Page 7 of Cajuns. Love. Curves.

“And I'm just supposed to go with you? No questions asked? Of course I am because that's what they always expect me to do. Just do what you're told, Ava,” I say, mocking my father’s voice.

Remy cups my cheek. “We’re going to figure this out, sugar.”

Then he turns around, and I'm presented with his back which is full of muscles. I didn't even know backs have that many muscles. But aside from that, there's a gorgeous blue and green giant octopus tattoo on the right side of his back that's kind of crawling up his shoulder. It's stunning really. I reach out and run my fingers over the tentacles because they look so real. I can't not touch it, and he's shivers under my touch.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn't have just…”

“That's okay, sugar.” Remy looks over his shoulder at me and his eyes are the same damn color as the octopus. “You can touch me whenever you want.”

“It looks so real.” I swipe my finger again across one of the tentacles, nearly expecting it to feel slimy or rubbery. But I’m only met with the warmth of Remy’s toned skin.

“Yeah, he did a really good job. You got any ink?”

I snort. “No, I wish. But my mother would have a fit if I inked any part of my body.” I reach up and fluff my now much shorter hair. “In fact, she's going to have a stroke when she sees my hair. She'll probably make me wear a wig.”

Remy’s put on a t-shirt now hiding the rest of his gorgeous ink and muscles.

“I hope she doesn’t make me shave my head and start over.”

“Shave your head? That’s ridiculous,” Remy says. “We can try to fix it. Wash it out. Color it a different color. You know, you could go pink or purple if she doesn't like green.”

“Oh no,” I shake my head. “She'll be devastated that I cut it and devastated that I colored it anything other than the regular mousy brown that I was born with.”

He squeezes my arms. “Okay, let's go get some food because I'm starving. And I can't think when I'm hungry. Then we'll come up with a plan. And we'll talk about all of this because obviously, I was misled.” He pinches the bridge of his nose.

Misled. That’s not surprising.

An hour later I’m dressed in my own clothes—thanks to my sister running my bag to town for me—and Remy and I are seated in a restaurant called Gator’s.

“It smells so good in here, I could eat the table,” I say.

He chuckles. “I’m glad you think so.”

Just then a middle-aged woman with an easy smile and a salt and pepper braid comes over to the table. She pulls Remy up to her.

“Look at my baby boy. Are you hungry again,cher?” Then her eyes slide to me, eyes that look very similar to Remy’s. She smiles broadly. “Who did you bring me?”

“Mama, this is Ava. We’re in a bit of a hurry, but we’re hungry,” Remy says.

chapterfive

Remy

Mama smacks me up the side of my head. “You bring a lovely woman to meet me, then tell me you’re in a hurry?”

“Mama, please.” I try to give her a look that says, ‘I might want this girl, but we’ve got stuff to figure out so back off.’

But my mother is ignoring my clear signals and she just keeps grinning at Ava.

“We should have gone to Ruthie’s Diner,” I mumble.

“Remington Joseph Guidry!” my dad bellows from the kitchen.

I close my eyes and shake my head and I swear I hear Ava giggling which is the prettiest fucking sound I’ve ever heard. I peek at her then mouth, “I’m sorry.”

“Emmy, come’er, baby,” my dad calls to my mom.

“You two wait right here,” Mama says. Then she pins me with a glare. “Remy, if you step a foot in Ruthie’s, I won’t make any of your favorites for Christmas.” Then she stalks off.

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