but Joelle didn’t mind the narrow space one bit. Her body pressed against Tyler’s, their hot, bare skin touching from head to toe. Satisfied as she’d never been before, she laid her head on his chest and closed her eyes, relishing the moment.

  “I didn’t want to get involved with you,” Tyler said quietly.

  “I know.”

  “You did?”

  She looked up at him and smiled. “You don’t exactly do subtle.”

  “No,” he said with a laugh. “I guess I don’t.”

  “You plan on telling me why, or are you still keeping secrets?”

  He ran his fingers across her hair and sighed. “There are things I’ve experienced that I don’t plan on ever telling anyone, but since this one sort of involves you, I guess I can give you the basics.”

  Joelle pushed herself up on her elbow so that she could look directly at him, surprised he’d agreed so easily. “I’d love to hear anything you want to share, and I promise not to push for more.”

  He nodded. “There was a woman—a specialist in my line of work—that I met on my third tour of duty. She was brilliant and beautiful, and I was a little surprised when she wanted me.”

  “I’m not surprised.”

  He smiled and leaned over to kiss her, then straightened back up, and his smile faded. “Unfortunately, she took risks. Don’t get me wrong—it was our job to take risks, but she took it to a whole other level. A level that put her in more danger than she needed to be. Our commander came up with an idea. It was far-fetched but if it worked, it would have given us a huge tactical advantage.”

  “You didn’t want to do it.”

  He shook his head. “It went against protocol and all good common sense, but she was enthralled with the idea of gaining such an upper hand. I tried to talk her out of it, but she was already invested. So I agreed to partner with her as security detail.”

  Before he even said the words, Joelle knew what they would be. Her heart fell as he took in a deep breath and stared up at the ceiling. Finally, he looked back down at her.

  “We walked into a trap. In a matter of seconds, I was living my worst fear.”

  The pain in his eyes was so clear that her heart ached for him. She placed her hand on his chest. “I’m so sorry,” she said.

  “I couldn’t save her. It was my job to keep her safe, and I failed.”

  “It wasn’t your failure,” she said, although she knew he wasn’t ready to accept that. “You were against the mission from the beginning. If they had listened to you...”

  “I shouldn’t have agreed to go.”

  “Would that have prevented her from going?”

  He sighed. “No.”

  “Then there’s nothing you could have done, but I understand how much that bothers you, truly I do.”

  He nodded. “I guess you probably do.”

  “It’s an awful feeling...to see something horrible coming and not be able to change it. You’re constantly internally screaming at people to give you control so that you can save them.”

  “But people rarely do.”

  “No.”

  “How do you keep doing it? Keep trying to help people when you know so many of them are already lost?”

  She shook her head. “I guess I focus on the ones we save.”

  “Yeah,” he said, but she could tell he wasn’t convinced. “Anyway, that’s why I avoided getting involved with you. I didn’t want to care for someone who voluntarily put herself in a position of danger, and your job definitely qualifies.”

  “I understand,” she said, “but I’m glad you changed your mind.”

  She moved closer to kiss him and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her naked body against his. And within minutes, he began the slow pace that would send them both over the edge again.

  * * *

  TYLER PULLED ON his jeans the next morning, looking down at Joelle, who was still asleep in the narrow bed they’d shared. Shared, and darn near destroyed if his ego was to be believed. He’d been attracted to her from the moment he laid eyes on her, but even his imagination hadn’t come close to what it had been like to make love to her. And that was saying a lot, given that he had a fairly good imagination.

  She stirred and looked up at him with a lazy smile. “What time is it?”

  “Almost eight o
’clock. We slept late.”

  “Well, most of the night wasn’t about sleeping....”

  He laughed as he sat next to her and leaned over to give her a kiss. “Well, there is that. How’s your arm?”

  “Which one?”

  He smiled, fondly remembering her tumble onto the bathroom floor. After all, it had kicked off the best night of his entire life. “Both.”

  She glanced down. “Stiff and certainly not the most attractive, but not as bad as I thought they’d be.” She reached up to touch his face with her hand. “I’m glad you changed your mind about dangerous women.”

  He shrugged. “I cheated, really. I mean, once the Brant issue is solved, you’re free and clear. Your two weeks will end and you’ll get the mother lode of cash from the estate. You can spend the rest of your life doing anything you want—reading, traveling...spending sleepless nights with security experts.”

  Her smile slipped away and she sat up. “I...I’m not planning on quitting my job.”

  “Sure you will. Your job’s in Jackson and your family is here. Besides, you won’t have to work, much less at something so difficult and dangerous.”

  “It’s true...I have already thought about moving closer to Alaina and Danae. We have so many lost years to make up for and it will be easier if I’m close. But, Tyler, you have to know I don’t have any intention of leaving my profession. I want to help women. What I do makes a difference.”

  Tyler jumped up from the bed and practically ran from the room. “This was a mistake.”

  Before he’d even made it to the doorway, the tears spilled over Joelle’s cheeks.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Tyler dropped Joelle off at the general store and watched as she walked inside with Alaina before heading down the sidewalk for the café. The ride into Calais had been silent and uncomfortable, and he welcomed an hour away from Joelle and all the problems she brought with her.

  He slid onto a stool at the café without even looking at Carter. He waved a finger and Sonia slid a cup of coffee in front of him, then wisely set off across the café with her pot and her smile. Clearly, she understood that the smile part would be wasted here.