by Tina DeSalvo
He shrugged. “It’s only a car, Jewell. At least Tante Izzy’s tank didn’t receive one little scratch.”
A fire truck pulled up and five firemen rushed toward the car. Tante Izzy raced toward them. The only thing Jewell heard from the distance was her asking if their fire pole was available to rent for someone who was taking pole-dancing lessons.
When the paramedics got out of the ambulance, Beau waved to let them know that Jewell was with him. “Let’s let them check you out.”
Jewell glanced back at his smashed car as the paramedics came up to her with a stretcher. “I can walk,” she said. They allowed her to walk with them to the back of the ambulance, where they had her sit on the stretcher for them to examine her. Jewell answered their questions about aches and pains as Beau stood nearby, leaning on the ambulance’s open rear door.
“Don’t forget to check her cheek,” he told them, sounding annoyed when they seemed more focused on a rash forming on her neck and arms from what they said looked like the typical reaction from the airbag’s powder and chemicals.
“We can take you in to get some x-rays and let the doctor in the ER examine you,” the dark-haired paramedic who seemed to be in charge said. “Is that okay with you, Miss Duet?”
She and Beau answered at the same time.
“No.”
“Yes.”
She looked at Beau. “I’m fine. If I feel like my condition gets worse, I’ll go in to get medical attention. I’m not stupid, Beau. I‘m fully aware that Mimi depends on me, and I will be careful. I appreciate your concern, but this is my decision. Not yours.”
Beau shoved his hands in his pockets.
Jewell looked at the car. It was her fault and she was responsible. Dear God. I will find a way to pay for the repairs and make it right. Her stomach tightened. How in the world was she going to do that? She was broke, and it was going to cost a fortune to fix his expensive foreign car. Her insurance wouldn’t cover it. She had to find a way. Her fault. Her responsibility. No one was loaning her money these days. She couldn’t mortgage her house or workshop again. She’d have to take those garage sale jobs the Bienvenus were offering her. She’d clean their attics, their closets, their floors…whatever it took.
Her heart sank further. She’d forget about repairing her former reputation and business. What difference did it really make anyway? With the legal problems still hanging over her head, and the media chomping to report on them, finding work in what she loved and was trained to do was just a dream. She had to be practical. She had to survive…for Mimi. Just get a paycheck. Pay the bills. Stay out of trouble. Take care of Mimi.
“Sure don’t make cars like dey used to.” Tante Izzy came to the back of the ambulance where Jewell had just been handed a clipboard with a form to sign indicating her refusal to be taken to the hospital. “Looks like you car is totaled, Beau.”
He winced. The muscles in his jaw tightened.
“Oh, God. Do you think so?” Jewell sucked in a breath, putting the clipboard down on the stretcher unsigned.
“Probably not,” he said. “Depends what damage is behind the bumper. Under the car. The stuff we can’t see.” He looked at her. She knew she had to be pale. She felt like the blood had drained from her face. “I’m sure it’s not that bad. You weren’t traveling that fast.”
“No, she wasn’t.” Tante Izzy patted her on the shoulder. “Runnin’ into my truck was like hittin’ a cement wall, dat's all.” She worked her mouth a moment. “I know how much da car meant to you since it was da first time you could afford to pay for one you really liked.” She patted him on the hand. “First brand new car you...”
“It’s okay, Tante Izzy,” he said. His voice a little rough. “I’ll get another one. Maybe I’ll get a truck like yours next time.” He looked at Jewell, and she knew he did so to remind his aunt that she was sitting right there.
“Oh, mon Dieu.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t t’ink before I talked. I know you feel bad, ma sucrée.” She clasped Jewell’s hand. “It was just an accident. I didn’t mean to make you feel worse.”
Jewell nodded. “I know.” Tante Izzy kissed her on her bruised cheek.
“You’re a good girl.” She patted her hand and walked away. “I might talk to da traiteur for you.”
“What is she talking about?”
