Chapter Five
She hadn’t expected the kiss, but she welcomed it. She raised her arms around his neck and leaned into him. She opened her mouth to allow him to deepen the kiss. Their tongues swirled together and even the cool rain couldn’t staunch her desire for him.
His lips were soft, yet held a masterful demand that was intoxicating. She could have kissed him forever, but after several minutes lightning slashed the sky, followed by a loud clap of thunder.
He pulled his lips from hers and instead grabbed her hand. “Come on, that’s our cue to get back inside,” he said.
He continued to hold her hand as they ran up the bridge and back into the shanty. Only then did he drop her hand from his. “Towels,” she said. “Stay there and I’ll be right back.”
She disappeared into the bathroom and returned carrying two large fluffy red towels. She handed him one and for a moment they dried off.
He ran the towel over his hair and clothes. “What do you want me to do with the towel?” he asked.
“I’ll take it.”
She took it from him and then went back into the bathroom. “I’m sorry I don’t have a dryer to take care of your wet clothes,” she said when she came back into the living room.
“It’s okay. I’ll just head on home and throw them in mine,” he replied.
“Thank you for dancing with me, Luke,” she said with a wide smile.
“I’ve never done anything like that before in my life,” he replied. “I’ve never even thought about doing anything like that before.”
“Tell me the truth—it was fun, wasn’t it?”
He laughed. “I’ll admit, it was fun and now I’ll just say good-night and I’ll see you tomorrow.” He walked over to the coffee table and picked up the baggie holding the note and then he disappeared out the front door.
It was only after he was gone that she thought about the fact that he hadn’t mentioned their kiss. Had it meant nothing to him? She didn’t even know what it meant to her. All she did know was it had been an awesome kiss.
She went into her bedroom and took off the wet dress and underwear and pulled on a navy-blue nightshirt. She walked back into the living room and sank down on the sofa, the kiss still very much on her mind.
She couldn’t know what he thought about it, but for her it had been absolutely magical. His lips had been so warm and inviting on hers and she couldn’t wait for an opportunity to kiss him again.
Her gaze dropped to the coffee table as she thought about the note that had been on her door. You will belong to me. Who had left it for her? And what exactly did it mean?
Was it really just an odd love note of sorts or something more ominous? How afraid should she really be? She definitely intended to be more aware of her surroundings and not let anyone get too close to her.
Her thoughts jumped to those moments when Luke had shared the tragedy of his past. It had broken her heart for him as she’d heard about his mother. It had also shown her what kind of a man he was to take care of his younger brothers’ needs above his own.
He was a special kind of man, but he wasn’t her special man. She might have gotten him to dance in the rain with her, but she had a feeling he was too uptight…too regimented in his day-to-day life to be a good fit for her.
She double-checked that her doors were locked up and then got into bed. The rain still pitter-pattered on her window, the sound lulling her to sleep. She fell into dreams of dancing in the rain with Luke.
THE NEXT MORNING, the plan was to go to breakfast with her sisters. She was on the dinner shift and Monique was working later that afternoon at the dress shop. Hopefully, Angelique could get away from the store to meet with them. It had been a minute since the three of them had gotten together.
The first thing she did was drape all the wet things from the night before over her railing outside. There was no sign of rain today and the sun was nice and bright and would dry the towels and her sundress in no time.
She dressed in a pair of jeans and a red-and-blue blouse. She pulled her long hair back and tied it at the nape of her neck with a red ribbon. She applied a little makeup and then spritzed on her favorite scent.
At the last minute, she got the knife she carried at night and put it in her purse. Hopefully, she wouldn’t have to stab anyone. However, as she thought of that note, she wanted to have something for her own protection in case somebody came at her sideways.
As she walked through the swamp, she kept her gaze shooting all around and listened to make sure nobody was sneaking up on her. She breathed a sigh of relief as she broke into the clearing where her car was parked.
Monique was already there. Clad in a pair of jeans and a turquoise blouse, she looked absolutely beautiful. “Hey, girl.” Monique greeted her with a big smile.
“You look very pretty,” Dominique said.
“Thanks, sis,” Monique replied. “So do you.”
