Untrusting Hearts: A Contemporary New Orleans Romance (8 page)

“I believe Jade had some sightseeing plans,” Gage said. “In fact, I promised I’d take her around.”

“I’m sure she’d consider rescheduling once I explain the situation. There are so many photo albums and mementos I want to show her. Since you were planning to be off work anyway, you’ll be free to drive us. I trust you’ll be able to find the deed and get the paperwork straightened out so Ty can finish his business.”

“Of course. I usually do cover Ty’s mess-ups.” Gage’s voice held disdain and Maylene didn’t miss it.

“He’s still young, Gage. He’ll come around.”

“He’s twenty-seven. Hardly a child.”

“No. But he isn’t as mature as you were at that age. It will come to him. Could you please pass me a sliver of cake and top off my coffee?”

The rattling of china met Jade’s ears and conversation ceased while they ate. She was intrigued by the idea of a homestead and wondered where it was located. Maylene’s voice carried upstairs once again. “Well, I’m going to turn in, Gage. What time will you be here tomorrow?”

“Whenever you say.”

“Will eight o’clock do? We’ve had a late night.”

“Eight will be fine. Oh, before I forget, here are your diamonds.”

“Thank you, dear. Jade mentioned you had them. Goodnight, now.”

Jade stood and crept back to her room, certain Gage had gone. When she heard Maylene’s bedroom door close, she decided to go downstairs. Her mouth was parched. Probably from the wine she’d consumed. Jade tiptoed down the stairs and through the sitting room.

She was surprised to find Gage putting the kitchen to rights. He turned just as she entered. “Jade?”

“Oh, Gage, you startled me. I thought you’d gone.”

“No. I’m still here.” His eyes drank her in and Jade suddenly felt very self-conscious. “Was there something you needed?” His words were suggestive as he took a step nearer.

“My Coke.” Jade’s voice barely cleared her mouth. Her fingers clutched nervously at the thin fabric of her gown.

“This?” Gage lifted the drink from the tray and moved closer but set the cup on the island instead of passing it to her.

“Yes,” Jade whispered as Gage leaned over her, barely grazing her hair with his chin. She heard him inhale.

“You smell so damn good.”

“Is that bad?”

“Oh, no! It’s not bad at all.” He lifted her chin and took her lips with his. Gentle at first, the kiss soon filled with longing.

Jade’s tongue slipped out and tasted his lips. He immediately drew it deep into his mouth, twining his own with hers. He pulled her tight and she could feel the hard evidence of his arousal against her belly.

Hunger rose inside Jade like a fire igniting and she raised one leg, wrapped it around his, pressed against him, and tumbled headfirst into lust. She’d never before been kissed with such intensity. Her body had never responded with such abandon.

Time stood still as their passion mounted, raw and breathless. She moaned softly and he deepened the kiss.

Abruptly, Gage pulled away, lowering Jade’s leg and straightening his jacket. His eyes burned with desire, but his voice was steady and cool. “I’m sorry. That should have never happened.” Without another word, he left the room.

Jade stood lost, heart racing. Stunned. What had she done? Her fingers pressed softly against her mouth. The taste of him lingered on her lips and the ghost of his manly scent clung faintly to her skin. She heard the distant sound of the front door closing and knew he was gone. She braced herself against the counter and ran a shaky hand through her hair. The heat of their embrace was slow to fade. She grabbed her drink and took several long swallows. She didn’t know what amazed her more, his desire for her or her passion for him, especially considering the earlier animosity between them. But his kiss had been so delicious…

She had to get a grip on these wild feelings.

Once she composed herself, she realized it was good he had stopped. She wouldn’t be here long enough for a romance to make sense. Then, she remembered Maylene’s words. He’d be back at eight o’clock the next morning. How would she ever be able to face him after falling into his arms even though he’d treated her like a thief?

