Tell Me Something Good

by Emery, Lynn

  “You should stop reading those hard-boiled detective novels, too,” Lyrissa said with a laugh.

  Ebony came in at that moment. “I put some well-oiled legal wheels in motion.”

  “Good.” Mama Grace nodded with approval. She rose slowly. “I know you girls will do the right thing.”

  Mama Grace moved stiffly, as though each step was an effort. Aunt Claire held her arm as they left together. Lyrissa watched them leave with a worried frown.

  “I’ve never seen Mama Grace look so worn out, Ebony. She tried to be strong, but this ordeal has taken a toll on her. If they find out about my father’s drug problem and that he overdosed..Lyrissa shook her head. She couldn’t bear to think of what such a public airing would do to the proud old woman.

  “Yeah.” Ebony dropped into a chair.

  “I’m going to see Noel.”

  Ebony’s long braids bounced as she shook her head hard. “No way. Bad idea. Don’t do it.”

  “Mama Grace can’t take much more.” Lyrissa looked at her friend.

  “You’re going to settle? Mrs. St. Denis won’t accept anything less than complete surrender,” Ebony warned.

  “Which is why I should talk to Noel first. He still has some influence with her.”

  “I don’t know. Things are shaky with him these days. He could even be tossed out of the family business.” Ebony cleared her throat. “Uh, remember I told you about my reliable source?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, I didn’t tell you the whole story. Seems the family is pissed about you and Noel. They blame him for the bad publicity. Investors are backing off. All because he got involved with the wrong sort of woman.” Ebony sucked in a deep breath.

  “I’m not surprised.” Lyrissa clenched her teeth.

  “Noel might be willing to do anything to save his position with the company and his family.” Ebony put a hand on her arm. “I hate to say it, but he’s got a lot to lose. Social position, a major company...” Ebony’s voice faded.

  Lyrissa’s throat tightened. Ebony had put Lyrissa’s thoughts into words. He hasn’t called. Noel could have decided to cut his losses.

  “Okay, so maybe you’re right. I’m still going. The bottom line is, Sunday Stroll on the Faubourg Tremé’ belongs to us. Old Jules was a bum. But Gustave St. Denis exploited his weaknesses to snatch that painting.”

  “At least let me coach you on what to say. Don’t agree to anything definite. Talk in ‘maybes’ and ‘ifs’ only. Let me deal with his attorneys to hammer out the details.”

  Lyrissa nodded as Ebony talked. She only half listened to her friend’s instructions. An image of Noel, naked and brown lying next to her, filled her head.

  Lyrissa strode into the offices of Tremé£ Corporation with her head up. Three of Noel’s employees did a double take when they recognized her. A woman whispered, “Shouldn’t we call someone?” Lyrissa kept walking. Eddie’s mouth dropped open when she looked up and saw her. “Hi, Eddie. I’m here to see your boss.”

  “Oh, boy.” Eddie’s mouth worked.

  “I know he’s here,” Lyrissa repeated with a nod to his door.

  “I, he ...” Eddie blinked rapidly, a look of confusion on her face.

  Julie raced down the opposite hallway. “Security will be here shortly to throw her out!” Her eyes gleamed with anticipation. “I can’t wait.”

  Lyrissa ignored her. “He’ll see me. Just let him know I’m here,” she said to Eddie.

  Julie walked up to her. “Noel will watch them toss you out on your ass and enjoy it. I’d advise you to leave voluntarily.”

  “I’d advise you to get out of my face,” Lyrissa said in a deadly calm tone.

  Eddie stepped between them. “Everybody just cool down,” she said loudly

  Noel opened the door to his office. “What the hell is going on out here?” He stopped short when he saw Lyrissa. “Come in,” he said to her.

  Julie glared at him. “You can’t be serious! The board will find out about this, Noel.”

  “In that case make sure you don’t leave anything out,” Noel snapped. He glanced at Lyrissa. “If you came here to stir things up, you’ve succeeded. Was that your only goal?”

  Lyrissa strode into his office without answering. Noel closed the door and leaned against it. They stared at each other in silence.

  “How are you?” he said finally.

  “Take a guess.”

