by Caro LaFever
“Old enough to want children of my own. Soon.” His grip tightened on her. “And I want them with you.”
He hadn’t told her he loved her. He hadn’t proposed marriage. He hadn’t followed the usual progression a man took when he wooed a woman. Still, she was touched more than if he’d followed the usual. Luc wasn’t about subtle with his relationships. His cooking, yes. His personal communications, no. She rather thought that was a good thing. One schemer in the family was enough.
Family.
She sucked in a long breath. Wait a minute. Was he seeing her as only a baby-making machine? As a replacement for his long-dead wife?
“I know what you’re thinking.” His wry tone enveloped her, as his hold on her grew tender. “And it’s not true.”
“Reading minds?” She managed the tease while her mind whirled in a dozen directions. “I should hire you for my shop.”
His chuckle soothed her worries. “Listen to me.”
“I’m listening.” And she was, because through the fog of confusion shot the pure knowledge of what this man was. He wasn’t the type to look at a woman as a simple device for his use. He wasn’t the type to replace one woman with another. Rather, he was the type to lead with his heart and his soul. There honestly wasn’t a calculating bone in this man’s body.
He nudged her head up with one finger to meet his resolute gaze. “I don’t see you as anything other than yourself, Miss Nina.”
“Nicknames,” she murmured.
“I want you to have my baby, and no other woman. I want us to be together because of us. Nothing else.” His dark brows furrowed, his expression turning pained. “Does that make sense?”
The worry in his voice made her want to give him a gentle kiss. He thought he hadn’t expressed himself well enough for her to understand. Except she did.
She was the schemer. Not him.
A gust of relief wafted from her mouth.
His body went taut. “You’re not saying much.”
“I haven’t said anything, really.”
“True.” His chest moved as he took in a breath, himself. “I want to know if you’re interested.”
The words were so bland, she chuckled. “Are you interested in a meal with me, Miss Nina? Perhaps we could take a walk through the French Qua—”
“Stop teasing.”
“—rter? Oh, by the way, would you like to have a baby with—”
In an abrupt shift, he rolled her over, placing himself on top, his hands by her head, keeping some of his heft off. “With me.”
The sunlight had bloomed while they talked, and the room was light enough now for her to see the look in his eyes. There was a touch of humor gilding the hickory as well as a spot of irritation. More than anything, though, his eyes were filled with…honeyed love.
Her heart flipped over.
He might not be ready to say it. But he felt it. She saw his everything in those brown eyes. “Cher.”
“Am I your darling, Nina?” Leaning on his elbows, he came nearer. “Am I your dear?”
“Yes, you are.” She had no trouble being the first to confess her emotional connection. No trouble bridging this last divide between them. “You know that.”
“Maybe I know.” A faint frown crossed his brow. “But I want to know it’s for real. It’s for good.”
“It’s good and real.” Slipping her hands across his stubbled cheeks, she hoped her touch would communicate more than words.
“That’s not what I meant.” He scowled down at her. “I want good forever. Not good for now.”
This was his way of committing, his way of telling her he loved her. She could tell by his grim expression it was as far as he could go at this time. Like any woman, she enjoyed being charmed. Treated as a queen and given gifts such as candy, flowers, and jewelry. But when a man like Luc Miró offered himself and his heart, no matter how gruffly, how crossly, a woman would be a fool not to accept. “Good forever, cher. Forever and ever.”
“Really?” His expression brightened, his eyes turning gold. “You’re sure?”
“More sure than I’ve ever been about anything.”
She smiled and he smiled back.
“Well,” he paused as if undecided of what to do or say next. “I’m glad we had this talk.”
A chuckle escaped her. “You sound as if we just had a meeting about the festival.”
His gaze went sheepish. “I’m not very good—”
“Luc.” If it was the last thing she’d do, she’d chase this uncertainty about himself away. “In my opinion, you’re good at everything you do.”
“Yeah?” He arched his brows, his smile returning. Shifting his body, he let her know where his mind had gone.
“Yeah.” Her wiggle put him right in place. “Are we done talking?”
His husky laugh filled the bedroom, making her smile turn to a grin. It trailed off and he gave her a quizzical look, a sting of bewilderment in his eyes. “Nina.”
“What?”
“I don’t want to use a condom this time.” Bewildered questioning got brushed away by the determination in those dark eyes. “Is that okay with you?”
She felt like two paths opened before her. Her entire life had been about dancing forward, taking a step at a time, never thinking too far in advance. Admittedly, this sometimes had landed her into quagmires and quicksand. Yet, she hadn’t ever got stuck for long, and often learned lessons along the way.
But this was different.
If she kept dancing, kept trying to stay free and easy, she’d lose this man she loved. She’d lose her Fate. And he’d lose his burgeoning confidence in himself. On the other hand, if she took a step onto this path he wanted her to follow him down, she’d lose…
“Or we can wait for a bit.” Luc hovered above her, his expression still earnest, still loving. “I can wait if you need some time.”
It struck her. She wouldn’t lose anything. She wanted his baby and his love. Forever, as she’d confessed a few minutes ago.
