Good Woman Blues (22 page)

Definitely time to hit the road. “Gotta work
tomorrow. I just came by to extend the olive branch and
invitation.” Erikka stood.

“That part-time stuff can wait. You set your
own hours. Let’s blow these blues with a good time.” Terri seemed
ready to kick-start into high gear again.

Erikka resisted temptation. She stood and
jingled her car keys. “Nope. I’m Ms. Dependable these days. Listen,
you’re welcome to visit me for peace and quiet. Helps to get away
sometimes. And trust me; all I can offer you in Loreauville is
peace and quiet.”

“Thanks, girl. Maybe I will. Hey, I
appreciate you coming by.” Terri stood and gave Erikka a quick
hug.

“No problem. You slow down and—” Erikka
lifted her chin as she looked at her.

“Pills, right. Call me when you get a
chance.”

Terri chattered about nothing and everything
as she walked Erikka to her car. Erikka drove away wondering just
what would happen if Terri blew into Loreauville.

***

Erikka went straight to Gabriel’s house.

Monday morning she opened her eyes slowly and
looked around his bedroom. Shades of cool blue and green came into
focus slowly. Draperies matched a comforter carefully folded on an
ottoman nearby. She breathed in the scent of the soft cotton cloth
against her cheek. A finger brushed hair from her face. Gabriel,
propped on one elbow, gazed at her. He seemed intent on looking
into her as though searching for a secret.

“Hey,” he said softly, sinking onto the plump
down pillows under their heads.

“Hey.”

Erikka stretched wide and avoided his
examination. His stillness after lovemaking unnerved her. She was
used to men jumping up to get dressed, loud snoring, or even
turning on the television to catch the rest of a game. This wanting
to talk was something she had trouble getting used to. He might
tell her something about herself she didn’t want to know.

“You whispered something to me as we drifted
off to sleep.” Gabriel shifted to get closer to her.

Her heart did a tiny flip. “I apologize,”
Erikka said automatically, praying fervently she hadn’t said the
wrong damn name. Men didn’t own that particular major in-the-
heat-of-the-moment felony.

“For what?” Gabriel brushed a strand of hair
across one breast. He stroked both with his long tapered
fingers.

“Nothing. So, let’s talk.” Erikka took a deep
breath. When he watched the rise and fall of her nipples, she
enjoyed distracting him.

“You had this baby voice, all innocent and
sultry at the same time. You said ‘Love is wonderful.’ ” Gabriel
rubbed his face against her skin. “I agree.”

“Oh.” Erikka let that sink in. Now she had to
think hard to remember just what the hell she meant.

“Don’t overwhelm me with sentiment, baby.”
Gabriel’s deep chuckle vibrated down to her bones.

Erikka kissed the top of his head and thought
fast. “I’m still half-asleep. You’re to blame.”

“Guilty. So, this is good love.” Gabriel
gazed up into her eyes.

“Wonderful,” Erikka repeated. Her heart
pounded hard enough she was sure his head would bounce on her
chest.

Gabriel snuggled as if he couldn’t get close
enough. “I’m blown away, too.” The arm across her tummy hugged her
tighter.

“Yes, good description.”

She twirled a dark thick tuft of his curls
around her forefinger. Scared was the word that really described
how she felt. Every time Erikka used or heard that word with a man,
trouble followed, big-time. With Vaughn she’d played it cool, and
look where it had gotten her. Vaughn had crossed her out of his
address book real fast. Now Erikka didn’t know what rule to follow.
Should she take a chance on romance or give him the “let’s not get
too serious” speech? Too much of her was voting for the hopeless
romance option, hopeless because she knew heartbreak would surely
follow.

“Well?” Gabriel’s voice slurred. He seemed
ready to doze again.

“Well, I am your accountant. I might need to
check on whether or not this is proper.” Erikka closed her eyes
when his strong fingers massaged her thigh.

“Don’t be silly,” Gabriel said.

“Just kidding.”

Erikka didn’t want fear or the magic of this
intimate moment to scramble her brain. This time she needed to make
a logical decision. At that moment she could go either way. If she
got too scared, Gabriel might feel rejected and pull back. He felt
way too good for her to alienate him so soon, definitely not before
she sorted herself out. Jumping right into a declaration of love
could suck her into another hole. Erikka knew only too well how she
could easily get lost in a man.

“You’re taking time to think about us.”
Gabriel sat up, bringing a pillow to cushion his back.

