“It happens.” I shrug as if it’s no big deal and keep pacing. “I’m barely picking up on emotions too.”
“You can’t keep it all under lock and key forever. You’ll let your guard down eventually.”
“So what? I let my guard down all the time, Lena. Nothing like that has happened before. You’re the only one who’s freaking out about it.”
“Somebody has to,” she says. “It wasn’t just that the person is living and knew how to get into your head. He, or she because I couldn’t tell what it was, wasn’t friendly. It was…evil, for lack of a better word.”
“I know.” I sigh and sit back down, returning to my ice cream. “But I honestly haven’t sensed anything like it since then. It could have been someone in a neighboring property, or who knows? But I can’t dwell on it. If I sat around and dwelled on all the weird shit that happens in my head, I’d be in a hospital by now.”
“True. Because you are weird. You don’t like chocolate ice cream.”
I laugh. “Yeah, that’s cause for being institutionalized right there.”
Suddenly, my phone rings. I check the number, but I don’t recognize it.
“New York?”
Lena shrugs and I answer.
“Hello?”
“Is this Mallory Adams?”
“Yes.”
“My name is Debbie Williams, and I’m calling because I used to work with your grandmother.”
“I can stop you right there,” I reply, shaking my head.
“Please,” she says, desperation in her voice. “Please just hear me out before you hang up.”
I put the phone on speaker, gesturing for Lena to listen as well.
“Go ahead,” I say.
“I sent you an email a couple of weeks ago, but I didn’t hear back from you, so I thought I’d call to at least speak with you one-on-one.
“I’m a lieutenant with the New York Police Department. I was a detective when I worked with your grandmother. I’m in homicide and missing persons.”
“I remember hearing your name,” I reply. My grandmother admired Detective Williams, and enjoyed working with her. “But I can’t help you.”
“I think you can,” she replies immediately. “There have been a string of young girls going missing, all about a month apart, all thirteen years old. At first, we assumed that they were runaways, but they all have too many similarities to think that it’s anything other than abduction, and by the same person.”
“I’m so sorry,” I reply, holding Lena’s gaze. “I really am. My heart aches for their families. But I’m not gifted like my grandmother was, Lieutenant. It’s not that I don’t want to help you; I don’t have the experience or capabilities to help you. But I do know others who can, and I’m happy to send you their contact information.”
She quiet for a moment, and I think I’ve lost her.
“Ma’am?”
“I heard you,” she says, her voice heavy with disappointment. “I have other resources. If you change your mind, please call me. Thank you for your time.”
She hangs up, and I just sit and stare at Lena for a long moment.
“I don’t want it,” I finally say softly. “I’ve never wanted it, Lena. And I can’t help her the way Grandmamma could.”
“I know,” she replies and covers my hand with hers, squeezing it. “You haven’t nurtured your skills in over a decade. I was shocked that you agreed to the séance last week.”
“I was too,” I murmur. “And look at what it did to me. I don’t want to live my life like that. There are plenty of psychics out there who are qualified to help her. I’m not one of them.”
“Okay.” She nods vigorously. “You’re right. It’s completely your decision, and if you’re not comfortable with it, then you should not do it.”
“Thank you.” A tear slips down my cheek, surprising me.
“What is it?” she asks.
“I feel guilty,” I reply. “Like I’m being selfish.”
“You don’t have the skills.” She shrugs again and offers me a small smile. “There’s nothing you can do about that. And even if you did, it wouldn’t be selfish to choose to not help. You have the right to do what you think is best for you.”
“I do,” I agree. “What Grandmamma did wasn’t safe.”
“I know.”
“I just want to enjoy this new relationship with Beau, and run my store, and love my friends. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
“I know that, too, and you deserve that. We all do. You’re not doing anything wrong. But what happened last week scared me. It was new.”
“Are we circling back around to this?”
“Yes, because I want your word that if anything like that happens again, you’ll call me and we will take it to my Nana.”
“Okay.” I nod reluctantly. “If it happens again, we will talk to her about it. But in the meantime, let it go. Please.”
“Fine.” She scowls at her bowl. “My ice cream is all gone.”
“Well, then let’s get some more.”
***
“This is pretty.” I hold up a scarf that I’ve found in one of the shops in the Quarter. Beau and I are wandering around on this sunny fall evening, ducking in and out of stores, galleries, and just spending time together.
“The blue would look pretty on you.” He takes it from me and wraps it around my wrists, shielding me with his body so no one can see what he’s doing. He leans in and whispers, “See? It’s lovely against your skin.”
He cocks a brow, and all I can do is lick my lips and think about all the ways he could use this scarf on me when we’re both naked. A slow smile spreads over his wicked mouth and he walks over to the cashier and buys the scarf, then takes my hand and leads me out onto the sidewalk.
“Thank you.”
“Oh, I think this is for both of us,” he says, New Orleans hanging heavily in his voice. I’m pretty much perma-turned on when I’m around him. The chemistry between us is simply off the charts.
Halle-freaking-luia!
