by Zoe Dawson
“Dammit, Brax,” I muttered.
He gave me a censoring look and said, “Language…you’re in the house of God.”
Oh, for the love of God, I couldn’t believe my sister was ambushing me like this and roping me into the function. And that Braxton, of all people, had the gall to give me a hard time about swearing in church.
Although now Samantha’s comment about the raspberry cake being for me now made total sense. “This is going to be at Imogene’s. Right?”
Brax grinned and threw his arm around my neck. “You got it, brotard. Let’s go.”
Ten minutes later we arrived at Imogene’s, and Beth directed us to the patio, which had been closed to patrons. The rest of the place was packed, every table occupied, and eyes followed us through the restaurant.
Most of the citizens of Suttontowne had now forgiven and absolved the Outlaws, but some hadn’t quite gotten over the fact that the Suttons now carried the taint of our ancestor’s part in the stolen Confederate gold, and the fact that Duel Outlaw took the fall for the Colonel’s actions, and was condemned and hung. Was, in fact, condemned and reviled for generations, along with his descendants. There was still talk behind hands, and I was glad I lived on the bayou and didn’t have to suffer the “disappointed” townspeople for extended periods of time.
In addition to me, River and Brax, and their boys, there was Boone, Verity, Henry, Duel and the twins, plus Booker, Aubree, Aunt Evie and Uncle Win, and my parents. To my relief, I was seated next to Brax and River.
Jake, sat with his date, Anna Kate Montgomery. Anna Kate, a tall, willowy (and stuck-up) blonde, was not only a debutante, she was also leader of the Suttontowne Belles, a group of elite young ladies chosen to keep the history of Suttontowne strong and alive. River was once the head of that group, but when she left Suttontowne to travel the world and model, the scepter had been transferred to Anna Kate. She hadn’t spared me a glance either.
Anna Kate’s presence at our gathering must be quite a coup in my daddy’s ongoing attempt to ingratiate the Suttons back into the good graces of the upper crust of Suttontowne. Although it shocked me to see Anna Kate giving my brother the time of day after our fall, maybe she actually cared for him. Poor Jake.
Anna Kate might look like a well-bred and proper lady, but underneath she was a mean girl, had to always have her way, and went to great lengths to achieve her goals, no matter who she hurt. I couldn’t imagine Jake was actually in a serious relationship with her.
“Hello, everyone,” Samantha said, and I braced myself to conceal the effect her sultry voice had on me.
Anna Kate leaned over and whispered something in Jake’s ear, and I wondered what she was saying. My protective instincts went on alert. It had better not be anything about Samantha. It was true she was a Yankee, but almost everyone in Suttontowne had embraced her because of her care and attention to the renovation of Imogene’s.
Damn. Up until two years ago, when my Uncle Earl went off his rocker and tried to kill River, Brax, and me, I led a pretty contented life, a good life, building my business on that beautiful stretch of bayou, tying flies, taking out charters, renting boats, and fishing in simple, self-sustaining independence.
Then, when my ancestor’s journal revealed he, none other than Colonel Sutton, was the culprit behind the theft of Confederate gold and the murder of the gold’s escort, Earl only cared about protecting the Sutton name, even if that meant killing his kin. Which he nearly managed to do. After which all hell broke loose, and the Suttons’ stature in the town plummeted.
“Aw, look at these sweet babies,” Samantha said with a catch in her throat and underlying sorrow, her expression tender. Her mere presence was enough to turn me into a bumbling idiot, and the look on her sweet face did things to my breathing. I took a steadying breath, feeling like a fool for needing one, and my sister and Aunt Evie glanced at me with speculative looks in their eyes, ones I ignored.
Even knowing I was going to see her again, and preparing myself, she still made my heart catch—beautiful Samantha.
“Thank you for taking on this monumental task, Samantha,” River said. “We simply love Imogene’s. All of us.”
There were murmurs all around the table except for Anna Kate. She looked bored. She smiled as sweetly as a cottonmouth. “It certainly is a boon to your place of establishment to have us here,” she said.
