Tell Me Something Good

by Emery, Lynn

  worked as he clenched his teeth. “You can look as sexy and vulnerable as you want to, it won’t work”

  “What?” Lyrissa’s heart sank at his words.

  “Tell your lawyer to send the letter. Your act doesn’t play anymore. My grandmother is determined to fight you. Frankly, I don’t blame her.” Noel stood.

  “You think I’m lying about what I feel?” She looked up at him.

  “Yes!”

  Lyrissa stood and walked dose to him until they were an inch apart. His anger radiated out in heat waves, yet there was more. Noel’s expression wavered between resistance and desire. She found hope in the way he gazed at her face.

  “Please talk to me. I know you feel betrayed. You really haven’t let me explain it all to you.” She touched his solid upper arm and instantly longed to feel his embrace.

  He didn’t move away. Instead he seemed to watch her in fascination as she leaned closer. With great care, Lyrissa brushed her lips across his. She put her arms around his narrow waist and sighed. Noel stood rigid for only a moment before he pulled her hard against his broad chest. He moaned as his mouth covered hers. His kiss was rough, needy. Then he let go abruptly and stood back.

  “I can’t believe I’m letting you play me all over again.” He rubbed a hand across his face.

  “I’m not and you know it.” Lyrissa touched her finger-tips to his chest. He placed a hand over them. “Let’s be together tonight.”

  Noel seemed to fight a mental battle for a time. “I must be crazy, but...”

  He fingered a tendril of her hair and kissed her again. This time it was a lingering exploration that was as much spiritual as physical. Lyrissa trembled at the jagged desire that tore at her. The aching lonely hours of being without him had taken a toll. She rubbed her hips against his hungrily. Noel responded by lifting her until she stood on tiptoes.

  “God, I missed you,” he murmured, his mouth still on hers.

  “Tonight we’ll work it all out,” she whispered. “I’d better go, or we’ll end up on your desk.”

  Noel cupped her face with one large hand. “Tonight,” he said softly.

  “Tonight.” Lyrissa pried herself from him with great effort. She walked out of his office on a cloud.

  Eddie looked at her hard as she walked out. “You might want to fix your lipstick.” She gave her the thumbs-up signal and a big grin.

  The rest of her day went smoothly. Nothing bothered her. Mr. Taylor’s excitement about the publicity had been warranted. A steady stream of people curious to get the inside scoop on the scandal came to the gallery. He was even more delighted with the increase in serious buyers. Lyrissa was more than happy to let Mr. Taylor take center stage and deflect all the attention from her. At the end of the day, she sighed with contentment. Her good spirits vanished when Mama Grace met her at the door when she got home. Today seemed to be the day to face the music.

  “Lyrissa.” Mama Grace stared at her hard. “Ebony tells me you went to see him”

  “I did.” Lyrissa walked past her and put her briefcase down on the hall table.

  “You went behind my back and risked our claim.” Mama Grace glared at her.

  “You went behind my back and released that damn story,” she tossed back.

  “I couldn’t count on you to take action.” Mama Grace lifted her nose in the air.

  “So you didn’t trust me,” Lyrissa said through clenched teeth. “After I busted my butt researching, following leads, and setting up the whole thing? I planned for months.” “Yes, you did,” Mama Grace agreed.

  “I took a job with Taylor Gallery instead of that position clerking at the Presbytere. Do you know how hard it is to get in there?” Lyrissa put her hands on her hips.

  “Yes, I know what you gave up. But you fell in love with Noel St. Denis.”

  Lyrissa shivered. Was she hopelessly in love with a man she could never have? She shoved away the frightening thought quickly and threw up her hands in exasperation. “I have no intention of giving up our painting!”

  “Really?” Mama Grace gazed down her nose at her. “We’re going to meet tonight and work things out.” “While he’s holding your hand and staring into your eyes, his lawyers will be hard at work,” Mama Grace retorted.

  “Well, you didn’t help by tipping them off before I had a chance to test the waters. He might have been able to deal with his grandmother,” Lyrissa said with a frown.

  Mama Grace gave a sharp, humorless laugh. “You’re definitely living in a fantasy world.”

