LaCasse Family Series

by Ju Ephraime

  “What do you care? No one will be looking at you but me.”

  “You are such a chauvinist. I care. I don’t want to make a bad impression. So stop it.”

  “Is stop a new word in your vocabulary? Stop? You seem to be saying this to me a lot lately.”

  “You know I don’t mean it. I could have you touching me all night, all day, twenty-four-seven. The only problem with this is neither of us would get anything done. With us, it never ends with just touching and kissing.”

  “What’s wrong with that?” he asked dryly. “Women!”

  “Don’t women me,” she said, crossing her arms across her chest to hide the fact that her nipples had stiffened. “One of us has to be the level-headed one.”

  “Oh, you are the level-headed one? I’ll remind you of that later tonight,” he warned jokingly.

  “Oh, all right. I’m ready to go in now.”

  “Come along, Princess Therèse,” he said, smiling at her with wicked relish, looking so much like his namesake. “Never let it be said I didn’t do as I was ordered.”

  Putting on a brave face, she tried to hide the nervousness she felt about going into the restaurant where the person who had been warning her to stay away from Foxx might actually work. But as she took his offered hand, she felt his fingers close over hers like a caress. Foxx gave her a tight squeeze before he began rubbing his middle finger into the center of her hand.

  She couldn’t help smiling at him gratefully because she knew what he was doing. It was an old joke on the island that when a man took a woman’s hand in his and proceeded to rub his middle finger in her palm, he was sending her a subtle message that he was sexually attracted to her. That he was doing this to ease her nervousness was one of the reasons she loved this man. When she thought he didn’t care, he’d proven her wrong time and time again.

  That small gesture on his part lifted her mood so that she was laughing at one of his silly jokes when they entered the restaurant.

  The restaurant was preparing for the noontime rush, the busiest time for them. The moment his staff saw him, they were all smiles. Foxx’s manager made a comment to him in their rapid Creole, which had him doubled over with laughter.

  She didn’t understand the comment because it was spoken too fast for her. Later, she would ask Foxx what had been so funny. As if he read her mind, he turned to her and apologized that the man had a dirty mind. He said the joke was too graphic to repeat to her in public, but he would explain it to her later.

  He took her to his office at the back of the restaurant and offered to get her something cold to drink.

  “Do you still make the tamarind juice?”

  “Yes, we still do. It’s still one of our bestsellers for the lunch crowd.”

  “Well, I’ll have a tall glass and don’t forget to get me the charger for my phone. I could hear it beeping, which means I’ve got messages and the battery is dying.”

  “I’ll be right back.” He strode from the room, his long legs eating up the space almost as if he were running. She loved watching him walk, coming and going. He was just scrumptious from all angles.

  Sometimes, when she stopped to think about it, she asked herself what it was he saw in her because, next to him, she paled. She knew he had women throwing themselves at him all the time.

  The only thing was Foxx was a snob where women were concerned. If a woman pursued him too much, it turned him off. He’d admitted to her he didn’t find it flattering when women made themselves too available to him. According to him, he liked to be the hunter because the thrill was in the chase. He did have some strange, old-fashioned ideas on what a woman should and shouldn’t do.

  She didn’t believe she was the conforming type. She didn’t follow society’s dictates, but then again, maybe she was just kidding herself. Something about her evidently appealed to him.

  She sat back on the couch and looked around. The room appeared to be a very comfortable office/living quarters. He hadn’t been kidding when he’d said he had a fully functional bathroom.

  Everything appeared to be fully functional, with the exception of a kitchen. There were sleeping quarters with a comfortable sitting room, complete with a beautiful leather settee and chair decorated with large brass nail-heads on the arms. There was also the brown leather recliner on which she was currently sitting.

  Nothing was out of place; the only touch of vibrant color was a beautiful orchid plant on the windowsill. The plant seemed healthy and cared for. It looked very much like a plant she had given him when they’d first begun dating as a thank-you for taking her to the hospital so promptly.

  Therèse had always appreciated that he’d done that, especially since he’d never met her before. She could see his office door just beyond the bathroom and, next to that, was an outdoor patio. His office door was closed, but the large sign on it proclaimed it private.

  The place was tastefully decorated, but it was definitely masculine. She was so engrossed in trying to figure out the time and money it had taken to put this place together that she didn’t hear Foxx return until he put his mouth close to her ear to whisper, “A penny for your thoughts.”

  “What? Oh, I was just thinking this was new. It wasn’t here when I was last here. Then you only had a small office. What influenced you to build this space and to make it so comfortable?”

  “I spent a great deal of my time here while I was working to make the restaurant a success. Many a night, I was barely able to crawl into this bed as dawn was creeping over the horizon. So, I decided if I was going to be here so much, I might as well be comfortable. Do you like it?”

  “I like it a lot, and that’s saying something because I really don’t like leather. But this is classy without being overpowering, and it’s comfortable to boot. Yes, I like it.

  “Good, you have my drink,” she noticed. “I’m still not used to the heat. I’m thirsty all the time. I can see how easy it is to become addicted to the many fruit juices you have here on the island, but the next time, I’ll drink some bottled water.”

