Untrusting Hearts: A Contemporary New Orleans Romance (10 page)

“No. They haven’t had what I would call a happy union.” He lapsed into silence as he drove and she thought he’d dropped the subject. Then he said, “Love is a funny thing. Sometimes a man and woman can be so attuned; they seem cut of the same cloth, yet he can’t find any pleasure in her company. Other times, a woman can be unfathomable and exasperating, yet impossible to resist.”

His words were baffling. Was he referring to her in his own roundabout way? She was not unfathomable; she was exactly what she claimed to be. And if she was exasperating, it was only because he kept provoking her.

“I guess you’re right,” she said shortly. “And sometimes a man can be rude, arrogant, and cynical and yet...” She trailed off, not knowing how to finish the thought.

“Yet?” he pressed, glancing away from the road for a second. His brown eyes teased her.

“Yet bearable under certain circumstances.”

“I don’t think that’s what you started to say.” He looked smug as he stared out the windshield.

“It’s easy to misspeak when I’m with someone who baits me and tries to trip me up all the time.”

“Have you forgotten our peace treaty?” He reached out an arm and pulled her toward him. She was grateful for the console between them, though it wasn’t large enough to prevent her arm coming in contact with his firm body.

“Have you?” she fired back.

“No. It’s uppermost in my mind.”

“I doubt that.”

“Wait and see,” he said, as he drove up the long driveway to the homestead. When they stopped, he put the top back up. “Maylene doesn’t like the wind in her hair,” he explained as he got out of the car.

She missed his touch as they walked up the path to the house. She matched her pace with his long strides hoping he’d reach for her again, but he didn’t.

They collected Maylene and headed back to the city, chatting amiably on the way.

“Oh, my gosh! I just realized something! I’m simply not going to be able to go with you on the cruise,” Maylene said as soon as they were inside the house. “There’s a television program I’ve been waiting to watch and I forgot it was on tonight when I made those darned reservations. I’m sure you understand.”

Gage’s eyes twinkled with amusement as he said, “Can’t you record it, Maylene? The water is beautiful at night, all the lights reflecting on it. You don’t want to miss that.”

“Yes,” Jade jumped in. “You should come. It won’t be the same without you.”

“I hope that’s true, dear,” Maylene said serenely. “At any rate, it can’t be helped. Now you’d better go up and get dressed while Gage runs home to change.”

Jade entered her bedroom in a rush to get ready. She tossed her purse on her bed and turned to the dresser. There, sitting in a prominent spot in front of the mirror was the tiny steampunk figurine she’d left in Gage’s car. Her heart sang as she cradled it to her breast. Somehow, he’d managed to get his gift into her room. Her eyes misted as a soft knock sounded at the door. “Come in.”

Ciana entered with a stack of clean towels. “Oh,” she stopped. “I hope you don’t mind that I brought the little bird up here. Mr. Gage asked me to.”

“No, Ciana. It’s fine.”

Ciana left the towels and Jade readied herself for the evening out.

Gage had returned and his eyes lit up when Jade descended the staircase. She had changed into a simple black dress, added a slender silver chain with a small locket that dangled in the hollow of her throat, and freed her hair from its tight braid. It flowed in shining waves over her shoulders. As they walked to the car he inhaled deeply. “I love the scent of your perfume. Floral and spicy, delicious.”

“Thank you, it’s my favorite.”

Gage kept shooting glances her way as he drove. He seemed to be having trouble keeping his eyes off of her.

They made their way to the octagonal shaped building to trade their online receipt for their tickets. “We have reservations for three,” Gage informed the ticket seller and gave her the paper. “Unfortunately, one of our party has had to cancel.”

“Oh, yes, I have you down. But your reservation is only for two people, not three.”

Gage and Jade exchanged knowing looks. Another of Maylene’s machinations to throw them together. Tonight, though, neither seemed to mind. The current of mutual attraction hummed between them.

They did have to wait in line as pictures were taken of the boarding passengers, but it went quickly and didn’t dampen Jade’s enthusiasm.

Boarding was at five-forty-five. Their seating was for six o’clock but the boat wouldn’t leave the dock until seven. Gage and Jade meandered into the dining area, watching the people on shore as they went.

“See the piano on the top deck? During the day tours a man plays old-time songs. It adds a lot of spirit to the short trip.”

