Easy Kisses (The Boudreaux Series Book 4) (12 page)

“I’m sorry, yes. Ben, this is Simon Danbury. Simon, this is Ben.”

“Hello,” I say and shake his hand, then turn back to her, feeling gutted and so bloody disappointed. “I’m sorry for intruding. I’ll go—”

“No, that’s okay. I was about to leave anyway,” Ben says and winks at Charly. “It was nice to meet you.”

“Likewise,” I reply, never breaking eye contact with Charly. The bell dings as he leaves, and we are suddenly left in silence. “I should have called.”

“No! I mean, yes.” She shakes her head and walks behind the counter. “I mean, no. This is fine. You’re fine.” Finally she stops, leans her hands on the counter, and shakes her head. “You surprised the bejesus out of me.”

“I wanted to surprise you.”

“Well, you did.” She sighs and stares at me with those whiskey colored eyes. “Why are you here?”

“To see you,” I reply.

“You flew all the way to New Orleans just to see me?”

“Why does that sound unreasonable?” I can’t stand it anymore. I reach over and drag my fingertip down her temple to her chin. “Your skin is even softer than I remember, and I didn’t think that was possible. Are you with Ben?”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“You heard me.”

“Ben’s a friend of the family.” She bites her lip as I let my finger glide down her throat and to her collarbone.

I cock a brow.

“Seriously, if Ben is in love with any of us, it’s Savannah. He’s loved her since we were kids. He just needed some advice.”

“I see.”

“Were you jealous?”

“I didn’t like it,” I reply honestly. “I know I don’t have a claim on you, and I have no right to be jealous, but seeing another man’s hands on you didn’t feel good.”

“I don’t think you’d be here if you didn’t give a fuck,” she replies, reminding me of what I said to her in Montana.

“And I give a fuck.”

She sighs and watches me for a moment. “Did you come to town for a weekend of sex?”

And just like that, she’s pissed me off.

“No, Charlotte. I didn’t come to town to get off. If that were my goal, I could do that just about anywhere. That’s not my style.”

“Okay.”

She cocks a brow and braces her hand on her hip, and I’ve never been so fucking attracted to anyone in my life. Strong women are incredibly sexy.

“I’m here because I missed you, and I wanted to see you.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t call.”

“I’ll be honest. For a while I was just stubborn, and convinced myself that you didn’t want to see me again.”

“I’m not sure I do.”

I still. Her eyes are happy, and her body language is open. Am I misreading this?

“But then I realized that I missed you and I wanted to come find you, even if it was just to take you to dinner to see how you are.”

“You came for dinner?”

“You’re making this quite difficult.”

Her lips twitch and I feel just a bit better.

“I really wanted that phone call, not that I would have admitted it.”

“I’ll add you to my phone right away.”

She bites her lip for a moment, and then suddenly runs around the counter and launches herself into my arms, holding on with all her might.

“I’m happy to see you.”

“I’m glad. You scared me there for a moment. I thought you were going to kick me out on my arse.”

“I just—” She leans back far enough to look me in the eye. “I’m still learning.”

“It seems we both are, darling.”

“How long are you in town for?”

“A week,” I say and return her wide smile. “I’m thinking of bringing this fall’s retreat to New Orleans, so I thought I’d look at possibilities and spend some time with you, if you’ll give me some. My agent is going to book a couple of radio shows while I’m in the area, and I can do my other radio show from here.”

“You’re bringing your business to New Orleans.”

“Just for the week, so I can see you. I can’t take the week off completely, Charly. I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t be sorry.” She shakes her head and hugs me again. “Are you exhausted from the flight? Hungry?”

“Both.” I grin as she pulls away and finds her cell phone. “What are you doing?”

“Calling in some help. I’m taking the rest of the day off. I’ll help you get settled.”

“Are you certain?”

She simply winks at me and listens as the phone rings against her ear. “Hello, Linda? It’s Charly. I could use some help at the shop today. Would you be willing to come in and stay until closing?” She nods and adjusts a display as Linda talks. “Perfect. No, that’s just fine, sugar, thank you. I’ll see you in an hour.”

Bloody hell, her accent just about brings me to my knees.

She hangs up and turns to me. “Are you really here?”

“It appears so.”