  “I’ll remind you of that when I see you reaching for that sweet drink.”

  “Don’t you have anything better to do than monitor me?”

  “I do have something better to do. Let me show you.” Taking hold of her face in his hands, he brought his mouth to hers.

  “Boss, you have a minute?” His manager was knocking at the door.

  “I’ll be right there. You’ve gotten a reprieve. I have to go over the dinner menu. Make yourself comfortable. It will be a while, but I’ll try to hurry.”

  “You don’t have to hurry on account of me. Take your time. I’m a big girl. I know how to entertain myself.”

  “You do, do you?” Giving her a wicked grin, he walked out of the room.

  chapter

  FIFTEEN

  He didn’t know how he would concentrate on anything other than sinking his stiff cock inside Therèse. He had to stop to adjust himself before going to meet his staff. He felt like a randy goat. All he could think about was the heat of her tight, sweet body loving him the way only she knew how. He had to stop.

  With a deep breath, he resumed walking into the kitchen. Taking the menu, he began perusing it rapidly. It was only when he found himself going over the same item a third time that he realized he was not really seeing the menu because his mind was back in the room with Therèse.

  Hearing his manager clear his throat, he turned again to the menu. “This seems fine to me. What’s the problem, Mark?”

  “I don’t think we have enough cod for the fritters. I wanted to know if it would be okay to mix what we have with some crab meat to stretch it.”

  “Why don’t we have enough cod?”

  “Remember I told you that Atlantic Cod was closing down and we had to get a new supplier?”

  “You told me this? When?”

  “Two days ago when I spoke with you about the vegetables, don’t you remember? Maybe you’ve got too much going on.”

  �
�Mark, I honestly don’t recall you mentioning anything about this. Okay, I admit I forgot. I’m only human, but I’ll take care of it today. Meanwhile, do what you have to do to stretch the cod we have on hand. Let me know if you have any other concerns while I’m here today.”

  “Okay, boss.”

  Foxx walked into the freezer room to check up on the inventory. It served two purposes: it made Mark believe he was really taking an interest in the level of the inventory supplies, and he needed the blast of cold to cool him down because his body was on fire. He needed some distraction.

  He pulled out his cell and called Wolfe, who answered on the second ring. That was good because Wolfe very seldom answered his cell phone. Generally he didn’t even carry it with him. Foxx guessed he was changing because of Daphne and the baby. Regardless of the reason, Foxx was thankful he answered the phone.

  “Qu’est-ce qui se passe sur, mon frère? Etes-vous vous amuser? What’s going on, my brother? Are you enjoying yourself?”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Whoa!” Wolfe responded. “Don’t take my head off. I was just being friendly, but if you’re in a bad mood, I’ll gladly hang up and talk with you later.”

  “I’m not in a bad mood. I’m just under a tremendous amount of pressure,” Foxx confessed apologetically.

  Wolfe was laughing so hysterically he had difficulty talking. “Let me guess. You’re hurting in your ‘tender’ areas?”

  “Wolfe, I won’t dignify that with an answer. I was calling to find out if you’d gotten a new supplier to replace Atlantic Cod; you are aware they are closing down, yes?”

  “I left you a message on your voice mail about that a couple of days ago. What’s the matter? Don’t you check your messages now?”

  “Wolfe, Wolfe, would you please give me the name of the supplier if you have one. Also, can I get about fifty pounds of cod? I need it for the dinner menu. Mark said we don’t have enough on hand.”

  “I’ll send it to you with the driver; he’s just about to leave to pick up some supplies in town. I’m looking forward to seeing you this evening. What time should I expect you, six-ish?”

  “Yes, six-ish is good. I have to take Therèse back to the hotel, so that will give me enough time to get there. How is Daph doing, by the way?”

  “She’s doing great! I still cannot believe I’ll soon be a father for the second time. When I had Etienne, I was just a kid myself and Rosalie kept him away from me. She denied me the joys of being part of this exciting time because I wouldn’t marry her. So now, going through the pregnancy with Daph, it’s as if it’s my first time. And I love it!”

  “You don’t have to tell me. I only have to look at you to see…both of you are glowing,” Foxx said.

  “Wait until it’s your turn. I’ll remember to rub it in your face,” Wolfe replied.

  “Well, today my problem has nothing to do with fatherhood. I wanted to ask you to avoid mentioning anything to do with Daphne’s kidnapping around Therèse. She almost freaked out when I inadvertently brought up the subject.”

  “Why? What does Daphne’s kidnapping have to do with Therèse?”

  “Therèse had an almost similar experience.”

  “Say you’re kidding me?”

  “I kid you not. She told me someone had threatened her when she was here before. Actually, both incidents were pretty serious.”

  “How serious?”

  “On one occasion, a rock was thrown through the window of her room at the hotel where she was staying. The second time, the rock was thrown through the windshield of the vehicle she was driving. The one in the hotel came within inches of hitting her, and in the incident in the vehicle, she almost wrecked the car. Hence, the reason she didn’t rent one this time. She’s still quite shaken up about it.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding!”

