Bayou Stix Series: Bayou Stix Limited Edition Box Set (55 page)

The Rusty Nail is a favorite of mine. The wood paneled walls with the long bar and the stage in the corner gives a warm, welcoming feel while still being hip. Personal photos are behind the bar, on the walls, next to the taps and liqueur bottles. It’s an amazing representation of NOLA and I’m glad I brought Blue here. Grabbing a table in the corner, I sit her down. Leaning in I ask, “What do you want to drink?”

She looks at me with glee-filled eyes and responds, “Whatever. Something good.” She winks. Shaking my head I head to the bar to get our drinks and order beers for the band.

The bartender is another friend of mine and we’ve spent some time together in the past. She’s a badass, but a killer mixologist. She meets my eyes as she mixes our drinks, before looking back down. “So, Jessie. This is the first time you’ve brought a woman like that in here. Who is she?”

I smile at her teasing tone. “That would be Blue Delaney. My girlfriend.” I chuckle as she loses her grip on the bottle of liquor and almost drops it. She sets it on the bar and leans into me.

“Your
girlfriend
?” She asks.

Winking at her, I shrug. “Yeah, my girlfriend. As in I’m a one woman man now. Who the fuck would have thought that one out, huh, Kari?”

She whistles and grins at me. “Who indeed?! Happy for you, Cha.” She looks over my shoulder and her grin widens. “That one looks like she has some fire in her. I bet she keeps you on your toes.” Leaning over, she kisses my cheek. She mutters as she gets back to the drinks, “Jessie Adams off the market. Women around the world are crying.”

We chat a bit more and then she slides me the drinks and heads to the stage to personally deliver Rich’s drink after declaring our first round “On the house.”

Blue is watching me as I get back to the table with a slight frown on her face. I set her drink in front of her and she looks at it. “What is that?”

Smirking, I take a sip of my own. “The Rusty. It’s their signature drink. Taste it.”

She takes a small sip. She nods her head to show she likes it, but then pierces me with her blue gaze. “Who was that woman who kissed you? I’m not trying to be jealous, but a beautiful woman just kissed you. I’d like to know who exactly that was.”

I laugh. She glares at me and crosses her arms. Leaning over the table, I grab her face and kiss her. She looks at me with arched brows when I pull away. She wants an answer.

Well shit, I guess this is it. Damn, I’ve been with a lot of women. I didn’t really think this through. Here goes nothing.

Sighing, I press my palms to the table, but meet her gaze. “That’s Kari. A friend. I’ve known her a long time. We’ve only ever been friends. She was kissing me because I told her you were my girlfriend and she was surprised and happy for me.”

“Have you had sex with her?” She boldly asks while holding my gaze.

Shifting uncomfortably, I squeeze the table. “Well, yes. A few times. But it was just us having sex.” My foot is tapping rapidly under the table and my stomach is in knots. Why is telling Blue things she already knows so hard?! “Don’t get mad, but kind of like you and Jude.”

She gasps and her lips compress into a solid line before she releases her breath and bites her lip. “Direct hit. Ok. I believe you.” She traces the top of her glass and looks at me under her lashes. “Jessie?”

I’m staring at her, holding my breath. “Yeah?”

“Does that bother you?” Her breath catches and I see her wipe her palms on her pants leg. “Me – that we – that I’ve had sex with Jude?”

Blowing out a breath and taking a long drink from my glass before placing it back on the table, I reply, “I don’t like it. But, that was a long time ago and I know that you two have only ever been friends. I can’t say anything to you about who you’ve been with. Hell, look at me. You know I’m a ‘manwhore’ and you still want to be with me. And you haven’t been with a fraction of, ugh… of what I have.” I grab my nape and squeeze while pulling my lip ring into my mouth.

“You
were
a ‘manwhore’. You aren’t anymore.” She leans over the table and I’m distracted by the lush breasts on display directly in my line of vision. I look up and catch the smirk on her face before she crashes her lips into mine.

Whoa.

Once I can think again, I adjust my jeans and shake my head at her. “I swear you’re a witch. If I didn’t know better I’d think you put the voodoo juju on me.”

She laughs heartily and sits back down with her drink. “When in New Orleans…” Tipping her glass to me, she takes a sip.

I catch the look shot at me from the stage and smile and shrug while raising my glass.

They play for about another half an hour, then stop for a break. I ask Blue if she’d like to head out to the courtyard to get some air. She says yes and we head outside.

“Wow, Jessie. This place is great. I’ve been to clubs all over the world and this bar is amazing. I love the ambiance. It’s almost like another world. I see why you wanted a house here. And to think, this was just over an hour from you growing up.”

She’s rambling. Why is she nervous?

I pull out a chair and straddle it as she takes a seat at one of the bistro tables. “Yeah. It’s pretty great. I love it here. The sights, the sounds, the smells.” At her look, I laugh. “Ok, not
all
of the smells. Piss and vomit on the streets during Mardi Gras I can probably do without.” The look of revulsion on her face cracks me up. “I love that you can walk through so much culture and history here and the abundance of some of the best musicians in the world is unimaginable. It’s so culturally diverse and has so many different cultures woven into one. It’s so unique. So New Orleans.” I look around me and smile. I really do love it here.

“Why do you say it like that?” She asks curiously.

“What? Say what like that?” I’m lost. What did I say?

“You say it like its one word. It flows together. You say
Nawlins
. Isn’t it New Orleans?”

Chuckling, I answer. “Only to tourists.”