“Linda will be here in an hour. Are you already checked into your hotel?”

“No, I came here first. Why don’t I go do that while you get things handled here, and I’ll pick you up in an hour?”

“I’ll come get you. Where are you staying?”

I cross to her and pull her in my arms, rest my forehead on hers, and say, “If you come to me, we won’t leave the hotel room, love.”

She shivers. “Okay, you pick me up. I’m hungry. And I’m not that easy.”

I kiss her gently. “I’ll see you soon.

Chapter Nine

~Charly~

He’s here.

Simon is in New Orleans. The minute I saw him, my tongue was stuck to the roof of my mouth and I was just…
numb.

I haven’t felt like an excited teenager over a boy since… Well, ever. I’ve never felt quite this way before, and I’m not quite sure what to do about it.

And I’m not going to overthink it now.

Because he’s
here.

“Thanks for coming in, Linda.” I smile at the other woman and finish the display I’d started when Ben came in. “It’s been pretty tame today.”

“Oh, I don’t mind at all.” She grins and ogles a new pair of orange sling-backs. “Being surrounded by beautiful shoes is never a bad thing.”

“That’s the truth.”

The bell over the door dings, and in walks Simon. His dark hair is damp from a shower, and he’s changed into a Henley T-shirt and cargo shorts and good God, I want to climb him like a tree.

He flashes a smile at me, and I hear Linda gasp.

“Is this why you need the rest of the day off?” she asks, not bothering to whisper.

“Yes.”

“Good girl.” She offers her fist for a bump, which I accept with a laugh and wave at Simon.

“I just have to grab my bag.”

“No problem,” he replies and admires the display. “You did all of this while I was gone?”

“It doesn’t take long.” I shrug and duck into the workroom to retrieve my things. “I plan it out ahead of time, so putting it together goes relatively smoothly.”

“It’s a work of art,” he says, his hands on his hips as he stands back and stares at the wall. “The way the colors flow, how you have them arranged. I like it.”

“It’s just a shoe display,” I reply.

“Charly isn’t good at taking compliments,” Linda says and I feel Simon’s gaze turn down on me. “Just smile and say thanks, honey.”

“If you need me, I have my cell,” I reply, ignoring her comment. “Call for anything at all.”

“I’ve got this,” she says, shooing us away. “Have fun.”

“Shall we?” Simon holds his arm out for me, and I slip my hand through, loving the feel of his strong bicep under my hand.

Good God, what he does to me.

“Did you eat?” I ask when we’re on the sidewalk.

“Nope, I waited for you.”

“Good, I’m starving.” I stop and glance around. “Where’s your car?”

“I walked.”

“You must be staying nearby?”

“A few blocks away.” He takes my hand and links our fingers. “Lead the way to something delicious.”

Café Amalie.

I haven’t been there in ages, and I just heard that they’re serving lunch on the weekdays.

“I know a place.” I wink up at him before slipping my sunglasses on my face.

“I’m sure you do.” He takes a deep breath. “I thought it would be hotter.”

“Have you been here before?”

“Once, but only briefly.” He shakes his head and stops to look at some artwork in a storefront window. “It’s a beautiful city.”

“It really is,” I reply with a nod. “It’s been a mild summer. The afternoons will get hot, but it cools off nicely at night. In another few weeks it’ll be miserably hot most of the time.”

“Are you okay in those shoes?”

I glance down, surprised at the question, then chuckle. “I’m fine. I’m on my feet in shoes like this ninety percent of the time.”

“The sidewalks are a mess.”

“I’m holding onto you,” I remind him. “I’m pretty sure you’ll catch me if I start to fall.”

A few minutes later, we come to Café Amalie. “I love this place.”

He looks down at me in surprise and then starts to laugh. “Would you believe me if I said that I’m staying right across the street?” He points to the bed & breakfast with the cornstalk fence just across the street and I grin.

“I’ve always loved that place.”
It’s haunted.
I don’t mention that to him. “This restaurant is amazing. Come on.”

The hostess meets us. “Would you like to sit inside, or in the courtyard?”

“If Joe is working, I’d like to sit in his section,” I reply.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Joe doesn’t come in until dinner.” She smiles at me, then glances up at Simon and her smile widens, her flirt game turned up high. “But I’m happy to help you with anything else you might need.”