  Noel nodded and crossed to her. “So far, they’re only going to charge you with receiving stolen goods.”

  “Ironic, isn’t it, since the painting really belongs to us?” He studied her expression. “We can settle the question of who owns the painting through our lawyers.”

  “If that’s the way it has to be,” she replied.

  “I think it’s the best way. Present your documentation and we’ll go from there. My grandmother won’t be satisfied otherwise.”

  “Right. You can’t make your grandmother unhappy. Let her call the shots. Or is this really your decision?” Lyrissa gazed at him steadily.

  “Mine. Besides, neither of our families will settle. A judge’s decision should finally put an end to the whole affair.” Noel’s gaze traveled down her body and back to her eyes.

  Lyrissa tingled as though he’d put his hands on her. “Yes, it will.”

  Noel rubbed a hand over his face. She noticed how drained he looked. He rolled his shoulders to relieve tension.

  “Not soon enough,” he said in a weary voice.

  “I hear you’ve had a rough time in the last few days. At least you weren’t hauled off to jail.” She folded her arms to restrain the urge to hold him.

  “Sit down, have some coffee.” Noel sighed when she didn’t move. “Please?”

  Lyrissa sat in a chair that faced his desk. Noel poured two cups of coffee from the carafe on his desk. He handed one to her. She stared into the steaming liquid.

  “I’ve had too much of this stuff lately. I should be drinking fruit juice,” Lyrissa said with a grimace.

  Noel punched the speaker button on his phone. “Eddie, would you mind bringing us two bottles of apple juice from the machine?”

  “No problem,” Eddie said promptly.

  He took the cups and set them on the credenza. “Good idea. We’re both on edge as it is.”

  “I—” Lyrissa broke off when Eddie knocked.

  She came in with two half-pint bottles and two glasses on a tray. “Here you go. Uh, boss, Julie is demanding to see you right now.”

  “You know what to tell her,” he said evenly.

  “Oh, yeah.” Eddie grinned and left.

  “I’m not sure why I came to tell you the truth. I could have let Ebony call your attorney.” Lyrissa bit her lower lip. “We sure can’t solve anything.”

  “I’m sorry you were treated like a criminal,” Noel said.

  “You couldn’t have been too worried.” Lyrissa stared down at the floor.

  “I called, but your grandmother suggested I give you time. I waited to hear from you. Then I thought maybe...” Noel raked his Angers through his hair. “Maybe you decided to bail out on me.”

  “Me, bail out on you?”

  Noel sat across from her. “You wouldn’t have been stupid enough to hide the painting at your house. Any chance your grandmother—”

  “Hell, no!” Lyrissa shouted.

  “Okay, okay. I’m just saying. Emotions are running kind of high. I know how intense she is about that painting.” Lyrissa huffed for several moments. Then she shrugged. “To tell you the truth, the thought did cross my mind. Briefly ,” she added with force.

  “I didn’t say anything.” Noel held up his hands palms out.

  “Yeah, well. I dismissed the idea because my grand-mother wouldn’t be that stupid either. Besides, she wanted to humiliate your family publicly as much as she wanted the painting. She’s been spoiling for this fight for years.”

  “I have to say, some of those stories about my ancestors are pretty embarrassing. M
y grandmother has been hiding out for weeks.” Noel rubbed his jaw.

  “What about my ancestor? I was told he died young, a broken man, because his art had been stolen and his family left destitute.” Lyrissa snorted in disgust. “Between bouts of drinking and marathon sex orgies, I’m surprised he didn’t drop dead sooner!”

  Noel laughed. “He wasn’t that bad. My skeletons beat yours by sheer numbers.”

  “I don’t know. If we give your grandmother and Julie more time, I’m sure they’ll dig up more.” Lyrissa smiled at him. “Why are we laughing? There’s nothing funny in all this.”

  “Sure there is. Both our families are trying to preserve their good names. The problem is, our dirty laundry keeps tumbling out in public.” He smiled back at her.

  Lyrissa’s expression became serious again. “Noel, let’s have the lawyers handle it quietly. We have to stop these nasty stories from being published.”

  “The press is like a pack of wild dogs. You can’t stop them once they’re let loose. They’re selling papers and magazines like crazy.”

