Chapter 4 #2
“Unfortunately, I haven’t found anything new relating to the connection between Nicolette Gauthier and Adeline West,” she said.
“But, then again, I haven’t started the really intense research yet.
That’ll happen in a couple of days, when I start working in the archives at Xavier University.
They have an extensive collection on African American history specific to Louisiana.
” Tamryn rubbed her hands together. “I can’t wait. ”
Matt stared at her as if she were an alien with six arms.
“I have never in my life seen someone so excited about visiting a library,” he said, shaking his head. He pulled out his phone. “What’s your cell number? I know the head of the History Department at Xavier. I can put you in contact with him.”
Tamryn gasped. “Dr. Ezekiel Marsh?”
“Yeah, you know him?”
“I don’t know him know him, but I know of him, of course. I use his textbook on the African diaspora in several of my classes. He’s renowned in my circle.”
“Well, in my circle, he’s a frat brother who made me eat cat food when I pledged to my fraternity. Thankfully, he’s outgrown such nonsense.”
Tamryn choked on a laugh. “You don’t seem like the frat-boy type.”
He shrugged. “Another of those family things. All the men in my family pledged to the same fraternity. It’s what was expected.”
She tipped her head to the side, studying his strong profile. “So, do you always do what’s expected of you?”
“Not always,” he said. “I’ve been known to occasionally break with tradition and do my own thing.”
Her brow arched. “Like riding a motorcycle?”
“Yes, as far as I know, I’m the only Gauthier man to ride a Ducati.” His eyes creased at the corners as a sly grin broke out across his face. “Whenever you’re ready for another ride, just say the word. I usually prefer riding solo, but I have to admit that I enjoyed seeing you straddle my bike.”
The breath she was just about to take clogged in her lungs. Must his voice sound so sexy?
“I have a feeling letting you take me for a ride would be dangerous,” Tamryn replied.
That grin hitched a bit higher as his hooded gaze zeroed in on her mouth. “I can promise it would be worth it.”
Her stomach quivered. The husky timbre of his voice, combined with those entrancing dimples and mesmerizing green-and-hazel eyes, posed all kinds of threats to her resolve to remain focused on her work.
If she was not careful, she could find herself losing sight of her goal, something she refused to let happen again.
It had cost her too much the first time.
“I’m afraid I’ll have to decline your offer,” Tamryn said. She would not allow the flash of disappointment that shadowed his face to affect her. She pushed up from the swing. “Thanks for the introduction to yet another Louisiana delicacy.”
“It was my pleasure,” he said as he rose. “Are you leaving?”
She nodded. “I have a lot of work to do tonight.”
“Let me walk you to your car.”
“No, I can manage.”
He slanted her a look. “You remember that Southern gentleman thing I mentioned the other day, right? I can’t allow you to walk to your car alone, especially with all the eyes watching us. I’d never hear the end of it.”
“Ah, yes. The reputation. It must remain intact.” She shook her head. “It must be exhausting trying to live up to the standards of being a Southern gentleman.”
“Only when the tasks are unpleasant,” he said. “And I think we both know that isn’t the case this time.”
He crooked his arm, an invitation for her to thread hers through it.
When she obliged, Tamryn was sure she heard a collective sigh of approval coming from the ladies who had been watching them earlier.
As she walked alongside him, her body gave its own appreciative sigh, relaxing into their easy stroll.
Matt might not think he posed a danger to her, but Tamryn was under no illusions. With very little effort, this man had the potential to sidetrack her from all of her well-laid plans.
They arrived at her car and he opened the door for her, but instead of moving to the side so that she could get in, he stood inside the doorway, draping his arm on the door.
“Let me take you to dinner tonight,” he said.
Tamryn was astounded at how quickly she almost agreed.
Even though a mental list of all the reasons why getting involved with Matthew Gauthier was a bad idea ran on a constant loop inside her head, the urge to say yes to his invitation was so strong that it pained her when she said, “I really cannot, Matt.”
“Why?”
Folding her arms over her chest, she said, “Maybe I should be asking you that question.”
His head reared back slightly. “What question? Why I asked you to dinner?”
“Yes.”
“What kind of question is that?”
“A legitimate one,” she said. “You’ve spent the past six months avoiding me. Why this sudden desire to take me to dinner?”
He blew out a ragged breath and ran both hands down his face. He glanced over at the house across the street, and then brought his eyes back to her.
“Here’s the thing,” he started, holding his hands up. “If I come right out and admit that it’s because I think you’re one of the hottest women I’ve ever met, it will make me sound shallow.”
Tamryn pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. “That does come across as a bit shallow—”
“You see—”
“—but honest,” she continued. “I appreciate honesty.”
His gaze narrowed as he closed the car door and leaned against it.
“You want honest?” he asked. “Because if you want me to be completely honest, I can admit that when it comes to you, this whole Southern gentleman thing is just an act. There is nothing even remotely gentlemanly that runs across my mind when I look at you.”
Her breath faltered as it crawled from her lungs. She coughed to clear away the desire that had lodged in her throat. “Well, I asked for honest, didn’t I?” Tamryn said.
Matt closed the distance between them. He reached down, captured her left hand, and trailed the fingers of his right hand down her cheek, letting them linger on her jaw.
“Just dinner,” he said. “We can start there.”
Tamryn shut her eyes tight against the powerful yearning that surged inside of her. Then she thought about the blows her career had already sustained after the last time she allowed her emotions to get in the way of her common sense.
“I can’t,” she said. She took a step back, then went around him and got into her rental car.
She didn’t even chance looking at him out the driver’s-side window.
She started the car and pulled away from the curb before she lost all ability to fight the lust that threatened to get her in a heap of trouble she didn’t need this summer.