Ellena (3 page)

Feeling as if Mia still watched her as she walked, she turned her head, pretending to decide to cross the street or continue down the block, and she saw the man that Parker had been talking to. He was speaking to Mia, and Mia was shaking her head. He then passed something to Mia, and she said thank you. Then the man turned toward Ellena. She had a funny feeling in her gut, and as she made her way down the street, she knew that the man was following her.

As she approached the entrance to Lustre, she looked down the street one more time and there was the man leaning against the pole on the side street, watching her. She wondered what the hell was going on, but decided if the man was still there when she got out, then she would call Eloi.

* * * *

“So what do you have for me?” Parker K asked his guard Dexter.

“She is dining at Lustre along with Frederick Owen, the owner and chef. They appear to be friends.”

“Friends, huh? I want you to remain there and see if they are only friends. Then find out where she lives.”

“Mia said the woman is just visiting around here, sir.”

“Then make sure you find out where she is from or at least where she is staying. I’ll have a talk with Frederick tomorrow. We’re meeting then anyway.”

“Yes, sir.”

Parker hung up the phone and thought about the very young, attractive woman with her shoulder-length black hair. She was so stunning and sophisticated looking. She also had an amazing figure. The slim-fitting knee-length black skirt and beige camisole she wore showed off her tan skin and voluptuous figure. She had hips and an ass and was nowhere near a stick-thin woman. She was perfect. She caught his attention immediately upon driving up to the streets for his men to collect their weekly earnings from the vendors. Seeing her there, she stood out as unique, and he knew that he needed to know her name.

Dexter would get him the information he needed, and then he would surely see her again.

* * * *

“This is amazing, Frederick. You have really outdone yourself,” Ellena said as she finished off the oysters Rockefeller. She took a sip from her glass of wine and smiled at him.

“I am so happy that you are here, Ellena. It has been too long, my friend.” He took a small sip of wine then stood. “I need to check on a few things. Take your time, relax and the main course will be out momentarily.”

She stared up into his big brown eyes. The man was a good ten years older than her and had a lot of gray mixed into his dark hair. The stresses of owning and operating a successful restaurant in the French Quarter, she supposed.

“I look forward to it,” she told him as he winked then walked away.

Ellena loved the ambiance of Lustre. It was fine Cajun cuisine with a bit of French undertones. His menu varied, offering some fabulous items to satisfy many types of diners. The live band that played in the main dining area wasn’t too loud and maintained light jazz arrangements. Frederick informed her that on Friday and Saturday evenings, the band played more upbeat music, and a soloist sang many traditional New Orleans songs.

She took a sip from her glass of wine and felt herself relaxing. This was great, and she already looked forward to the meals she would try tomorrow throughout the day starting with breakfast at Casper’s that was a block from her hotel.

A few minutes later, Frederick returned with her main course.

“Oh my, Frederick, that smells so good,” she told him as he placed the first platter down in front of her.

“That is one of my best sellers on the menu. It is lobster étouffée. It’s lobster, shrimp, and crawfish tails sautéed and served in the lobster tail. The side dish is crabmeat au gratin. I like to use cheddar and Swiss, along with the Cajun potatoes and vegetables. You let me know what ya think, sugar,” he stated in his Cajun accent.

She didn’t know where to start. It all looked and smelled so delicious. She opted for the au gratin, loving the idea of cheddar and Swiss. Taking a small forkful, she relished in the taste and closed her eyes.

“My, my, Frederick, I may be needing this recipe from you.”

That brought a smile to his face.

“Fantastic. I’ll be right back. I need to make sure the kitchen is secure before I break and have supper with you.”

She smiled at him then continued to enjoy her meal, taking her first bite of the lobster combo.

An hour later, after indulging in some homemade praline ice cream with fresh berries, Ellena was stuffed and rather tired. She and Frederick knocked off another bottle of red wine, and it was getting late.

“So what is on the agenda for tomorrow?” he asked as he escorted her to the front of the restaurant.

Ellena pushed the strands of hair from her face and placed them behind her ear. “Well, Casper’s for breakfast and someplace fun and lively for lunch, perhaps on Bourbon Street, and then of course back here to you for the evening.”

He smiled wide as he held her shoulders and looked down into her eyes.

“I am so happy that you decided to visit. I have heard wonderful things about Aubert’s and of course your sister’s lingerie store. I bet you get free samples.” He winked. She felt a bit embarrassed at first and then on the defensive. Since her sister Angelique launched the new store, many people were talking and saying similar things.

“I’m very proud of Angelique. Thank you so much for dinner. It was exceptional, Frederick.”

“You are quite welcome.” Frederick gave her a kiss on her cheek.

“Be sure to keep your eyes opened on your walk back. You’re certain you don’t need an escort?”

“I will be fine. Good night.” She waved as she stepped out into the evening crowd. The sidewalks were bustling as the late night partiers began to descend onto the streets of the French Quarter. She glanced around and hadn’t caught sight of that man from earlier. She shook her head and wondered why she was such an alarmist. She totally read into the guy following her as well as that man, Parker, who bought her the earrings. She reached up and touched them, loving how pretty they were. Even Frederick had complimented them. She stayed along the main streets making her way back to the hotel. The live music filled the streets and roars of laughter echoed along with it.

She thought about Orchidea and how it was beginning to prosper. The town was changing and if all went well, they would have a few more local businesses and perhaps that small inn that Mikayla said Pierre was interested in building. That would be wonderful, and as Pierre mentioned, it would be the only inn allowed. That way they could control the amount of strangers in town at one time and enforce the laws. They all agreed, along with the town board that was newly established, that Orchidea needed to maintain that warm, down-on-the-bayou atmosphere. Sure there could be music and celebrations but not craziness.