  “Yes, but the whole thing will eventually die down if our grandmothers stop feeding them.” Lyrissa sat forward.

  “You just said your grandmother has been waiting to let us have it for years. She’s having too much fun to stop.” Noel lifted a shoulder.

  Lyrissa shook her head. “No, she’s not. Mama Grace didn’t count on just how ugly things would get.”

  He rubbed his face harder. “My problem is more complicated.”

  “Your cousin and the board,” Lyrissa said.

  He exhaled. “I’ve spent the last twenty-four hours doing damage control. Carlton wants my ass roasted and served on a silver platter. Julie is in on it I’m sure.”

  “Julie? It’s a thin line, huh?”

  “Obviously.” Noel scowled.

  “You’ve got more to worry about than me, mister. Julie wants your ass, too. Don’t doubt it.” Lyrissa pointed a finger at his chest.

  “Carlton doesn’t need much help being vindictive.

  She’s probably just giving him a shoulder to cry.” Noel waved a hand.

  “The woman has been planning your wedding since she was in kindergarten. She’s obsessed. I’ll bet she’s helping him a lot.”

  “Julie has known for a long time we weren’t going to be a couple.” Noel shook his head.

  “She’s probably still hoping you’ll change your mind.”

  “I won’t. I don’t really give a damn about that painting, Lyrissa.” He pulled her from her seat and into his arms.

  “Hey! You’re in enough trouble, Mr. St. Denis. If they walk in and catch you smooching with the enemy—”

  Noel kissed her before she could say more. Lyrissa didn’t try to escape, despite her words. Surprise and desire made her skin sizzle. She moaned when his wide hands slid down her body to her hips. He pressed his pelvis against hers. They both sighed when the kiss ended.

  “I was in trouble the first day I saw you,” he whispered.

  “We’ll have to fight one battle after another. You'll have to fight most of them.” Lyrissa clung to him.

  “I don’t mind at all. Are you sure you want all the hassle?” Noel kissed her nose, then her eyelids.

  “I’m sure that being with you is worth anything any-body can throw at me,” she said.

  “That’s all I need to hear.”

  Noel kissed her long and hard. He guided her to the leather sofa and eased her down onto it. His hand lifted her skirt. Lyrissa panted when he trailed his fingertips along the inside of her thigh.

  “Cut it out,” she murmured and squirmed to allow his hand to go higher.

  “Uh-uh, feds too good,” he replied softly.

  Lyrissa planted her palms on his chest and pushed him away. “We’ve got work to do, hot pants.”

  Noel smiled at her. “You’ve got that right.” He tried to kiss her again.

  Lyrissa slid from his grasp. “You know what I mean.” “Okay, okay. Rain check.”

  “Agreed.” Lyrissa gave him one last kiss on the cheek. “Now, where do we go from here?”

  He straightened his tie as he sat back. “Someone is trying to play both of us. I say we find ’em and kick ass.”

  “Don’t get mad, but my money is on your family. Staging the fire and the burglary would keep me busy. Our claim would be discredited and you—”

  “Hey!” he protested.

  “Your family would keep the painting. Sending me to jail would be icing on the cake.” Lyrissa gazed at him with her head to one side. “Well?”

  “My grandmother has her faults, but she doesn’t do lunch with felons. I don’t see anyone in my family planning such a thing. Not even Carlton. He’s devious, but not smart enough.” Noel shrugged.

  “You have been reading the papers, right?” Lyrissa quipped.

  He winced. “Ouch! But that was history—ancient history, at that. I’m talking about now. I know these people, baby.”

  “So Sunday Stroll on the Faubourg Tremé walked to my house and into my garage? Please!” Lyrissa rolled her eyes.

  “Good point. Someone is responsible. Guess we’d better get to work on the who and why.” Noel put a hand on her knee.

  “ ‘We,’ I like the sound of that word,” she murmured. “Me and you, you and I, us,” Noel leaned close and whispered in her ear. “I love you.”

  “I love you back,” she whispered. Lyrissa lifted his hand and placed it on his knee. “But if you don’t stop we’ll never make it off this sofa.”

  “A brother has to try.” He grinned at her.

