Chapter 5
CHAPTER 5
Ouida Mae stewed over the injustice of one squeaky wheel calling the shots for the entire school. As the wife of a local politician, she had other moms who followed her lead like groupies for a rock band, clinging to her shirttails for scraps of attention and limelight.
Refusing to let Katherine Edouard know she’d gotten under her skin, Ouida Mae gathered her belongings and left the building.
As soon as she stepped outside, Katherine and her cronies pointed and yelled, “There she is!”
The pretty blonde reporter hurried toward her. “Miss Maudet, may I have a word with you?”
Valentin inserted himself between the reporter and Ouida Mae. “Do you want to talk to her?” he asked Ouida Mae.
Ouida Mae shook her head.
Valentin and his larger-than-life body remained planted between the reporter and Ouida Mae. “No comment,” he said to the blonde.
“But Miss Maudet,” the reporter tried to get around Valentin to no avail, “we like to present both sides of an argument.”
“No, she doesn’t,” Ouida Mae whispered loud enough for only Valentin to hear. He steered her toward his truck.
“My car is on the other side of the parking lot,” she muttered.
“Do you trust me?” he asked.
She glanced up at him and nodded. She barely knew him, yet she trusted him. She’d never trusted a man on one meeting alone. What was it about him?
“Let’s get you out of here first,” he said. “Once the news team has gone, we’ll circle back and get your car.”
Glad to let him run interference, Ouida Mae let him lead the way and help her up into the passenger seat of his pickup.
The blonde and her cameraman followed all the way, badgering Ouida Mae for a statement.
Once inside Valentin’s truck with the door closed, she took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
Valentin slid behind the driver’s wheel and practically closed the door on the reporter’s microphone. He shifted into reverse and backed out of the parking space. “I would’ve thought you’d want to give your side of the story.”
Ouida Mae snorted. “I’ve seen some of her so-called unbiased reports. She doesn’t present both sides. She only presents the most sensational side and blows it out of proportion. Since Katherine is married to a state representative, she’ll side with Katherine and her cult followers.”
She stared straight forward, avoiding eye contact with the Edouard woman. Once they passed the picket line, she released the breath she’d been holding and slumped back against the seat. “Where to?”
“How about we swing by Sweet Temptations for ice cream.” He grinned. “My treat.”
“If you think you can’t be angry eating ice cream...” her lips twitched, “you’re one hundred percent correct. Only I should buy it since you’re going out of your way to help me.”
“Call it professional courtesy as one teacher to another,” he said. “You’d do the same for anyone else in the same situation—but you can buy my ice cream as long as you let me take you to dinner tomorrow night.”
Her heart fluttered at the thought of having an intimate dinner with this broad-shouldered, former military sexy hunk. The flutter built swiftly into near panic. She hadn’t been on a date since... She thought back. Hell, she couldn’t remember.
“I can’t go out with you tomorrow night,” she said, grasping for a plausible excuse. “It’s a school night.”
“Sunday?” he asked, a single brow cocked in her direction.
“With Monday being a school day, the night before is considered a school night. I have to work on an alternative lesson plan for Monday since my scheduled plan has been placed on hold.”
His brow furrowed. “Okay, we won’t go out.”
A stab of disappointment hit Ouida Mae square in the chest at his easy acceptance of her lame excuse. She didn’t have to work hard to alter her scheduled lessons. He could have fought a little harder. Unless he really didn’t care whether or not she went to dinner with him. “It’s just as well. I’m sure you need time to build your lesson plans, anyway.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Do PE teachers have lesson plans?”
“Miss Sutton always had a plan for her students in her PE and her Gifted and Talented classes. I’m sure you can use whatever she had until you design your own.”
“That settles it. I’ll be at your house tomorrow evening with pizza,” he announced as he pulled into a parking space in front of Sweet Temptations, Bayou Mambaloa’s only ice cream parlor and candy-making shop. “I need one-on-one guidance so I don’t fall flat on my face Monday morning.”
“Are you afraid some of the students will eat you alive?” she said with a playful smile.