Her mouth had leapt ahead of her heart. That was all.
“Come inside me, cher,” she whispered. “Just you and nothing else between us.”
A flush rose from his neck to suffuse his face with a glow. His eyes went blank before filling with pure happiness.
And he came into her.
“Boo, you have to stop bouncing around the shop.” Jeanie folded her arms and frowned, a pretend scowl. “You’re making me dizzy.”
“I can’t help it!” Nina jumped up from Lilith’s velveteen chair and danced to the front door to peer out at the street. “I’m so excited.”
“The festival is beginning in less than two hours,” Heni said. “You can’t expect our youngest sister to behave today of all days, Jeanie.”
Her older sibling laughed, shaking her head. “Perhaps if you got out there and helped Lali organize, you could burn off some of that energy of yours.”
“Great idea. But the woman told me I was getting in the way and she had it handled.”
Heni walked to her side and looked out at the stalls being erected along the other end of the street. “You did appoint her to handle the food.”
“Yeah,” Nina drawled. “While I’m in charge of the music. Which doesn’t need much setup, compared to the food.”
“Is the club ready to go for tonight?”
Glancing at her, she nodded. “Ready to go. Remember, it’s a secret.”
Heni smirked. “I’m not likely to forget, since you remind us every other minute.”
“I want Luc to be surprised in a good way. I want him to enjoy jazz again.”
Her oldest sister came over and patted her on the back. “The club looks amazing. He’s going to be really impressed.”
A flicker of worry went through her. Her love didn’t respond well to surprises. But this one was going to be so glorious, how could he not be excited? Shaking off the worry, Nina focused on her festival coming to life in front of her.
Lali ran up and down t
he line of gazebo stalls, waving at one vendor and then another. Mrs. Williams had taken charge of the art section of the festival, and Nina could see her down the street, checking in the artists and their wares. Cyrus and Shakey and Louis had become her fast friends in the short time she’d known them. They’d be playing on the makeshift wooden stage set in the center of the street and festival. That was, until they snuck off to prepare for tonight’s reopening.
An inflatable castle ready to be bounced in by dozens of children was being erected right next to their shop. Along with the face painters and jugglers, there was also going to be an art tent filled with chalk and watercolors and papier-mâché. She’d wanted to make sure there were things to do for the kids, not only the adults.
Kids.
Luc wanted kids with her. Soon.
It still shook her a bit, the commitment she’d made to him a few days ago. Yet, every moment she spent with him told her she’d made the right decision. She’d thought maybe she’d feel tied down, compromised. Except Luc never made her feel that way. With a deepening understanding, she knew if she wanted to travel to Atlanta or New York City or even Europe after having a baby, he’d find a way to give her what she wanted.
“Boo?” Jeanie leaned in to look at her. “You okay?”
“More than okay.” A smile started to slide across her face, but then she spotted her parents walking toward the shop.
The smile drifted away.
“Oh, great.” Heni’s eyes were just as sharp as her own. “Papa looks surly.”
“Mama looks fatigued.”
Nina straightened her shoulders. “At least they’re visiting the shop, for once.”
Her parents had pooh-poohed the endeavor from afar, never venturing into the heart of the city to see their daughters’ enterprise. Paw-Paw had been the only family member to visit and approve and congratulate. Her two sisters hadn’t been surprised, perhaps the extra year or two of additional age gave them wisdom Nina hadn’t found yet. Because she’d been more than disappointed—she’d been indignant.
Still, she hadn’t brought it up with her parents. What was the use?
“They probably came to inspect the disaster.” Jeanie’s brows furrowed.
“The festival is not going to be a disaster.” Bubbling irritation threatened to ruin her day.
Except, that wasn’t going to happen. Because the festival was right on track to becoming a roaring success instead of what her papa had predicted.
“What made you think you could take this project on, Ninette?” he’d said at last Sunday’s family dinner she usually avoided at all costs. Mama had begged, though, so she’d come.
“The festival is going to be a success, don’t think it won’t.”
Jeanie nodded her head from the end of the table, while Jacques smiled before helping Jack Jr. to more potatoes. Heni gave her father a sarcastic smirk. “You tell him, Boo.”
“I told you the shop was bad enough. But now this.”
“Papa, don’t worry—”
“It’s my job to worry about my girls,” he huffed before taking a sip of turtle soup. “That’s what a father does.”
He’d worried her entire life. When she’d wanted to sign up for dance lessons, he’d muttered about her lack of talent and how she might be embarrassed. When she joined the cheerleading squad, he was sure she’d fall and break her head. When she’d fallen for her first boyfriend, her papa had successfully driven the poor boy off with vague threats and dire warnings.
Nina understood he meant it in love, yet she’d always felt like he also meant it to stifle.
“Luc Miró is involved, Louis,” her mama piped in. “And he’s very rich.”
Papa snorted. “As if money will overcome anything Nina’s planned. He’s got an arrogant attitude. No good comes for that.”
Which she’d heard every time she’d come home since the awful night at the restaurant. She’d tried to explain he’d been surprised and it was her fault, but all of her words had fallen on deaf ears.
