Mischief in New Orleans

by Lucy Quinn

  Charles tore his top hat, jacket, and tie off and threw them down on the floor of the float. “You old ladies are insane. Good luck finding someone crazy enough to deal with all of you old bats.” He puffed up his chest and poked it with his thumb as he said, “There’s no way you’re going to win one of the parade awards without Rhett Butler.” He shot Evie one last scowl and then jumped off the float. A moment later, he disappeared into the crowd.

  “Good riddance,” Dora said.

  “Oh, Dor,” Evie said, turning to her friend. “I didn’t mean for that to happen. I’m so sorry. Now you’ll only be one half of a literary couple. I’m sorry Sunshine and I ran off your Rhett.”

  “Eh. Don’t worry about it. That guy was a creeper anyway. Scarlett doesn’t need—”

  “Excuse me, Miss Scarlett?” a familiar male voice said from behind Dora. “If you don’t mind, I’d very much like to be your Rhett.”

  Evie jerked her head and stared over Dora’s shoulder right into the sapphire-blue eyes of one Luke Landucci.

  23

  “Luke?” Dora gasped. “What are you—how did you get here?”

  The chef from Pensacola wrapped one arm around Dora and pulled her in close. “Well, someone sent me a link to an Instagram page for this really adorable dog named Sushi. Seems she was excited about being on a parade float with her Aunt Scarlett O’Hara. The idea of Scarlett in another Rhett’s arms made me antsy, and the next thing I knew I was on a plane to the Big Easy.”

  “Someone sent you a link? Who?” Dora glanced over his shoulder at Evie, who was grinning at her friend. “Evie, did you do this?”

  Evie shrugged one shoulder and then turned her attention to Sunshine, telling her what a good girl she was and how clever she was to run her own Instagram page.

  Dora’s heart swelled. There was no doubt in her mind that after Evie had her night with Trace she’d sent Luke that link. And now here he was, volunteering to be her Rhett. She stared into his dancing eyes and let out a giddy laugh. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

  Luke brought a hand up and brushed his thumb over Dora’s cheek. “You don’t mind that I just showed up, do you?”

  Dora took a deep breath and forced herself to say the words that were threatening to get caught in her throat. “Yes. Well, no actually. But we both know you shouldn’t be here. It’s too dangerous.”

  Luke stared down at her, a determined expression on his handsome face as he shook his head and said, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t really give a damn.”

  Pure emotion flooded Dora’s senses, and before she could even think about what she was doing, she wrapped her arms around her almost boyfriend and kissed him. Luke let out a surprised chuckle and in the next moment, he pulled her in tighter and then dipped her in a dramatic pose that made the gathering crowd cheer and wolf whistle their approval.

  The pair broke apart, and Dora gazed up at him, awe almost making her speechless. But then she glanced over at the Krewe de Quills who were all watching with wide grins on their faces. “Is it okay if Luke fills in as Rhett?”

  Flora almost gave herself whiplash as she enthusiastically nodded her agreement. “Quick, Get him into Charles’s jacket and tie and top hat. The floats are getting ready to roll.”

  Luke bent down to pick up the discarded clothing, shrugged the jacket over his white button-down shirt and winked as he expertly tied the tie.

  Whoa, was he ever handsome. Dora took a moment to study him and decided that Clark Gable didn’t have anything on Luke Landucci. He was quite possibly the most handsome man she’d ever laid eyes on.

  “Are you ready, Scarlett?” he asked, offering her a hand.

  “More than you’ll ever know,” she said and let him lead her over to the edge of the float as the parade started to roll.

  A few of the Krewe de Quills ladies had boarded the float and were busy opening the bags of throws. Flora brought Dora a couple of cases of parasols and stuffed quills and then pointed to the bags of beads near the edge. “Pace yourself. You don’t want to get too crazy and hurt your arm. You also don’t want to run out before we get to the end.”

  “Got it,” Dora said, still unable to keep her eyes off of Luke.