“Oh, well I need you to teach me how to say it correctly.” She smiles the smile that makes my knees give out. Thank God I’m sitting down already. I nod at her as she says, “I don’t want to sound like a tourist.”

We hear the amusement in his voice as another chair is pulled out. “Don’t let Jessie fool you. He’s a tourist too.” He sits down and turns to Blue. “Rich Collins. And you are?”

Blue laughs. “Blue Delaney. Nice to meet you.” Smiling at him, she says, “I loved your music back there. You’re very rock with a jazz and soul undertone. You kind of remind me of Trent Reznor too, but you’re original. I enjoyed it.”

He grins and shakes my hand. “Thank you little lady. Quite a compliment. I’m glad you liked it. So, who are
you
to this guy?”

Shaking my head, I mutter, “Subtle, Rich. Real subtle.” But, I wait for Blue to answer him.

She looks at me with an arched brow, I shrug back, and she smiles. “I’m his girlfriend.”

Rich chokes on his beer. Slapping him on the back and hitting my knee I laugh. “You ok there, man? Don’t die. Your wife will kill me if you leave her with all those kids!”

Grabbing my arm, he laughs again. “I’m good. You just shocked me. His girlfriend… Seriously,
this beautiful woman
is your girlfriend?” He looks back at Blue with amusement. “Do you actually know him?” He jerks his head at me. Asshole.

Laughing so hard she has to grab her stomach, she answers him. “I do. I have for a long time. Though until recently all I wanted to do was punch him in the face.” She snorts. How the hell is even that sexy?

Rich snorts too. “Really, that is awesome. How do you know him?”

I answer before she can. “She worked for Rock Hard Magazine. She was the lead reporter.”

He whistles. “Rock Hard Magazine, sweet. Quite a gig. You
worked
for them? As in past tense?”

She nods her head and drains her drink. “Yes. I no longer work there.”

“I’ve heard they’re jerks anyway.”

I stand up. “I’m going get another drink. Blue, you want another one or something else? Rich, you good?”

He tips his beer to me and says he’s fine. Blue asks for another of the same. I leave them out in the courtyard saying I’ll be back.

Blue

Jessie leaves to get our drinks. I like his friend Rich. He’s very charming and seems like a lot of fun. I’m also not worried because Jessie mentioned a wife and a few kids. He is attractive though.

“So, Blue… how long have you been with Jessie?”

“Not that long. I was on the last tour with them for the magazine and towards the end of the tour, we sort of got together.” I laugh as I think back on all that’s transpired over the past month.

He’s watching me, but not in a creepy way, more like taking me in. “You love him.” It’s a statement, not a question. I nod and he continues. “You must be something special. I’ve known Jessie for over twenty years.” He leans back in his chair and balances it on two legs. “I’ve never been introduced to a
girlfriend
before. In fact, I’ve never been introduced to any woman he’s been with.” The chair comes forward and he rests his elbows on the table as he continues. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”

I nod again. “I do. He loves me.” My smile explodes across my face. I still can’t believe that.

Rich smiles back. “Well, I’ll be damned. If he’s told you that… I’ll just be damned. I’m happy for you both. He’s a good guy.”

“He is. He still has his moments when I could smack him, but he’s an amazing man.” I stare into the distance before turning back to Rich. “So, Rich, is this all you do?”

“What? Sing in bars?” At my nod, he answers. “No, not really.” He snickers.

From behind his back another beer is placed in front of him. My drink is set down too. Jessie grabs a chair and straddles it. “Got you another one anyway. And no, Blue. Rich is part of a rock band of sorts. Bayou Stix for babies.”

“What? A rock band for babies?!” Looking at Jessie sharply, I check to make sure he’s not drunk. “Are you being serious?”

Rich starts to answer. “I’m in a band.”

Jessie answers at the same time. “He’s in a kid’s rock band. I hear they’re pretty good. The short people love them. Hell, some tall people love them too.” He’s smirking the whole time. “If I had kids, I’d probably think he was cooler than he is too.” He winks at Rich.

Rich laughs. “I’m part of The Brainstormers. We’re a kid’s rock band, yes.”

Jessie puts his hand on my thigh and says, “They rock out about letters, and numbers, and manners.”

“Really, maybe I should download you a copy if they teach about manners.” I retort in exasperation. “Really, Jessie!?”

Rich cracks up. “I like this one. I like her a lot. You should keep her!” Then standing up, he says he needs to get back inside and asks if I mind if he drags Jessie up on stage with him. I say I don’t and we all head back inside.

Jessie plays with the band the rest of the night and I tap my feet and dance to the music. I don’t remember when I’ve enjoyed a night more. At one point, another drink appears at my table and the pretty bartender winks and walks away.

Once we head back to the condo and Jessie unwraps his “present” and worships my body all night, I decide I owe Bradi a
really
good Christmas present!

I really do love
Nawlins.

Jessie

B
lue and I have spent the past two days exploring New Orleans. She’s taken to the city like I never expected. I took her on the Haunted History Tour, though I’ve been several times over the years. She went all “fan girl” at one point because we passed one of those vampires she watches on TV in the street. Apparently they’re filming a spinoff series in town. Great, more vampires. He was actually a very cool, British dude. Nice guy and Blue was acting like our fans act around us. It was hilarious to see her out of her element like that, though I could have done without her drooling over him right in front of me.

We get the keys to our townhouse on Monday, so we’re both floating on cloud nine. The rest of the gang will be here in about two hours to kick off the weekend’s festivities, so we’re straightening up the condo. I’m making a run to the liquor store while she lays out the goodies we grabbed at Central Grocery earlier.