by Emery, Lynn
“You told me what I needed to know. Now all I have to do is have Tyson track the foreign accounts, the changed ledger entries, and the phony contracts.”
Julie was the first to recover. She turned on Lyrissa. “I should have known. You’ve been listening to that slut again.”
Lyrissa smiled at Julie. “Eddie, you can turn off the speaker phone now.”
Eddie went over to a side table and took the phone from behind a large plant. She picked it up and pressed a button. Julie and Carlton watched with horrified expressions.
“We also know you framed Lyrissa. We’ll prove that, too.” Noel put an arm around Lyrissa’s waist.
Carlton looked around frantically. “I tried to talk to her, Noel. When I found out what she was up to—” “What the hell—” Julie swung her hand at his head and Carlton ducked. He scrambled from his chair as she shouted a stream of profanity at him.
“Such language from a young woman of your breeding!” Lyrissa clapped a hand to her face.
“You! I ought to break your neck!” Julie took a step to-ward her.
Lyrissa squinted at her. “Do it and I’ll plant my Liz Claiborne pumps up your blueblood behind!”
Two burly security officers strode into the room. “What’s the problem, Mr. St Denis?” one of them asked.
Noel grabbed Carlton and shoved him out into the hall. “Escort these two out of the building. Eddie will box up any personal belongings from your offices and send them by messenger.”
“I’m going to call Grandmother,” Carlton yelled. “Good. She’s expecting an explanation,” Noel retorted. “I’ll pay you back for this, you bitch!” Julie pointed a
finger at Lyrissa. She stomped past the guards. “Get away from me, you overgrown monkeys!” One of the guards followed her.
Carlton’s defiant posture crumbled. “Look, Noel, we’re family. You can’t seriously throw me out of here in front of everyone. I’ll be humiliated. The employees will spread it all over town, and—”
“Get out while I can still control myself, Carlton.” Noel glowered at him until Carlton backed away.
They watched him leave with the other security guard close on his heels. Eddie shook her head in wonder. Noel let out a long, slow breath.
“Wish I had all this on videotape!” Eddie said.
Lyrissa rubbed Noel’s arms until he relaxed. “It’s over, baby,” she said softly.
“No, it’s just starting. Talk about a family scandal...”
“We’ll get through it. You and me, remember?” Lyrissa put her arms around his waist.
“Me and you,” he replied with a tender smile.
“Now I’m going to get out of your way and let you handle business.” Lyrissa kissed him on the cheek. Before she could move, he held her tight.
“Give me more of that, lady.” Noel kissed her hard for a moment. “Much better. The day won’t be quite so un-pleasant. I’ll see you later?”
Lyrissa smiled up at him. “You bet.”
Epilogue
A month later they walked arm in arm on the beach on the island of St. Lucia. Noel wore a relaxed expression for the first time in weeks. He was dressed in ocean blue swim trunks with a white racing strip down the sides, a white t- shirt, and sandals, and his buttery brown skin glistened in the sunshine. Lyrissa wore a lime green swimsuit covered by a matching big shirt. She swung a straw tote in her free hand. A trio of women hungrily stared at Noel’s body as though Lyrissa was invisible.
“Hi, ladies!” She waved at them gaily. The women giggled and hurried on. “You’re attracting a crowd, mister,” Lyrissa teased.
“I think they might be here for the beach, babe,” he said with a grin.
“They weren’t staring at the water. But I can’t blame them. You’re the catch of the day.” Lyrissa sighed.
“So are you, pretty lady.” Noel patted her fanny. “I haven’t noticed anything else but you. Did I mention that running away to a tropical island was a great idea?” “About a dozen times, but who’s counting?” She laughed. “And it was your idea. You told me so once when we were talking about your family.”
Noel winced. “Yeah. My family. Grandmother took it hard, you know.”
“Carlton got off easy, though. All he’s lost so far is his cushy job. You were generous to find him even a minor job in one of your other businesses,” Lyrissa said.
“He’s family. Why make his wife and kids suffer?” Noel kicked a bit of sand. “He can’t do much damage managing those duplex apartments.”
“What’s the latest on Julie?” Lyrissa squinted despite the sunglasses she wore.
“Those guys she hired got greedy and tried to sell one of the small sculptures. Her lawyer is working on a plea agreement.” Noel shook his head slowly. “She really went over the edge this time.”
“I feel sorry for Julie. I do,” Lyrissa protested when Noel looked at her skeptically. “She’s been a pampered princess all her life. Prison could scar her for life.”
“Julie is tough as nails. Don’t let that weepy act she’s been putting on for the television cameras fool you. She’ll get probation. Her lawyer is expensive for a reason.”
“I don’t know. She looked pretty pitiful, and—”
Noel kissed her and cut off her words. “It’s all about us for the next seven days,” he murmured.
Lyrissa smiled at him lovingly. “Agreed.”
They walked on for another few minutes. The bright blue sky stretched out above the water. Gentle waves rolled up. They took off their sandals and let the water wash over their feet as they strolled along.
“Mama Grace cried when I brought her the painting. Thanks, baby. I know what it cost you.” Lyrissa didn’t mean money. Some in his family might never forgive him. His grandmother agreed only after their lawyer explained she had little choice given the evidence.
“Besides being the right thing to do, I would give you the world if it made you happy.” Noel squeezed her hand.
“You know people are going to say I slept with you to get my hands on ‘Sunday Stroll on the Faubourg Tremé,’ ” she said after a while.
“Hmm, you know, I think you’re right.” Noel looked down at her through his dark sunglasses. An impish smile tugged his full mouth up. “That’s a valuable painting, too. You’ve got a huge debt with high interest, lady.”
Lyrissa pulled him around until they were face to face. She kissed him for a long, sweet time. “Yeah, but the terms are very reasonable.”
About the Author
Mix knowledge of voodoo, Louisiana politics and forensic social work with the dedication to write fiction while working each day as a clinical social worker, and you get a snapshot of author Lynn Emery. Lynn has been a contributing consultant to the magazine Today’s Black Woman
for three articles about contemporary relationships between black men and women. For more information visit:
www.lynnemery.com
Read the other three Louisiana Love Series: City Girls novels
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Tell Me Something Good
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Soulful Strut
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Good Woman Blues
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