“You’re serious?”
“Of course I am.”
“The last time I saw her, she told me she wanted to put my head in a weed whacker.”
“That’s how she shows affection!”
“I think she was serious, Maddy.”
“Tempy’s never serious. Temperance!” Maddy bellowed it hard enough that Sol’s ear rang, and he reared away from the screeching cell phone. Freckles’s ears went back as well, and Sol scratched beneath the chin as if to say, “Solidarity, fur bro.”
“Yes, I’m talking to you. Put Cappy down,” Maddy continued yelling. “We’re going to New Orleans. I’m having them fire up the jet.” A pause. “Of course it’s for Sol.” Another pause. More bellowing. “Yes, you have to. Just think, you and Brutus will have the opportunity to piss off some Barringtons. Isn’t that the best? And really, dove, it’s not for him. It’s for me. I’ll love you oodles.” Sol couldn’t make out much of Tempest’s side of the conversation—yes, her name was Tempest even if Maddy insisted on calling her Temperance—until there was an irritable groan followed by a slamming door.
“She’d be delighted to!” Maddy cooed to him.
“Yes, that sounded like delight. Is she going to bring a machete to The Seaside? I’d like to get some Kevlar if that’s the case.”
“She’s just being fussy, but just get her in the room with Brutus and the Barringtons and it’ll be a party. She loves a challenge. We’ll be there in a few hours.”
“You’re coming now?”
“Why not? I’m bored and it sounds to me like you need help.”
“Oh. Well, thank you. I’ll have rooms ready for you two.”
“Goody. I’m eager to meet your sweet thing.”
Sol frowned, his momentary good cheer that Brutus would have help pushing back against Elise replaced by his old familiars: guilt and self-loathing.
“I’m . . . I hope everything’s fine with her. I still can’t believe I went that far.”
“Meh. Tell her your fears. Ask her how she feels about what happened. You need to trust her to tell you her mind-set just as much as she needs to trust you to keep her safe and happy, hmm? That’s how these arrangements work.”
“But what if she’s too overwhelmed. What if she—”
Maddy snorted. “You’re talking like you think you know her mind better than she does. Just like a man. Don’t be a dildo, darling.”
A dildo.
Right.
“You’re right. Of course you’re right. I’m worrying.”
“Worry is a useless emotion. Unavoidable, but useless. Talk to her. Take care of her. Appreciate her. Love her. You’ll be fine. Now then, I have to go throw some underwear into a bag and declare myself packed. See you soon, darling.”
“Thanks again, Maddy.”
“Mwah!”
Sol hung up the phone and peered at Rain asleep in his bed, his hand idly toying with fuzzy corgi feet.
Appreciate her, she said.
That I can do.
Love her?
I bet I could do that, too.
THIRTY
IT’S DARK OUTSIDE.
Aww, crapsicles.
Rain stretched and groaned, her muscles aching in all the best ways. Her “nap” had lasted hours. Was it still a nap at that length? Or was it fringing more on second sleep? Or hibernation? She flopped onto her back, wincing when her tender ass collided with the Egyptian cotton sheets.
Oh, that smarts.
It wasn’t unbearable by any stretch of the imagination, but some ibuprofen and a hot bath would probably feel divine. Also food. Her stomach gurgled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten all day. She rolled out of bed, sticky and sated and aching in places she couldn’t name as she searched for a robe. She’d just found one wadded in a ball on the corner chair—not ideal by any means, but maybe she’d call the front desk for a fresh one after she cleaned up—when she heard voices from the other room. One was Sol’s, certainly, but the other was not.
And the third was not. No, that was two women.
Sol has guests. And I’m loaded with lube and cum.
The realization was sobering, and she ducked into the bathroom to do a cursory cleanup. Three facecloths and a lot of awkward stretching with a leg propped on the counter later, she headed for the living room, wishing she’d remembered to brush her teeth and silently vowing not to breathe on or at anyone of significance.