“Boots, it’s best you learn not to ask or try to figure out everything Tante Izzy says or does.” He frowned when she flinched as the paramedic put an icepack on her cheek. “When you know things, she’ll pull you in deeper than you want to go.”
“Well, I got to get to bible study. Ruby says we are goin’ to say a rosary for you at da end, so you won’t be too sore tomorrow.”
Beau looked at Jewell, then Tante Izzy, before he spoke. “Okay. I’ll bite. Why don’t you want her to be too sore tomorrow?”
“Well…um…we’re hopin’ tomorrow you’ll take us to meet you momma to see about those pole-dancing lessons and celebrity appearances.” She walked away toward the firemen standing at the front of Beau’s car.
Jewell looked at Beau and rolled her eyes. “Didn’t you just tell me not to ask? That it was better not to know everything that she was up to?”
He walked up to the stretcher, picked up the clipboard to read the form. “Did I say that?” He shrugged. “Okay. I admit it. I’m a sucker for little old ladies.”
“So I noticed.” She lightly touched the ring still on his pinky. “Thank you for being so kind to Mimi.” He looked up from reading the clipboard. “And, me…especially after I killed your car.” Tears welled in her eyes. “I’m grateful.”
He touched the undamaged side of her face and let his fingers linger in the hair that had come free from her ponytail. “Ah, Boots.” He looked at the clipboard. Ripped the page out and tore it up. “Prove to me how grateful you are. Go to the hospital and let a real doctor examine you. Let’s make sure you don’t have internal injuries from the airbag and seatbelt.”
“Beau…I can’t. I don’t have health insurance.” God, she hated admitting that aloud.
“I have insurance. I’ll take care of it.”
She shook her head. “I can’t take…”
“Do it for Mimi if you won’t do it for me.”
“You go for the jugular.” She frowned.
A police officer walked up to them and started asking questions about the accident. When she started to answer, Beau spoke over her. “Hi, Greg. Thanks for stopping by to check on things, but it’s all settled. We’re all in accordance with state law. There’s no at fault dispute here. I’ll file a self-claim report with my insurance company.” His voice was firm but easy. He was not only a man taking charge, he was a lawyer directing things to happen as he wanted it to. “The accident occurred on private property,” he began. “Both parties involved have settled amicably. It’s me and Tante Izzy. No conflicts there. We don’t want an incident report to be filed with the state and put in the system and on our records. Who the hell wants this little thing attached to their license, right? ”
“That’s fine, Beau, if Tante Izzy says it’s okay,” he said, looking to where she was talking to the two young firemen.
“Fair enough.”
Greg nodded to Jewell and walked toward Tante Izzy.
“Thank you. Once again.” Jewell watched Tante Izzy point her crooked finger at Greg and then shoo him away. “I wouldn’t have thought to ask the police not to write an accident report.”
“An incident report,” he corrected. “It’s different than an accident report since it’s on private property. If the accident occurred on the highway, he wouldn’t have had a choice.” He smiled. “You’re welcome. Now let’s get you checked out. I’ll drive you to the hospital in Tante Izzy’s truck, save you a ride in the ambulance.”
***
Jewell and Beau returned to his car from the hospital just over an hour later. She had been surprised that the regional hospital ER in Cane had been able to examine, x-ray, declare she
was uninjured and release her so quickly. It wasn’t what she was used to in her visits to the busy New Orleans hospitals when she had to bring Mignon in after a fall.
Now, they just had to wait for the wrecker. Beau had offered to call someone to give her a ride back to Sugar Mill so she could rest, but she insisted on staying with him until everything that could be done was done. Beau appreciated her stand-up gesture, but he honestly would’ve preferred to wait alone so he could take his time to examine the damage and mourn over it. He just couldn’t do that in front of Jewell. She looked so damn miserable. Her normally beautiful silky caramel complexion was pale and absent of color, except for the dark circles under her eyes and the purple sand-dollar-sized bruise on her cheek. Her eyes were haunted and tired. Even her usual prideful, yet graceful, posture looked deflated, despite her trying to appear otherwise.