Samantha was silent for a moment. “Yes, of course,” she finally replied, then addressed River. “Beth will take your orders. The menu is on your plates and, please, if you need anything, just let me know.”
River reached out, clasping Samantha’s arm and sending daggers at Anna Kate. “I’m sure everything will be perfect.”
Braxton leaned lazily back and gently ran his hand down his wife’s arm, and River simmered down, giving him a soft smile. He gave Anna Kate a sour look. “Of course it’s going to be perfect. I don’t let just anyone cook for me.”
Anna Kate pursed her lips and shrugged off Braxton’s deftly placed compliment, his celebrity giving him a leg up into Anna Kate’s world. Not that Brax would ever be caught up in it, but it served his purpose to use it to soothe his wife and Samantha.
Samantha passed by me, her gaze meeting mine, until she tripped on the leg of River’s chair and sprawled completely across my lap, where I caught and supported her so she wouldn’t tumble into the beautifully decorated table. It was a little crazy how hyperaware I was of her. Sometimes I swore I could feel her breathe.
“Oh, my. I’m so sorry,” she said as she looked up at me. Everything seemed to disappear, and time slowed down to encapsulate the secret moment stretching between us. I longed for her mouth as I looked down into her delicate face, riveted on her slightly parted lips.
I was dying.
I was suddenly hot and incredibly turned on. She was laminated to me so tightly I could feel every curve she had, every breath she took. Shallow breaths.
There was pressure to let her go, but also pressure to hold on to her, intense pressure in all the right places.
If we got any closer, we’d be kissing.
It was killing me.
Her hair was silky against my neck, and despite what was going on below my waist, she smelled delicious, a mixture of cream, caramel, wine sauce, and sugar, and I wanted a taste so bad.
Our eyes collided, and I saw the answer in her deep green eyes as she stared up at me, as lost as I was.
My daddy cleared his throat.
She snapped out of it and let out a little snort, gracefully sliding off my lap. “If you need anything else, Mr. Sutton, just let me know,” she said with a wink, playing the embarrassment off like she’d meant to do it. Everyone at the table chuckled except Anna Kate. I guess the Montgomerys didn’t lower themselves to have good, common fun. But the air was trapped in my chest, and I wanted to find a place to get Samantha alone. Right now.
My sister and aunt had those looks on their faces again, but neither one said anything when the conversation started up again. Brax leaned over and whispered, “Fuck, huckleberry. After witnessing that, I want to hustle my wife home and make another set of trips.”
“Shut up, Brax.”
He chuckled. “You’ve got it bad, my friend…but, moving on now to something that will sober you up.”
I wrestled my eyes away from Samantha’s retreating back and her fine ass, sighing. “What is it?”
“Don’t sound so suspicious and cynical. Damn, man, that’s my job.”
Beth and another waitress came with a tray of mimosas, which everyone accepted except for River, who got OJ. Beth started to take our orders, and I glanced down at the menu. Everything looked delicious, but I really wanted to get out of here. I pulled at my collar again.
River said, “Don’t even think about ordering light and then bailing.”
I was amazed at my self-control. I was frustrated and felt trapped, which I hated. But I didn’t want to upset my sister. If I did, Brax would probably kick my butt, and I did owe hi
m. I’d let him get away with playing that blackmail card, probably forever, since he saved my sister’s life and mine.
I ordered the bisque and the crabmeat cheesecake. Both sounded mouthwatering good.
With all the flurry of the drinks and the ordering, Brax had postponed what he was going to say, but before he could lean over and say something, my brother raised his glass. He looked right at me and said, “To family who care enough to stick around, and to new additions.”
River stiffened, and my mom and uncle gave Jake the evil eye. He was unaffected. I reached up, loosened my tie, and undid the first button on my shirt, which didn’t help the almost suffocating sense of walls closing in on me. I just wanted to escape. No one at this table understood a damn thing.
I went to open my mouth, but just then Samantha’s hand landed on my shoulder and she murmured, “May I take your jacket for you?”