“Hell, yes.” He shifted into park. “I have no experience with teens. Exercise, yes. Kids, no.”
“You’ll be fine,” she said, unbuckling her seatbelt. “You just have to keep them busy. They need structure to keep them in line.”
He nodded, his brow creased. “Keep them too busy to plot against me. Got it.” He dropped down out of the truck, rounded the hood and arrived at her door as she pushed it open.
Valentin held out his hand.
Ouida Mae placed hers in his and let him help her to the ground. If she leaned forward just a little she could end up in his arms. It took every bit of her control to keep from “accidentally” bumping into him.
He kept her elbow and guided her through the door of Sweet Temptations.
“Ouida Mae,” Camille Catoire called out. “What brings you here in the middle of the afternoon on poker night? Do you need some candies for the table or a quart of ice cream?”
Ouida Mae shook her head. “No, we’re just here to eat some ice cream. I’ll do my grocery shopping after I leave here. If you have anything you want me to get for you tonight, let me know.”
“I don’t need a thing,” Camille said. “I’m bringing beer, Shelby’s bringing pretzels and potato chips and Amelie is bringing her fabulous spinach dip. I don’t remember what Felina and Gisele are bringing.”
“Do I even need to stop at the general store?” Ouida Mae asked with a laugh.
Camille’s eyes narrowed and then widened. “Wine. Felina is bringing the wine. I think Gisele is bringing her grandmother’s famous cheese ball.”
Ouida Mae grimaced. “Is she spiking it with magic?”
“Knowing Gisele, she’ll add something questionable.” Camille grinned. “Remember the time she infused the cheese ball with a spell that reduced our inhibitions?”
Ouida Mae’s cheeks heated. “I’m still trying to live that one down.”
Camille chuckled. “I’ll never forget seeing you run down Main Street wearing nothing but one of Gisele’s see-through caftans and singing at the top of your lungs “I’m so pretty.”
The whole time Camille was recounting the story, Ouida Mae was slicing her hand across her throat. But Camille was not to be dissuaded from sharing the story in front of the man Ouida Mae had just met.
A wicked smile curled his lips. “Is there a naughty side to the junior high science teacher?”
“Absolutely,” Camille said. “Freed from her inhibitions, she’s a wild child.” Camille turned her attention to Valentin and held out her hand. “Camille Catoire at your service. Do I know you? I’ve seen you around town.”
“Valentin Vachon.” Valentin took her hand in his. “I blew into town with Remy Montage’s crew of Brotherhood Protectors. However, I will be filling in as the PE teacher at the junior high until Miss Sutton returns.”
Camille’s brow furrowed. “You are a brave man. Some of the stories Ouida Mae tells make my toes curl. I don’t think I could do it. Teenagers are scary beasts. I get them in here all the time.” Her grin returned. “No, really, some of them are great. And some of them are just mischievous, working the orneriness out of their systems—like some of us when we were their ages.”
“Their bodies are going through so many changes. They’re just trying to figure out what to do with all that energy and change,” Ouida Mae said. “I like working with young teens. They’re bright, intelligent and soaking in everything around them.”
Camille sighed. “That’s our Ouida Mae. Ever the optimist.” She clapped her hands together and lifted an ice cream scoop. “Okay, my sweets, what tempts your tastebuds today?”
Ouida Mae shook her head. “I might be the optimist, but you’re the sweetest and so creative when it comes to candies and ice cream. You know my favorites. I’ll take my usual two scoops.”
“One scoop of Rocky Road and one scoop of Very, Berry Strawberry coming right up.” Camille dipped the scoop into the Rocky Road first and rolled it around, making the ice cream ball bigger before fitting it into a waffle cone. Then she repeated the process in the strawberry adding that scoop to the top of the Rocky Road. She handed the sweet treat to Ouida Mae. “Just the way you like it.”
“Perfect.” Ouida Mae licked some of the chocolate that dripped onto her hand
“And for you?” Camille dipped her scoop into the water and waited for Valentin’s selection.
“Actually, as good as the chocolate and strawberry look, I’m a pralines and cream fan. Two scoops, please.”