  “Good. Keep that up. The judges will eat up that connection you have with Rhett.” Flora turned her attention to him. “And if you lay a couple more hot kisses on her with that fancy dip, that wouldn’t hurt either.”

  Luke’s lips twitched with amusement. “Noted.”

  After Flora disappeared to the other end of the float, Luke squeezed Dora’s hand and said, “I think she just gave me permission to make out with you on this float. Is that what you heard?”

  Dora’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she glanced down at her feet, trying to keep from throwing herself at him again. “Maybe we should keep this PG for the parade. There will probably be kids watching.”

  “Dor,” he said with a chuckle. “I’m pretty sure nothing that goes on in New Orleans is PG.”

  She couldn’t argue there. Still, she wasn’t exactly comfortable putting her private life on display even if they were both dressed up like famous literary characters and, as far as the parade goers were concerned, they were only playing a part. The problem was neither one of them was faking it. She was sure of that, and as much as she liked having Rhett’s—Luke’s—arms around her, everyone else would have to settle for a few dances and a showy, dramatic kiss or two. Anything else could wait until they were in private. Dora might have bared her soul to bar full of people during a poetry reading, but she wasn’t willing to share how she felt about Luke with a city full of strangers. That was something that should be just for them.

  Luke seemed to understand as he leaned over and brushed a light kiss over her cheek. “Let’s just have a good time, Dora. Later, when we’re alone, we can get to the important stuff.”

  I love you, she thought. The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed them back. They weren’t even dating. Not really. And whatever was going on between them, any sort of declaration was far too soon. Saying those words would be a big mistake. Huge. That didn’t stop her brain from saying them over and over again in her mind though. She couldn’t help it. He’d been so wonderful through this entire ordeal. The man was a saint.

  And that is why she had to keep her those words to herself. He didn’t deserve to be put on the spot or made to deal with her crazy. They needed to get through the night, and then she’d send him on his way back to Pensacola and pray no one found out he’d come to visit her. The last thing she wanted was for Luke to get caught up in her drama again, but she was sure going to pray he’d wait long enough for her to come back to him.

  “Here.” Luke handed her a parasol. “Let’s get this party started.” He pressed a hand to her lower back and guided her over to the side of the float. People were lined up, shouting for them to throw the giveaways. The excitement was infectious, and Dora finally realized why New Orleanians loved this so much.

  The energy was alive in the air, everyone was excited and having a good time. Nothing else seemed to matter except for when she and Luke tossed the parasols. The women in the crowd lunged for the one Dora threw, ending with three different women saying they had a claim to the relatively inexpensive umbrella. Their voices rose as each claimed to have touched it first.

  Dora’s instinct was to throw them each their own parasol, but as the float quickly left them behind, Dora realized there was nothing she could do and decided to be a lot more careful about who she passed the next parasol to.

  Time flew by as Dora and Luke tossed out what felt like hundreds of beads and dozens of parasols and stuffed quills. The crowd was animated, but for the most part they remained respectful to the float passengers.

  “Holy crow,” Evie said, leaning again the railing of the float and rubbing at her arm. “I’m about to get tennis elbow from all this manual labor.”

  “Why don’t you take a seat?” Luke asked, already pulling one of the metal ch
airs over for her.

  Evie shook her head and pointed to the makeshift platform. “Nope. It’s almost time for you two to show off your dance moves. Sunshine and I will keep the party goers entertained.” She winked and dug into the box for more parasols.

  The float came to a stop right in front of Jackson Square. The Saint Louis Cathedral was on one side and the park on the other. Classical music performed by Johann Strauss filled the air, and the sensual notes made Dora’s skin tingle.

  Luke’s eyes gleamed as he held out a hand and gave Dora a half bow. “May I have this dance, my dear Scarlett?”

  Dora’s breath caught as she gazed at the handsome and completely adorable man in front of her. Was this real life? What had she done to deserve this magical moment? Was it karma’s way of balancing out all the crazy in her life? She didn’t know, but one thing was for certain; she had no intention of squandering the moment. She placed her hand in his and said, “Yes, Rhett. It would be my pleasure.”

