Sweet Southern Nights

by Rochelle Alers

  “Thank you so much, Mrs. Turner. I’ll make certain your gift will be shipped as instructed.”

  Priscilla tucked her card into a compartment in her handbag. “Thank you again, Angela. Don’t forget to tell your folks to look for the invitation.”

  “I will.”

  Priscilla turned to leave, then hesitated when she spied Levi standing off to the side. “Good evening, sweetie.”

  He nodded, smiling. “Good evening, ma’am.”

  She squinted at him behind the lenses of her rimless glasses. “Are you new in Louisville, because I don’t remember seeing you around?”

  Levi met Angela’s amused gaze. “I don’t live in Louisville.”

  “Where do you live?”

  “Right now I’m in Clarkesville.”

  Angela decided to step in because she knew before long that the word would get out that Dianne Chase’s daughter was dating Levi Eaton. “Levi, this is Mrs. Turner. Her husband is the mayor of Louisville. Mrs. Turner, Dr. Levi Eaton.”

  Priscilla rested a manicured hand on the strand of pearls resting on her ample bosom. “My, my, my. A doctor.”

  Levi’s left eyebrow lifted a fraction. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Do you know that Angela’s brother is also a doctor?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he repeated. “Angela and I are keeping company.”

  At that very moment Angela wanted the floor to open up and she fall through. She couldn’t believe Levi had said keeping company. It was a term her grandmother had used. And to tell Priscilla Turner they were a couple was like taking out a full page ad in The Courier-Journal.

  Priscilla beamed like a two-hundred watt bulb. “Aren’t you just darling.” She winked at Levi. “There aren’t too many young men like you out there nowadays who’d say they were keeping company. Most of the time, it’s we’re seeing one another or hooking up. Oh, I hate that term. You hook up a horse to a plow or a wagon, but not one human being to another. And I’m so glad to see Angela with a fine young man such as yourself.”

  Levi leaned in closer. “My mother would agree with you. She also hates that word.”

  She patted his arm and pursed her rose-colored lips. “You’re so much better than some of those other men she wasted her time with,” Priscilla said as if Angela wasn’t standing a foot away. She glanced at her watch. “I’d love to stay and talk, but I have to get back home for a ladies auxiliary meeting. Angela, you and your young man are also invited to come to the post-Derby party with your folks.” She wagged a finger at Levi. “Promise me you’ll be there, Dr. Eaton.”

  He gave her a warm smile. “I promise, Mrs. Turner.”

  Angela forced a brittle smile. The woman was at it again. Her sugary-sweet-buttery-melt-in-your-mouth manner had roped Levi into attending a social gathering where women brought their unmarried daughters, granddaughters and nieces in hopes that they’d meet an eligible man.

  “Enjoy your evening, Mrs. Turner.” Angela followed her to the door and then locked it. Waning sunlight was refracted by the stained glass insets in the decorative door. Angela closed the wrought-iron gate that gave the shop its distinctive name and slid the bolt in place.

  Turning around slowly Angela stared at Levi. He was so incredibly sexy in a pair of jeans, a black pullover and a well-worn black leather jacket that she found herself holding her breath. The stubble along his jawline only added to his rugged masculinity. She approached him with her arms outstretched and kissed his chin. He leaned in so that his mouth covered hers in a slow kiss that weakened her knees. Angela felt wet in the area between her legs as her breathing quickened. Somehow she mustered the strength to pull away, ending the kiss. She was certain Levi had felt her runaway heartbeat.

  “I can’t believe you told her we were keeping company,” she said softly. “That’s what my grandma used to say when she asked me about a boy.”

  Levi gave her a wide smile filled with straight white teeth. “That should tell you that I’m old school.”

  “So old school that you’re saving yourself for marriage?”

  “Oh, hell no! That’s not old school. That’s downright crazy.”

  Angela laughed and shook her head. “You are so silly.”

  “No I’m not, sweetie. I’m a realist. Celibacy only works for some people.”

  “But not you,” she countered.

  “Not for an extended period of time.”

  “What do you consider an extended period of time, Levi?”

  “Definitely not five years.”

  Turning away from him, Angela wound her arms around her body in a protective gesture. “That’s cold. Maybe I shouldn’t have told you how long it’s been since I’ve slept with a man.”

  Levi gently pulled her arms down, wrapping his around her waist. He kissed the top of her head. “That’s where you’re wrong. I’m not judging you, Ang. You asked me a question and I gave you my answer. Since I became sexually active, I’ve never gone that long without making love to a woman. If you don’t want to sleep with me, then you don’t have to. No matter what happens between us, I want you to remember that you’re the one controlling this relationship.”

  Angela turned around in his embrace, burying her face against his shoulder. The scent of his cologne and the smell of his leather jacket were heady and hypnotic. Thoughts raced through her mind, bringing with them a familiar throbbing between her legs that reminded Angela of how long it’d been since she’d had sex. She’d had nearly a week to recover from her meltdown at the wedding reception, and it had been enough time for her to think about what she really wanted from the man who’d promised to take care of her.