  “Have you fed Dionne more dirt? I’m hoping the article today will be the last one.”

  “It won’t. I could keep an army of reporters busy for months with the scandals from that family.” Mama Grace wore a victorious smile.

  “Lord, have mercy! Mama Grace—” Lyrissa broke off when the phone rang. She marched to the phone. “Hello,” she barked into it.

  “Okay, I don’t need to ask how you’re doing,” Ebony said. “I leave town for a few days and all hell breaks loose. Folks are buzzing about the war between the Joubert descendants and Mrs. St. Denis.”

  “I didn’t release the stories. Mama Grace did it without consulting me!” Lyrissa raised her voice and frowned at her grandmother.

  “Humph!” Mama Grace turned and walked off. “Damn, girl. The legal sharks are circling as we speak. I’d better put on my armor and get my ammo ready.”

  “I’m trying to avoid a bloodbath.” Lyrissa sighed.

  “Too late. We have a subscription to New Orleans Life. Have you seen the stuff they printed about your illustrious ancestor?”

  Lyrissa could hear pages rustling. She sighed again. “Yes. Some of it I knew. Anyway, I’m meeting with Noel tonight.”

  “You still sleeping with the enemy?” Ebony quipped. “Brave woman. Listen, he’s no lightweight when it comes to taking out opponents. Remember, he’s a St. Denis. They got their reputation the old fashioned way, they earned it!” “I wish everyone would stop telling me that.” Lyrissa rubbed her throbbing temples. Her good mood was definitely gone now.

  “Oh right, you’ve got a secret weapon.” The grin in Ebony’s voice came through the phone lines clearly. “Funny. I’ll talk to you later.” Lyrissa hung up and

  glanced at her wristwatch. She had just enough time to run an errand before she met Noel.

  He scanned his apartment again. “Relax,” he told himself once more.

  Soft New Orleans jazz flowed from the compact disc player. Noel paced in front of the double windows leading to the balcony. He alternately watched car headlights pass in the night and stared at nothing in particular. He drank from his wine glass, rolling the smooth Merlot on his tongue.

  Crazy. He had to be out of his mind. Lyrissa had insinuated herself into his life, hell, into his soul, with an ulterior motive. Yet here he was, sweating for her. Maybe he should believe in voodoo love potions, he mused.

  Noel opened the window and stepped out onto the balcony. The scent of gardenias mixed with Creole spice floated in the air. Huge oak trees rose in the dark like hulking giants. He loved every inch of this city even as others cursed its faults. History oozed up from the side-walks. Noel imagined an army of St Denis ghosts marching down Rampart Street. Sins of the fathers, he thought. Generations of proud, greedy Creoles reached into the future. Yet he’d come to understand his family history in a more complete way. Not a view his grandmother found appealing, for sure. Never mind how she railed when he dared to say Lyrissa’s name. The doorbell chimed as if on cue. Lyrissa smiled nervously when he opened the door. She wore white Capri pants, white sandals, and an emerald green tank-style tunic. Her brown skin glowed as though she’d been brushed with warm butter.

  “Hi,” she said.

  He swallowed hard. She’d pulled out the big guns. His pulse pounded when she walked by him, leaving a delicate trail of perfume behind. Noel closed the door. All he could think of was peeling the clingy slacks from her sexy body.

  “Hello,” he finally
managed to say.

  “How bad has your day been? Lyrissa turned to face him with a slight frown. “You look tired.”

  “ ‘Harassed’ is a better word. But the world didn’t come to an end.” He smiled at her.

  “Noel, I didn’t know about some of those things in the paper. I—”

  “Let’s not talk about it just yet. I ordered dinner from La Madeleine’s. Wine?” He wanted to hold the ugliness at bay for at least a few more magical moments.

  “Yes indeed!” Lyrissa tossed her small handbag onto a chair.

  He handed her a glass and they went out to the balcony. Neither spoke, content to watch the city around them. A slight spring breeze stirred the sheer ivory draperies that framed the window.

  “So, what will we talk about?” Noel said finally.

  “Talking about us seems the best place to start. We’ll get to the weather later.” Lyrissa wore a smile.

  He drew her to him and looked into her eyes. “Lyrissa, you should have trusted me.”