“A man who knows what he likes and isn’t afraid to ask,” Camille said with a wink. Seconds later, she handed him a waffle cone with two scoops of pralines and cream.
Ouida Mae fumbled in her purse for her wallet.
Camille held up a hand. “On the house.”
“You can’t make a living giving away your ice cream,” Ouida Mae said.
“I heard what happened at the junior high yesterday afternoon. I would’ve closed the shop and come to help clean up, but I had several orders of pralines and chocolate I had to produce for my distributor in New Orleans. I’m sorry I wasn’t there to help.” Camille came out from behind the counter and hugged Ouida Mae.
“He didn’t attack me,” Ouida Mae assured her.
“But he attacked poor Mr. Jones, and he could’ve attacked you had you been in your room at the time.”
“I’m really sad about Mr. Jones. It makes me so angry that somebody would hurt such a gentle soul,” Ouida Mae said. “I hope the sheriff finds the bastard soon.”
“Me, too,” Camille hugged her once more and then stepped away. “I worry about you living out there on the edge of the Bayou all by yourself. What if he gets more personal and targets your home? I’d hate for anything to happen to our poker night optimist.”
Ouida Mae frowned. “Do you think he’ll attack my house? Maybe we should call off the poker game tonight. I don’t want any of my friends hurt.”
“Anyone who would attack your house filled with six strong, independent women would have to be out of his mind. Besides, we can keep an eye on you with us there.” Camille crossed her arms over her chest. “We can’t cancel poker night. It’s tradition.”
Ouida Mae loved Camille’s unwavering support, but she still worried about her friends. “Will the others feel the same?”
“We’ll have an officer of the law amongst us. Shelby always brings her gun. And we’ve all been through self-defense training.” Camille lifted a confident chin. “We’re covered.”
“You know,” Valentin started, “if you need someone to lurk in the shadows around your place, I’m available.”
“That’s nice of you to offer,” Ouida Mae said, “but you have plans with your guys at the Crawdad Hole.”
“They wouldn’t miss me.”
Camille held up a hand. “No way. It’s girls’ night.”
“Message received,” Valentin said. “Thank you for the ice cream.”
“You’re welcome.” Camille frowned. “I’m counting on you to keep an eye on my girl at the school and anywhere else you two might be together.” She waved her hand between Ouida Mae and Valentin. “I’m getting a more than friends vibe here if I’m not mistaken.”
“No, no.” Ouida Mae was quick to set her friend straight. “We just met today.”
“It only takes a moment to click with the right person,” Camille said with a knowing smile.
“Says one with experience?” Ouida Mae challenged.
Camille’s smile faded. “Yeah. Trust me when I say don’t waste a moment of time together with someone you love. You might only have that moment together.”
Ouida Mae sensed her friend had been holding back something she should know. Had Camille loved and lost someone Ouida Mae didn’t know about? She’d make the time to find out very soon.
Valentin and Ouida Mae left Sweet Temptations and strolled down Main Street to a park with a picnic table, where they ate their ice cream and people-watched.
Ouida Mae knew all the permanent residents in Bayou Mambaloa and loved pointing them out and sharing their quirks and good qualities with Valentin.
“You love this town, don’t you?” he commented.
She nodded. “I do. I come from a long line of Maudets who’ve lived here for a couple of centuries.” She ate the tip of the cone and wiped her fingers on the napkin. “My parents took me on trips all over the country and parts of the world. But I always liked coming home to Bayou Mambaloa. My friends are my people.”
“And they want you to be safe.” He held out his hand. “May I see your cell phone?”
Her brow wrinkled as she extracted her cell phone from her purse and handed it to him. “Why do you need my phone?”
“Open it, please.”
She did and watched as he added a number to her contact list and then his name. “Now, I’m just a phone call away,” he said and handed her phone back to her. “You can call me anytime, day or night, or not at all if that suits you. I just want you to know I’ll be there if you need me.”
Her heart melted at his gesture. “Thanks.” She placed a call to his number.
When his phone rang, he answered and smiled at her. “See? I’ll answer anytime you call.”
