Chapter Twenty-One
Zachary
––––––––
“What do you mean, you can’t join us anymore?” Anthony asked on Thursday evening. He, Beckett, and I were at the Lucky Bar, and I’d told them I couldn’t make it fishing with the grandfathers this weekend. Beckett was looking at me like I’d informed him I was resigning from the family.
“I’ve made other plans,” I said.
“What plans?”
Our youngest brothers were the most curious out of everyone in the family, but I didn’t mind.
“I’m spending the weekend with Grace.”
Anthony whistled. Beckett nodded appreciatively. “All right, so this is happening.”
“It’s happening,” I confirmed, sipping my Sazerac.
The two of them exchanged a glance.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing. We’re just starting to wonder if there’s some truth to the grandmothers’ lilac story after all,” Beckett offered as if he was commenting on the weather.
I rolled my eyes. “Let’s not open up that can of worms. I have a hard enough time keeping a straight face when they mention it. But Grace is buying that story.”
Anthony cocked a brow. “And you don’t mind? Zachary, what gives?”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“We went from every guy in the family—except Chad—doing what we do,” Beckett said, referring to their single status, “to wanting to settle down.”
I pointed my glass at them. “I never mentioned I was settling down.”
“That’s better, then,” Anthony said. “I was starting to worry.”
“And yet you are spending an entire weekend with her,” Beckett pointed out.
“So? What’s the problem with that?” I asked.
“Yeah, dude,” Anthony said. “Two days of getting laid versus going fishing with us and the grandfathers? I’d take it too.”
Beckett opened his mouth but then shook his head. Clearly he’d wanted to disagree but didn’t.
The truth was that this meant far more than getting laid, but there was no way I could explain it to these two.
“So, what’s new with you guys?” I asked.
“Same old, same old,” Anthony replied. “Business is doing well. So is my personal life.” He winked.
“Same for me,” Beckett said. “Can’t complain.”
“What’s the plan for Sunday?” I inquired.
“We’re hoping to convince the grandfathers to change their spot on the bayou.”
“Why?”
“Because I think they like to live dangerously in their old age,” Beckett said through gritted teeth. “Their new favorite spot is in the sun.”
“That’s not so bad. The new boat definitely has a lot of shade.”
“It gets very hot. If you would come more often, you’d know.” Anthony said.
I cleared my throat. “Look, fishing’s never been my thing, okay? I went out more often when they had that godforsaken wreck of a boat because I literally felt it would tip over and they’d become alligator food. But this one is solid.”
“Yeah, but they might still become alligator food,” Anthony pointed out, “because they like to fish in an area that’s very popular with gators.”
I nearly spit my drink out. “What? Why?”
“Apparently that’s where the best fish are!” Beckett sounded exasperated, which was funny because my younger brothers very rarely got angry. They were like me in that regard.
“Fucking hell,” I exclaimed.
“Yep, but don’t worry. We’ll keep them from becoming gator food while you get laid,” Anthony said.
“Excellent plan,” I replied smugly.
***
On Saturday morning, I picked Grace up at ten. Like her, I used to go to brunches at Commander’s Palace as a kid with my parents, but I hadn’t gone in a very long time. I knew many families in New Orleans went on a regular basis.
Grace came out of the building with a huge smile. She also had a big hat and sunglasses. I got out of the car and went around the corner, opening the door for her.
“You look fucking adorable with this huge hat.”
She grinned. “I actually got lazy with putting on sunscreen this past week and got a bit of a sunburn.” She took off her glasses, and I could see it better now as she tipped her head up. Her nose was completely red. “I look ridiculous.”
“No, you look fucking adorable,” I said. I kissed her right there against the car for the whole street to see.
This was addictive. She was addictive. I’d been starved for her this past week. Texts and calls weren’t enough. I needed her close—in my arms, at my mercy.
She kissed me back just as intensely. I plastered her against the car, deepening the kiss, touching her waist before rubbing my thumb against the side of her left breast.
A thump interrupted us, and I pulled back, opening my eyes. Her hat had fallen to the ground. Clearing my throat, I took a step back. Grabbing it, I handed it to her before she got in the car.
Once she was settled, she said, “I’m ready to start our date. But don’t kiss me again.”
I jerked my head back. “Why not?”
“Because,” she whispered, “there are kids around.”
I looked up and down the street. True, there were, but I didn’t see what one thing had to do with the other. Then again, I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable.
I stepped closer, leaning slightly over her. “Just a quick one.”
“Okay.” She batted her eyelashes and gave me a quick peck. It wasn’t what I had in mind, but clearly she wasn’t ready for more.
“You smell amazing. You’ve changed your perfume.”
“Yes. I’m wearing the one from your grandmothers.”
And in that precise moment, I knew I was screwed. I couldn’t tell how I knew it, or what exactly I meant by that. I just knew I was.