  She wanted a friend, someone she could talk to about her problems and concerns. She wanted someone to accompany her to social functions. And she also wanted to realize what being a woman felt like in every way, to explore the full range of desire, passion and fulfillment that comes from making love.

  “Right now I don’t know what it is I want from you.” Her voice was barely a whisper.

  “It doesn’t matter, baby. I’m not certain what I want from you, either. But we have time to figure it out. Let’s just enjoy being together. We’re adults, capable of making decisions without anyone’s approval. Neither of us is naive, so if we do sleep together there’s no guilt or regret. I like you, enjoy your company, and you certainly know that I think you’re sexy as hell. And if you don’t know then let me be the first to tell you that you are.” Anchoring his hand under her chin, he raised her face and kissed the end of her nose. “I’m going to be around for a while, so let’s enjoy our time together.”

  She wanted to say to him that they didn’t have much time. “You’re right,” she said, smiling.

  “Don’t you know the doctor is always right?”

  Angela rolled her eyes. “Sure, and I have a crystal ball that predicts whose going to win the Derby.”

  “Do you really?”

  “Please, Levi. Don’t New Yorkers have a saying about selling a bridge in Brooklyn?”

  “Don’t go there, Angela. There are certain subjects that are off-limits and New York landmarks are one of them.”

  “Have you ever been to Yankee Stadium?”

  Levi nodded. “I have season tickets.”

  “If I come to New York, will you take me to a game?”

  “If the Yankees make it to the World Series, I’ll arrange for you to come with me.”

  “What if they don’t make it to the Series?”

  “Surely you jest, Miss Chase. Regardless of who the Yankees play or, heaven forbid, they don’t make the World Series, I’ll still take you to a game.”

  “If you renege, Levi, I’ll raise holy hell.”

  “Damn, woman! There’s no need for violence.”

 
“There are plenty of ways to raise holy hell without inflicting pain,” she said.

  Levi angled his head. “If it involves handcuffs, chocolate syrup and whipped cream then I’m game.”

  Her eyes nearly popped out of her head.

  He shook his head. “You’re something else, you know.”

  “Why would you say that?”

  “I never thought you’d be so gullible.”

  “I’m not gullible,” she said defensively.

  “Then why do you believe everything I say?”

  She looked away, staring at the bouquet of white roses in a round crystal bowl. “I believe you because I trust you, Levi.” Her gaze swung back to him. “You’re the first man I’ve been able to trust in five years. Please don’t make me regret it.”

  Lowering his head, Levi kissed her again. It was more to reassure Angela and let her know she could trust him. “Never,” he whispered against her soft, moist lips.

  Angela breathed in Levi’s scent, and enjoyed feeling the hardness of his chest against her breasts. She wanted and needed him so much it hurt. All she had to do was ask Levi to make love to her and she was certain the pain would go away.

  “Didn’t you work today?” she asked, changing the subject.

  He pulled her closer, staring down at her under lowered lids. “I went into the clinic, but didn’t see patients. Why did you ask?”

  “You didn’t shave.”

  “Yeah, I know. I’d decided to give my face a rest. Don’t worry. I’ll shave for tomorrow.”

  Angela smiled. “You don’t have to. I don’t mind a little stubble.”

  “I’ll shave anyway,” Levi insisted. “Are you closing for the day?”

  “Yes.” Angela gently pushed against his chest, wanting and needing to put some distance between them. The longer she remained in his arms the more her body betrayed her. “Mrs. Turner was my last customer.”

  Levi dropped his arms, crossing them over his chest. “I guess I got here just in time.”

  She blinked. “I wasn’t expecting you until tomorrow.”

  “I thought I’d surprise you. I did want to stop by and pick up some gifts for my cousins, and then take you out to dinner.”

  “I thought we’d do that when the shop is closed.”

  “That was before I knew I’d be working at the hospital. Once my staff is onboard I’ll be responsible for putting together a schedule. I’ll probably work four days on and three off.”

  Angela met his direct stare. “Will you be off for the Derby?”

  He smiled. “Most definitely.” Levi was willing to work double shifts so he could be off that weekend.

  “In Louisville we start partying Thursday night and we usually don’t end until late Sunday night, especially if you’ve bet on the right horse.”

  “I can get by on little to no sleep.”

  “We’ll see about that, Mr. Big Time.”

  “I guess you will. By the way, where’s Traci?”

  “She went home. Traci works from nine-thirty to two, then I come in from two to six. Thursdays we stay open until eight.” Traci had gone home early because her stomach was upset, so they’d decided to postpone going to Tubbs.

  Levi glanced around the Garden Gate rather than stare at Angela. It was as if he’d actually entered a garden. China, crystal and collectibles were displayed on glass-topped tables, in showcases and armoires, amid potted plants as prerecorded music played softly in the background. A trio of bistro tables covered with blue-and-white-check tablecloths and chairs with matching seat cushions were set up in the far corner. Decorating magazines occupied a wrought-iron stand beside a daybed.