As we walk, Beau is quick to shield me from anyone who might accidently brush against me, or guide me around areas that he thinks are dangerous. It’s sweet, but I also just want him to treat me the way he would any other woman.
Finally, when he pulls me out of the way of a family walking past us, I pull us around the corner, where there’s less traffic, and stop him.
“What are you doing?”
He frowns and looks around, as if he’s looking for the person I’m actually talking to.
“Yes, you. What’s going on in your head?”
“I’m walking through the Quarter with you.”
“Beau, I’m not fragile. You don’t have to constantly make sure that no one touches me. I understand why you feel this way, but it’s not necessary.”
“I want you to be comfortable. I want you to have a nice evening without all of the other stuff.”
“Thank you for that.” Not wanting to sound ungrateful, I reach up to brush my fingertips down his cheek. “Thank you so much. But I’m okay.” I smile widely. “I’m having a great time. You don’t have to protect me against any of those people. Just treat me the way you would any woman. I seem to be getting better at shielding myself lately.”
He frowns and cups my face in his hands, the carefree man gone, replaced by this serious one, and I’m sorry that I said anything at all.
“I can’t do that, Mallory. If I treat you the way I do other women, I wouldn’t be with you right now.” He shakes his head. “I wouldn’t take the time to get to know you. Not because you’re not beautiful and smart, but because my priority is my career and my family. So, we would enjoy a mutually satisfying evening in bed, and then I probably wouldn’t call you again.”
Whoa. Talk about swoon!
“Why am I different?”
“That’s the million dollar question,” he replies. “And the answer is way more complicated and personal than what can be discussed in this public place.
But I will say this, you are different, and I’m different with you. I’m not going to stop seeing you.”
“Well, that’s good.” I smile, not regretting this conversation now in the least, and boost myself up on my tiptoes to kiss his lips. He wraps his arms around me and hugs me close while he extends the kiss, then lets me slowly slide down his body.
I wish we were somewhere private, and that we were both naked.
But that’s just going to have to wait.
He pulls away and takes my hand again, leading me back in the direction we were headed before: to Café du Monde.
I’ve been craving beignets all day.
We grab a seat under the green and white awning, and place our order of two plates of the delicious sugary doughnuts and frozen coffees, then I pull my new scarf out of the bag and wrap it around my neck with a sassy wink at Beau.
“I had no idea you were a scarf fan.”
He smirks, rubbing his fingers over his lips and watching me fuss with the blue fabric. It’s soft and feels good against my skin.
Finally, he leans over and presses his lips to my ear. “I’m going to take you back to your place this evening, strip you naked, and tie your hands with this scarf. Then I’m going to fuck you blind.”
He leans back in his chair, a proud smile on his handsome face, and I surprise us both by saying, “Promises, promises.”
He busts out laughing just as our drinks and beignets are delivered, and I take a bite of the piping hot pastry, then sigh in absolute delight.
“These are the most delicious things on the earth.”
“They’re close,” he says.
“What’s better than this?” I take a sip of my frozen coffee before taking another bite. He doesn’t reply, he just cocks a brow, and I know he’s talking about me. “You’re on a roll today.”
“I haven’t had you in three days,” he replies, deceptively calmly, and meets my gaze with his. “Which is exactly three days too long.”
“And what are you going to do about that?”
“I just told you.”
I cock my head to the side, surprised.
“Oh, I wasn’t kidding. That scarf has a very important job to do in roughly sixty minutes.”
“Wow. That’s a lot of pressure for a scarf.”
He chuckles and offers me a bite of his last beignet, and I open my mouth, then suck his fingers as he pulls them away.
“We’d better change the subject before I take you on this table, sweetheart.”
“Ew.” I wrinkle my nose. “I don’t think they wipe these tables down very well. That’s just not sanitary.”
He busts out laughing. “You’re probably right. Well, I have something else to talk about anyway.”
“Okay, shoot.”
“I have to go to Miami on Thursday.”
“Thursday as in two days from now Thursday?”
“That’s the one.”
“Wow, that’s short notice.”
“It happens a lot,” he replies and wipes his mouth with a napkin.
“That must cost you a fortune in airline tickets,” I say, immediately overthinking it the way I always do.
“We have a company jet,” he replies with a smile. “I can travel pretty much anywhere on the planet at the snap of my fingers.”
“Of course.” I’m a moron. He may be just a normal man with me, but Beau Boudreaux is filthy rich and a powerful man in our community. Of course he has a private jet.
“I want you to go with me,” he says, completely stunning me.
“Excuse me?”
“I’d like for you to join me in Miami, and once my business is finished Thursday afternoon, we’ll spend the weekend there. Or, near there.”
I blink at him for several moments.
“You want me to leave in two days.”
“Yes.” He takes a sip of his coffee, as if he just asked me to go to the movies with him.
“I have a business to run,” I remind him, already trying to figure out how I can make it work.
“When was the last time you took a vacation?”
“I was twenty-two.” I smile, remembering the trip Lena and I took right after college. “Lena and I went to Paris. It was Miss Sophia’s gift to us for graduating from college.”
“Well, I’d say you’re overdue then,” he says. “We’ll be back by Monday evening.”