“Accountants always calculate the price of
any decision. Not a bad idea. So, what’s the verdict?” Gabriel’s
full mouth seemed poised to curve into a smile.

“You’re going to have me believing you’re
psychic or a voodoo doctor, reading my mind like that,” Erikka
teased.

“I’m going to keep you guessing.” Gabriel
cradled one of her hands in both his. “We don’t have to merge into
the fast lane on this. Okay?”

Erikka tried not to make her sigh of relief
too loud. “Okay. It’s just that I’ve been down that highway enough
times and crashed. You know?”

“Oh, baby, do I know,” Gabriel said with a
grin. Then he grew serious again. “I’m nervous about the ‘L’ word
to be honest. But you’re something special that I simply did not
expect, Erikka Rochon.”

“Same here. I was looking for something, but
I sure didn’t count on you,” Erikka said, without hesitation.

She lay against his body with one leg between
his thighs. His passion stirred, and Erikka kissed his chest. As
they became wrapped up in each other again, Erikka counted the
benefits of taking a chance again. With the perfume of his body
filling her senses Erikka put logic aside, at least for another
hour or so.

***

Erikka left the television station to meet
her cousin for lunch at Adrienne’s Bistro in Lafayette. The Creole
restaurant was a local favorite. Monique had suggested Adrienne’s
because the menu had low-carb items. Erikka didn’t care about
carbs, calories, or anything else. She had enough self-denial to
handle without adding any food groups to the mix. Monique chattered
on for several minutes. Erikka skillfully directed her to talking
about work and professional networking.

“Speaking of making contacts, tell me again
about that Black Chamber of Commerce event. The one where you met
Ryan Wilson, his brother, and my ex-boyfriend Vaughn.” Erikka
swooped down so quickly Monique hardly knew what hit her.

“Well, I, uh. Didn’t I mention seeing Vaughn
there?” Monique smoothed down her pink-and-gray-striped blouse,
fiddled with getting her purse, and cleared her throat.

“Don’t even try to play me. Spill it,” Erikka
said crisply. “Did you tell Vaughn anything about me?”

“What?” Monique’s gaze shifted. “This is some
kind of trap. You invite me out for lunch and attack. No ‘Thanks
for helping me out, cuz’. Ain’t this a bi—”

“Just answer the question, cuz. Did you talk
to Vaughn about me?” Erikka leaned across the table.

“Vaughn wanted to help. When he asked about
you I told him you could use a job. He seems to care about you,”
Monique said defensively, when Erikka snorted.

“Right. He cared so much that he gave me
space to heal while he dated.” Erikka stopped when the waiter
brought two chef’s salads. When the teenager left, she pointed at
Monique’s nose.

“Damn. Feels like I’m trapped in a Sopranos
episode. All for trying to be good to family.” Monique stabbed a
cherry tomato with her fork.

“You were trying to get a man. Yeah, I
remember how bad you wanted Ryan Wilson’s brother,” Erikka
said.

“That scrub. Took me out to dinner and forgot
his wallet, twice. Hope you made sure Ryan’s checks wouldn’t
bounce.” Monique bit down into the tomato, baring her teeth.

“Damn skippy I did. Ryan is acting like a
major media player. His parents are paying the bills. I thought his
brother had it together, though.”

Monique’s bottom lip trembled. “I feel like a
fool. He’s got money. He just didn’t spend it on me except for a
cheap bouquet of daisies. And I fell for it.”

Erikka started to feel sorry for Monique. She
looked miserable. “The lovely Wilson brothers. What a pair.”

“I was nothing but a booty call. I figured it
out by the third date.” Monique pushed the salad away. She waved to
the waiter. “Bring me a double fudge sundae with four scoops and
extra whipped cream.”

“Don’t go there, girl. He’s not worth it,”
Erikka said, and pressed her lips together. Her cousin’s method was
nothing compared to what Erikka had done.

“I earned this binge. Thank you,” Monique
said fervently, when the waiter arrived.

He put a glass dish shaped like a pirogue on
the table in front of her. “Extra nuts are just fifty cents
more.”

“Bring it on.” Monique sighed when he poured
more pecans from a small container.

“Now you’ll layer more fat on your hips
because of some man. What we won’t do for love.” Erikka shook her
head. She was thinking of her own foolish mistakes more than
Monique’s gorging.