As I swiveled to look at her, she smiled, and the need to escape took a back seat. “Thank you,” I said, and she clasped the back collar of the jacket as I shrugged out of it.
Brax rose and walked over to where Jake was sitting, whispering something into his ear that made his mouth tighten.
“No problem.” She folded it neatly over her arm. “How is everything?”
Nods and smiles all around, even from Jake and Anna Kate.
She squeezed my shoulder before she left. The rest of the meal evened out, and while our appetizers were being served, Brax said, “I have a business proposition for you.”
I took a spoonful of the bisque and closed my eyes to savor the flavors. It was heavenly. “What do you have in mind?”
“I’d like you to stock my sauces in your store. We could share the profit fifty-fifty. We could reach new customers and expand our market. What do you think?”
It was no doubt a good deal for me, but I had to wonder if the offer came with strings attached.
“I’d like to think about it.”
“It’s a good deal for you.”
I finished the soup, set down my spoon, and turned to look at him. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do.” I glanced at my sister affectionately. “But I need to give it some thought, and talk to you about it without all the pressure that is at this table. Nice try, though.”
“Fair enough,” he said. “Just so you know. I’m doing this for River and for you. It’s time to come home, Chase. Way long past due. Mend your fences, and make them see who you are and what you stand for, instead of avoiding the issue. River wants you to be a part of our lives, and that includes your family.”
I gave him a sad smile and whispered. “My dad is never going to change, so why bother to try to make him see who I am?”
I glanced at Jake, who was talking to Anna Kate. I hated to be at odds with him, but I’d been gone a long time, and I was sorry I left him holding the bag. “And Jake isn’t open to patching up our differences. I don’t know if he’ll ever be. I don’t see a warm homecoming in my future.”
“You never know,” Brax said. “Jake and I threw some words at each other, and some punches, there were blood and bruises and hurt egos, but we made nice. You can, too. He’ll come around, Chase. Deep down, he wants to. He wants a sign. It’s just going to take some time to get trust back. Give him a reason to hope you’ll be part of the family again.”
“Wow, my sister has had an influence on you.”
“I’d die for her. Hands down, no hesitation. Anger and resentment? Man, that gets old, and if you don’t find some middle ground and let go, it’s damn lonely. Every time your name comes up in conversation, your momma gets a bit teary-eyed. You should think about coming home, put this all behind you.”
His words hit me hard, and after all this time, my guilt, my loneliness, the loss of my family, and my fear that my family had moved on without me was a sickening revelation. If they could do it, why couldn’t I?
***
After brunch, there was a pool party, then after that the fish fry, but never were my thoughts far from Samantha. What Brax discussed with me at Imogene’s would end my isolation. Maybe it was time for me to offer an olive branch. I didn’t expect a favorable outcome, but this deal he was offering would connect me.
“Brax,” I said when I finally spotted him in the happy crowd. He extricated himself from the conversation he was having with Boone.
“What’s up?”
“I’ll take the deal. Draw up the papers.”
He reached out his hand and we bumped fists. “You know, it might be a good idea to hire some people to help you out. Ethan has been bartending for me, but I think he’d jump at the chance. I don’t make this suggestion lightly. He’s a damn fine bartender, and I don’t particularly want to lose him,” he grumbled. “But, what the hell? It’s for family.”
Ethan had tried to make a connection with me since he returned home, but I hadn’t been receptive. It seemed a lot of the people from my past had gotten the boot. I wasn’t sure he would want to reconnect after the way I ignored him. At least Brax doesn’t push it.
“Think about it,” Brax said before turning to greet another guest.
But I shied away from it. I will say getting to spend time with my uncle and aunt was nice. Aunt Evie sure could dance, and getting acquainted with my nephews made the discomforts worthwhile. But the icy silence from my brother and the tension between my daddy and momma hadn’t abated.
And I had no idea what to say to them.
Finally, I was able to escape, but I had actually lost track of time, and it was late, past midnight. I drove to Imogene’s, but it was closed and dark.
