Page 19 of The Charmer

I led her to the smaller storage room where we’d put the beignets.

"Did you buy them from Café Du Monde?" she asked.

"Of course! They’re everyone’s favorites—including mine. Some of my brothers swear there are better places in town for beignets, but I'm old-school."

"So am I." She immediately grabbed one and bit into it, closing her eyes. That impulse to kiss her again was back, and I was barely keeping it at bay. There was no reason for it right now, and yet I wanted to.

Georgie only opened her eyes once she finished. "That was exactly what I needed, and I didn't even know it."

"Is there ever a bad time to eat beignets?"

"You and I have a lot more in common than I thought," she whispered.

"I think so too.” I checked the time. “The parade should reach us in about ten minutes, so if you want another beignet, grab it now, because otherwise..."

She reached for one before I even finished my sentence. This woman was something else.

As she chewed, I played with a dangerous idea. "Don’t go out on the street to watch the parade.”

"Why not?"

"I have a better spot to watch it from."

It was so easy to make this woman light up. How had that moron managed to snuff out this joy?

"I'm game."

"There’s a balcony upstairs. Since it’s on the second floor, you'll feel like you're part of the parade."

"But isn't it already booked?"

"No, it's not open to the public. It would be just you and me, Georgie." Despite my best intentions, I leaned in closer.

“Okay,” she whispered. “I've never actually watched it from a balcony in the Quarter. The lady living above Books & Beads isn't keen on having guests, and all the other viewing places are always so packed."

"Then let’s hurry. We'll see the parade coming in."

Georgie literally shoved the rest of the beignet into her mouth, looking like a squirrel with her cheeks about ready to explode. She covered her mouth with her hands and giggled.

Placing my hands on her shoulders, I turned her around and guided her forward. The spiral staircase leading to the upper floor was in the supply room. It was extremely narrow, and I avoided it at all costs if I had anything to drink.

"This is perfect," she said when we reached the top. The sound of trumpets and jazz music and people cheering was already deafening. When we stepped onto the balcony, we saw the parade coming from the end of the street.

"I love the view. This is why everyone is paying big money to watch the celebration from balconies."

I zeroed in on her lips.

"Do I have something on my mouth?" she asked.

"Powdered sugar."

Georgie only had a little bit of sugar in one corner, but that wasn't why I was looking. The truth was, I simply couldn't stop myself. She rubbed at her mouth quickly, and when she lowered her hand, her lips were red. They were full and sexy with the look of just being kissed. The impulse to do just that was growing stronger by the second. But I knew I had to get myself under control because I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable. Running into her asshole ex did that already.

She turned around as the parade came closer, clutching the railing with both hands and looking down at the street. I was usually downstairs with my team, putting out fires at this time of the day, but no way in hell was I going to leave Georgie's side. Watching the parade with her was a different experience altogether.

She was dancing lightly to the sound of the music. "I found one downside. I can't catch beads from here."

"Beads?" I asked incredulously. "I would think that's the one thing you don't need."

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