Untrusting Hearts: A Contemporary New Orleans Romance (4 page)

Heat spread over her cheeks and she rushed past the moment. “But you still haven’t told me what you found so amusing.”

“It’s your enthusiasm,” he said. His smile had returned. “It’s catching.”

“I love exploring. But, I guess I do get a little carried away.”

“I find it refreshing. There’s a lot of cynicism in the world today; it’s nice to witness such unadulterated delight.”

“I simply enjoy life’s experiences,” she said. “You never know what will happen; you need to treasure the moment. I’m not saying people shouldn’t plan for their futures or have a life strategy. Just that you have to appreciate happiness when it presents itself.”

“The power of positive thinking?”

“No, nothing so kitschy or so premeditated.”

She wondered what kind of women he dated if he found her so intriguing. Were they world-weary and hard to impress? Or did they surrender easily to the sheer power of his masculinity? If so, she could understand. In spite of their rocky start, she could feel the potential for attraction between them.

More people were now entering the cemetery. A man with a very pregnant wife by his side smiled at them as if they shared a common circumstance, and Jade knew the stranger had assumed she and Gage were lovers, possibly married.

Gage interrupted her thoughts. “Ready to see the next place on the list?”

“I want to take a couple more pictures, if you don’t mind. Then we can go.” She focused her camera. The wind picked up and grew warmer, buffeting her sweater around her slender form.

She took her shots. A lock of golden hair blew across her face.

Gage lifted his hand to brush it aside. He fingered the strands gently for a moment. “I like your hair. It’s soft and smooth as silk,” he murmured.

“I ought to tie it back, I suppose; the wind is playing havoc with it.” Resisting the rush of tingles caused by his touch, her hand fluttered self-consciously to the neckline of her blouse.

“Blowing around your face like that, it gives you a mysterious, untamed look.”

Untamed
? Was that praise or criticism? She was so uncertain. In the short time they’d been together today he’d managed to whip her emotions into a whirlwind. She needed to be careful not to grow too fond of him. Before long she’d be gone and he’d be out of her life. She was convinced he’d only temporarily set aside his negative view of her for the sake of civility during their outing. She was sure it would come roaring back soon enough.

Still, he was an enigma. There was new tenderness in his tone and a softer look in his eyes.

“Anyway, as I was saying, it can be dangerous at times,” she said, returning to the earlier topic, shifting the focus to something less personal.

“Styling your hair?” The corners of his eyes crinkled in amusement.

She laughed lightly. “I meant exploring. It can be hazardous and dirty. Going into old buildings or abandoned sites, you never know what you might encounter. A person could fall through a weak floor, or step on something sharp that’s concealed in tall weeds, get confronted by law enforcement or angry neighbors, or any number of things.”

“And you find that entertaining?”

“Not the dangerous parts. But when you come across a hidden room that hasn’t yet been vandalized or find an old farmhouse sitting unbothered for decades, it’s pretty interesting and seems worth the risk.”

“The risk? Of an old farmhouse?” His tone was skeptical.

“Absolutely! It’s hard to explain, but it’s a kick.”

“And how often do you indulge in this thrilling but dangerous activity?”

“Not often,” she said. “In fact, not since I was a teenager. I limit myself to legitimate sightseeing now, like what we’re doing today. I’m afraid I’m not as brave as I used to be.”

Gage stared at her in fascination. “I’m surprised you didn’t get into trouble.”

“Actually, I came close a couple of times,” she confessed. “My friends and I were lucky, that’s all. I wouldn’t take those kinds of chances today.”

“So, you’ve reigned in your wild side, eh?” Still gazing into her eyes, he reached out a hand and touched her shoulder, causing her pulse to quicken. “Look.” He pointed toward a neglected mausoleum. “That door is ajar. Want to go inside?”

For a dazzling instant she had thought he was going to kiss her. Embarrassed and more than a little disappointed, she curved her lips into a small smile and joked, “I don’t think so. I’d probably swoon if a ghost showed up.”