Chapter 5

When Gage picked them up, he was his usual calm and somewhat cynical self. It was as if the passion they’d shared the night before never happened. After a quick cup of coffee, he ushered Maylene to his car, Jade following along. Once they pulled from the driveway, he immediately launched into conversation with Maylene, not excluding Jade exactly, but sticking to topics about which she knew nothing. It was fine with her. She stared out the window at the scenery, deep in thought.

It didn’t seem long before they rolled down a long tree-lined drive and pulled up next to what could only be described as a miniature plantation house. A wide brick pathway, planted either side with colorful flowers, led through the gate of a picket fence. The dwelling itself was a dazzling white, with gray shingles and a wide front porch. A small balcony nestled between columns on the second floor.

“What a charming place,” Jade exclaimed. “I love it.”

“I bet you do,” Gage murmured sardonically.

Jade shot him a sharp look, but he gazed past her. “I was expecting something smaller, more on the lines of a cottage.”

Maylene appeared not to have heard Gage’s snide comment. “This is where Jean Pierre and I began our married life,” she explained, as they reached the door. “My father wasn’t exactly thrilled with my choice of husbands; Jean Pierre came from ‘poor stock’, to use his phrase. But, like any southern gentleman, he wanted to look out for his little girl and his dowry was quite generous.”

She unlocked and opened the door. “You know, honey, Jean Pierre and I spent our first fifteen years here. After that, we settled into the Esplanade house, and I’ve never regretted the move. But whenever I come out here I feel like I’ve stepped back in time. Everything is pretty much the same as it was the day we moved into town.”

“It looks lived in,” Jade commented.

“We have a couple who stay in the rear of the home and keep everything nice. It would never do for the house to appear empty; thieves would walk away with everything. A crew maintains the lawns and gardens. Of course, we lease out the surrounding land to a farmer.” Maylene paused and inhaled deeply, her face lighting up. After a sentimental moment, she turned to Jade. “Why don’t you have a look around while I direct Gage to the files he needs. I imagine Bonnie left us a pitcher of tea in the fridge, if you want to pour us each a glass.”

“None for me, thanks,” Gage said, all business. “I just want to get this done.”

Jade set her things down and wandered through rooms tastefully furnished with mostly antiques, but when she reached the kitchen she felt a smile lift the corners of her mouth. Obviously when Maylene said she’d changed nothing she hadn’t been referring to the kitchen. It was decked out in gleaming white appliances. Vertical shutters hung in the many windows, open to let in the sun. Copper-bottomed pots and pans hung overhead. The built-in cupboards were dark walnut. Granite countertops graced the lower bank of cabinets; a swan neck faucet stood waiting for use over a spotless stainless steel double sink. The marble floors were an elegant and practical choice, easy to keep clean.

She couldn’t deny she’d expected the color scheme from another era: appliances in harvest gold, canisters decorated with orange and brown mushrooms, avocado-green linoleum underfoot, and maybe a set of wide-eyed ceramic owls hanging on the walls above the cabinets. In her mind’s eye she could see burnt orange curtains at the windows and a big clunky microwave dominating the countertop. The reality was so much nicer.

The cupboard to the right of the sink held a set of heavy cut crystal glassware. Jade pulled out two, filled them with ice and tea, and exited the kitchen carrying one in each hand.

She found Maylene in the parlor, digging picture albums and scrapbooks from a cedar chest. “Oh, good. You have our drinks.”

They settled on the sofa and immersed themselves in old memorabilia and photographs. Jade used her scanner on quite a few old pictures.

“Gracious sakes,” Maylene exclaimed, tenderly running her fingers over a photo. “Here’s Jean Pierre with Gage at the opening of our Lafayette restaurant. Oh, they both look so young. Gage is such a handsome lad, don’t you think?”

Jade nodded. There was no denying the man’s dashing looks.

Maylene smiled softly. “I’ve always thought the two could pass for father and son. Can you see it?” She gazed expectantly at Jade.

“Mmm-hmm,” Jade murmured noncommittally. She actually saw few similarities between the men. Jean Pierre’s brown hair had been lighter than Gage’s. His build was slighter, his face narrower, features sharper. If Maylene saw a resemblance, it was because she wanted to. Perhaps her affection for Gage distorted her vision; Jade could understand that.