  “I didn’t know you. I had to think about my family,” she said softly.

  “So do I.”

  Lyrissa looked away. “We’re back to problem number one. Your grandmother must have her way.”

  “Wait a minute. Why is this all about my family? You’ve got your own biases, too.” Noel turned her face back to him.

  “Which your relatives immediately confirmed,” she countered.

  “Not all of them. Admit it.”

  “True, but that doesn’t include your parents and grandparents. Lord, I haven’t even met your mother’s parents.” Lyrissa shook her head. “I’ve heard about them.”

  Noel heaved a sigh. “Okay, I can’t argue with you. My grandmother is tolerant compared to them.”

  “See?” She moved away.

  “I wouldn’t let them keep us apart. Period,” Noel said firmly.

  “But they’d make life miserable for us. They might even disinherit you because of me.” Lyrissa shook her head.

  He laughed. “Baby, this isn’t the eighteenth century.”

  “And what about Tremé£ Corporation? They’d fire you and make Carlton CEO,” she persisted.

  “Not a chance,” Noel retorted. “There is one very important reason they won’t fire me—money. I’ve turned the company around. They may be snobbish, but they’re not stupid.”

  “Don’t tell me Mrs. St. Denis wouldn’t cut you out of her will.” Lyrissa pointed a finger at him.

  “Stop reading those romance novels. My grandmother couldn’t if she wanted to. My grandfather set up an irrevocable trust, which means the money is mine.” Noel put his arms around her.

  “Oh.” Her frown relaxed a little. “You’ll lose all your fancy friends. I’ll never be accepted in your social set.”

  “I don’t care, it’s fewer pretentious parties to attend. I’ll live.”

  “You’ve never been on the outside looking in. I don’t think you realize what you’re giving up.” Lyrissa traced a

  finger over the stitches of his olive cotton shirt.

  “Yes I do. People I’ve known all my life, some of them relatives, will avoid us. I’m not naive, baby.” Noel touched his forehead to hers.

  He kissed her sweet mouth until the image of ghosts and disapproving family faded. Desire for her spread through him like warm oil poured on his body. The warmth turned into raw heat when her tongue touched his. Her hands gripped his forearms as they kissed hard. He cupped a breast. Lyrissa wiggled closer as his thumb teased her nipple. She pulled back.

  “We haven’t finished talking, Noel. Nothing is settled.” She panted when he gently squeezed her breast again.

  “Keep talking.” He bent his head and rubbed his lips against her neck.

  “You know what I mean,” she said softly. Lyrissa tilted her head back to let him go farther.

  “I need to feel you,” he whispered. “You know what I want.”

  He led her inside and did just what he’d fantasized about for days. He removed her clothes slowly and with relish.

  Lyrissa opened his shirt and planted moist, hot kisses all over his chest. She took her own time removing his pants, her fingers caressing him until he cried out. They paused briefly while he put on a condom. Lyrissa pulled him on top of her as they went down to the floor. There would be no long foreplay tonight. Instead, Lyrissa guided him inside her and wrapped her legs around him. Noel moaned again at the sensation of entering her. He was enclosed by a deliciously hot, wet satin.

  “Please, baby,” she whispered.

  “Not yet. I’m going to make you wait,” he whispered back and lay still. In truth, he wanted to savor the first few moments of being engulfed, sucked under into a wonderful world.

  Impatient, she rocked her hips and whispered his name. Noel couldn’t resist longer than five minutes as need pounded him. He matched her rhythm with his own. Their lovemaking became frantic. Noel tumbled dizzily into senselessness, thrusting hard into her to satisfy his hunger for her. Lyrissa screamed once and shuddered as she came. Noel held on long enough to feel her muscles contract around his erection. The sensation pushed him into a powerful orgasm. Every one of his muscles seemed to quiver as sweat poured down his sides. After a time they lay still in each other’s arms.

  “Are you trying to drive me crazy, lady?” Noel mum-bled, his face buried in her thick hair.

  “No, I’m trying to be worth all the trouble I caused.” Lyrissa stroked her fingers along his spine.

  Noel shivered in her arms. “God knows you’ve succeeded.”