Gage laughed. “I doubt if you’re that delicate.”

She was quiet on the walk back to his car and the drive to their next destination. If he noticed, he gave no indication. Had Gage realized she’d been expecting a kiss? Had his move been deliberate, to trick her into believing he wanted her? No, she didn’t think so. This wasn’t a date. He’d been coerced into spending time with her; that was the brutal truth. Reading anything into their moments together would be foolhardy.

Jackson Square was filled with people and the St. Louis Cathedral left Jade in a state of awe. Though she wasn’t Catholic, she found herself compelled to light a candle for her grandmother’s spirit. Subdued, she walked out into the sunshine.

Gage gave her a look of warmth that surprised her. “Hungry?”

“A little,” she admitted.

He offered his arm, and she hesitated only a second before taking it. They strolled to the Café du Monde and sat outside under the green awning.

“What should I get?” she asked him.

“The beignet, of course. It’s the state doughnut.” Gage smiled. “It’s fried and covered with powdered sugar. They’re served in orders of three, so we can split the third, if that’s okay with you. I’m going to have the café au lait. What would you like?”

“It’s getting kind of warm. I think I’ll have a soda.”

He placed their order and turned to face her. His smile hit her with the force of a thousand watts. When he wasn’t being surly, he wielded a powerful charm.

“It must be wonderful to live among all this culture and history,” she said. She took delicate nibbles of the beignet, holding it over her napkin to keep the powdered sugar from covering her clothes. The pastry was delicious and all but melted in her mouth.

“I like it here. Of course, a person gets used to his surroundings. But today, I’m seeing it all through new eyes. You do that to me.” He let his gaze rest on her face.

Her heart sped up, but she didn’t know what to say, wondered if he was baiting her. Taking a sip of her drink, she ignored his remark. “There’s just a feeling about this place. It’s more than the bustle and the flamboyance; there’s a vibrant undercurrent, an excitement in the air. Is it like this all the time?”

“Pretty much. Think a Kansas girl could handle all this commotion on a daily basis?”

She wondered what he was hinting at. That she’d live here someday? She didn’t understand the question and chose to deflect it with a contradictory opinion. “It was peaceful at the cemetery.”

“Yes,” he said. “There are oases of serenity here. We’ll explore some of them another day. But it does get crazy sometimes, especially in the tourist areas.”

“It’s very different from home,” she conceded. She touched his hand. “Shall we go?”

“Sure. Are you ready to see some of the shops? There are some really unique ones.” Gage rolled his hand over and took her fingers lightly in his. He massaged them almost absent-mindedly. His touch sent small thrills through her, but she tried not to show it.

“I’m having a fantastic time. And yes, I’m up for a little more.”

He withdrew his hand from hers and reached into his pocket for his wallet. As he laid several bills on the table, he said, “We’ll head on down Decauter. Ready?”

“Ready and willing.” She smiled up at him.

There was amusement in his answering smile. “Let’s hit the stores.”

“I know what you’re thinking,” she said. “That I’m going to spend hours and bring back loads of stuff.”

“I’m thinking no such thing.” He held out his hands in a defensive move. “I’d never get in the way of a woman and shopping.” He laughed as she threw a false glare his way.

They wandered through shops on Decatur and adjoining streets. In a vintage clothing store, Jade eyed many items but the prices left her aghast, though she did find a cute scarf that wouldn’t break her budget. In another establishment, she purchased some Niven Morgan home fragrance in Gold. In a gift shop, she picked up a keychain of a sexy woman lassoing an alligator and a souvenir shot glass for Jeff. Then she stumbled across a fascinating little wooden bird that the shop-keeper referred to as
steampunk
. It stood only five inches tall and had metal rulers for wings and watch gears for part of the head feathers. The whole thing perched on a set of wooden wheels. She thought it adorable but refused to spend the money on something so frivolous. She was surprised when Gage insisted on buying it for her.