“I guess I can ask Shelly to cover for the weekend, and Lena can help her too.”
“Is that a yes?”
I smile and nod, not bothering to cover my excitement. “As long as Shelly isn’t sick or dead, yes.”
“I will fervently pray for Shelly’s well-being,” he says. “Now, let’s get back to your place. I have plans for you and that scarf.”
I laugh, slipping my hand into his as we walk back to the shop, and to my car.
“What should I pack for this weekend?”
“It’s hot in Florida.”
“That doesn’t help me. Will there be swimming?”
“Probably.”
“Will we be going out to dinner?”
“Definitely.”
“What else will we be doing?”
He thinks about this for a moment. “Boating, sitting on the beach, shopping. Pretty much anything you want to do.”
“Oh, the beach!”
“I guess the beach is high on our priority list.”
“I love the beach,” I reply. “I need to go shopping tomorrow for a new bathing suit.”
“Now we’re talking.”
I snort, and he scowls down playfully. “What? I love your body.”
“And only you know why.”
“Remind me later that we need to work on your self-esteem.”
“No, we don’t. I’m not shy around you. You’re attracted me, that’s obvious. And I’m happy that you are. But I’m a woman, so I see the flaws.”
“You’re a human being, sugar. We all have flaws.”
“You don’t. At least, not physical ones.”
He shakes his head and chuckles. “I’m happy you think so. But my arms could use some more definition.”
“I like your arms.”
“See? We’re attracted to each other. No need to question it. I say we just enjoy it.”
“Good plan.” He’s a smart man.
***
The drive home has taken forever. We took his car, leaving mine at the shop, because Beau will spend the night, and he’ll just give me a ride to work in the morning. He hasn’t stopped touching me. He’s dragged his fingers up and down my thigh, held my hand, then returned to my thigh.
I’m so hot and bothered, I could fry an egg on my chest.
I have the scarf in my fist, holding on with a death grip, excited to see what he has in store for us.
Sex with Beau is never boring.
Finally, we pull into my driveway, and he leads me calmly to the front door, waits patiently as I unlock it and walk inside, and the next thing I know, the door is shut and I’m pinned against it, my arms above my head, and Beau’s face pressed to my neck, kissing and biting me like a man starved.
“You smell so fucking good,” he growls against my ear, sending shivers down my entire body. “You look at me and I’m hard. You smile at me and I want to do exactly this to you, no matter where the fuck we are.”
He pulls us away from the door and up the stairs to my bedroom, strips me naked in a flash of flying colors, then grabs the blue scarf, and with lust in his eyes, he slowly urges me back to the bed.
“Not yet,” he says as I move to lie down. “I’ll tell you when I’m ready for that.”
I cock a brow. “You’re very bossy today.”
“I’m bossy every day, Mallory.” He chuckles and steps back so he can admire me from head to toe. My nipples pucker under his scrutiny, so he reaches out and brushes the soft material over them, making me gasp and bite my lip. “You’re—”
“I’m?”
He just shakes his head and lets out
a long, deep sigh. “You’re everything.”
He steps to me and drags the knuckles of both hands down my chest from collarbone to nipples, then he turns me away from him and pulls the scarf up over my eyes.
“This is what we’re going to do tonight,” he whispers against my ear as he ties the scarf. He gently spins me back around and tips my chin up to tickle my lips with his, then guides me onto my back on the bed. “I want you to put your hands over your head.”
I comply, frowning.
“Is there a problem?”
I love this take-charge bossy side of Beau.
“I like to touch you.”
“I know.” I can hear the smile in his voice, and suddenly he’s sucking on my nipple, not touching me anywhere else. “But you don’t get to touch me right now.”
“Okay.”
“I want you to tell me if I do anything that makes you uncomfortable.”
I nod, not able to find my words.
“I need you to speak out loud, please.”
“I hear you.”
“Good.”
And suddenly his lips are moving down from my nipple to my stomach, around my navel and even farther south, over my smooth pubis. He’s not touching me with his hands at all, and I can’t see him to know where his lips will be next. My entire body is on high alert, covered in goose bumps, and my pussy is wet, pulsing with anticipation.
Instead of moving down further to kiss me, his lips are on my hip, then my side, licking over my ribs.
“Holy shit,” I mutter and squirm under him, unable to keep my hands over my head, I reach down to grip his hair in my fist, but he snatches them before I make contact and pins them above my head again. I can feel the length of him over me, his hard cock pressed to my center. “I want you.”
“I’m right here,” he replies before softly biting my chin. “Keep your arms where I put them.”
“It’s not easy.”
“I know.” His voice is softer now as he brushes a lock of hair off my cheek. “You have to trust me. Do you trust me, Mallory?”
“You know I do.”
“I want to hear you say it.”
“I trust you,” I reply.
“Good. Lift your hips.” I comply, and he slips a pillow under them, tilting my pelvis up. I’m sure he’s going to start kissing me there, but instead I feel his fingers gently pet me, slipping through the wet lips, and then he’s inside me, thrusting in and out at a hard pace. “You’re so fucking tight.”
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