  “We’ll make up for lost time later. Now, where do we start in this quest for truth and justice?”

  He thought for a minute. “I say we keep our alliance a secret.”

  “What?”

  “I want to stir the gumbo pot until it boils over. If whoever is behind this whole thing thinks they’ve succeeded...” He raised an eyebrow at her.

  “You mean lie and set a trap?” Lyrissa smiled. “You sneaky devil. In the blood, huh?”

  Noel laughed again. “Using my powers for good this time. Let’s do it.”

  He nodded toward the door. Lyrissa nodded back. She retrieved her purse and followed him. Noel jerked the door open.

  “I don’t think there’s anything left to say, Lyrissa. Our painting didn’t just walk to your house!” he said loudly. “Did you really think that act would work?”

  “How dare you call me a thief, after what your family has done? I should have known you’d stick up for them. You chump!” Lyrissa shouted.

  “Goodbye and get out,” Noel growled.

  Lyrissa slammed the door in his face. “Cold-blooded snake.”

  Eddie gasped. “Lyrissa, I thought—”

  “Forget it, Eddie. To hell with him—and all of ’em.” Lyrissa waved a hand and stormed off toward the elevators.

  Julie appeared out of nowhere wearing a malicious smile. “Guess the thrill is gone, Miss Thang!”

  “Kiss my ass,” Lyrissa hissed at her. She smiled when the elevator doors whisked shut and she was alone. “Perfect timing, Miss Thang”

  Chapter 26

  “Come in, Carlton.” Noel beckoned him inside with a wave of his hand. He stood behind his desk with his back to the window.

  Carlton strolled in, his expression mild. He glanced around the office. Noel would have sworn he was calculating how to redecorate the comer office to his satisfaction. Good. Let him be sure of himself, for a while, at least. Noel went to the table in his seating area. He poured two cups of coffee and handed one to his cousin.

  “Let’s talk.” He nodded at a chair and waited until Carlton had sat down. Noel stood gazing down at him.

  Carlton crossed his legs. His mouth shifted sideways in a smirk when he gazed up at Noel. “What’s this about? You lonely in here, or something?”

  “It’s been a hell of a week,” Noel admitted. “The board is really on my back. But then, you knew that.” “Too bad,” Carl
ton said in a monotone that lacked sympathy.

  “ ‘Bad’ isn’t the word. They’re furious about this whole mess with the collection. They blame me for trusting an outsider—Lyrissa Rideau.”

  “We did warn you,” Carlton replied.

  “They say I allowed her to influence me and now the company is suffering. They’re questioning all my decisions, including my plans for the warehouses, the micro malls, everything!” Noel blew out a gust of breath in frustration.

  “Really?” Carlton leaned forward with a predatory gleam in his eye.

  “You know how I wanted to develop the Crowder Boulevard property, right?”

  “We talked about it.” Carlton pursed his lips.

  “Argued, is what you mean. Anyway, all of a sudden, Uncle Laurence is against it. I don’t get him or any of them.” Noel dropped down onto a chair.

  “Interesting. He was your biggest supporter. Too bad.” Carlton sipped from his cup again.

  “Our net profits have risen steadily since I became CEO. You have to admit that, even though we’ve had our disagreements.” Noel gazed at him as though anxious for a sliver of support.

  Carlton shrugged. “That’s gratitude for you.”

  “But this financial report really puzzles me.” Noel picked up a file folder from the table between them.

  “What financial report? The audit was clean.” Carlton’s satisfied pose slipped a notch.

  “I know. But one of the accountants became curious about certain contracts and payments.”

  “I didn’t hear anything about problems in that area.” Carlton sat at attention.

  “You know about the recent scandals involving certain companies and the way they do business,” Noel said. “Yes.”

  “This young man researched the companies we do business with, just to see if any red flags popped up.” Noel flipped through the pages of the report

  “What did he find?” Carlton blinked rapidly.

  “Look at page seventeen.”

  Noel handed him the open report. He watched him read in silence for several moments. Then he stood over him and clamped a hand on Carlton’s shoulder. His cousin jumped.

  “Someone has been diverting money. Clever method, but this sharp young man was able to trace it all the same. I couldn’t believe it.”