The two of them got into Dominique’s car. “Have you heard anything from Angelique this morning?” Dominique asked as she started the engine.
“I spoke to her about twenty minutes ago. She was at her store, and the new girl who started working for her was also there so she said she would meet us at the café,” Monique said.
“Good. Last time she was supposed to meet me, she didn’t show because of staffing issues.” Instead, she had enjoyed her lunch with Luke. “I’ve missed the three of us getting together.”
“Yeah, me too. But with all of us working different hours, it’s hard to coordinate,” Monique replied.
“Speaking of work, how are things going at the dress shop?”
“Really well. Debbie has stepped away and rarely comes in anymore. I think she’s about to make me a full-time manager.” Debbie Waltrip, a woman who was retirement age, owned the All That Jazz dress shop.
“That’s exciting. Are you ready for all the responsibility that would come with that?”
“Definitely. It’s nice that I love working there so much,” Monique replied.
“Debbie is lucky to have you. I’m sure you’re her top seller. You are so good with the customers.”
Monique laughed. “If you’re trying to make me feel good about myself this morning, it’s working.”
“Yeah, just don’t get a big head,” Dominique replied, making Monique laugh once again.
They chitchatted for a few more minutes until they reached the café. Dominique parked and it didn’t take them long to be seated in a booth.
Sunny approached them. “Good morning, ladies,” she said brightly. “What can I start you off with? Coffee? Juice?”
“We’re waiting on Angelique, but in the meantime, I’d love a cup of coffee,” Dominique said.
“Make that two,” Monique added.
“I’ll be right back with those.” She left the booth and before she could deliver the coffee, Angelique arrived. She slid in next to Monique and greeted them. She was dressed in a pair of black slacks and one of the purple T-shirts with her store logo on the front.
“Glad you could make it,” Dominique said.
“I finally have a nice, responsible young woman working for me,” Angelique replied.
“That’s good because you occasionally need to get away from the store and have breakfast with your sisters,” Monique said.
Angelique grinned with good humor. Within minutes all three had coffee and had ordered their food. As they waited, they talked about the things going on in their lives.
Dominique hadn’t decided yet if she was going to share the note she’d received.
The last thing she wanted to do was worry her sisters.
They were already worried enough about her shadowing Pierre at night, although they were pleased that Luke was going with her when she went out to catch their mother’s killer.
She looked around the café. Was the man who left the note for her sitting in here right now? She didn’t see anyone paying any particular attention to her.
Sunny arrived with their food. Dominique had ordered pancakes this morning while Monique had ordered an omelet and Angelique the French toast. They were definitely different when it came to their favorite breakfast meals.
As they ate, they continued to catch up with each other. What they didn’t discuss was their mother’s murder or the investigation. There was nothing more to say about either subject as they all just hoped an arrest would be made very soon and the killer would finally face justice.
There were still days when Dominique’s grief over the loss of her mother would rear up and threaten to consume her, but those days were coming less frequently now. Time truly was a healer.
“Girls, it’s so nice to see you all three together.” Nola Fontenot stopped by the side of their booth. “Your mother must be smiling down from Heaven knowing the three of you are all together,” the plump, brown-haired woman said.
Nola had been Mystique’s closest friend and was like a favorite aunt to the sisters. “How are you doing, Nola?” Dominique asked.
“Oh, you know, I still have days of grief. I miss your mother like crazy,” she replied.
“We all do,” Angelique said.
“I just wish Daniel would get that damned Pierre under arrest, because I truly believe that man is responsible for her death.” Nola grimaced. “I don’t know what’s taking him so long.”
“Daniel is doing the very best he can to catch Mama’s murderer.” Angelique quickly jumped to her lover’s defense. “Right now, he lacks enough evidence to arrest Pierre, but trust me, he and his men are working hard on the case.”
“I just hate seeing that man walking around like he doesn’t have a care in the world. I guess I’m just an impatient ninny,” Nola said with a small laugh. “And now I’ll just let you all finish your breakfast.”
She left their booth and headed to the other side of the café, where two women awaited her at a four-top table.
“She’s as anxious as we are to get this case solved,” Angelique said and then looked pointedly at Dominique.
“That doesn’t mean I want my sister out there watching Pierre in the dead of night. ”