  Luke swept her up in his arms, and to her complete surprise, he held her tight to his body and started to move as if he’d been performing the waltz for years. Dora let out a giggle and did her best to try to follow along, but dancing had never been one of her strengths. She was awkward and uncoordinated. Fortunately, Luke seemed to be an experienced enough dancer that it hardly mattered. She found her torso molded to his with her back arched, his limbs moving hers with ease. By the end of the dance, she’d loosened up enough that when he nudged her back into a graceful dip, she went with it, throwing her head back and feeling sensual, and gorgeous, and like they’d been dancing together forever.

  “Yes!” Evie called from her place near the edge of the float. “Encore! Encore! Fabulous, Dor! Simply fabulous!”

  Dora felt her face flush with heat, and when Luke lifted her back up, she buried her face in his chest, her shoulders shaking with laughter.

  “What’s so funny?” he whispered into her ear.

  “I can’t believe I just did that,” she admitted. “Dancing… well, let’s just say I was always the wallflower at school dances. Evie’s the one who has all the moves.”

  “Not anymore, beautiful,” he said, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “Stick with me, and the next thing you know you’ll be auditioning for So You Think You Can Dance or America’s Got Talent.”

  Dora pulled back and blinked at him. “You watch So You Think You Can Dance?”

  It was his turn to flush. “My niece is a fan.”

  “Sure, Luke,” Evie called over the music as the float started to roll again. “You just keep telling yourself that.”

  Laughing, Dora tugged Luke back over to the edge of the float where they tossed more beads and trinkets into the crowd. The float came to a stop again, and suddenly a man popped through the crowd and leaned against the guard rail. His hands went up in the air, but instead of waving them around, calling out for the throws, he pointed at Dora, scowled, and said, “Hey! That woman threw donuts at me.”

  Dora stared at the man who’d been following them the previous morning. She was struggling to figure out how he’d recognized her in the wig and makeup, but fortunately there was a plan in place to deal with those kind of situations. She tried to act innocent as she turned toward the back of the float where the rest of the Krewe de Quills members were and called, “Security!”

  24

  Evie clutched Sunshine’s leash as the two of them strolled behind Dora and Luke. They were holding hands, their heads bent together as they talked about the parade. The afternoon had been fun. One of the best she could remember in recent history. Not only had Dora and Luke won a prize for most realistic fictional couple, but they helped draw attention to the shelter the Krewe de Quills ladies had sponsored, giving them a powerful connection or two for future fundraising efforts.

  Evie had to hand it to the women of the krewe. They really knew how to put together a float, and Evie was honored she and Dora had been a part of it. But her heart was heavy that they had to leave their new friends. Her heart was also full when she watched Dora with Luke though. She was more than pleased with herself that she’d sent Luke a DM with the link to Sushi’s Instagram page. It had been inspired, really. After her night with Trace, she had wanted nothing more than to give Dora a similar evening.

  It was too bad they needed to get on the road. Once they got back to the apartment, they had to pack up and get out of town if they wanted any chance of finding the Buddha. The longer they dallied, the greater the chance of losing the piggy bank and the evidence inside.

  “Dora?” Evie called when the pair stopped out in front of a local eatery and debated ducking in for a bite to eat.

  “Yeah? Are you hungry?” Dora asked.

  Evie shook her head and felt an ache in her stomach. She didn’t want to cut their time short, but she knew Dora would feel guilty once she came down off her Luke high if they didn’t get moving. “I hate to be the stick in the mud here, but we really need to get going. Remember?”

  Dora’s smile disappeared as she glanced back up at Luke and said, “She’s right. We know where the Buddha is, and we were going to take off as soon as the parade was over.”

  Luke tightened his hold on Dora and pulled her in closer, giving her a slight hug. “I really wish you two would come back to Pensacola. It’s getting too dangerous to be on the run.”

  “How so?” Evie asked as her chest tightened with panic. “Have they come after you or Billy?” Billy was her mailman whom the bad guys had kidnapped while trying to snatch the evidence that Dora had originally mailed to Evie.

