Cajun Spice (9 page)

She was so confused. Well, as she thought about it now, maybe he couldn’t have told her his real purpose in meeting up with her. At least not in the beginning. But after they got to know each other better. Became intimate. God, what a misleading word. They’d had sex. Raw and raunchy, slow and refined, but that was what it was. If they’d been truly intimate, he’d have told her what was going on, not led her on.

Wait a minute, Daisy. The guy was doing a job. What would you have done?

Daisy rode up in the elevator and rolled her suitcase into the hotel room, closed and locked the door, and threw herself on the bed. She was exhausted, mentally and physically, and sick at heart. Truth be told, she had foolishly fallen in love with Marc Doucet, her Cajun spice, and it killed her that once again she’d allowed herself to be taken in by a man.

She shut off the voice in her head. She wasn’t interested in listening to reason. She wanted to kick and scream and vent all her anger and dismay, preferably at Marc. Then she wanted to have a good old-fashioned cry. Because truth be told, in only a few days she had fallen in love with Marc Doucet. They hadn’t said the words to each other, but she had decided to give him her cell number and see if they could reconnect when she had a job and a place to live and a future. Maybe a future with him. That was before she’d learned what an idiot she had been.

When it came crashing down on her head, she’d shattered. On top of everything else, it was all too much for her to handle. Now she had to pick up all the bits and pieces of her life and see if she could build a new one—fortunately without Craig but unfortunately without Marc. She could do it. She wasn’t without skills or training or knowledge. And she was too strong to let crap like this defeat her. Tomorrow. She’d start tomorrow, in the morning. After a good night’s sleep.

But first she was going to indulge in a really good cry. She was definitely entitled.

*****

Marc managed to get a flight out right after Daisy’s and had barely arrived home before Larry showed up at his door.

“I don’t want to discuss anything with you,” Marc told him. “Not now, anyway. I need to straighten out my thoughts. Besides, right now you’re not my favorite person.”

“I understand.” Larry nodded his head. “I did what I had to do, and I am truly sorry an innocent woman got hurt. From what we’ve found out in the last few hours, she was as much a victim in this whole thing as Myers’ clients.”

“Too bad you didn’t know that before this little fiasco played out.”

His boss sighed. “Marc, you’re a very good agent. An excellent one. I know you’re aware of what was needed and dug in and did it. But I never expected you to fall for the target. You didn’t expect it, either.”

Marc snorted. “No shit.”

“I know this has been a bitch of a situation for you,” Larry told him, “but maybe I can help a little with the straightening out.”

“Yeah? Can you get Daisy to change her mind?”

“No, that’s up to you, but I can give you the time off to go forward with it.” He sighed. “We’ve been working with Interpol on this, and tonight they arrested Craig Myers with most of the money in diamonds as he was about to make a sale. There are still some bucks unaccounted for, but I think he’s ready to make a deal. So basically, the case is closed except for tying up some loose ends and handing it over to the federal prosecutor.”

“Thank god for that.”

“Get some sleep.” Larry started for the door. “You look like crap. She’ll throw you out in the street if you show up looking like that.” He handed Marc a small card.

“What’s that?”

“The hotel where we put her up and her room number. Good luck.”

Marc was up early, but as tired as he was, he was too antsy to sleep. His brain was in overdrive, and his emotions were all over the place—a rare thing for a man who usually had a tight rein on them. He fueled his body with coffee from the café on the corner then ran some important errands before he caught a cab to the hotel.

He was showered, shaved, dressed in a nice shirt and slacks. Not that his appearance would sway Daisy but better than showing up looking like a bum. At ten o’clock, hoping she was still in the room, he juggled his packages and knocked on her door. When she opened the door, he looked at her and his heart swelled. She was slightly rumpled from sleep, her gorgeous hair tumbled around her face. She had a short red satin robe wrapped around her, the lapels open just enough that he could see the matching nightie beneath it. He had to restrain himself from barging into the room, throwing her on the bed, and ripping off her gown and robe.

That sure won’t score me any points.

“Daisy.” He was surprised he could get his tongue untangled enough to say her name.

She nodded once. “Marc.” She narrowed her eyes, studying the things he was carrying. “What’s all this?”

“Hi. My name is Marc Doucet, and I happen to be in love with a smart, sexy, gorgeous woman named Daisy Karr, and I’ve made a royal mess of things. I can do a lot better if she’ll give me half a chance.”

Conflicting expressions washed across her face, anger and resentment tempered with humor.

“May I please come in?”

He held his breath, waiting for her answer. Finally, she stood aside and gestured for him to enter the room.