“It’s almost three-thirty. Do you think they’re just about finished with bible study?”
“I’m sure they’re at the post-bible study potluck, now.” He grinned. “I need to clear out my car,” he told her as he opened the driver’s side door. She walked to the passenger side and climbed in, ignoring the white airbag residue that had settled on the seat and all of the surfaces. He started to gather his phone charger, spare sunglasses, and remote to the Sugar Mill gate. “Look inside the glove box and take out everything except the insurance card and car manual.”
”I’m surprised you don’t have a cousin who could’ve towed your car to the dealership in New Orleans.” Her voice was nonchalant, but he knew what she was really saying. Didn’t he have someone who could tow his car for free?
“It needs a special tow truck because of the design of the car. Besides that, I need to follow the warranty documents or I’ll negate the warranty on the parts that weren’t damaged.”
She nodded. “I hate to have to ask you this.” She handed him the unused fast food napkins, flashlight, and two pens she’d taken from the glove box. “Insurance isn’t the only thing I don’t have.” She cleared her throat. “I don’t have the money to pay for the damages upfront. I intend to pay it, though.” She refastened her ponytail. “This is really embarrassing.” She looked out the side window, away from him. He felt her humiliation at having to admit that she was less than she wanted to be. He’d been there before. “I’ve used all my savings on lawyers, reestablishing my business, and day-to-day living. My income is inconsistent, but if things go well, it will be steadier in the near future. I’ll have some money then…”
He waited for her to explain further, but she just let the sentence die. He couldn’t help wonder if she believed this future income she was counting on would come from Martine’s trust. He could ask her where the money would come from, but what good would it do? She wouldn’t admit to him that she planned on taking the trust that he was determined to protect. She was too smart for that. He’d just let her talk, give her more rope, see what she’d say and if she hung herself in the process.
She shook her head. “Anyway, I’m only telling you all of this because you have a right to know why I need to set up a payment plan. Are you okay with doing that?” She looked at him, her big brown doe eyes bright and intently waiting for an answer.
“Jewell, I have insurance.” He grabbed her hand and squeezed it. It felt cold, thin. Hell, she might not be going after the trust. She might be an innocent who was as desperate as her disarming eyes indicated. He nodded, deciding to trust his instincts for the moment. “I’ve got this.”
“No. It’s my fault your car is wrecked. ”
“We’ll figure it out.” He let go of her hand, sensing that he needed to not make a big deal about this when he wanted to insist that she drop the whole thing about paying him anything. He reached into his middle console for his electric razor. “I won’t be able to come over tomorrow. I have court.” He looked at her bruise. “You need to rest, recover. You’re going to be sore.”
“No, I won’t. The ladies are saying a rosary for me.” She smiled. “I’m fine. You heard the ER doctor.” She frowned. “I can’t spare the time.”
“You need to take care of yourself.” He blew out a breath, knowing she wouldn’t do that. “I’m sorry. I know you want to work in the barn. It can’t be avoided. I have court.”
“Okay. We have a deal. I’ll research the pieces I have cataloged and price them. See if anyone is searching for what we have.”
He liked how adaptable she was. He leaned over to look deeper into the center console. The sweet, earthy alluring scent she wore wrapped around him like a sensual dream. She’d said it was bug repellent. Ridiculous. “I think I have everything.”
“We don’t have everything. We need to get the desk out of the trunk.” She smiled when he groaned. “We can put it in the back of Tante Izzy’s truck.”
“Or in the dumpster.” He motioned to the gated area on the other side of the parking lot.
“You're a funny man, Beau Bienvenu.”
“I’m a lot of other things, too, chère.” He smiled and her eyes turned soft and dewy. Her gaze dropped to his mouth. He knew that look. He leaned closer to her. “I’m also a man who's about to kiss a woman with pretty, luscious lips.” He moved in but took a moment to enjoy the warmth of her sweet breath on his mouth…and the heady feeling of anticipation.
She wet her lips with a slow slide of her tongue and closed her eyes. She was enjoying the moment of anticipation too. He brushed a light, feather kiss on her lips. Then he sucked on her full bottom lip. She smiled.