Gage held open the door for Jade and they entered the dining room. They filled their plates at a buffet that offered a variety of dishes, from pork tenderloin, to fried fish, to gumbo, to Creole spinach. All of it was delicious. Afterward, they enjoyed the music of the jazz band, the Dukes of Dixieland. Gage purchased one of their CDs for Jade, and they autographed it for her.

“Are you having fun?” Gage asked after they returned to the deck. The sun had set and the skyline twinkled before them.

“Oh, yes. Look at those city lights,” Jade said. “Aren’t they beautiful?”

“Indeed,” he said, but he was looking at her, not the shoreline.

She felt a warm rush and wondered where this was headed. Jade was not an innocent. She understood the chemistry between a man and a woman and the fact that sometimes the heart didn’t have to be involved. Oftentimes passion led to nothing more than a brief fling. Could she enjoy such a thing with this man? She supposed she just might.

He interrupted her thoughts. “Who’s taking care of your house while you’re away?”

“That would be Jeff. I couldn’t have come without his help.”

Gage looked out over the water. “Boyfriend?”

She could read nothing from his tone. “Ex-boyfriend. Now, just a friend.”

He seemed to relax. “What happened?”

“We dated for a couple of years. I thought things were going well.” She sighed, not sure she wanted to go into it. “Turns out he wasn’t ready for monogamy. He just forgot to let me know. But one of his other girlfriends was happy to tell me about it.”

“Ah, I see.” Gage took her hand, traced her knuckles lightly with his thumb. “That’s rough. Hard to get past.”

“Impossible, actually.” She faced him. “Without trust in a relationship, what is there?”

“My sentiments exactly.” He lifted her hand to his lips, pressed a soft kiss to her fingers. His eyes bored into hers. “I’d say it’s more important than anything else.”

He kept her hand in his the rest of the trip. She was content to leave it there. It felt right somehow.

At last the outing came to an end. Gage purchased two copies of the pictures they’d posed for and presented one to Jade. “Maylene will love this,” he commented, studying the other.

On the way back to the house, they said little. It had been a magical evening, and Jade was afraid to break the spell by speaking. Except when he was shifting gears, Gage rested his hand on her arm, caressing her lightly with his fingers. His touch left trails of excitement on her skin.

When they reached the house, Jade waited for Gage to walk around and open her door. “Thank you for a wonderful time,” she said as she got out. “I wasn’t thrilled about going at first, but I’m glad we did.”

“Me, too.”

A delightful tension filled the night air. Gage stood close. Placing a fingertip just beneath Jade’s ear, he traced her jaw line and leaned in for a kiss.

Her heart pounded. “We shouldn’t. What if someone sees?”

He laughed softly. “Who would see? We’re far back from the street. Maylene’s in bed by now. And the servants don’t care. Anyway, as far as I know, kissing is not a crime.” He lifted her chin and moved his mouth close to hers.

“Gage.” She wanted to hear him say he was wrong about her, that he’d come to trust her.

“Mmm-hmm?” He gently slid his hand around her neck until he was cupping the back of her head. His fingers buried themselves in her hair. Time stretched out, long and full of anticipation.

“Listen for a minute,” she said, pressing her hands against his upper body as she fought her desires. The firm breadth of his chest was so inviting, she lost her train of thought and melted against him.

“You were saying?”

“I forget…” She laughed softly.

When he spoke, his voice was low, husky. “I couldn’t sleep last night, kept reliving those moments in the kitchen. Do you know I’ve wanted you from the very start? I was entranced. And it threw me. I thought you’d be...”

“Evil?” she filled in.

“Not even close. But I wanted to stay alert to your...I don’t know. It’s hard to even remember now.”

“I know.”

“So, in honor of our ceasefire...” With a sound deep in his throat, he lowered his mouth to hers. His tongue brushed against hers, hot and searching. Jade’s hands moved up his chest, over his broad shoulders, and around his neck. She pressed wantonly against his hard body as the kiss deepened. He ran his hand down her side, circled her back, and pulled her closer. They kissed as if they were lovers reuniting after a long and painful separation, rather than a couple in the first blush of a new romance.

When they broke, they held their embrace
and looked into each other’s eyes. His shone dark and mysterious in the dim outside lighting and Jade felt a tremor pass through her.

“You intoxicate me,” he said. “Drive me...”

“Crazy?” She smiled and laid her head against his chest, listened to the strong, even beating of his heart. Her hands roamed his muscled back. She could feel the heat of his skin through his shirt.