Ellena made it to her hotel safely, waving hello at the manager working the front desk before taking the elevator to the third floor. Her room was really pretty and authentic. The hotel was one of the oldest around, and she didn’t worry about any of the spirits that supposedly wandered around at night. Cherise gave her some powder to sprinkle around the room and also a bottle of some special potion to leave out as a gift for any walking dead. Ellena chuckled to herself. How crazy was that voodoo priestess? But then again, Cherise seemed to always know when something was going to happen and if help was needed, so Ellena did as the voodoo priestess instructed.

Tomorrow she looked forward to breakfast, some time in the spa downstairs, and then more shopping and lunch before Lustre for dinner.

She looked into the mirror and carefully took off her new earrings as she thought about how much fun she’d had so far. So why was there a slight feeling of nervousness as she removed the earrings and thought about the stranger in town?

Leon and his partner Jessy Berdoux were sitting in a patrol car over on Bourbon Street.

“This just makes me sick,” Jessy stated as he stared out the window and watched Parker K’s thugs collect money they were forcing vendors to pay. It was a security fee that vendors paid him to ensure protection from crime.

“Tell me about it, but our hands are tied. This shit goes way deep, Jessy. As much as I’d like to go over there and knock the shit outta those two perps, I can’t.”

“I know, I know. Just saying it burns me inside is all. So how was that party you went to in Orchidea the other day? Make any progress with that Aubert sista ya like?”

Leon exhaled.

“Sorry. I guess I shouldn’t have brought it up then.”

“Dat woman got us all crazy now. She’s been so busy and then did this sexy song and dance out there at the restaurant, and boy, it took every ounce of self-control for all the Rues to remain in line.”

“Shit, well she is a mighty fine-looking woman.”

“That she is. Ya know, Eloi said she taking a few days and staying out here in the Quarter. Visiting a friend, he said.”

“Yeah?” Jessy asked as he sat forward and stared at Leon.

“Well, what you and your brothers gonna do ’bout that? Don’t ya think ya should track her down or something?” Jessy asked, his thick Cajun accent becoming more prominent in his speech the more riled up he got.

Leon shook his head. “Got to play this smart, Jessy. Ellena as tough as a Cajun woman comes. She’s stubborn, she’s always trying to take care of everyone, and she’s just plain scared of us. I don’t know why, but I’m hoping to start working on it when she returns to Orchidea. It would be great if I saw her here.”

“Maybe you should have asked Eloi what hotel she staying at. That way you could just happen to be nearby and bump into her. Ya know, maybe ask her to supper or something?”

“I thought about it. Believe me, I especially don’t like the idea of her walking around here at night with the food festival and drink contests going on. She’s only twenty-seven, and as you said, a mighty pretty young woman. She shouldn’t be wandering the streets alone.”

“More the reason for you to track her down and provide a bit of security, don’t you think?”

Leon thought about that a moment. It probably wouldn’t do any harm to stop in and check on her. She’d probably get all annoyed with him. He felt the anxiety immediately. What if some horny Cajun tried to move in on her. She wasn’t used to walking around the streets of the Quarter. “Shit,” he stated as he started the ignition and headed back toward the precinct. He would ask Eloi where Ellena was staying and then decide what to do next.

* * * *

Ellena had finished a delicious breakfast and was now trying to walk off her meal and do some more shopping past Royal Street. She was making her way through the small crowds when she spotted the patrol car coming down the road. She nearly twisted her neck trying to see the driver, hoping that it was Leon. As the officer passed by, she realized that it wasn’t him and was shocked at the disappointed feeling she had.

She imagined Leon’s dark brown eyes and how well he filled out one of those police uniforms. He was sexy and mean looking, especially when he sported those dark-tinted glasses. He was tough, exactly like a deputy should be working in a city like New Orleans. She knew that he was recently stationed in the Eighth District and that the department was located right down the way on Royal Street.

She thought about stopping in to see him since she was in town, but that might give him the idea that she wanted to accept his and his brothers’ advances. Truth was, she really wanted to give a relationship a try, especially now that Aubert’s was doing great and Illeanna and Angelina were around to help. Then of course Mikayla and Angelique had their men, so they were safe, so why not entertain her feelings for the Rue brothers?

Cause you a scared chickenshit.

She felt that anxious feeling and that lack of self-confidence that truly overpowered her desires to indulge in a romantic thing with the Rue men. It was odd, but even as men hit on her and flirted, including Frederick, who had been nothing more than an acquaintance for years and a son of her father’s old friend, she felt nothing. But whenever Leon, Roy, Mack, or Troy were around, she felt completely out of control and like an idiot about to stumble. They made her so damn nervous, yet they totally gave her goose bumps in all the right places. Damn, they were good-looking and sexy men. Even Mack, who was totally conservative and quiet. She thought he was damn sweet. She sighed a moment thinking how the men had tried to get her attention and how she kept pushing them away.

“Ellena.”

She heard the voice and turned around to see Parker standing there. He licked his lower lip and took in the sight of her.

“Oh, hi,” she replied, surprised to see him.

“So we meet again. My luck I suppose,” he whispered as a group of tourists pushed by, and she was forced to take a step toward the road and curb to move out of the way. She wasn’t paying attention to the vending cart passing by and was nearly run over, except Parker grabbed her upper arm and pulled her out of the way. She bumped into him and gasped.

“Are you all right? My God, you could have gotten injured.”

“I’m fine. Thank you. I guess the crowds can get a bit crazy, huh?” She began to pull her arm away, but Parker let his hand slide down her arm to her wrist and hand. He held her hand and smiled at her.