“There’d have to be a declared state of emergency,” Stranger One said, “for them to enforce this. And frankly, they’d need to deliver this particular proposal to all other businesses along the river in the vicinity.”
Female Voice Two responded with, “Elise isn’t stupid enough to target him alone, dove. It’d be too obvious she was on a witch hunt. She wants Sol scared, and the way to get Sol scared is to go after The Seaside. If that means taking out a half block of businesses? So be it. She’s petty like that.”
“I’m not scared of that bitch,” Sol responded.
“You’re so cute when you’re ornery, darling.”
Mama’s gone after The Seaside?
Why didn’t he say so?
Wait. Darling?
Rain suddenly didn’t care that she looked like she’d been ridden hard and put away wet. She walked into the living room, her arms wrapped around her middle to hold the too-big robe closed. Two steps in, she stopped short. Sol was propped against Madeline Roussoux, his head pressed to her middle and the underside curve of her breasts. Maddy stroked Sol’s silvery head like he was a child she was lulling to sleep.
The woman was, as Rain remembered from their brief meeting years ago, sheer perfection. Black hair, white skin, a red sheath dress glued to surgically enhanced curves. Long legs on stiletto heels that doubled as stilts. Maddy was the kind of society darling Mama admired, much more acceptable to her than a specimen like Rain, her socially awkward, short, fat, sometimes-frumpy girl child.
They look beautiful together.
Much more natural than Sol and I do.
Don’t think like that.
“What do you mean Mama is coming after The Seaside?” Rain demanded.
Sol’s eyes opened wide. He jerked away from Maddy to sit up straight on the couch, his hands clasping together as if in prayer. “Kitten. I think you’ve met Maddy? This other lovely woman is Tempest, Maddy’s keeper, lawyer, and an all-around stellar human being.”
“Shut up, Sol. Call me Tempy,” the tall woman said, extending a manicured hand with short, efficient nails and a really spiffy gold watch. “You’re Arianna?”
“Yes. I am. Hello.” Rain managed the shake but her attention was fixed on Sol. “What is Mama doing? You haven’t told me any of this.”
“I didn’t want you to worry. Or . . . are you all right?”
He looked concerned. Tired, but concerned, and that was the only thing preventing her from getting angry that he kept turning the conversation away from her mother.
“I’m fine. What’s going on, please?”
It wasn’t a request. Sol looked surprised at her vehemence, glancing from her to Maddy and then down to the floor. Her annoyance ticked up a notch.
I’m not as fragile as you think.
And stop looking over at her when you’re addressing me.
“Stop being a prick, dove. Tell her.” Maddy reached for her purse and pulled out a long black tube with gold whorls painted on it. She crossed the room and opened one of the terrace doors, angling her body outside before puffing on the stick thingie, swirls of smoke spiraling up from the lacquered end.
E-cigarette. Right.
“Your mother’s put a bug in the ear of the locals about the levee committee and city safety protocol in the event of another disaster. They’re reopening the motion to claim this block for government purposes.”
“And why didn’t you tell me?” Rain demanded.
Sol swept his hand over his hair. “I didn’t want to worry you. I didn’t want you blaming yourself.”
“Well, that’s stupid. I deserved to know.”
Maddy snorted by the door. Tempy found something interesting to examine on her phone, the corners of her lips tilted up with reluctant amusement.
If Sol sank any farther into the couch, he’d be assimilated. “I’m sorry. I thought we could be tidy about this. Clean it up without having . . . I didn’t want you running off on me because of this.” He lifted his gaze to her, flashing her one of his pretty smiles, even if it was tinged with exhaustion. “I want to keep you, kitten.”
That deflated her sails. It wasn’t an unfounded fear on his part. She’d considered going home. Was considering going home. She wouldn’t cost Sol his livelihood, and even if they managed to find their way around the levee committee, she didn’t want them to have to live dreading Mama’s next terrible maneuver. It was too much pressure on a new relationship.
Yet when he looks at me like that, it gets hard to breathe.
He’s worth fighting for.
