“Cher, you’re going to be living here now. You have all the time you need. One thing you need to learn about New Orleans and the South is there’s no need to rush. Just enjoy.”
He’s right, she thought. No need to cram everything into one weekend. She had the rest of her life to explore all the history and mystery of New Orleans.
Jared toweled his hair dry after showering. He pulled on a t-shirt and jogging pants and stepped out onto the balcony. It was later in the morning, and several hotel guests had come down to grab something from the hotel’s breakfast bar and enjoy their food by the pool.
He looked over at the empty balcony next to his room. Chloe must be otherwise occupied. He couldn’t imagine her missing this beautiful morning. He was glad he had reserved a VIP suite and that the fates had put him next to her.
Suddenly, a cool breeze floated around him, raising the hair on his forearms, and he shivered. It seemed unseasonably cool for this tropical climate. But maybe he was wrong. He heard the coffee pot finish with and went back into the room to make himself a cup. Resting beside the cup was a brochure for a steamboat tour.
He looked at it quizzically; he didn’t remember that being there before. He picked up the brochure for The Creole Belle and looked through it. It seemed like the perfect way to spend an afternoon with Chloe. A little boat ride then lunch in the French Quarter. He would text her later and see if she was interested. He thought again of that kiss. How he had wanted to do that years ago, every time she had left him after a tutoring session, only to have her leave to return to Chandler.
Jared had never liked Chandler. Not because of his relationship with Chloe or jealousy. But because of the way he treated people. Like they were beneath him. Especially Jared, who had never been popular in high school, preferring his books over football. He could count on one hand the number of times he had attended a football game, even though the whole town seemed to revolve around the sport. It was all anyone talked about during the season.
He grabbed his coffee mug and the brochure and headed back out onto the balcony. It was time to shake off the past and think of the present. And Chloe.
Chloe followed Alcide back into the lobby after giving her the grand tour of the hotel, from everything to the rooftop pool only for VIPs to the laundry on the bottom floor. She had met the different managers and several employees, and now everything was a jumbled mess in her brain.
“That’s it for my portion of the tour,” Alcide said. “Feel free to ask me any questions as they arise—I know this was a lot to take in at one time. Ivy is also a good resource for information and I’m sure she’d be glad to assist you.”
“I’ll do that,” Chloe said. Her phone chimed, alerting her to a text message.
“I’m sure you’ll want to get that,” Alcide said. “If you will excuse me.”
He nodded to her and turned and walked in the direction of his office behind the front desk. Chloe reached for her phone and accessed the message. It was from Jared. She smiled as she swiped to read it.
Jared: Good Morning
She smiled as she typed in her response.
Chloe: Morning
Jared: Still on for lunch?
Chloe: Yes! What time?
Jared: 11 sound good?
Chloe checked the time on her phone. She had a little over an hour until then. Plenty of time to get a quick shower and be ready.
Chloe: Sounds good to me.
Jared: See you then.
Chloe shoved the phone into her back pocket. She smiled all the way to the elevator.
Jared walked into the lobby at exactly 10:55. Not too early, and definitely not late. He waited by the quiet and closed bar, watching the elevators and trying not to look too eager. He also resisted the urge to shuffle his weight back and forth nervously. He wanted to look calm, cool, and collected, even if inside he was nothing of the sort.
He didn’t wait long, and soon, Chloe was breezing through the lobby. She smiled when she spotted him, making his heart skip a beat. He swallowed nervously as she approached. When she reached him, he bent down and placed a kiss on her cheek, marveling in the softness of her skin.
“Is there any place in particular you would like to go for lunch?”
“No. Just someplace in the Quarter where I can watch people and see things.”
“I thought we might take the steamboat cruise before we eat. Is that something you would like to do?”
His heart did that weird flutter thing when her face lit up. “Definitely! We could hear the calliope when Alcide and I went for beignets this morning.”
“Well, it sounds like a plan, then. Ready to head out? The first tour is at 11:30.”
The steamboat was a short walk from the hotel, and soon they had their tickets and were boarding the boat. Chloe jumped when the loud calliope sounded out, signaling they would be leaving the dock soon.
“Would you like a drink?” Jared asked.
“Yes, that would be great.”
They went into the small restaurant and bar area and Jared placed their order. Chloe looked around and admired the view—everything from the jazz band that was just about to start up, to the decor that probably hadn’t changed since the early 1900s.
Not wanting to miss anything, Chloe and Jared walked back outside. The October wind was brisk, turning her cheeks pink.
The ship left its dock, and the captain began the tour information. Chloe took pictures as they passed Jackson Square and the St. Louis Cathedral.
“I’ve never seen boats this big,” she exclaimed as they coasted by cargo boats that carried products from all over the world. Chloe and Jared walked around the deck. At the back of the ship, they watched as the big red wheel churned up the brown water of the Mississippi River.
All the while, the faint sounds of the jazz band drifted on the wind. The unmistakable sound of the trumpet playing made Chloe think of the 1920s. She could almost see the flappers dancing the beat of the music.
“This is incredible,” she said, looking up at Jared.