Turning a page, Maylene tittered. “I’d forgotten all about this. It was taken at the beach. There’s Mama and Daddy at the water’s edge. Just look at those bathing suits they wore. How different things were back then, yet, the same in many ways. See those short slacks I’m wearing in this picture? They were called pedal pushers. Today we call them Capri pants, but they’re basically the same thing. Oh, and here’s a ticket stub from the first drive-in theater I ever went to. My grandmamma used to say they were no better than dens of iniquity, all those un-chaperoned couples alone in vehicles.”

Turning a page, Maylene found a small yellowed envelope held in place by four black corners, the same style used to keep the pictures on the page. The woman’s hands shook as she carefully removed the envelope, opened it, and let its contents fall into her hand. On her palm lay a flaxen curl. “Here’s a lock of my hair, preserved after all this time. Oh, my goodness, this is over seventy years old. I used to be a blonde, you know.” She rubbed it gently between her fingertips and chuckled. “Baby hair is so soft.” With a sigh, she replaced it in the envelope and returned it to its place in the album.

Jade loved the old photographs and souvenirs. They were marvelous windows into the past, spanning several generations. What she couldn’t scan, she shot with her digital camera and looked forward to uploading everything when she got back to town. On a pad of paper, she made meticulous notes of names, dates, and places. By the time Gage returned to tell them he’d found what he needed, she had amassed an enormous amount of information.

He glanced at the grandfather clock in the corner. “If you ladies are finished here, we should get on the road.”

“Oh, I’m afraid not, dear,” Maylene said. “We’ve had a marvelous time, Jade and I, but I need to put all these things away. I can’t leave them scattered about like this.”

“Let me help you,” Jade offered.

“Thank you, dear, but I have a particular way I like them stored.” She fixed Gage with a firm stare. “Besides, I’m absolutely worn out. You should show Jade the property, Gage. I’m sure she’ll find it interesting. Take her to see the old cabin. Once I’ve finished straightening up, I simply must lie down and rest for tonight.”

“Tonight?” Gage frowned.

“Oh, my. Did I forget to mention that I’ve booked the three of us for the jazz cruise on the Natchez this evening?”

“The Natchez?” Jade’s eyebrow arched.

“The steamboat,” Gage informed her. He turned to Maylene. “The jazz cruise? You realize we’ll probably have to wait in line to redeem our tickets.”

“Most likely, but it’ll be worth it.” Maylene smiled, looking supremely pleased with herself. “Now run along and have fun. Pick me up when you’re done; I’m sure I’ll be ready then. Really, you two should go out and enjoy the day.”

Dread fell over Jade; she should have anticipated something like this. Maylene seemed determined to throw her and Gage together at every opportunity. “Wouldn’t it be better if I waited here and…”

Gage’s smile was unreadable as he interrupted her. “Maylene, you’re right. Come on, Jade.” Before she could object, he was herding her toward the door. She barely had time to grab her purse and camera.

Jade was dismayed. It looked like she’d be forced to endure Gage’s confusing presence the entire day. The last thing she wanted to do was deal with his hot and cold mood changes. She was annoyed as he hurried her to the car, but as soon as they took off, she changed her mind. Maylene deserved some privacy to indulge in her reminiscences. Jade shouldn’t insist on clinging to the woman. So, she’d go with Gage and try to ride the waves of his temperament. She’d thought after their fiery kiss the previous night that he had decided he trusted her. But then he’d made the snide comment when she’d admired the homestead. Yet he seemed to jump at the chance to be alone with her. He was the most confounding man she’d ever met. She had no idea what to expect from one minute to the next. She’d never have agreed to this little outing if it hadn’t been Maylene’s idea. Hopefully he’d remain even-keeled.

“We’ll go out to the highway and I’ll take you around to the back side of the property. There’s more to see there, but the overland road is extremely rough, sometimes impassable.”