“I . . .” She paused and licked her lips, her eyes sweeping between the strange women in the room. They were his friends, not hers, and it made opening up her guts and revealing the meaty insides difficult.
Maddy was first to clue in.
“Tempy, why don’t we give these two some privacy? I need to stop by the store. I may have not packed anything other than a toothbrush again.” Maddy turned off her cigarette and snagged her purse from the couch, swooping down to plant a kiss to the top of Sol’s head.
Too familiar?
Cylan said they were just friends.
“Gee, that sounds fun,” Tempy returned flatly.
“It’s not my fault you have a fifty-inch inseam.” Maddy air-kissed in Tempy’s direction. Tempy flipped her off. Unperturbed, Maddy winked at Rain. “Nice meeting you again, darling, though if I’m honest I don’t remember our first introduction. I blame the drugs. My head gets so swimmy.”
At least she’s honest.
“Oh. That’s . . . Nice to see you again, Madeline.”
“Maddy, please. I love that Sol calls you kitten. You’re not only adorable, you have fangs and claws, too. You’ll need them with this one. He gets out of line so fast.” Maddy sauntered toward the door. Rain couldn’t help but envy how well she walked in her heels. If Rain had tried similar shoes, she’d end up in traction and the end table would be broken into splinters after she fell on it.
Tempy nodded in their direction and followed in Maddy’s spiky footsteps. The door clattered shut behind them.
“I’m sorry,” Sol began once they were alone. “I really was trying to spare you.”
“I understand, but this isn’t going to work if you give me watered-down truths. I’m an adult, Sol. I can and should be involved in things concerning my mother.”
“I’m an idiot. Please, come here?” For a moment she considered denying him because maybe then he would think about what he’d done, but that was something her mother would do. Had done, in fact—withheld affection from her own daughter despite an apology. Rain chose instead to close the distance between them and promptly found herself wrapped in his arms, her face pressed to a neck that smelled like cinnamon and musk and all things wonderful.
“Forgive me?”
“Oh, Sol. I do forgive you. I do.”
“Thank you. And if I was too rough earlier, I am so sorry for that as well. I never want you to regret anything we do together.”
“What?” She pulled back to peer at him, incredulous that he’d come to that conclusion. It’d been amazing. He was amazing. He pushed her to heights she’d never known, and he was worried that she didn’t like it when she was begging for more? “No! I loved it. If I had a problem, I’d tell you. I promise you that.”
He dropped his head to her chest, his chin resting atop her breasts. “I don’t deserve you. You’re a goddess,” he said, muffled in her bosom. “How’s your ass?”
“Sore but bearable. And I’m hardly a goddess. I’m worried about my mother, I’m terrified of Maddy, and I’m so hungry you’re starting to look like a pork chop.”
“Oh sweetheart.” Sol chuckled quietly, burrowing between her boobs like he wanted to climb into her rib cage. “I don’t know what’s going to happen with your mother, but I can at least put the Maddy fear to rest. I don’t love her. Well, I do. She’s a dear friend, but I don’t love her that way.”
I needed to hear that.
She smiled into his hair and wrapped her arms around him.
“Let’s order food,” she murmured. “Before we have a Donner Party incident.”
Sol nuzzled at her neck. “Downer party? Is that where everyone shows up depressed and we watch Love Story on repeat?”
“No, no. Donner Party. Settlers stranded in the mountains and they ate each oth— Never mind. Let’s get some dinner.”
“Anything you want, kitten. Anything.”
Rain managed to coax some food into Sol before he crawled into bed at ten. It was early for him, too early, he had protested, but she’d insisted because he looked exhausted. She’d kissed him, spooned him until he fell asleep, and then showered quietly, all the while hoping Freckles’s incessant chewing of fuzzy hedgehog didn’t wake him. Sol never stirred, not as she dressed in the bathroom, cleaned up the whole apartment, and put Freckles’s food into a carry-on bag. She gazed at Sol sleeping in bed a long while before sketching a note and leaving it on the coffee table.
Trust me.