  “No. Nothing like that,” Luke said, running a hand through his hair. “But there’s something I think you need to know. The police are actively looking for you both, and there’s a warrant out for both you and Evie. I think if you come back with me and I’m your witness to everything that has gone on so far, that you’ll be in better shape than if you just keep running.”

  Dora opened her mouth to respond, but the fear inside of Evie burst forth. She let out a sharp, “No!” and ran to her friend’s side, grasping her other hand. “Not unless that evidence has been found. We can’t risk it. You know how women are treated. Especially when a powerful man is involved. If Marco gets up on that stand and implicates Dora and we don’t have hard evidence, there is no telling which way this will go.” She stared hard at Luke. “Are you willing to risk her like that?”

  Luke let out an audible groan and shook his head. “No, but I hate the idea of you two being out here on the run. I’d feel better if I could keep an eye on you.”

  Dora untangled her herself from both Evie and Luke and took a step back. “Maybe I should just turn myself in and leave you both out of it. I don’t want either of you in trouble because of me.”

  Both Luke and Evie shook their heads and at the same time gave her a firm, “No.”

  Evie glanced at Luke and chuckled. “I’m glad we’re on the same page there.”

  He nodded at her, indicating he was in agreement before turning his attention back to Dora. “I’m not staying out of this, Dora. I’d think you’d have figured that out by now. If you’re intent on going after that evidence, at least let me find you a new vehicle to drive. The convertible is too easily traceable back to me and Pensacola. We’ll get you something else that will help keep you under the radar for a little while longer.”

  “But we don’t have much money,” Dora said. “Nowhere near enough to buy a used car. And renting one is out of the question.”

  “I’ll take care of it. I saw the perfect one for sale on my way into town by a private seller,” he said. “It’s perfect for you both, especially if you have to do a lot of driving.” He narrowed his eyes and studied Dora. “Is there any chance you’ll tell me where you’re headed?”

  She shook her head. “Absolutely not. Like I said, I don’t want you involved in this any more than you already are.” She took a step forward and pressed a hand to his cheek. “You’re too important to me. But with that said, I can’t l
et you buy us a car. It’s too much to ask.”

  “No. It isn’t,” he insisted. “It isn’t at all.”

  Evie sighed. Dora was way too proud. No way was she going to let Luke spend his own money even if it meant the difference between flying under the radar or going to jail. But Evie wasn’t above accepting a little help when needed. “I’m all for it. Buy us this car you saw, and when you get back to town, sell mine and keep the proceeds.”

  “No, Evie!” Dora said. “I can’t let you do that either.” Tears shone in her friend’s big dark eyes. “You two are already doing too much for me. If anyone is going to sell their car, it’ll be me. Besides,” she glanced at Evie, “you love your car. It’s better if we let mine go anyway.”

  “Fine,” Luke said, clearly pleased to have the go-ahead to do something to help. “It’s a plan. Let’s go back to the apartment where you’re staying, and then I’ll make the call to see if we can pick it up tonight.”

  “Perfect.” Evie smiled to herself and tugged on Sunshine’s leash. “Come on, girl. We have packing to do.”

  Evie should have realized there was something wrong the moment they stepped out of the elevator. Something felt off, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. Perhaps it was knowing that the Pensacola police had issued a warrant for her and Dora that was making her jumpy. It was enough to throw anyone into a tailspin.

  She tried to shake off her nervousness and told herself that all they had to do was make it to California, find the Buddha, and then they could hightail it back home to the beach and the two men who were waiting for them.

  They had already turned the corner when it hit Evie that there was something wrong with Myrtle’s apartment. Had the door been cracked open the tiniest bit? “Dora—” She turned to go double check the apartment they’d just walked past, and the moment she noticed a tiny sliver of light peeking out through Myrtle’s door, she realized they needed to get out of there fast. Her flight instinct kicked in and she turned to catch up to Dora. “Wait!” she cried as her friend stepped through the door to Gertie’s apartment with Luke right behind her.