  “I kid you not. But I can’t get into it now. I’ll talk with you when we’re alone. See you later.”

  chapter

  SIXTEEN

  Therèse had fallen asleep on the recliner. She was dreaming she was with Foxx, and they were back at his house. He was making sweet love to her, worshiping her body from her head to her toes. She had already had one orgasm from the wicked things he was doing to her with his mouth.

  How did his tongue grow so long? She could feel it bumping her womb as he pushed it all the way inside her. But the sound of the phone ringing interrupted her dream. Therèse tried to ignore it and concentrate on Foxx between her thighs, but the ringing would not stop.

  She awoke abruptly with her mind still in a sex fog. As she opened her eyes, she noticed the unfamiliar surroundings. It took a good minute before she recognized where she was. By then, the phone had stopped ringing, but it had begun to beep. She definitely had to clear those messages out.

  Taking her time to move, and upset at the interruption that prevented her from achieving her second orgasm, Therèse was primed and not feeling good about the phone at the moment. She talked herself into going over to unplug it from the wall and proceeded to check the messages.

  Holy Toledo! There were fifty-three missed calls from Earline and one from her mom. What did Earline have to say that was so important she had called her fifty-three times? She checked her messages. Her voice mail was filled with twenty-six messages, one from her mom and twenty-five from Earline.

  What the hell was going on? She listened to her mother’s message first. It had come in the day before. There was nothing urgent. She was just calling to say hello and to keep in touch.

  She immediately hit redial to call her mother at home. It was already past eight o’clock back in England, so she knew her mom wasn’t at the store.

  Her mother picked up on the second ring. “Hi, Mom, how’s it going?”

  “Fine, Therèse. How are you doing? Are you having any success in your quest?”

  “Mom, I’m not on a quest. But yes, I’m finally making some headway. I’ll let you know more about it when I get back to my hotel. I’ll call you from there. Have you heard from Earline?”

  “She has been hounding me for your whereabouts, but I did what you asked. I told her you needed some time alone and I was not privy to your whereabouts. This didn’t seem to deter her one bit because she’s been calling every day. I’m beginning to wonder if something is seriously wrong with the girl.”

  “I have in excess of fifty calls on my cell from her and twenty-five messages. I’m going to listen to them now. Talk with you later. Love you, Mom.”

  “Love you, too, sweetheart. Don’t concern yourself with Earline. Just enjoy yourself and have some fun. You deserve it.”

  She most certainly did. She dreaded listening to whatever Earline had to say. Earline had been the one who’d been adamant that she say nothing to Foxx and just leave him a message, urging her to forget about him. What did she want now?

  The first message sounded almost hysterical. It sounded as if Earline was crying, but it could have been the reception. She didn’t say anything much.

  “Where are you, Therèse? Please call me.” This she erased. Next message was more of the same. They were all pretty much the same message until the last one where she was definitely crying hysterically.

  “Therèse, I’m worried that something might have happened to you. I tried asking your mom, but she refused to tell me anything. I’m going out of my mind with worry! Please, please call me.”

  What could she make of that? If she didn’t know better, she’d say Earline sounded like someone in pain. Maybe something was wrong with her. She’d call her to find out what was going on.

  She dialed the number. The phone was picked up before it had completed the first ring, as if Earline was hanging on to the phone for dear life.

  “Hi, Earline, what’s going on with you? I’m sorry I didn’t call sooner; my phone was out of charge. But what’s the matter?”

  “Therèse, I’ve been going out of my mind imagining all sorts of bad things happening to you.”

&nb
sp; “What sorts of bad things? You do have a very vivid imagination, Earline. I thought something was wrong with you, that maybe you were ill or something.”

  “I’ve been ill, all right, ill with worrying over you.”

  “But why were you worrying over me enough to make yourself sick?” Therèse was genuinely puzzled.

  “You disappeared and didn’t tell any of us. Marcie and I were thinking all sorts of things. But anyway, it’s good to hear you are all right.”

  “I’m all right. In fact, I’ve never been better.”

  “Well, where are you?”

  “I’m overseas.”

  “Where are you overseas? Don’t tell me you went back to Martinique.”

  “Why would you think I’m in Martinique?”

  “Where else could you have gone and been so secretive about it? I can’t believe you went back there after the bad experience you had there. You were assaulted on more than one occasion, Therese. What is it about this man that you can’t seem to get him out of your system?”

  “You know, Earline, you have no right to lecture me. I’m not a child, particularly not your child. What I choose to do and/or not do is none of your business. It’s no concern of yours. I’m beginning to think you have lost your marbles. Something is definitely wrong with you if you believe for one minute that you’re my keeper.”

  “I care about you, Therèse. I watched you pine away after your return home. I was hoping you would finally pull yourself together. But when I couldn’t reach you, I began to fear the worst. Now just to hear you’re okay and to hear the sound of your voice is quite a relief.”

  “Very well, you’ve heard my voice. You now know I’m all right. I have to go.”

  She was confused. She didn’t know what she’d done to give Earline the impression she was her keeper, but she would straighten it out when she got back home.

  She was going to look for Foxx. This inactivity was not working for her. She would fold napkins if she had to.