She sat back and absorbed the scenery, all the while hoping Gage wasn’t escorting her to alligator feeding grounds deep in the bayou.

“I’d bet road trips were a lot more exciting back before they put in the interstates,” Gage commented after they’d gone several miles.

“I can see why that might be true. The interstates are full of nothing but more nothing.”

“Exactly,” Gage nodded sagely. “It was more adventurous. You never knew what you might see, the people you might meet. Could be a junk store at some dusty intersection just waiting for someone to dig through the treasures within. People in small towns would lift a hand in a friendly greeting as you passed, not look at you like they do today, as if you’re casing their homes. Hell, you might even see someone selling juju and talismans on a corner. And who knows how many times you’d have to slow down for swamp critters out for a stroll?”

She couldn’t picture him being interested in such things. He was a busy man, a man for whom time was money. “Ah, the good old days?”

“In many ways, yes. They were simpler times. At least, a lot more interesting than things are today.” He abruptly switched subjects. “Care if I put the top down? Get some air circulating?”

“Fine with me.”

He pulled to the side of the road and pressed a button. In a short twenty seconds, the roof had stored itself neatly behind the rear seats and Gage pulled back onto the highway. “It’s great you wore your hair pulled back; it won’t blow around as much. Besides, it looks good on you, with your delicate features and striking green eyes.”

Jade threw him a glance, decided he was being sincere, and said, “Thank you.” When she’d gotten ready that morning, the wind was the furthest thing from her mind. The reason for her sensible-looking hairstyle was to let Gage know she wasn’t taking any special pains to look nice for him. She’d pulled on a pair of faded jeans and a short-sleeved white button-up shirt. Jade was careful to apply a bare minimum of makeup and she donned no jewelry at all. All this had been done in order to show him she wasn’t concerned with his opinion of her, that after the way he’d left her so abruptly in the kitchen, she’d be damned if she tried to impress him. Yet, he’d complimented her appearance. The man was an enigma.

She’d also decided she would be civil unless he goaded her, and thus far she’d kept the promise. But neither did she feel it was her place to engage him in clever banter. She was just along for the ride. And she was thankful that he seemed to be in jovial spirits.

“What kind of job are you planning to look for when you get back home?” He raised a quizzical brow.

She checked to see if he was baiting her, but his expression was guileless. So, it was merely small talk, she noted with relief. “I have a degree in business administration, so I can handle anything from reception to bookkeeping to secretarial. But I’m not going to limit myself. I mean, a paycheck is a paycheck.”

“I feel the same way. A humble start can often lead to bigger things. My first job was nothing to brag about, but I was happy to have it.” He told her at one time he’d even considered buying a boat and giving guided river tours, but life had taken him down a different road.

He also spoke of his fondness for Maylene. “She and Jean Pierre were people of integrity, honesty, and decency. They were perfectly suited to each other.” He talked of how close the couple had been. “I sometimes think they were too close,” he said ominously.

“How so?”

“Losing him nearly destroyed her. She lost interest in the business, in her appearance, even in her homes. The household staff pretty much had to supervise themselves. Maylene holed up in her suite, refused all visitors, and wouldn’t return calls.”

“That sounds like a pretty serious case of grief.”

“It was bad. She really got slammed hard by the loss. You know, she was young when she and Jean Pierre were wed. Her father wasn’t pleased with his daughter’s choice of a husband, but she was in love, headstrong, and used to getting her way. He gave in to her but never quite took to Jean Pierre. It was hard on her. Jean Pierre made it up to her, though. He treasured and adored her. Shielded her as much as possible. Long before he died, he made provisions for her well-being; made certain she’d be looked after and taken care of.”

“It sounds like you thought highly of him.”

“I did.” His jaw tightened and he focused on the road. “I respected him; he was my mentor. And my friend.”

Jade wondered how Gage had met the Dubois family and why exactly he held Jean Pierre in such high regard, but decided now wasn’t the time to delve into it.