“Not crazy.” He sighed and cradled her in his arms, rested his chin atop her head. “Let’s just say it’s very hard to resist you.”

“The feeling is mutual.” She breathed in his scent, melted against him. Waited. But it seemed he would take things no further, not this night. Reluctantly, she drew back. “I suppose I’d better get inside.”

Holding hands, they strolled to the porch. He kissed her again, shorter this time, but with the same intensity. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Jade,” he said as he pulled away.

She watched him walk to his car, drank in with her eyes his powerful build and smooth gait. Inside, a small worry nagged at her.

Exciting as she found his embrace, thrilling as his kisses were, they simply weren’t enough to satisfy her longings. They had only sparked a deeper need. Had he changed his opinion about her? Or had the chemistry between them only temporarily overshadowed his reservations?

Ostensibly, they’d come to terms with their differences, declared a ceasefire. But their issues had not been solved.

After brushing her teeth and slipping into nightclothes, Jade powered up her laptop and curled up on the bed to upload the pictures she’d taken earlier. Every shot came out even better than expected, especially the ones with Gage in them. He was one of those lucky individuals, supremely photogenic, which was not surprising with his masculine bone structure and olive skin. She gazed longingly at his face, thinking how it had so quickly become dear to her. She gave herself a mental shake before organizing the images into a folder.

When she finally put her things away and crawled under the sheet, the day replayed itself in her mind as she drifted into a peaceful sleep.

Chapter 6

Jade took a quick shower the next morning and wrapped up in her robe. As she ran a comb through her wet hair, her cell phone rang. She didn’t recognize the number. “Hello.”

“Jade, are you up and about?”

Her pulse accelerated delightfully. “Gage?”

“Yes. Maylene gave me this number. I hope you don’t mind.”

“No, it’s fine.”

“So, can you be ready in half an hour?”

“Ready for what?”

“I want to show you something. Wear jeans and a pair of boots, if you have some, nothing fancy.”

“Okaaay.” She dragged the word out. “Why?”

“We’re liable to get dirty. Oh, and bring your camera.”

Before she could question him further, he hung up.

She dressed quickly and secured her still-damp hair in a ponytail. She barely had time to gobble a light breakfast, brush her teeth, and collect her camera before Gage arrived.

She’d never seen him in jeans and liked the way he looked. It changed his entire appearance. The denim fit him as well as his tailored suits and the dark blue t-shirt did little to hide his masculine physique. He gave her a slow smile when he noticed her checking him out. “Shall we go?”

She blushed slightly but returned his smile. “You tell me; am I dressed appropriately? I don’t know where we’re going.”

“That’s because it’s a surprise. And yes, you look fine though I wish you had on boots rather than sneakers.” He took her elbow and guided her toward the front door.

“I’m not that big a fan of surprises.” She threw a look over her shoulder, but neither Maylene nor any of the staff were present. “I should tell Maylene I’m leaving.”

“She knows. I told her I had something special planned when I called to get your number.”

They stepped outside and walked to Gage’s car. The day was windy and warm, the sky overcast. “Can you at least give me a hint?” Jade asked as she buckled in.

“Nope.” He looked pleased with himself.

“Does Maylene know?”

“Not a chance. She’s terrible at keeping secrets.” He pulled out of the driveway. “Especially good ones.”

“Don’t you have to work today?”

“I’ll go in later. I have my secretary getting some papers ready for me to go through.”

He seemed disinclined to chat, so Jade occupied herself by looking around as they left the city and drove into the countryside. At least Gage’s mood was positive. After several miles, Jade could hold back no longer. “I want to know where we’re going.”

He affected a deep sigh. “Alright, you win. I thought you’d enjoy walking along the river. The water’s down a bit and I know a stretch we can get to. You never know what you’ll find. People have found expensive rings and old coins, though usually it’s just junk. Still, it’s fun. But that’s why I wanted you to wear boots. You know, the mud, snakes, and gators.”

“Snakes and gators. Maybe we should go back so I can buy a pair of boots.”

“It’ll be okay. We’ll just have to be vigilant.”

They’d traveled quite a distance when the GPS told them to make a left in a mile.

“You don’t know how to get to the river?” Jade frowned.

“Of course I do. But this is a different route than I usually take. More scenic.”