“Yes, it is,” he said, his voice low, almost too quiet to hear over the sounds of the boat, the band, and the wind.
Their eyes met, and all the festivities around them disappeared. As if enchanted, Chloe could only watch as he lowered his mouth to hers. As their lips touched, the air around them sizzled. Although it was a soft, sweet kiss, it held the promise of something more.
He drew away, but reached up and touched his palm to her face. His hand was warm on her cool cheeks.
“You’re cold?”
“It’s not too bad. It’s the wind.”
“Do you want to go in?” He nodded his head toward the restaurant.
“No!” she gasped. “There’s too much to see out here.” She looked away from him for a moment, out at the view. “I feel like I’ve been waiting my whole life for this.”
He smiled then. “I know how you feel.”
Looking into his eyes, Chloe knew he wasn’t referring to New Orleans.
The steamboat pulled back into the dock, the song Take Me Out to The Ballgame playing from the boat’s antique calliope. The captain/tour guide had talked about the instrument, but Jared had other things on his mind.
He couldn’t believe he’d kissed her right there on the back of the boat, and he was even more astounded that she’d let him. He was also encouraged by the way she drew close to him afterward, pulling him close.
“You hungry?” he asked as they exited the boat.
“Very, my beignets wore off about half an hour ago.”
The boat ride was two hours long, even though it had felt like it lasted all of thirty minutes. Time just simply disappeared in New Orleans.
“Where do you want to go?”
She thought for a moment, chewing on that bottom lip, making Jared want to kiss her again. He looked away to keep from succumbing to temptation, he didn’t want to come on too strong and scare her away.
“I’d love to go to that Spirits place on Bourbo
n. The one with the flashing skull drink!”
“Alrighty, then, let’s head that way.”
With the French Quarter being the popular hot spot that it was for tourists, it was almost impossible for them to walk side by side. Jared often walked behind Chloe, making sure she didn’t get lost in the crowd or targeted by some pick pocket. He couldn’t help admiring the view every now and then either. The way that perfectly shaped derriere was outlined in denim.
They turned on Bourbon, and Jared was once again taken in by the revelry that took place on the street at all hours of the day. He’d had friends who’d gone into the bars at night and come out to see the sun rising.
They walked slowly, stopping every now and then to hear a street musician play, or watch some young people perform percussion on upturned empty buckets. They pulled dollar bills out of their pockets and placed them in instrument cases and, in some instances, cardboard boxes.
Music from the bars lining the street would tempt them with all kinds of tunes—jazz, ’80s, and dance music. Chloe stopped at almost every one of them, lingering in the doorway for a moment. Her sense of wonder with everything New Orleans was refreshing and endearing.
Finally, they reached Spirits, and took seats at the bar. Chloe immediately ordered the Resurrection, a neon blue drink served in a flashing skull mug and topped with a fresh jalapeno slice.
Jared ordered a beer and soon they were looking over the menu.
“I’ve never had crawfish,” she said. “Let’s get the crawfish fries.”
They talked over a few other items on the menu and soon had their orders placed. They turned around on their barstools and listened to the dueling pianists play. At the moment, they were playing a spirited rendition of The Devil Went Down to Georgia while the audience clapped and sang along. Three ladies wearing mesh tutus and feathers in their hair danced to the music while a man wearing a tourist trap t-shirt and Mardi Gras beads filmed them on his camera. So much for what happens in New Orleans, stays in New Orleans.
“Oh my God,” Chloe said. “Nothing like this would ever happen in Plano.”
Jared laughed. “You got that right.”
The bartender slid their order in front of them and they turned to eat.
“These are so good!” Chloe said after popping one into her mouth. Jared had to agree. The cheesy crawfish topping was just creamy and spicy enough, and covering the crispy french fries was perfection.
The rest of the meal came, and busy eating, they didn’t talk much, only to comment on the food or offer a taste from their plates.
When they were finished, Jared paid the bill, and they continued to meander down the crowded street, occasionally stopping when something interesting caught Chloe’s eye. They went down one side and up the other, when Jared caught Chloe covering a yawn.
He smiled. “You want to head back to the room?” Her face flushed and he stammered, “I mean hotel.”
She smiled then. “Actually, I think I would. A little nap would be awesome to recharge. I have lots more to explore.”
Hopefully, with me, Jared thought, but didn’t say.
They were close to the hotel, so soon, they were in front of their rooms. “Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?”
“I would like that. And this time, you get to pick the place.”
“Awesome. Meet in the bar around seven?”
“Perfect.”
“See you then,” he said, leaning down to give her a kiss, already looking forward to the kiss he was planning on after dinner.
Nervous and ready early for her date, Chloe headed down to the bar around six thirty. She smiled when she saw Ivy sitting in the bar, dressed in full vampire attire. She looked like Jessica Rabbit in an Anne Rice inspired cartoon.
“Hi!” she said as she sat down. “You look awesome!”
“Thank you. I’m going with Alcide and Josey to see Epiphany tonight for a special show.”
“Ms. Josey? She’s feeling better, then?”
Ivy took a sip of her wine before answering. “It would appear so. However, I don’t think she’d miss this particular show even if it killed her.”