  He turned back to Angela and stared at her. He’d realized her vulnerability, and it touched him in a way that would make it difficult for him to walk away from her.

  Angela Chase was different from the other women he’d been involved with. She was outspoken, fiercely independent, stubborn, beautiful and unpredictable. Whenever he saw her, he didn’t know what to expect. And that kept him slightly off-balance.

  If Angela only worked four hours a day, Levi wondered what she did in her spare time. He just couldn’t imagine her staying at home cooking, cleaning or watching television.

  “If it’s more convenient for you I can wait until next week to buy the gifts.”

  “How many gifts do you need and what are their ages?” Levi reached into the pocket of his jeans, took out a folded piece of paper and handed it to her. Angela smiled. “There’re quite a few baby girls.”

  “The girls are definitely outnumbering the boys.”

  “Do the girls have pierced ears?”

  Levi closed his eyes, trying to remember if they did. “I think so.”

  “Find out if they do because I have tiny diamond studs that are simply adorable for little girls. Also find out if the boys are into sports, and if they are then what teams they like. Come with me and I’ll show you what I have.”

  Angela led Levi around the corner of the shop, past an antique armoire to a display case that held an array of gold jewelry—many with precious and semiprecious gems.

  She removed the elastic band from her wrist, inserted the key in the lock and took out a tray with diamond studs in varying sizes. Angela pointed to several small carat diamond studs. “These are perfect for young girls. The smallest would be appropriate for a baby. They all have slender posts with screw backs. Once on, they’ll stay on.”

  Levi peered at the earrings. The overhead track lighting reflected off the stones casting blue and white prisms of light. “I have a few cousins who are teenage girls now that would probably like the larger pair.”

  “A local jeweler was going out of business, so Traci bought a lot of his inventory. We’ve had the stones appraised and the diamonds are of the highest quality. We sell a lot of jewelry to brides and grooms as gifts for their wedding party. The brides like earrings and the grooms usually prefer engraved ID bracelets for their groomsmen. Everything in this case is gold and in the other one is silver.”

  “What do you suggest?” Levi asked Angela.

  “I like the earrings for the girls, but I’m not sure about what to get for young boys. Whatever you decide, I think you should ask their parents.”

  “I’ll definitely go for the earrings, because all of the women in my family have pierced ears. But, didn’t you mention something about sports teams?”

  “When you come to my house tomorrow you can go online and search the Waterford site for sport-themed gifts.”

  Levi groaned audibly. “This is becoming more complicated than I thought. I usually give the kids a check, but somehow that seems so impersonal.”

  “You’re making this a lot more difficult than it needs to be. Why don’t you think about buying a digital camera for the older kids and have them take pictures of family gatherings. Then, you can always go with gift cards for their favorite stores. Savings bonds for the little ones are always a good gift. Don’t forget about e-book readers and tablets for the school-age kids, and gift cards so they can download books without asking their parents for money.”

  A slow smile spread across Levi’s face. “Damn, girl! You really know your stuff.”

  It was Angela’s turn to wink at Levi. “I only do what I know, which is running a gift shop. And I know how to shop.”

  “I’m completely clueless when it comes to shopping.”

  “Who buys your clothes?”

  “I have a personal shopper at a men’s store. He picks out everything from shirts and pants to underwear and socks.”

  Angela smiled. “He has impeccable taste.”

  Levi glanced down at his jeans and shoes. “He’s really good.” He gave her a long, penetrating stare. “Are you ready to lock up a
nd go to dinner with me?”

  “Where are we going?” Angela asked.

  “You’re from Louisville, so you pick the spot.”

  She removed the trays of jewelry from the showcase and stored them in a wall safe. “Do you like Middle Eastern food?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then we’ll go to Saffron’s.”

  Levi sat across from Angela at a table in Saffron’s, which specialized in authentic Persian cuisine. The establishment’s cozy atmosphere, the mouthwatering aromas of the food and his dinner partner made the night close to perfect.

  They’d been served a complimentary order of sabzi—a green salad with fresh herbs, feta cheese, and thinly sliced cucumber and radishes. He’d watched Angela spread the cheese on warm pita bread, add the sabzi herbs and then roll it together before taking a bite. She’d ordered grilled salmon topped with caramelized barberries served over dill-infused basmati rice. Levi ordered shisk-leek—a kebab of grilled New Zealand lamb with fresh vegetables and saffron rice. Their waiter had recommended Chateau Muscar Hocher, a Lebanese wine that was the perfect complement to their meal.

  Levi admired the delicate angles of Angela’s face in the flickering glow of candlelight. “Excellent choice,” he said. “The food is delicious, the service exceptional and my dinner partner just perfect.”

  A wave of heat stung Angela’s cheeks as she demurely lowered her eyes. “Thank you.” Seconds ticked by before she met his eyes. “This is one of my favorite restaurants.”

  Levi wondered if she had come here with her ex. “I can see why. I’d like you to answer one question for me.”

  “Only one?” she teased with a smile.

  “Okay, maybe two.”

  “What is it?”

  “If you work part-time at the Garden Gate what do you do with the rest of your time?”