“You can talk,” Monique said around a
mouthful of bananas and whipped cream. She swallowed before
continuing. “You’re all snuggly-poo with Gabriel Cormier. Uh-huh, I
heard about it.”

“Wait—”

“Just cause you’re happy, don’t be slamming
us poor lonely hearts,” Monique complained. Then she shoved another
spoonful into her mouth.

“I’ve been to Heartbreak Motel more than a
few times. Hell, I’ve gotten thank-you notes from blues singers who
used my life for inspiration.”

Monique washed down her sundae with a diet
soda. “You win,” she said, with a throaty chuckle.

Erikka waved a hand at her. “I win all right,
the booby prize. I’m older than you, so take it from me—”

“Six months, Erikka.” Monique nibbled on a
cherry.

“Hush up, youngster. That idiot Wilson lost a
good thing. His problem, not yours.” Erikka sat back and folded her
arms as though she imparted the wisdom of the ages.

“That’s it? Gee, how can I ever repay you for
that gem?” Monique said.

“Glad you asked.” Erikka shoved the bill
toward her.

“I stepped right into that one.” Monique
grinned as she pulled money from her leather wallet.

“Seriously, though, I hope you’re not going
to go up a dress size because of that dude.” Erikka gazed at her.
Monique had the generous hips and thighs of all the women in their
family. Since neither she nor Erikka had given birth yet, they
could still fit into size-eight clothes.

Monique licked a last bit of ice cream from
the spoon. “Nah, I’m mostly depressed because a good man is hard to
find.” She gave another deep sigh.

“But not totally extinct,” Erikka added,
thinking of Gabriel. Now if only Erikka could be sure she knew what
to do with one.

“I’ll have to take your word for that. The
Rochon women are getting their butts kicked in the romance
department.” Monique hitched forward in her chair and put both
elbows on the table.

Erikka leaned on the table as well. “My
mother for one. But I can’t imagine Aunt JoAnn hasn’t said anything
to you about it.” Monique’s mother spread family gossip daily.

“You know my mama, girl.” Monique shook her
head. “Poor Aunt Roz. With Uncle Craig moving out and all.
Damn.”

“Jaci is really going to be hard hit.” Erikka
wondered when her little sister had last been home.

“Yeah. You, too.” Monique gazed at her.

“Takes getting used to. Things haven’t been
good between them for a while. But that’s the way it is.”

Erikka tried to shake off the gloom snaking
through her. After all, she wasn’t a kid anymore. She should be
grown enough to know her parents had their lives, and she had hers.
Still, she could not help but feel adrift. This news brought back
the eight-year-old who wondered what she’d done to make her daddy
mad. Erikka gave herself a mental slap across the face to snap out
of it. This wasn’t about her. Roz had to be in real pain, and
hiding it, as usual.

“And poor Aunt Darlene. She hasn’t heard from
her man lately. Course I’m not sure who he is.” Monique waved at
the waiter for a soda refill.

“Hmm.”

Erikka didn’t want to say anything. Monique
meant no harm, but she couldn’t keep much from her mother. Aunt
JoAnn would send out a news bulletin within an hour if she knew
about Kelvin. Erikka had just assumed they were lying low. Now that
she thought about it, Darlene had seemed somewhat forlorn lately.
Erikka had just chalked it up to the usual “my-man-is-married”
blues. That they couldn’t see each other as often was a given. Not
wanting to pry, Erikka had avoided the subject. Then Erikka thought
of Roz. She had the denial gene from her mother all right.

“Wait a minute, how do you know it’s been
that long?” Erikka glanced at Monique who shrugged.

“I was groanin’ about my troubles to her last
night. Darlene gave me an ‘Amen’ when I said I’m tired of cuddling
up to my pillow. She mentioned something about being a fool waiting
around for crumbs.” Monique eyed Erikka. “He’s married, am I
right?”

“I’m not speculating,” Erikka said
promptly.

“Bull crap. You know. Look, I wouldn’t dare
tell my mama anything. Girl, that kinda stuff can get folks killed.
Most of these country women have guns.” Monique looked around like
she expected a shoot-out any minute.

“Don’t go all drama queen on me.” Erikka
chewed a thumbnail. She hoped Kelvin’s grim-looking wife didn’t own
a firearm. “If it ain’t one thing, it’s two.”

“Yeah. At this rate if we threw a pity party,
we’d need a stadium,” Monique said. She stared at the empty sundae
dish with longing.