They were on a country road called Legacy Lane which stretched far ahead, bordered by pines and bushy undergrowth. As they drove, tall oaks took the place of the pines. Thick curtains of Spanish moss hung from their boughs and swung ghostlike in the wind. The day took on an otherworldly feel and Jade experienced a sense of anticipation.

Gage slowed the car as they rounded a curve, then braked gently. “Hey, look at that.”

Jade’s eyes followed his gaze. To their right was a short drive that ended in massive rusty gates bookended by two crumbling stone pillars. Signs that forbade trespassing were clearly posted. Gage guided the car in and parked. “Look at that place. I wonder if we could get inside?” he murmured, nodding toward an enormous mansion that was partly obscured by hanging moss and an overgrown yard. “I say we find out.”

Jade put a restraining hand on his arm. “We shouldn’t. Didn’t you see the no trespassing signs?”

“Who’s going to know?” He shot her a mischievous grin. “Anyway, I thought you liked to explore.”

“Well, yes, but…”

He was already out of the car. Jade watched the movement of muscles in his broad back as he rattled the wrought iron barrier, which seemed to be giving him trouble. But soon he had the gates opened and returned to the car with an expression of triumph.

“I don’t know about this,” Jade began, but already she was aching to see what they would find. The old love of adventure bloomed once again inside her and her heartbeat quickened.

“It’ll be okay, Jade. As long as we don’t get caught.” His self-satisfied smile gave him a rakish look.

“But what about the river?”

“We can always go to the river anytime. This will be more fun.”

Oaks draped in Spanish moss towered over them, lining a long, cracked asphalt driveway. Nearly obscured by wild vines, a sign proclaimed they were approaching Le Cœur Solitaire. “The Lonely Heart,” Gage explained.

“What a sad name.” Jade strained to see ahead as they drove slowly through the corridor of trees.

“Yes,” Gage said. “It’s supposedly haunted.”

“Haunted?” Jade tossed him a half dubious, half concerned look.

“That’s what they say.”

The oaks parted to give them a full view of the house they had seen from the road. The structure was at once magnificent and sorrowful; years of obvious neglect had taken a toll. Its white walls had dulled to gray in places, and the paint on the majestic columns was peeling. It crouched like a huge helpless beast amid overgrown shrubbery, wild vines, and untended lawns.

“Wow,” Jade whispered. She grabbed her camera and hung it from her wrist as they rolled to a stop, tucking her purse under the front seat. She didn’t wait for Gage to walk around and open the car door, but jumped out, brimming with enthusiasm.

He took her elbow as they ascended the wide stone staircase which was littered with leaves and debris.

“How will we get inside?” Jade eyed the aged, but sturdy double doors with their inset leaded glass. “We can’t break in.”

“We won’t have to; the door’s ajar.” Gage pressed lightly against one door and it swung inward with the quiet groan of old hinges. Prickles of excitement traveled up Jade’s arms as they stepped inside.

Their movements echoed in the high-ceilinged entryway that led to a massive room. The long-empty house was shadowy and strangely cold, as if it was a world of its own, untouched by the whims of outside weather. Jade startled when Gage spoke.

“I recognize this place now; I read an article about it in the news not long ago. There’s a story behind this property. Back in the early 1800’s or so, a man named Louis St. John built this house for his bride. Once it was finished, he sent for her and she made the arduous journey from Paris to America.” He tapped his chin for a minute, thinking. “If I remember right, her name was Collete.”

“Something tells me this story won’t have a happy ending.” Jade held her camera in her hand, ready to take pictures as Gage continued with the tale.

“No. Seems she could never adjust to the move, was homesick all the time. She begged St. John to release her from her vows, let her return to France. He was smitten with her and would deny her nothing. Except that. He couldn’t let her go. She began wasting away. It seemed that no matter what delicacies were placed before her, she couldn’t take more than a few spoonfuls before her throat would close up and she could eat no more.”

“She starved to death?”

“No. She vanished. They found her shoes at the edge of the swamp not far from here and assumed she had drowned. Her body was never recovered. It’s said that her spirit is trapped here. She supposedly wanders the halls of this house, whispering, and crying to go home.”

“Oh.” Jade’s hand went to her throat in shock. “That’s terrible.”