He was going to fret either way, and the longer the explanation, the more questions it would spawn. She was almost in tears when she snagged Freckles and hedgehog and departed the suite. She didn’t want to go, but she had to.
For herself. For Sol. For a future she’d really like to have.
Five minutes later, she was pounding on her brother’s hotel room door. He let her in, his torso bare, a white towel thrown over his shoulder and covering half his back tattoos. His hair was wet and slicked back, exposing his widow’s peak and the fine lines of his face. His jaw was covered in shaving cream.
“I’m flying home,” Rain announced, flopping onto his bed. It was made, which meant he hadn’t yet sullied it with the local fauna’s secretions.
He shut the door. “What?”
“I’m going to talk to Mama.”
“You should let Richard handle it.”
“No, I shouldn’t. It’s my problem and I’m going to do something about it.”
“Have you told Sol you’re leaving? He won’t like it.”
“No, for exactly that reason. He’d try to talk me out of it.” Rain sucked in a breath, lifting Freckles to her mouth so she could press a kiss to his head. “It’s going to go one of two ways. Either Mama will listen to me and back down, or I’ll stay in Connecticut because she’ll find a way to ruin him otherwise. I like him too much to let that happen.”
She hadn’t come to the decision lightly, but she also knew that Sol versus the Barrington institution was a no-win for him. Even if he prevailed this round, Mama could rain despair on his head indefinitely, until he had no choice but to relent.
“Richard has a better chance of—”
“No, he doesn’t.”
Vaughan quirked a brow and returned to the bathroom to shave. “You’re sure? You’re happy with him.”
“You make it sound like I’m going to fail. I won’t fail,” Rain insisted.
She must have sounded far more confident than she felt. Vaughan nodded and finished shaving, washing his face and patting it with lotion. “All right. I’ll call Brutus and let him know I’ll be back in time for my arraignment.”
“You don’t have to come along.”
“Yes, I do. I don’t trust Ma.”
He darted through the room, sniffing shirts to see which ones were less gross than the others. Rain was about to point out that The Seaside had laundry service, but a soft knock on the door cut her off. Vaughan did a double sniff of his orange T-shirt before deeming it less stinky than the rest and pulling it on. He opened the door only to reveal Cylan standing there in a gray pajama set with Rain’s note in his hand.
“I went to get my files from his office to catch up on some late work. I saw this. I know it’s none of my business, but if this means what I think it means, I was hoping to catch you,” he blurted.
“Come on in.” Vaughan stepped aside so Cylan could enter. Freckles immediately squirmed away from Rain to bound toward his new friend, who wasted little time picking him up and patting him. The corgi covered Cylan’s hand with licks, closing his eyes in canine rapture.
“Traitor dog,” Rain murmured.
Cylan quirked a smile.
“I’d like to talk to you, Rain. In private, preferably? I don’t mean to be rude.”
“No, it’s cool. I need to make a couple of calls anyway.” Vaughan slapped his jeans pocket for his phone, and not finding it, whirled until he spotted it on the bureau beside the door. He turned to Rain on his way out. “I’ll be back. Do we need flights?”
“Yes. If we get stuck, I’m sure Spencer would help us again,” Rain said.
“He would, but it’s probably not necessary. Be back.”
The door closed behind Vaughan. Cylan sat on the bed beside Rain, his thumb running over the note, the dog affixed to his hip like they were conjoined. “You’re planning to come back?”
“I want to. I really want to, but if she’s going to ruin him, it’s better if I don’t.”
“I don’t know about that.” Cylan eyed the note thoughtfully. “My mother loves old movies. Loved. She adored the old musicals. We didn’t have a lot of money, but one of her few splurges was that once a week, after payday, she’d hit the bargain bin at the video store and buy a used VHS tape. This was when DVDs were getting big and VHSs weren’t as wanted anymore. My brother and I would sit with her in front of the TV and watch Fred Astaire and Frank Sinatra. She knew all the songs.”
The King of Bourbon Street Page 23