“She’s a fan of the band?” Chloe asked.
Ivy laughed. “Oh, no. She’s not a fan of that kind of music. The lead singer, on the other hand…”
“Oh, I gotcha.”
“I’m not sure of that,” Ivy said. “But you? What about that handsome gentleman you were with last night?”
Chloe smiled, but then looked away.
“What is it?” Ivy asked.
“I left my husband.”
Ivy shrugged. “And?”
“I’m still married. For now.” Absently, she touched the spot where her ring used to be. The ring she had left with Chandler only the day before. “I already contacted an attorney, but the fact remains, I’m still married.”
“How long has it been since you’ve been happy?”
Chloe looked down at her drink and the sweat that dripped down onto the white napkin with the hotel’s red logo on it. She ran her fingers along the top of the glass, wondering how much she should tell this stranger. But she had started this conversation. And Ivy seemed like a good person.
“I can’t remember the last time I was happy.”
“Well, sugar, don’t you think it’s time? Is the man asking you to spend the rest of your life with him?”
“No.”
“Is he asking you to get married?”
“No.”
“What is he asking?”
“To have dinner.”
“And?”
“And?”
“Well, that’s it.”
Ivy laughed then. “Then go have dinner with that good-lookin’ man. This is New Orleans, cher, you have to let those good times roll.”
“You’re right.” She had been miserable for so long. She felt like a completely different person here. Carefree, adventurous, happy.
“Hello,” Jared said as he took a seat beside her. “You look nice.”
“You do too,” she said. He was wearing a simple white button-down shirt and dark jeans. Casual, but on him, it looked simply sexy.
“So where did you decide for dinner?” she asked.
“You’ll see. I think you’ll like it, though.”
“Chloe.” The familiar voice from the doorway made her freeze. It was Chandler.
She watched as he walked through the bar, resisting the urge to look down, as she would have only yesterday.
“Yes, Chandler?” she asked as he came close to her. She wanted to lean back, to get away from him, but didn’t. Jared was silent behind her, but somehow, she could feel him tense. In fact, it felt like the whole atmosphere in the bar had changed.
“Did you really think you could just leave like that? I had to cancel a whole day’s appointments just to follow you here, including a fundraising meeting for my campaign.”
“I don’t know what to tell you, I already said all I need to say,” Chloe said.
Chandler was so close to her now, it took everything she had not to step back. She couldn’t, though, she wouldn’t give him that power.
“You’re coming home with me. I don’t know what this little stunt is, but it’s over.” He reached out and grabbed her arm and pulled her toward him.
The bar went silent. Except for the mug vibrating on the corner of the bar.
The skeleton key necklace she wore grew warm on her skin.
A cold wind blew through the bar and Alcide stepped through the doorway. He was dressed to go out with Josey and Ivy, in full 1920s gangster attire, looking dangerous.
“Is there a problem here?” he asked.
“I’m just here to take my wife home,” Chandler said, still holding her arm.
“Chloe, do you want to go?” Alcide’s black eyes turned to her.
“No.”
“There’s your answer,” Alcide said. He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a clove cigarette from the case and lit it.
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“I don’t think you know who I am,” Chandler said.
Ivy’s laugh rang out through the bar.
Alcide blew out a stream of smoke before replying, “I daresay that you don’t know who I am.”
Another cold breeze blew through the bar, ruffling Chandler’s perfectly styled hair around his face. He paled under his fake tan.
He looked at Jared then. “Go ahead and have her. I know who you are. You are just the nerd who tutored her. She wouldn’t have graduated if it wasn’t for you. Stupid cow. You wanted her then. She’s yours now.”
Another cold breeze blew, and Ivy was suddenly standing in front of Chandler. “It’s time for you to go.”
“Oh really? And you’re going to make me?”
“Please?” Ivy begged Alcide.
“Not now, mais cher.”
She nodded, then reached out to Chandler, running a fingernail across his cheek. He flinched as she drew blood, then brought her finger up to her lips. She ran her tongue across her finger, smiling, her eyes never leaving Chandler’s.
“Until I see you again,” she said with a wink.
“It’s time for you to go,” Alcide said to Chandler. “You can go on your own, or be helped.” Alcide shrugged his massive shoulders and half grinned, as if begging him to give him a reason.
Chandler looked around the bar, at Chloe, Ivy, then Alcide. He pulled down on his tie and tidied his suit, then walked out of the bar.
Chloe watched him leave. Wide-eyed, she looked at Ivy, Alcide, then Jared, the pity in his eyes broke her.
“I’ve got to go,” she said, pushing her drink across the bar and fleeing for the safety of her room.
Chloe resisted the urge to throw herself across her bed and cry like Scarlett O’Hara. Instead, she went to the mini-bar and grabbed a miniature bottle of vodka. She unscrewed the top and took a swig.
She doubled over as the warm liquid burned through her entire body. She coughed a few times, then threw the bottle in the trash.
She grabbed the small bottle of wine next. She uncapped it and took a sip. Much better.
A Kiss To Build a Dream On (That Voodoo That You Do Book 3) Page 4