Feeling it was important to find out what had troubled her this morning—clearly something more than a broken plate—I headed for Samantha’s house.
There was no way I was going to go home before seeing her. I couldn’t stay away.
The drapes were drawn, but the outside light was on, so I parked and all but sprinted to her front door. I knocked, and was about to turn away after a few minutes when the door opened. “I didn’t think you were going to answer.” I swore silently, praying I wouldn’t embarrass myself, which would really ruin my night, when it suddenly dawned on me that the universe might be trying to tell me something. I’d been in closer proximity to Samantha, more often, in the past week than I had been since I met her.
“I almost didn’t,” she said, her husky voice doing something to me that I couldn’t control.
“I’ll go, but I don’t want to. Say the word.”
She stepped to the side. “No. Don’t go. Come in. I’m pretty freaked out, and kinda confused, and more than a little scared.”
I didn’t need any more encouragement. She closed the door behind me, and said, with a shrug, “I’m sorry I can’t offer you anything, not even a chair. I’m still putting things together.”
“It’s all right. You can sit on the mattress. I’ll sit on the floor. I don’t mind.”
She had a small table near her makeshift bed in the corner of the room, her laptop beside it on the floor, and on the table were two books and a small red bag.
“I’m afraid you’ll think I’m a nutcase and high-tail it out of here. I can’t lose you as a vendor,” she murmured, then swallowed. “Or as a…friend.”
The air in her home was cool and comfortable, a boon during the steamy night. She wrapped her arms around her and bowed her head. I reached out and tipped up her chin. “You can tell me anything. I won’t judge you.”
Her long, chestnut hair was in a lose ponytail that rested on her shoulder, gleaming in the light.
“Tell me,” I said, leading her over to the mattress. As she folded down and sat cross-legged, I dropped to the floor and leaned against the wall.
She explained to me how she’d noticed the missing piece of cake, seen the Black woman, and found the small red bag containing, among other things, the necklace her husband gave her when they married…and which she never took off. “It’s voodoo magic. A gris-gris bag.”
She dumped out the cont
ents and showed me where the heart was engraved on the silver star. “Do you think I’m bonkers?”
“No. Stranger things have happened, and there are some things that are unexplainable, but I would say that, if the Black woman was Imogene, she meant you no harm. In fact, it looks like she’s trying to protect you.”
“It’s not Imogene.” She reached for one of the books. Opening it, she took out a photo. “This is the woman I saw in my kitchen.”
I took the faded photo of a stunning Black woman dressed in a simple blue dress with an apron. Penciled at the bottom was: AnnClaire.
“Chase, I don’t know what she’s protecting me from.” Her distress made me move closer, and Samantha reached out and gripped the front of my shirt with both hands. She dragged me closer. “Why are you watching me?”
“I don’t know. I feel something is out of balance. I can’t explain it,” I murmured, her scent making me dizzy, the feel of her small hands on me distracting and arousing.
“I feel it, too.” Her brown eyes searched mine, and what she saw there seemed to be what she needed. Her face softened and she raised her hand and very gently touched my face, ran her fingertips over my cheekbone and down to my jaw, where she dragged her fingertips back and forth over the stubble. My resolve was crumbling under her light but sensual touch.
Her lips parted, and she expelled a small, heated puff of air. “You are so beautiful. The way you look at me makes my head spin.”
I inhaled when she ran her thumb over my bottom lip.
“Samantha,” I whispered, then covered her mouth with mine. Her lips were incredibly soft, her breath catching on a small, eager sound, her hand cupping my jaw so tenderly, then delving into the hair just above my ear, then her whole palm was against the side of my head, her fingers tightening in my hair.
When I heard her ragged sigh, a sigh of surrender and female satisfaction which I felt all the way down to my groin, I deepened the kiss with no hesitation. It felt so right as I slid my tongue inside wet heat, into sensual seduction of her mouth—into serious trouble. There was no retreat, only moving forward.