“And now you have my number,” she said. “If you need anything, directions to the closest strawberry farm, notes about members of our community or the best place on the bayou for rare bird sightings, I can help you.”
Ouida Mae took her offer a step further, channeling Gisele’s cheeseball loaded with a spell to reduce her inhibitions and added, “Or if you just want a friend to talk to, I’ll answer, day or night... as long as it’s not during school or our girls’ poker game,” she said with a grin.
He stared down at his cell phone and then back up at her. “Thank you. That means a lot to me, knowing I have a friend I can call.”
Ouida Mae laughed. “You have at least a dozen you came with to Bayou Mambaloa.”
He nodded. “Any one of them would take a bullet for me, and I would do the same for them, but I wouldn’t call them to just shoot the breeze.”
“Well, you can call me. Living alone gets... lonely sometimes. I’d shoot the breeze with you.” She glanced down at her phone. “Dang. I have company coming to my house in a couple of hours, and I still haven’t gone for groceries. I’ll need you to drop me at the school to get my car before I go to Broussard’s.”
“The store is on the way to the school. Let me help you shop. I’m good at pushing a cart and carrying dozens of bags in one trip.”
She looked at the man, wondering if he was real. “Seriously? I’ve never met a man who likes to shop.”
He shrugged. “It’s not the shopping,” he said. “It’s the company.”
“Okay then. You can push the cart. But I draw the line at squeezing fruit. That’s my job.”
“Deal.” He rose, extended a hand to Ouida Mae and helped her to her feet.
That spark of electricity zinged through her body at his touch and made her heart flutter erratically.
He didn’t release her hand after helping her stand. Instead, he held it in his as they walked back to his truck.
It was like they were a couple happily strolling along Main Street without a care in the world and it didn’t matter who saw them.
Ouida Mae was known to most of the full-time residents. By the time they reached Valentin’s truck, the gossipy ones’ tongues would be wagging. She’d hear about it at the poker game that night.
Still, she didn’t free her hand. Ouida Mae liked the way her small hand fit in Valentin’s larger, stronger grip. He made her feel protected and cared for.
Lifting her chin, Ouida Mae let a smile spread across her face. Let the old biddies gossip. She didn’t give a darn what they’d say when it felt right and so good.
Valentin drove her to Broussard’s. While he pushed the cart, she loaded it with food and drinks her friends weren’t bringing, as well as paper napkins. While she checked out with Alan Broussard, Valentin bagged the groceries.
“It must be poker night.” Chrissy Broussard emerged from the storeroom behind the counter, carrying a baby on her hip.
“Hey, Chrissy. That’s right,” Ouida Mae said. “You know you’re welcome to join us anytime.”
Chrissy shifted the baby to the other hip. “I’d love to, but five children are a lot to manage alone while helping out with the store.” She smiled at the baby on her hip. “Maybe when all five of you little terrorists are in school, I’ll have a chance to join the big girls.”
“I’ll watch the kids if you’d like to join them tonight,” her husband offered.
Chrissy gave her husband a twisted smile. “The other part of that equation is that by the end of the day, I’m too exhausted to think.” She patted her husband’s arm. “But I’ll take a rain check.”
“Anytime, darlin’. You’re amazing.” He kissed her cheek. “You know I love you.”
Chrissy laughed. “Oh, I know how much you love me. I have five children to show for it.”
“I don’t know how you keep up with five little ones,” Ouida Mae said.
“I don’t know how you do it,” Chrissy said. “Dealing with dozens of teenagers has to be a lot harder. You must have the patience of the saint.” She shifted her gaze to Valentin. “Is this your new man everyone’s talking about?”
Not even thirty minutes after holding Valentin’s hand on Main Street, the gossip had already made it to Broussard’s.
Ouida Mae’s cheeks heated. “He’s not my new man. He’s the new PE teacher at the junior high. You know Valentin, don’t you?”
“Of course we do,” Chrissy replied. “He’s with Remy’s bunch of Brotherhood Protectors.”
Alan chuckled. “Was saving the world so boring you decided dealing with teens would be more fun?”