“Great,” I reply and smile sweetly.
I will cut you.
“Let’s sit outside.”

She seats us in a corner, under a magnolia tree so we have plenty of shade from the sun, and leaves us be.

“This is a beautiful place,” Simon says and leans over to kiss my cheek. “Are you sure it’s okay that I came?”

“I’m honestly shocked,” I reply and set my menu aside, already knowing what I want. He follows suit and takes my hand, but before he can ask me anything further, the waiter comes to take our order.

“Tell me how you’re feeling,” he says after we’ve ordered.

“Like I said, I’m surprised. Maybe a little overwhelmed. I didn’t expect to see you again.”

“I know.” He nods and sips his water. “I should have asked you for your number.”

“Why?”

He blinks, perplexed. “So I could call you.”

“It would have been less expensive than flying to New Orleans. Were you all the way in London?”

“I was. I’ve been all over the States in the past month, and I had just returned home for a few weeks. I don’t have anything pressing at the moment, and to be quite frank, I just couldn’t stop thinking about you, and I knew I had to come find you.”

That could be the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.

Our drinks are delivered with the promise of our food coming out shortly, and I take a long sip of my lemon drop martini.

“Is there anything special you want to do while you’re in town?”

“I’m here to scope out a place for the retreat this fall, and spend time with you.”

“Are you telling me that you don’t have people who can find a place for the retreat? I don’t believe that you do that yourself.”

“Not usually,” he concedes. “But I’m here, and it’s convenient. I don’t expect you to take the whole week off of work, so I’ll work too.”

“Well, after this we should walk over and get some beignets. It’ll be the best thing you ever put in your mouth in your life.”

“No, that’s happened already,” he says, his voice perfectly calm. “When you were naked.”

And just like that, my body is on high alert all over again. I take a deep breath, then let out a gusty laugh.

“You certainly know how to turn me on.”

“Likewise.” He sips his own dirty martini. “All you have to do is look at me and I want you.”

“And you might have me. If you play your cards right.”

He smiles and kisses my hand. “I like it when you’re sassy.”

“Good, because I’m always sassy, darlin’. I have a degree in sass.”

“I thought it was philosophy?”

“I minored in sass.”

“Good to know.” He’s looking at me with such humor and lust, I just want to fucking climb him right here and now.

“Well, hey there.”

“Gabby!” I stand and hug my sister tight and whisper in her ear. “He came.”

“I know, Ben called all of us.”

“Hi, Aunt Charly,” her son, Sam, says and hugs me around the waist. Ailish, her little girl, is sitting on my mama’s hip, grinning.

“Hey there, sugar. It’s been a minute since I saw you. Looks like you grew a foot.”

“I’m a growing boy,” he reminds me.

“I’m Gabby,” my sister says to Simon and I shake my head.

“I’m sorry, I’m so rude. Simon, this is my sister Gabby, her children Sam and Ailish, and my mother.”

He stands and shakes their hands and kisses their cheeks. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Well, you’re new to me,” Mama replies and glances at me with shrewd eyes. “But it’s a pleasure all the same.”

“Cha cha!” Ailish says and reaches for me, so I take her and prop her on my own hip, kissing her smooth cheek.

“This perfect angel is Ailish.” I brush her light hair off her forehead.

“She’s not an angel,” Sam says. “She ruined my Lego thing that I spent all day building.”

I laugh and glance at Simon. He’s staring at me with hot eyes. Not with anger, but with lust and something else I can’t quite figure out.

“What are y’all up to?” I ask my family.

“Well, yesterday was Sam’s last day of school, so we decided to come into town and take Maman out for lunch,” Gabby says.

“Is Rhys gone already?” I ask, then turn to Simon. “Gabby’s husband is Rhys O’Shaughnessy. He plays baseball for the Cubs.”

“I’ve heard of him,” Simon says.

“You follow baseball in England?”

“I follow all sorts of things,” he replies. “Would you like to join us?”

“Oh no,” Mama says, but I can tell that she has an arsenal of questions for him. “But I would love it if you came to dinner before you leave town.”

“It would be an honor,” Simon replies and kisses her hand, and for the first time in my life, I see my mother blush.