her spine.
Surely she should be letting out some sort of protest? Where was her vow to keep her hands to herself? Where was her focus? Even more important, where was her sense of decency?
A loud laugh from somewhere in the store broke through Callie’s lust-muddled brain, and they both went still. Callie silently counted to five and listened to Matt’s harsh breaths before she gathered the strength to open her eyes.
Lips brushing against hers, he said, “I’m thinking we should fix our clothes.”
Which totally was in contrast to the palm pressed flat against her back, holding her firmly against his chest.
“Um...yeah,” she muttered against his lips, embarrassed by her less than brilliant response.
“What’s on the agenda for tomorrow?” he said. “Searching out a pack of traveling circus performers to juggle flaming torches?”
Her lips smiled against his. Something about his teasing tone and his easygoing manner made the moment less awkward.
She stole a quick kiss before answering. “No,” she said. “Though we do need to find someone who can transport a dragon from Colin’s storage house to the park.”
He pulled his head back and hiked a brow dryly. “Well, that shouldn’t be hard at all.”
“We’re in New Orleans,” Callie said. “This town plans, produces and pulls off the Mardi Gras parade every year. There are plenty of people who can properly transport a dragon.”
“So tomorrow will be about securing dragon transport?”
Callie opened her mouth to say yes and then bit her lip, remembering that her aunt had called this morning and asked for her help sorting through the stuff at the dock house. Callie had promised to drive up to Aunt Billie’s place despite her suspicions the favor wasn’t the real reason her aunt wanted Callie to visit.
While she was always pleased to see her favorite relative, the visit never came without a risk. But there was definitely a way to cut down on said risk. Bring backup. Provide a distraction, so to speak. Matt was the perfect person to help in that regard.
Callie eyed Matt. His hair was adorably tousled and his lips looked ruddy from their kisses. And something about his manner always put her at ease, even while revving up her body...
Talk about distractions.
“Actually,” she said, “I have to head up to Clemence tomorrow. I was hoping you could ride along. I have to see my aunt Billie, and I think you should get out for an authentic taste of our cuisine and experience the bayou.”
“Sightseeing wasn’t really in my plans.”
“But there’s so much to see and this is your first trip to town. You can’t come to New Orleans without sampling a little of rural Louisiana.”
He tipped his head and looked down at her. Why was she holding her breath, hoping he’d say yes?
“Will there be mosquitos?” he asked.
“Big ones.”
“Gators?”
“Most definitely.”
“Dirt roads?”
“With potholes the size of Texas.”
His lips twitched, as if fighting a smile. “Sounds enticing,” he said dryly.
“On the bright side, my aunt makes the best shrimp étouffée in three counties. And she has a successful restaurant to show for it.”
“Now that sounds good.”
The response encouraging, Callie had to smile. “Hope you like it hot.”
“Ms. LaBeau,” Matt said, leaning close, his lips whispering across hers, “I like everything hot.”
FOUR
The two-hour drive up to Clemence, located north of Baton Rouge, passed pleasantly enough. At least, as pleasant as possible given Callie remained distracted, both by Matt’s presence in her car and the destination.
As usual, the closer Callie drew to her old hometown the more her stomach filled with knots. Visiting Aunt Billie always managed to be fun and painful at the same time. Hopefully, with Matt along, Callie could avoid the painful part. From the first moment her family had learned of her mistake, her aunt had been her staunchest supporter, which always made Callie feel even
Surely she should be letting out some sort of protest? Where was her vow to keep her hands to herself? Where was her focus? Even more important, where was her sense of decency?
A loud laugh from somewhere in the store broke through Callie’s lust-muddled brain, and they both went still. Callie silently counted to five and listened to Matt’s harsh breaths before she gathered the strength to open her eyes.
Lips brushing against hers, he said, “I’m thinking we should fix our clothes.”
Which totally was in contrast to the palm pressed flat against her back, holding her firmly against his chest.
“Um...yeah,” she muttered against his lips, embarrassed by her less than brilliant response.
“What’s on the agenda for tomorrow?” he said. “Searching out a pack of traveling circus performers to juggle flaming torches?”
Her lips smiled against his. Something about his teasing tone and his easygoing manner made the moment less awkward.
She stole a quick kiss before answering. “No,” she said. “Though we do need to find someone who can transport a dragon from Colin’s storage house to the park.”
He pulled his head back and hiked a brow dryly. “Well, that shouldn’t be hard at all.”
“We’re in New Orleans,” Callie said. “This town plans, produces and pulls off the Mardi Gras parade every year. There are plenty of people who can properly transport a dragon.”
“So tomorrow will be about securing dragon transport?”
Callie opened her mouth to say yes and then bit her lip, remembering that her aunt had called this morning and asked for her help sorting through the stuff at the dock house. Callie had promised to drive up to Aunt Billie’s place despite her suspicions the favor wasn’t the real reason her aunt wanted Callie to visit.
While she was always pleased to see her favorite relative, the visit never came without a risk. But there was definitely a way to cut down on said risk. Bring backup. Provide a distraction, so to speak. Matt was the perfect person to help in that regard.
Callie eyed Matt. His hair was adorably tousled and his lips looked ruddy from their kisses. And something about his manner always put her at ease, even while revving up her body...
Talk about distractions.
“Actually,” she said, “I have to head up to Clemence tomorrow. I was hoping you could ride along. I have to see my aunt Billie, and I think you should get out for an authentic taste of our cuisine and experience the bayou.”
“Sightseeing wasn’t really in my plans.”
“But there’s so much to see and this is your first trip to town. You can’t come to New Orleans without sampling a little of rural Louisiana.”
He tipped his head and looked down at her. Why was she holding her breath, hoping he’d say yes?
“Will there be mosquitos?” he asked.
“Big ones.”
“Gators?”
“Most definitely.”
“Dirt roads?”
“With potholes the size of Texas.”
His lips twitched, as if fighting a smile. “Sounds enticing,” he said dryly.
“On the bright side, my aunt makes the best shrimp étouffée in three counties. And she has a successful restaurant to show for it.”
“Now that sounds good.”
The response encouraging, Callie had to smile. “Hope you like it hot.”
“Ms. LaBeau,” Matt said, leaning close, his lips whispering across hers, “I like everything hot.”
FOUR
The two-hour drive up to Clemence, located north of Baton Rouge, passed pleasantly enough. At least, as pleasant as possible given Callie remained distracted, both by Matt’s presence in her car and the destination.
As usual, the closer Callie drew to her old hometown the more her stomach filled with knots. Visiting Aunt Billie always managed to be fun and painful at the same time. Hopefully, with Matt along, Callie could avoid the painful part. From the first moment her family had learned of her mistake, her aunt had been her staunchest supporter, which always made Callie feel even
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