“Something like that,” Valentin said with a wry grin. “After Ouida Mae’s classroom was trashed, and Mr. Jones was hurt, the regular PE teacher decided she needed a sabbatical. I offered to help. Landry is filling in for the janitor until the principal can find a replacement.”
“Well, we appreciate your team jumping in to help the community.” Chrissy nodded toward Ouida Mae. “Stay safe, my friend. I need you to stick around long enough for me to be able to join you at the poker game.” She winked. “Have fun for me tonight.”
“We will,” Ouida Mae said and grabbed a bag of groceries.
Valentin grabbed the rest.
Together, they carried them out to the truck and laid them on the backseat.
Valentin drove them to the junior high where Ouida Mae’s car was parked. When she started to take the groceries out of the backseat, Valentin shook his head.
“Leave them,” he said. “I’ll follow you to your house and help you unload and get ready for poker night.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Ouida Mae said. “It won’t take me a second to transfer the groceries to my car.”
“I know you’re a strong, independent woman and don’t need my help, but I’d really like to do this for you.” He gave her a pleading puppy dog face that melted her knees and her lady parts.
She couldn’t resist. “OK then, you can follow me.”
As she drove to her house, she glanced at her rearview mirror several times and almost missed her turn. The thought of Valentin entering her house with his broad shoulders, taking up all the space, had her insides quivering. If her friends weren’t scheduled to show up in less than an hour, she could think of a few things she’d rather do with the new PE teacher.
Not that he was her boyfriend, nor was he her lover.
Yet , the little devil on her shoulder whispered in her ear.
Don’t be ridiculous , she told herself.
What would a former military guy see in a boring junior high science teacher? He could have any woman he chose to grace with just one of his smiles.
Still, he was following her out to her house with an offer to help her set up for poker night. He’d held her hand walking down Main Street. They’d had ice cream together.
What did it mean?
As she exited her car, her heart sputtered, and her pulse raced. She’d be alone in her house with this man. Her thoughts sped ahead. Had she left the house a mess? Had she made her bed? Were there dishes in the sink?
Then she reminded herself that she never left her house a mess, always made her bed and did her dishes as soon as she was finished with them.
Having a man over had completely rattled her.
No.
Having Valentin over had her rattled.
She shifted into park, got out of her car and hurried over to help gather groceries.
“I’ve got these,” Valentin said, “if you can unlock the door.” He had several bags looped over each arm.
“Good grief,” Ouida Mae said. “You can’t do everything.”
“Watch me,” he said with a wink.
That would be a challenge with him behind her. Ouida Mae hurried up the steps to her little cottage and quickly unlocked the door. She held it open while Valentin carried all the bags inside.
“The kitchen is straight through to the back and hang a right,” she said and followed him down a short hallway, enjoying the view of his bulging biceps, trim hips and thick thighs.
The hallway was entirely too short.
He set the bags on the counter. With Valentin emptying the bags and Ouida Mae stowing the items, it didn’t take long to put everything where it needed to be.
“What else do you need a hand with?” he asked.
She smiled. “I can manage the rest on my own,” she said. “I just have to chop some veggies, make up a charcuterie board, add a leaf to the table and sweep the floor.”
“While you chop veggies, I’ll sweep and add the leaf to the table,” Valentin said. “Your ladies will be here soon. The least I can do is help with the grunt work.”
Ouida Mae frowned. “Are you sure you don’t have better things to do?”
He shook his head. “My guys aren’t meeting at the Crawdad Hole for another hour. Won’t take me more than fifteen minutes to shower and change.”
Ouida Mae’s eyes widened. “I almost forgot.” She glanced down at her old jeans and T-shirt with French gray splattered across the front. “I need to shower and change.” She glanced at the clock. “Shoot. That doesn’t leave me much time.”
“Then go. I’ll do the sweeping, extend the table and wash the vegetables.”
When she hesitated, he waved a hand. “Go. The clock’s ticking. Where’s the broom?”
