to Lucas, and for some reason Bree didn’t like the thought of him learning about her past, even if she wouldn’t see him until his next visit from California.
Then there was Toujacques and the promotion announcement next week….
Argh!
Even if she reported Jude anonymously, Bree knew she’d be at the top of the list of people the police would track down to interrogate. Since she’d issued official statements, they’d also be thinking revenge. All she didn’t need was for Lana to get wind of this.
“Is everything all right, Bree?”
The voice made her jump—tetchy today, wasn’t she?—and she had the mocking thought that this man’s voice probably shouldn’t have been so familiar after only one conversation.
Not only was Lucas’s voice familiar, but hearing it brought a sense of calm she had absolutely no business feeling. Suddenly her heart didn’t pound quite so hard and she didn’t feel so all alone on this busy riverbank.
Glancing over her shoulder, Bree found Lucas showcased on the wharf above her. He wore clothes today. His well-worn jeans rode low on trim hips, and his sweatshirt hinted at the muscles of his toned body below. Despite the clothes, she could still envision what he looked like in his towel.
After last night, that image was burned into her psyche.
“Playing the knight on the dock today?” she asked, her best defense a good offense.
“Only if the damsel needs rescuing.”
“She doesn’t, thank you.”
His gaze followed the bits of paper littering the water, and with the bright sun throwing his chiseled features into sharp relief, he looked as if he didn’t believe her.
But when he extended his hand, Bree took it, resisting the urge to roll her eyes at the jolt she got when his warm fingers closed around hers.
He helped her to her feet. “How are you feeling today?”
“A little sore, but I’ll live. So what are you doing down here?”
“Pinch-hitting for my sister.”
“You mean the woman who guilts everyone she knows—even under the most tenuous acquaintance—into joining the krewe?”
“Guilt, hmm?”
“You’re kidding, right? It was an honor to even be invited to join, don’t you know? Krewe du Chaud is very exclusive. FONOF, and all that.” She gave an unladylike snort at the acronym for Fine Old New Orleans Families and stepped up onto the dock. “I am so not a joiner. Never even a Girl Scout. Besides, I’m really too busy right now for this.”
“So I heard. Talked to my sister, and she mentioned that you work two jobs.”
Tossing her hair back, Bree hiked her purse higher on her shoulder and met his gaze levelly. “Only when I’m not pinch-hitting for krewe presidents who run off with their new husbands instead of finishing their parade floats.”
“You do know that Josie has been waiting to get Max to herself since she was ten years old, don’t you?”
“Seriously?”
He raised his hand. “On my honor.”
“Well, I suppose that would explain the rush.”
“That and Valentine’s Day. My sister has a thing for holidays.”
“What a nice big brother you are, Lucas. Your mother must be very proud of you for stepping in to help your sister so she could catch her man and have the wedding of her dreams. But didn’t you say you were leaving today?”
“Changed my plans.”
“To help get our float ready? Whew! You really do get good-big-brother points.”
Lucas only gave a shrug as a chilly wind blew off the river, ruffling his hair and plastering his sweatshirt against his chest. “Actually, I wanted to see you again.”
“Oh.” Given the positively intent way he was staring, she supposed she shouldn’t be surprised. Not by his candor, anyway. That was typical rich-guy behavior.
I see you.
I want you.
I stake my claim.
It was inevitable, really.
What did surprise Bree was how she found his bright gaze even more startling in the daylight. What surprised her was the way swallowing suddenly became difficult with her tongue
Then there was Toujacques and the promotion announcement next week….
Argh!
Even if she reported Jude anonymously, Bree knew she’d be at the top of the list of people the police would track down to interrogate. Since she’d issued official statements, they’d also be thinking revenge. All she didn’t need was for Lana to get wind of this.
“Is everything all right, Bree?”
The voice made her jump—tetchy today, wasn’t she?—and she had the mocking thought that this man’s voice probably shouldn’t have been so familiar after only one conversation.
Not only was Lucas’s voice familiar, but hearing it brought a sense of calm she had absolutely no business feeling. Suddenly her heart didn’t pound quite so hard and she didn’t feel so all alone on this busy riverbank.
Glancing over her shoulder, Bree found Lucas showcased on the wharf above her. He wore clothes today. His well-worn jeans rode low on trim hips, and his sweatshirt hinted at the muscles of his toned body below. Despite the clothes, she could still envision what he looked like in his towel.
After last night, that image was burned into her psyche.
“Playing the knight on the dock today?” she asked, her best defense a good offense.
“Only if the damsel needs rescuing.”
“She doesn’t, thank you.”
His gaze followed the bits of paper littering the water, and with the bright sun throwing his chiseled features into sharp relief, he looked as if he didn’t believe her.
But when he extended his hand, Bree took it, resisting the urge to roll her eyes at the jolt she got when his warm fingers closed around hers.
He helped her to her feet. “How are you feeling today?”
“A little sore, but I’ll live. So what are you doing down here?”
“Pinch-hitting for my sister.”
“You mean the woman who guilts everyone she knows—even under the most tenuous acquaintance—into joining the krewe?”
“Guilt, hmm?”
“You’re kidding, right? It was an honor to even be invited to join, don’t you know? Krewe du Chaud is very exclusive. FONOF, and all that.” She gave an unladylike snort at the acronym for Fine Old New Orleans Families and stepped up onto the dock. “I am so not a joiner. Never even a Girl Scout. Besides, I’m really too busy right now for this.”
“So I heard. Talked to my sister, and she mentioned that you work two jobs.”
Tossing her hair back, Bree hiked her purse higher on her shoulder and met his gaze levelly. “Only when I’m not pinch-hitting for krewe presidents who run off with their new husbands instead of finishing their parade floats.”
“You do know that Josie has been waiting to get Max to herself since she was ten years old, don’t you?”
“Seriously?”
He raised his hand. “On my honor.”
“Well, I suppose that would explain the rush.”
“That and Valentine’s Day. My sister has a thing for holidays.”
“What a nice big brother you are, Lucas. Your mother must be very proud of you for stepping in to help your sister so she could catch her man and have the wedding of her dreams. But didn’t you say you were leaving today?”
“Changed my plans.”
“To help get our float ready? Whew! You really do get good-big-brother points.”
Lucas only gave a shrug as a chilly wind blew off the river, ruffling his hair and plastering his sweatshirt against his chest. “Actually, I wanted to see you again.”
“Oh.” Given the positively intent way he was staring, she supposed she shouldn’t be surprised. Not by his candor, anyway. That was typical rich-guy behavior.
I see you.
I want you.
I stake my claim.
It was inevitable, really.
What did surprise Bree was how she found his bright gaze even more startling in the daylight. What surprised her was the way swallowing suddenly became difficult with her tongue
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