Page 3 of Undo Me

Those live oaks haven’t always been in the yard.

With that random thought, her heart started to pound so hard against her breastbone she thought it might be trying to escape. What a strange thing to think. There was no way she could know about the original landscape, not unless she’d come across a photograph of this place in one of her books on New Orleans architecture. It wasn’t out of the realm of possibility, and it had the added benefit of comforting her nerves, so she went with it. She’d seen this place before.

“I knew it. Look at your face. I knew you’d love it. I told Ben I was bringing home the one person in the world who would truly appreciate this big, old monster besides the two of us.”

The front door opened as Michelle was speaking, and Bethany forgot all about the monster when confronted by the South’s answer for Adonis. The blond was ambling toward the car with a wide easy smile that was so purely unaffected and unconsciously sensual, she nearly forgot how to swallow. “Good grief, Michelle.”

“I know.” Her friend chuckled low as she shut off the engine. “Believe me.”

“How did you resist that for so many years?”

“Honestly? I have no idea. Now close your mouth, his head doesn’t need to be any bigger than it already is.”

The golden god opened Michelle’s door a second later and she was practically dragged out of the car and into his arms for the kind of kiss that usually preceded movie credits and had its own sweeping soundtrack.

Still in the honeymoon phase, her inner cynic instantly deduced. This was probably a bad time to visit unless you’re into being a third wheel.

“Can we all say ‘awkward?’” she mumbled, unbuckling herself with suddenly sweaty palms. When she was finally free, she fumbled for her door. “I can say it.”

It opened before she could get her fingers around the handle.

“You can say what?” The man beside her asked.

Her eyes widened as they followed the large, outstretched hand to a long, muscled arm connected to yet another vision of divine masculinity.

Help! She’d fallen into a porn movie and she couldn’t get up.

“H-hello? I can say hello?”

His smile was kind. Oh damn, he was nice, too. “Yes, you can. And I can say it’s good to meet you, Ms. Sorelle. I’ve heard great things.”

“I doubt that.” Her face heated, and even though it was the end of October, she decided to blame it on the weather. She wasn’t used to the humidity. It couldn’t have anything to do with the man currently helping her out of Michelle’s tiny deathtrap of a car.

If Benjamin Adair was Adonis, this guy was a fallen angel. A beautiful caramel-skinned angel with a heart-stopping body, full lips, and an impressive array of tattoos. But it was his warm hazel eyes and gentle smile told her she had nothing to fear from him.

Fallen angels were tricky that way.

“Bethany. Move out of the way, lover. I feel like I know you already.” A slender woman with strawberry blonde hair, freckles, and sparkling blue eyes nudged the angel aside and wrapped Bethany in a surprisingly strong embrace.

Hugging. Remember? You read about this. It’s how normal people say hello.

Her inner cynic was a smartass.

This had to be Michelle’s college friend and, up until the last few months, her roommate. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Ms. Jarod.”

“Oh, call me Allegra, please. Besides,” she pulled back and smiled lovingly at the man beside them. “I’ll be Mrs. Rousseau in a few more days.”

So the angel was Celestin Rousseau. His mother had certainly named him appropriately. A few more days? “You’re getting married on Halloween?”

While I’m here?

“All Saints’.” The gorgeous Ben had stopped ravaging Michelle and come to join their conversation, Bethany’s small red suitcase in his hand. “The first day of November, when we honor those who have crossed over.”

Creepy.“That’s, um, so romantic and unexpected.”

And if Michelle had bothered to tell her, she would have bought the couple something from their registry.

Michelle’s laugh was loud and familiar, making Bethany smile. “By unexpected, she means I didn’t tell her, but that’s because they only decided on the date a week ago. And it is unusual, but Allegra chose it for incredibly romantic reasons.”

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