“Yes, it is. After her disappearance, St. John grieved like a madman. He changed the estate’s name to The Lonely Heart. Started drinking. He grew careless with his money and involved himself in questionable activities. After a time, he remarried and had offspring, but it’s said he never fully recovered from the loss of his true love. Each successive generation has encountered hard financial circumstances. Folks began to speculate he had cursed his bloodline by what he’d done to Collette, keeping her a virtual prisoner in her own home. Eventually, the estate fell into disrepair and the money wasn’t there to keep it up. So, here it sits. Deteriorating.” He stopped suddenly, as if realizing he was rambling. He finished with, “Anyway, that’s the story I heard. Let’s look around. Maybe Ms. Collette will make an appearance.”

Jade shivered involuntarily, and turned toward the stairway.

“Back in the days when this plantation was in its full grace, men would have to look away as a woman climbed the stairs. If a gentleman saw the woman’s ankle, he was expected to marry her.”

“Well, then, you’d better go first.” She laughed and trailed behind him as her gaze drifted to the ceiling. Grabbing Gage by the arm, Jade pointed upward. “Look. The chandelier is still here. I wonder why thieves haven’t taken it.” She snapped several shots of the magnificent fixture and checked to see how they came out. They were a little dark but she thought she could lighten them up once on her computer.

“It would probably be next to impossible to steal that,” Gage pronounced, glancing up. “It’s sure a beaut, though! It even looks like it still has most of the light bulbs. Wish you could see it lit up.”

“Me? What about you?”

“Oh, of course me, too. I figured that was a given.” He smiled and started climbing to the second level.

Jade followed Gage up the wide, dusty stairs to the floor above. They hesitated in the upper hallway and Jade took another picture of the chandelier. Wind sighed through the trees outside the broken windows of the landing; the tossing of the branches caused an eerie dance of shadows across the worn carpeting. Turning, she noticed the hallway was divided into three wings, one straight ahead, and one to each side.

“Let’s go this way.” Gage motioned toward the right. They entered the first doorway they found, which appeared to have been a sitting room at one time. Under a filthy sheet, they found a long divan with a tapering back. “Fainting couch,” Gage said. “Genteel ladies of the time apparently got lightheaded quite often.”

Jade took a picture before Gage covered the old furniture again. “What’s this?” He bent down and retrieved a yellowed paper that had fluttered out.

“Let’s see.” Jade took the paper Gage offered and moved to the window where she could see better. She opened the delicate page and turned it over in her fingers. “It’s a poem. And look at the date! May 14, 1810.”

“Really? Read it to me.” Gage watched her intently.

“Well, it’s really faded…let’s see if I can make it out. The handwriting is so fancy it’s hard to decipher.” She squinted. “It’s titled
My Beloved
. My precious flower, why hast thou bloom faded? My tears are thy…um, water. My smile…something…sunshine. My torment…I can’t quite make it out…abated.” Her eyes shone when she looked at Gage. “Do you think Louis St. John wrote this for Collette?”

“Couldn’t say. Maybe.”

“We should see if we can find out who owns this place and give it to them. They might want it.”

“Or you could keep it for a souvenir.”

“No, it should go to the owners.” Jade decided she’d ruin the paper if she put it in a pocket and asked Gage to carry it for her. He frowned slightly but took the page.

As they continued exploring the house, they found more pieces of cloth-draped furniture. After lifting the edges of the sheets, they discovered all of it was outdated. One room appeared to have been used as a nursery. An old baby carriage lay on its side, collecting dust. A couple of forgotten toys lay forlornly on a shelf. Another room was obviously a boudoir, an antique four-poster still in residence, though the mattress had long since rotted away. A roll-top desk was revealed under a dusty sheet in what had to have been the office of the master of the house.

“Do you think we could open it?” Jade asked.

“Go ahead,” Gage encouraged.

It made a dry sound when Jade rolled up the lid. She squealed in excitement. “There’s a book in here! Wait, it’s a journal. And, it’s so old!”

“Can you read it?”

“Not here. Should I take it home with me? Keep it with the poem?”

“I don’t see why not,” Gage agreed.

Jade handed Gage the journal to carry and closed the desktop once more. She covered it and they proceeded on.

The remainder of the rooms on the second level appeared to be bedrooms, except for one with floor to ceiling shelves, which certainly had been a library at one time. Jade took more photos. Near a blackened fireplace, Gage noted a large tear in the wallpaper. “Something’s sticking out of the plaster here; there’s a hole. Look.”

Jade watched as he tugged and a handful of cash fell to the floor, while a few remained in his hand. She gasped. “That must be a small fortune.”