Page 54 of Brutal Ice

“Oh, I’m a fucking fantastic cook.”

Apparently surprised, she peered over her shoulder at him.

Royal shrugged. “Not bragging.” Maybe he was. Sue him. He had one or two skills that didn’t involve killing. “Even have plans to open a restaurant soon.”

“Here? In Savannah?” Now she turned to fully face him.

But he hesitated. Before meeting her, he’d been planning to leave Savannah for a while. Beau had gotten settled with Avalon, and Royal had thought that it might be best to disappear for a bit. He’d done that, over the years, gone in and out of Beau’s life. “Not exactly sure of the location yet.”

She nodded. “What type of restaurant?”

“Creole.” He laughed. “You can take the punk kid out of Louisiana, but you can’t take the Big Easy out of the man.”

Violet took a hesitant step closer to him.

“I can make some jambalaya that will have you thinking you’re tasting heaven.”

Her gaze searched his. “You grew up in New Orleans.”

“Guilty.”

“You miss it?” Her head tilted, and her hair slid over her shoulder. “I’ve actually never been there. Thought I’d do a performance at the Saenger in New Orleans last year, but I got beat out of the role.”

“I’ll have to show you the city one day.” The words just slipped from his mouth. And, dammit, he hadn’t meant to say them. Saying them implied there would be a future. That there was more than just now for the two of them.

Don’t you want more than just now with her?

She took another step toward him. “I’d like to see the city with you.”

He forced a laugh even as he eliminated the last bit of distance between them. Now they practically stood toe to toe. “Not like I grew up in the swanky mansions that fill the Garden District. That was more Avalon’s style.”

“You knew her when she was younger?”

Now that was a very complicated story. And it wasn’t his story to tell. It was Beau’s. “I knew about breaking into houses like hers and boosting rides in her neighborhood.” A shrug. He caught the flash of surprise in her eyes. “Sweetheart, I ran with a gang that would give you nightmares. Beau and I fought our way out.”

“How?”

His hand lifted and cupped her jaw. “Simple. We took over the gang. Then we ripped it apart. When we were done, nothing was left.”

“You can be a scary man, Royal Boudreaux.” But instead of appearing scared, her head turned, and her lips skimmed over his palm. “Show me.”

His heartbeat accelerated.

“You’re in this swanky house right now. I just saw your gorgeous pool. I have no doubt that you have some state-of-the-art kitchen that will give me serious envy, and, apparently, you have a killer wine cellar downstairs.” A pause. “But I’m not interested in those things right now.”

“What are you interested in?”

“You knew where a serial killer would be lurking. You have caught two other killers. And I watch enough true crime shows to know that you must have some sort of research area or crime room somewhere in this massive home of yours.”

“This isn’t Criminal Minds.”

“I love that show. Or at least, I used to. Until I started being one of the victims and not the people chasing the monsters.”

He stared at her, and he made his hand drop.

“You would keep that room hidden,” Violet mused. “Can’t have casual company just strolling inside on accident. How embarrassing would that be? Oh, pay no attention to my murder board.”

His eyes narrowed on her.

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