We arrived in the Garden District a short while later and parked close to Commander’s Palace.
“I can’t believe I haven’t been here in years,” Grace said. “I love everything about it. The vibrant blue facade, the Victorian architecture, and the food, of course.”
It had Creole and Cajun specialties. It was widely considered to be one of the best in the South. Even my grandmothers respected the establishment. The place was already full of guests when we arrived. We were shown to our table in one of their outdoor spaces.
“It’s a good thing we’re sitting outside,” Grace said. “It was a bit stuffy in there, wasn’t it?”
I agreed. The weather was already hot and humid, but at least out here, there was a nice breeze. Jazz music played all around, and people were milling in and out with food.
Grace was glancing at everyone’s drinks.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“When I was a kid, I always hoped my parents would get distracted so I could sneak around and grab a cocktail.”
“Full disclosure: last time I came, I was also not of drinking age. Let’s hit the bar.”
“Life with you is always an adventure, isn’t it?” she asked.
I pulled her close, kissing her forehead, drawing in a deep breath. Her perfume filled my nostrils. I felt this unquenchable need to hold her tight.
She glanced up at me and smiled. “What’s going through your mind, Zachary?”
“You don’t want to know.”
“All right, keep your secrets. I have mine,” she said before moving back and walking inside.
I fell in step with her. “What secrets? I want to know everything.”
“You can’t because it’s a two-way street,” she teased.
“Challenge accepted. We’ll circle back to that later,” I said as we went straight to the bar. You ordered your own drinks at the bar, and there was a buffet as well, so no sitting down and ordering.
“What can I get you?” the bartender asked.
“I want the house specialty,” Grace replied.
“Same for me.” I had no idea what the specialty was, but it had to be good. I only intended to take a sip, since I was driving.
Grace looked stunning. The dress code for Commander’s Palace was slightly elegant, and she was pulling that off effortlessly. She was wearing a long red dress with a black belt around her waist. It hid her figure because the dress didn’t mold to her body, but my imagination still ran wild because I’d memorized every curve, every inch of her. I knew exactly what was hidden underneath.
“This weekend’s specialty is a Grasshopper,” the bartender said, putting two martini glasses in front of us filled with a green cocktail.
“Thank you,” Grace replied. We each grabbed a glass and then moved farther away from the counter. As we clinked them, she added, “Oh, today’s starting so well. A Grasshopper before it’s even eleven o’clock.”
“My thoughts exactly. But why the hell not? We have the entire weekend to do whatever we want.” I looked intently into her eyes. “No rules, Grace.”
She sucked in a breath and nodded. “No rules.”
She downed the cocktail fast, but I only took a mouthful. It was insanely good. “I’ve got to tell Julian to stop by here more often, steal a recipe or two. This is good, and I’m not usually a Grasshopper kind of guy.”
“I agree. That was good. I need some food, though. I just had a light breakfast when I got up today.”
“Then let’s get you some food. Can’t let you starve.” I felt the insane desire to take care of every single one of her needs.
Over the next hour, we tasted everything that looked good. from the usual suspects like gumbo, jambalaya, and po’ boys to fried seafood.
She sat back and blew out a heavy breath. “I’m about to explode, and yet I want to somehow keep eating and drinking.”
“Let’s grab another cocktail,” I suggested.
As we rose from the table, two men approached us. Did I know them? Because they seemed very intent on us.
“We never expected to see you around,” one of the men said.
Both of them looked straight at Grace, who rolled her shoulders. “I’m sorry. Do I know you?”
“No, but we know you, Grace Deveraux. Or at least we know your brothers. I can’t believe you’ve got the nerve to show your face at Commander’s Palace. At least your parents are staying out of the public eye.”
Grace cleared her throat, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Fuck off!” I said.
She shook her head almost imperceptibly, and I instantly knew what she meant: she wanted to deal with this by herself. And I respected that.
“My brothers’ actions have nothing to do with me. Or my parents for that matter. I wasn’t part of the company at that time, nor for years before they did what they did.”
“That doesn’t absolve you, and—”
“Yes, it really does,” she replied. I’d never heard her sound so confident and self-assured, and I liked it. Damn, she had my admiration. She hadn’t raised her voice, but even so, her delivery was strong and cutting. “Because I never would’ve approved of what they did. But that’s beside the point. You don’t get to come here when I’m enjoying brunch and belittle me because you did a bad business deal with my brothers. If you have a bone to pick, I suggest you pick it with them.”
“We would if we could, but we don’t know where they are.”
“Well, neither do I,” Grace said. “And now I suggest you stop interrupting my lunch.”
“You listen to me—”
I couldn’t believe they were pursuing this with her, so I stepped in with a very warning tone. “No.” They both looked at me, clearly surprised, so I added, “You heard her. Fuck off.”
“And who are you?” the second man asked.
“Zachary LeBlanc.”