“In the mud room,” Ouida Mae called over her shoulder as she headed for her bedroom. Once she’d shut the door, she pulled her T-shirt over her head, kicked off her shoes and shucked her jeans. She was about to drop her thong panties and unclip her bra when she remembered that the little cottage had only one bathroom. And it was in the hall with her bathrobe hanging on the back of the door.
Living alone, she usually left her bedroom door open and strode naked across the hall to the bathroom.
She’d never even thought about it.
Until she had a man in the kitchen at the end of the hallway.
Not wanting to put on her dirty clothes, she gathered a clean blouse, jeans and underwear. It would only take a second to cross the hall. If she timed it right, she could cross without flashing the PE teacher. And really, what would he see he wouldn’t see on a beach?
Women wore thong bikinis all the time.
Just not this woman. Not in public.
She eased open her door and peered down the hall.
Valentin swept past the opening at the end of the hall and disappeared.
Ouida Mae yanked open the door and dashed barefoot across the hall. When she reached the bathroom, she fumbled with the old door handle. In the process of twisting it, she dropped her jeans and panties.
One second turned into two as she bent to retrieve the fallen items.
“Ouida Mae, where is the table leaf?—”
Ouida Mae jerked to attention, clutching her jeans to her chest, her eyes wide as she stared at Valentin standing in the hallway. For a moment, he stood transfixed. Then he visibly swallowed and said, “Sorry.” He turned his back, murmuring something that sounded suspiciously like not sorry.
Ouida Mae’s cheeks burned, but she felt more like giggling at the situation. “If you pull the tabletop apart, you’ll find the leaf stored inside.”
As she stood almost naked in the hallway, staring at Valentin’s back, the heat in her cheeks spread down her torso to the juncture of her thighs.
She needed a shower.
He needed a shower.
Her mouth opened to invite him to join her.
A soft knock sounded on the front door.
Ouida Mae spun, still holding her clothes in front of her.
The door opened, and a female voice called out, “Ouida Mae, help has arrived.” Gisele pushed through the door, followed by Shelby and Felina Faivre, who owned the flower shop.
They were halfway down the hallway when Gisele came to an abrupt stop. “Oh. Sorry, did we come too soon? You haven’t even had a chance to shower.”
“We just thought you could use some help—” Shelby’s gaze shot past Ouida Mae. “Oh, wait. You already have help.” She waved a hand. “Hey, Valentin.”
Ouida Mae glanced over her shoulder to where Valentin stood several feet closer to her and facing her nearly naked, thong-covered bottom. That heat at her core flamed up into her cheeks.
“Ladies,” Felina whispered loud enough for Ouida Mae to hear, “maybe we should leave and give them some privacy.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Valentin said. “I was about to leave after I finished one last thing.” He disappeared into the kitchen.
“And I was about to jump in the shower,” Ouida Mae choked out.
“Uh-huh.” Gisele winked. “Was Val’s one last thing to join you before our untimely appearance?”
“Of course not,” Ouida Mae answered, her cheeks still flaming. She was a terrible liar. Her face gave her away every time. She’d thought about inviting Valentin to shower with her but hadn’t actually asked. So, it wasn’t really a lie.
Valentin reappeared. “The table is all set up. I’d better get going. The guys will be expecting me soon.”
He took a few long strides toward Ouida Mae. As he passed her, his hand brushed her bare arm. “See you on Monday,” he murmured. Then he grinned at the others. “Enjoy poker night, ladies.”
All gazes followed the man out the front door.
As soon as he disappeared, the three ladies faced Ouida Mae.
“Oh, sweetie,” Gisele said with a sly smirk, “tell us all.”
“Nothing to say,” Ouida Mae squeaked, backing into the bathroom. “I’ll be out after my shower.” She slammed the door shut to the sound of her so-called friends’ laughter.
Holy moly, she’d come so close to asking a man, a near stranger, to join her in the shower.
Had her friends not come when they had, Ouida Mae could have been lathering Valentin’s broad chest and other parts further south.
She should feel relief that her friends had come at that exact moment and saved her from potential embarrassment.
But all she felt was regret and an itch that remained completely unscratched.