“But why?” she asked.

“Something about the sparkle in your eyes when you looked at it,” he answered, his expression pensive. “Please, allow me to get it for you. I want to. Consider it a gift of welcome to our fine city.”

She cupped it in her hands. “Thank you,” she said softly, and handed the little figurine to the merchant so it could be boxed and placed in a sack for carrying. At last, they started back to where they’d left the car. The day had been a success in spite of the disappointing start. Gage had turned out to be the perfect tour guide. He hadn’t rushed her or expressed any impatience while she perused the merchandise. Perhaps he’d changed his mind about her, put aside his suspicions. When his hand slipped into hers as they were walking back to the parking lot, she left it there, enjoying his nearness.

Jade took pleasure in the quietness as they ambled slowly in the direction of the car. After all her qualms, today had turned out almost perfect. She sighed in pleasure.

A few tiny shops remained before they reached the parking garage. As they passed a collectibles store, Jade stopped with a gasp. Besides the usual displays of thick Edison records, carnival glass, and antique tins, a stunning pair of Victorian earrings hung from a small jewelry tree. Dangling from diamond-encrusted tulip-shaped bases were strands of hundreds of miniature rubies. “My Grandma had a pair just like those. Aren’t they gorgeous?”

He raised his brows and said dryly, “Rubies and diamonds. Most women
would
admire them.”

“No, you don’t understand. My grandma’s were special; they were bequeathed to her by her mother. She wanted me to have them.”

“Generous of her.”

“It was. She planned to leave them to me in her will. Before she had the stroke, she had taken them to a jeweler to be cleaned. After she picked them up she ran several errands and when she finished grocery shopping, she noticed the earrings were gone. Apparently they’d fallen out of her purse somewhere along the way. Though she retraced her steps many times, she didn’t find them and no one turned them in to the lost and found at any of the shops she’d visited. She was heartsick.”

“A shame.”

Jade’s eyes grew misty. “It’s too bad I can’t afford these,” she said as she made out the price on a tag that hung by a string from one of the earrings. “It would be like having Grandma’s jewelry back. I never did get to wear them.”

“So, you’re saying they strike an emotional chord with you?”

“Very much so. It goes back to my childhood. When I was a little girl and I’d watch her getting ready to go out for the evening, she’d lay them in my hand and let me hold them for her.” She glanced up at him uncertain whether she’d heard a derisive note in his question. “She’d be sitting at her dressing table in her slip, ‘putting on her face’, as she called it. I can still recall the scent of her perfume as if it were yesterday. I did tell you my grandparents raised me when my mom and dad were killed.”

“Yes, I believe you stressed that point.”

“It’s just that my grandma and I were very close and these remind me of her.”

“What a touching little story. I’m sure Maylene will fall for it like a ton of bricks,” he said brusquely, pulling her away from the shop.

“What?”

“Your act was worthy of an Oscar, though.” He gave her a few slow claps of applause. “Your delivery was priceless, I’ll give you that, but you don’t need to bother. It isn’t me you need to impress and Maylene’s already so stuck on you she’d be thrilled to throw down some cash for any little trinkets you might desire. I’m sure you’ll get what you’re after. I can picture you wearing these when you’re strolling down
easy street.
”

She jerked as if she’d been slapped. “That’s insulting.”

“I agree. It is. It’s insulting to my intelligence and, more importantly, to Maylene’s generosity.” He pinned her with his gaze. She’d never before realized that brown eyes could be so cold.

“I can’t believe it.” Jade shook her head in wonder. “You still think of me as some kind of avaricious money-grubber.”

“Do you care what I think?”

“No,” she choked. “Not really. Your opinion is irrelevant.”

“I thought as much.”

She sped up, walking ahead of him to his car. Climbing in, she dropped the sack containing the gift from him onto the back floorboard, determining she wouldn’t be accepting it after all. She sat silent as he entered the traffic.