Page 49 of The Charmer

It was funny to see him wearing his tux in my house. It didn't fit my life. Everything else around here was either secondhand or inherited. He looked polished and in perfect shape, and I was the girl from the opposite side of the tracks.

"In the Quarter."

I sighed wistfully. "It's my dream to live in the French Quarter one day. Having my own little house or even just an apartment there would be fantastic.”

"I'm sure you'll make it happen," he replied.

He always said just the right thing.

"Can I open everything you bought? The anticipation is killing me," I said theatrically.

He grinned devilishly. "Good. That was my intention."

"Fair warning: my expectations are sky-high."

"I will deliver. I never overpromise. You should know that about me." He looked me straight in the eyes as he said it, and I had the uncanny feeling that he meant something completely different.

I took out the five containers and opened them one after another. Two of them contained rice with red beans, and it smelled absolutely divine. The third had shrimp étouffée.

"I haven't had this in a while."

"It's their specialty. I figured you might enjoy it, since you loved the shrimp at the event. Savored it like it was a delicacy." He grinned.

He'd watched me that closely? That was good to know.

"Well, it was." The fourth container had a gumbo. "Oh, I haven't had gumbo in a while either. It takes forever to cook it. Mom makes a superb one, but I don't see her often enough." The last one had king cake. "Oh, what a treat!"

"It's not Carnival season without king cake, is it?"

"Precisely. I don't know why more people don't understand that."

I brought over cutlery for each of us, and as we sat down, I became aware of how small my table was. My goodness, I felt like we’d bump into each other—involuntarily, of course—no matter how we moved. It was definitely close quarters.

"God, I didn't even realize I was so hungry," I said as I took the first mouthful. "It's really, really good. Why aren't you eating?"

He was looking at me intently. "Want to make sure you’re fine with everything first. You’re far more relaxed right now."

"Well, I got rid of the shoes from hell. My ankle is much better."

"I'm glad."

"And being home helps. It’s my safe place."

"Kyle still makes you nervous," Julian concluded.

I shuddered at the sound of his name. "Yes, and I don't know why. He wasn’t like this when I was dating him—this vicious, I mean. He always had a snide remark here or there, but lately he’s just been nasty. Anyway, I would've paid good money to see his face when he saw us."

"Me too."

"Well, for all I know, he might be at the Landrys' party too."

"I didn't even think about that," Julian said. "Yeah, I bet he will. But you know what? I'll just go on my own then."

"No, I've thought about it," I went on carefully, taking another mouthful so I could mull over my words before continuing. "I want to go."

"Georgie, you were tense most of the evening."

"How do you even know that?"

---