Both their faces changed. Clearly they recognized the name. “A LeBlanc and a Deveraux,” the first one said. “That’s unexpected.”
“You’re welcome to fuck off and be shocked by it somewhere else. You’re done here,” I said.
“That is no way to treat anyone—”
“Fucking go!” I raised my voice but not loudly enough to cause attention.
The second guy looked at Grace but had the good sense not to say anything else. She was holding her chin high, arms still crossed over her chest. She maintained her composure even after the two of them turned their backs and left our table.
Then she took a deep breath and whispered, “Wow, I didn’t see that coming.”
“Are you okay?” I asked, putting a hand on her upper back. “Want me to have them thrown out?”
She laughed, glancing at me. “No, Zachary. I think I dealt with it quite well.”
“You did. You were fucking amazing.” I brought my mouth to her ear. “So amazing, in fact, that it’s a turn-on.”
She gasped. “How can you do that?”
“What?” I asked.
“Switch between having a normal conversation and being all flirty.” She said the word flirty as if she meant dirty .
“I just live in the moment, Grace. But seriously, how are you feeling?”
“Kind of took the wind out of my sails. That was a first, to be honest.” She shrugged as we sat back down. “Someone just walking up to me and insulting me because of my brothers.” She grabbed the fork, turning it around on her empty plate. “I’ve only encountered antagonism when I was talking to investors, but even they weren’t so in-your-face.”
“They were way out of line. Everyone knows that neither you nor your father were part of the company when they ran their Ponzi scheme.”
Grace shook her head. “Dad assured me he actually reimbursed everyone once he took over. That’s why the company’s cash reserves are low. So I don’t understand why those guys even felt the need to come up to me.”
“Because some people just get off on conflicts and fighting. You handled that brilliantly.”
She smiled. “It felt good to stand up for myself. When the news first broke, I felt responsible. Then I realized it wasn’t my fault at all. I even tried to tell Dad not to empty the company’s coffers because of my brothers, but he said it wasn’t fair to everyone else, and I guess he was right.”
“Your father is a good man. I didn’t know about the reimbursement.”
“He didn’t want to make a big deal of it.”
“Want me to bring you another cocktail? Surprise you?”
She sighed. “Honestly, I’ve lost my appetite.”
“That encounter definitely soured the mood. Want us to leave?”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but yes. Do you mind?”
I shook my head. “Not at all. Today is all about having fun and a good time, Grace. If this place doesn’t check those marks, then it’s time we hightail it out of here.”
Her expression transformed from serious to happy almost instantly. I interlaced our hands as we walked through the restaurant, which had gotten fuller since we first went to the bar.
“Oh, crap,” she exclaimed once we were outside.
“What’s the matter?” I asked.
“The strap of my sandal. The buckle fell off.” She looked around. “I can’t see it.”
I glanced at the concrete floor too. “Grace, there’s zero chance of finding it.”
“I agree. Do you mind if we go to my place real quick so I can change shoes?”
“Not at all. I told you this weekend is just about having fun, so there’s no reason to stress about anything.”
During the drive, I tried to gauge if Grace was still thinking about the incident, but she was talking about how much she enjoyed the summer in New Orleans, so I assumed she’d moved on. After parking the car, I went up with her into her apartment and waited in the living room.
“Damn. None of the shoes I own actually go with this dress,” she said. She was standing in front of a closet full of shoes.
I stared at her. “Is that a trick statement?”
She looked at me. “What? No, never mind. It’s a woman thing. I’ll change my dress real quick, too, okay?”
“Sure.”
As she went into her bedroom, I tried very hard not to think about the fact that she was going to take off her dress. I could visualize her naked body in my mind’s eye. I was on the verge of bursting in on her already.
Fucking hell, Zachary.
“Oh, shoot,” I heard her say through the door.
“Grace?” I asked.
“I just got caught in my dress. Damn it.”
“Need help?” I jumped to my feet. I wasn’t going to barge in, but if she needed assistance, that was an entirely different thing.
“Um, yes, please. I don’t think I can do it on my own without ripping off my dress.”
I went into her bedroom before she’d even finished the sentence. And what a damn sight.
She had her dress over her head, both arms stuck. Her legs and ass were on full display. Her lingerie was once again lace, covering only the upper part of her buttocks.
“I don’t understand what happened. Must have caught on my bra.”
“I’ll check.”
Indeed, it had caught on the back of her bra. I unclasped it, and then she tugged at the dress, pulling it over her head. She turned around, grinning up at me.
“Whoops. Sorry about that.”
Her hair was wild around her head from the dress. I liked her like this, all messed up.
Then she gasped slightly. “Oh, you undid my bra.”
“Yeah. It was the only way to...”
Her straps fell off her shoulders, and then the bra slipped down to her waist. I had a full view of her breasts.
“Fuck, Grace.”