“Don’t think just because this new man of yours is involved,” her father continued, “it won’t end in disaster anyway.”
“Papa,” her oldest sister did her usual thing and attempted to smooth things over, “let’s talk about something else.”
“It’s going to be a disaster because your younger sister can’t take of herself, much less an enormous undertaking like a festival.” Her father’s claim echoed around the table, words Nina had heard more times than she could count.
She’d never fought against them. Her grandparents taught her to ease through life if possible. No need to charge into battle when the war could be won in other ways. The wisdom was sound and yet sometimes, like this moment, she wondered.
But before her wondering came to a conclusion, Jeanie stepped in once more. “It isn’t only Boo working on this festival. It’s the three of us. Plus, all the shop owners, including Luc, are involved—who is not going to let this be a disaster.”
No, he wouldn’t.
Nina had full confidence in him.
The festival could have been a disaster, she knew that. Her talents lay more toward starting ideas rather than carrying them out. But ever since the love of her life had decided to join in the project, things she would have missed or forgotten, got taken care of.
The recognition of how close she’d come to creating a disaster stopped her from confronting her father about his continued rejection of her worth.
As her Paw-Paw would say—why fight when you’ve already won the war?
Her attention swung away from last week’s uncomfortable dinner and back to the present.
Her parents marched through the festival preparations like they were stomping through a plague-infested village. Papa had on his usual uniform—white cotton shirt matched with linen trousers and a pastel bow-tie. Mama had dressed up in a peach silk dress and fancy shoes. Neither of them appeared as if they were about to attend an outdoor festival. Both of them looked as if they were attending a funeral, instead.
“Oh, dear,” Jeanie the peacemaker groaned. “I’m going to be busy soothing feathers.”
“Excellent idea.” Her other sister clapped her hands in delight. “I’ll just take myself off to do the inventory in back.”
“I’ll stay with you.” Sighing, Nina took up a languid pose on a glass counter filled with candles, readying for the battle against determined negativity.
“Heni.” Her older sister’s voice went sharp. “Stay. We’re all in this together.”
Their sister motto.
Heni muttered, but dutifully took her stand behind the cash register.
The door opened with a creak, letting in the humidity of the late-September summer, and the lively sounds of vendors talking amongst the clatter of construction.
Her papa’s face went blank as he looked around, her mama’s mouth pinched.
“I didn’t think it was going to be this bad,” he finally announced.
Irritation, and a strange sort of bewildered hurt, poured through her.
“Hi, Papa and Mama.” Jeanie scurried across the room and wrapped them both in a hug. “Did you come for the festival?”
“We came,” her father extracted himself from the warm welcome, a sour look crossing his face, “to make sure you girls wouldn’t be too disappointed alone.”
“Wonderful.” Heni’s voice drifted across the room, the tone wry. “Thanks so much.”
“Don’t sass.” Mama’s pinched mouth turned tight.
“Why don’t I show you some of our products.” Her older sister pasted on a determined smile. “We have so much here to look at.”
“I don’t care about any of this.” Their father waved a dismissive hand. “We’ll just sit and watch.”
Watch the disaster unfold.
The words didn’t have to be said to be understood. After all, they were family.
Mama landed on Lilith’s chair, settling herself with a soft sigh. Nina wished with everything inside he
r that the other woman was here, instead. Papa perched himself on the old couch they used for palm readings, his rigid spine straight, his gaze narrowed, ready for the worst.
A tense silence fell.
As a child, she hadn’t understood the correct protocol for these silences. She’d jump in with chatter and laughter, trying to make everyone happy instead of glum. But she’d learned over the years—these silences were best left unchecked by cheer. As her papa would say, no good would come of that.
Her father frowned at her, the expression as familiar as his disapproval. “I saw that new man of yours directing a truck filled with some kind of plastic shacks.”
“Portable toilets,” Heni drawled. “You know, to pee in.”
“Don’t be crass,” Mama inserted, displeasure crossing her face.
Luc had been the one to bring this needed item up. If it had been left to Nina and Lali, they’d have a long line waiting in every store for the bathroom. The other shop owners wouldn’t have been happy. “Yes, he’s been part of the festival planning for weeks. He’s very organized.”
“Unlike you.” Her papa’s eyes narrowed, another look she’d gotten a thousand times.
“Now, now, Louis, I don’t think you should say—”
“I’ve been doing some digging.”
Nina’s gaze didn’t swerve from her father’s hard glare. Something inside her rose, a fighting spirit she’d squashed for years with her parents, a spirit no longer willing to ease away. “Digging about what?”
“That man.” His hand waved again. “He’s something, isn’t he.”
He was. He was her lover, her friend, and her Fate. But she didn’t want to tell her father at this moment, because he was likely to rain on her day. Not today of all days. Today was special.
The fighting spirit rattled its sword, surging inside.
Paw-Paw’s slow drawl wandered around it, counseling patience.
Nina took in a deep breath and let it out. Time enough later to confess her love and her future, and let her father try and ruin it. “I don’t think you asked a question, Papa, so I’m not going to answer.”
“He’s much too much for you to take on.”