  “We’ll have to face them all, Noel. We can’t live in our own world away from everyone else,” Lyrissa said softly.

  “We can tonight. We can do it every night. Just shut the door and leave them all behind when we need to, baby.” Noel breathed in the lush scent of her perfume mixed with perspiration.

  “Can it be that simple?”

  “Not simple, but damn sure worth it.”

  Chapter 23

  .Lyrissa shifted enough to see the digital clock on the nightstand. The numbers glowed a muted orange showing it was six A.M.

  “Oh, boy,” she said softly so as not to wake him. “Mama Grace is probably mad as hell with me now.”

  “Hmm.” Noel’s large arm tightened around her waist.

  She studied the contours of his face. Beautiful. Noel’s long dark eyelashes stood out against his light brown skin. Lyrissa pressed her cheek against his chest. His heartbeat seemed in tune with hers.

  “Baby,” he whispered. “Time to get up.”

  “Hey, I thought you were asleep.” She kissed his nipples.

  “I am, almost.” Noel stretched his long frame. “But I’ve got a busy day Let’s go to the French Market for breakfast.”

  “Deal. If we get up now, you’ll have plenty of time before you go back to ruling the world.” Lyrissa tapped his face playfully.

  They showered and dressed together, teasing each other about which one would be in more trouble with their families. Lyrissa tried to make it a joke, yet her fears for him lingered.

  Gloomy thoughts fled when they finally stepped into the sunshine. Noel drove them to the French Market, where they bought two tangelos and bananas. Next they walked to Cafe du Monde, where they enjoyed cafe au lait with their fruit. Lyrissa could almost believe that they could be like any other couple in love. Almost. Their conversation had lapsed into thoughtful silence.

  “The party’s over.” Lyrissa toyed with a sliver of rind from the tangelo.

  “I guess you’re right. Let’s see what new hell I’ll have to tackle today.” Noel went to buy a newspaper from a stand nearby. He glanced at a copy of the Chronicle and grimaced.

  “I’m really sorry, baby,” she said, when he came back to the table.

  “You pointed them in the right direction. The secrets were waiting to be found. I just—” His cell phone trilled a series of musical notes. “Damn, now what?” he muttered as he looked at the caller ID.

  “Who
is it?”

  He flipped open the phone. “My property manager. Yeah, Keisha. I hope this is urgent. What?” His frown deepened as he listened. “I’m on my way. No, I’ll talk to the police when I get there.”

  “What’s happened? Why are the police—” She stopped when he waved a hand at her.

  “Right. I’m not far.” Noel punched the end button and jumped up. “The Chaisson House is on fire. I’ve got to go. I’ll drop you at your car on the way.”

  “I’m coming with you. What about the art? Did Keisha have a chance to move it yet?” Lyrissa almost had to jog to match his long strides back to his car.

  “We were supposed to move them tomorrow.” Noel unlocked the car with his remote. The horn blew as he turned off the alarm.

  “Damn!” Lyrissa ran around and got in the passenger side.

  Noel made good time weaving in and out of the early morning traffic. They reached Magazine Street in fifteen minutes. Lyrissa’s stomach lurched at the column of black smoke in the sky. They had to park three blocks away and go around a barricade. Noel explained who he was to a policeman who allowed them to approach a fireman. Keisha rushed toward them. She was dressed in an over-sized t-shirt and jeans.

  “What happened, Kee?” Noel asked.

  Keisha gulped in air and wiped a large tear from her cheek. “Mrs. Barrett got to her antique shop about seven. She saw smoke and called 911.”

  A tall blond policeman walked up. “Sir, your employee says you can verify the contents of this building.”

  “I don’t have a list of all the art, and I...” Keisha started to cry.

  Lyrissa put an arm around her. “Come over here and sit down, honey. Noel will take care of everything. We have a list.”

  “Yeah, Kee,” Noel said gently. “Go with Lyrissa.” He looked at her in gratitude.

  “We’ll go down to the coffee shop. A good mocha latte will help steady your nerves.” Lyrissa led her through a crowd of onlookers, which included one of the waitresses.

  “Hey, I’ll get y’all two cups right away.” She patted Keisha on the shoulder and went ahead of them to the coffee shop.