“You like that?” He sucked on her bottom lip again, then released it to press his lips fully to hers. He placed a gentle kiss on each corner of her mouth. Her eyes fluttered open, looked at him. Scam artist or not, Beau felt her passion and desire in that long, telling look. He grabbed the back of her neck and claimed her mouth with his.
It was hunger and satiation. It was desire and satisfaction, bare moments apart. Jewell’s mouth and tongue moved with his in a harmony that left him knowing that he had to have her. She might be in Cane to take what wasn’t hers from his family, but he’d have this woman who turned his blood to liquid fire. He’d have her…and still protect his family.
Jewell pulled away first, laughed softly. “Do you realize we're making out in a wrecked car with a deflated airbag hanging from a busted steering wheel, white powder smeared everywhere around us, in front of a church filled with a dozen bible-studying, rosary-praying parishioners?”
“And the problem is what, Boots?”
She grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him toward her. “Nothing.” She kissed him.
Beau pulled her against him until he felt her large round breasts against his chest.
“Why don’t you just confess right now, Mignon Duet? Admit it. You took da salt and pepper shakers from da plantation.” Beau heard Tante Izzy’s voice and eased away from Jewell. “You sure surprised me when you pulled dem out when we were eatin’ after da rosary.”
Jewell touched her lips and retied the ponytail that he’d loosened only moments before. She climbed out of the car. Beau opened the trunk and walked to the back of the car.
“She took da salt and pepper shaker from da plantation again,” Tante Izzy told Jewell when she was near. “Why does she keep doin’ dat?”
Mignon looked angry. “I told you,” she said, speaking fast and loud. “Momma wants me to take care of them. It’s my job. The shakers are special.”
“Yes, but deyz ain’t yous,” Tante Izzy insisted.
Mignon looked at Jewell, then turned to Tante Izzy. “Neither is this church yours, but you help take care of it.”
Tante Izzy frowned. “Harrumph.”
Dementia or not, Mignon had made a solid argument for herself.
Beau removed the desk and carried it to the truck. “Is it okay if we put this…desk…in the back of your truck until we can drop it off at Jewell’s camper?”
“Mais, of course it’s okay.” She looked at the desk. “Dat looks like trash. If you like dat, Jew
ell, you’re goin’ to love da t’ings in my house.”
Jewell smiled one of her sexy, closed mouth Mona Lisa smiles and Beau’s heart skipped a beat. He rubbed his chest, not sure what in the hell that was about.
“Big John’s here to give us a ride,” Ruby said, waving to her husband who turned into the parking lot from the highway in his king cab truck. “Pearl and Beth got another ride home, so it’s just the three of us riding with Big John. If that’s okay with you, Jewell. We’re going to go hang out at Tante Izzy’s and watch some mindless late afternoon television and rest. We’ll bring her home later. Not too late.”
Jewell spoke to Mignon on the side to ask her what she wanted to do. When they returned, she told Ruby that her grandmother wanted to stay with them. “Mimi said she’s having fun with y’all.”
“Great,” Ruby said, clapping her hands. She turned to Beau. “Take this.” She handed him Tante Izzy’s rifle. “Tante Izzy took it from her truck before we went inside because she didn’t want the law to give her a hard time about having it in the vehicle.”
Beau shook his head. “It’s legal. It’s not concealed.”
“I’ve got a concealed carry license, anyway,” Tante Izzy said, her voice loud and clear.
“Me, too,” Mignon said, working her mouth. Beau looked at Jewell for verification.
“She does, but she doesn’t have a weapon. I took it from her when we arrived at Sugar Mill.”
“You’re kidding? She came to Sugar Mill armed?”
“I didn’t know she’d found a gun and slipped it in her purse.” Jewell said it like it was a reasonable explanation, which it wasn’t. “She didn’t have any bullets.”
“I feel so much better.” His sarcasm had all of the gun-toting women rolling their eyes. “And I suppose you have a concealed carry license, too?”