“For you,” he said, with a slight bow, and handed her the big florist box he was carrying. When she opened it, her eyes widened.

“Daisies?”

He nodded. “Daisies for Daisy.”

“Where did you get them this time of year?”

“It wasn’t easy, I can tell you that.” When she started to speak, he held up his hand. “I know, I know. Flowers don’t begin to make up for this mess, but”—he gave her a lopsided smile—“at least they got you to open the door.” He plucked one from the box and handed it to her. “With my love.”

He set the rest of the flowers down along with the box of gourmet candy.

“Trite, right?” He tried another grin. “I thought I’d go with the tried and true.”

“Marc,” she began again.

“Not done here.” He took a small white box from his pocket. When he opened it and held it out to her, her eyes widened at the sight of the daisy love charm on a thin silver chain.

“The charm.” She looked at it as if afraid to touch it, but he saw a softening of the look in her eyes.

“They tell me this chain is indestructible,” he assured her. “Not even the worst fit in the world can destroy it.” He opened the clasp and gestured, asking silent permission to fasten it around her neck. When she shook her head, a pain shot through him and his heart clenched.

“I have some things to say first,” she told him, tightening the sash on her robe.

Not that it did much good. It pulled the fabric tight to her body so the roundness of her breasts and the hard points of her nipples were clearly defined.

Don’t slobber. Let her say her piece.

“Take all the time in the world,” he told her. “I have nothing but time, and I plan to spend it on you.”

“I was very angry at you,” she began.

“And with good reason,” he interrupted. “I should have been totally up front with you the moment I knew this was more than trying to coax information from you with a little flirtation. My bad and I take full responsibility.”

“And I’ll let you.” She ran her tongue over her lower lip, and his cock hardened almost to the point of pain. “Your boss talked to me about it, too. I understand your situation. It just—” She waved a hand in the air.

“Hurt,” he finished for her. “I know that, and if I could take it back, I would. I promise you that.”

“I’ve done a lot of thinking about things. I didn’t get too much sleep last night.”

“Neither did I.” She gave him a stern look, so he shut up.

“I’m sure you can understand that at the moment I have real trust issues where men are concerned. It bothers me that someone as smart as I think I am was duped not once but twice.”

“I—” he started but she glared at him. “Okay, okay. Go on.”
But please can there be a good part here?

“But.” She held up a finger. “First, I was too ambitious where Craig was concerned, and I think I used him as much as he used me. I truly believed he could help me move ahead at the investment firm.”

He nodded, afraid to open his mouth.

“Second, despite everything, I believe I lost at least part of my heart in New Orleans to a very spicy Cajun. When Agent Choate made me take a hard look at the situation, I realized you were between a rock and a hard place. So”—she moved so she was right in front of him—“I’d be willing to start over with a certain Cajun if he swears never to omit the truth again and always be up front with me.”

“Can he tell you that the first thing he wants to be up front with is he loves you?” His pulse had accelerated with anticipation. Was he really going to get a chance here?

Her full lips curved in a slow smile. “I think that would be a very good place to start. As long as he means it?”

Thank god.

“More than you know.” He fastened the necklace around her neck before she could change her mind.

“I have a lot ahead of me,” she told him. “I need to find a place to live. Get a new job—”

He couldn’t wait a moment longer. He cupped her cheeks with his palms and brought her mouth close to his. “I think I can help with that. But first this.”

Her lips tasted so sweet, and when she opened her mouth for him, he wasted no time sweeping his tongue inside. It took every bit of self-control not to rip off her robe and gown and toss her on the bed.

Slowly, jerkhead. Slowly.

When he finally, reluctantly broke the kiss, he still cradled her head in his palms. He was drowning in those hazel eyes with the tiny flecks of gold, and if he didn’t get inside her soon, he’d explode. But he had things to say.

“Now. About that job. Forensic accountant, huh? I spoke to my boss about it and—”

She touched his lips with the tip of a finger.

“After,” she told him.

He raised an eyebrow. “After what?”

“This.”

Enthusiastically, she tumbled to the bed, taking him with her. They didn’t get back to talking for a long time afterwards.

PRETTY FACE by SABLE HUNTER

Cody’s life is defined by two great truths. She is in love…and she has committed a great sin. Cody has been playing with fire and she’s about to get burned. Hungry for attention, she allowed a wonderful man to fall in love with her. Their only contact has been on the internet and telephone conversations. Cody put a good spin on her life by telling half-truths and sending photos of a woman with a beautiful body and a pretty face, only the woman wasn’t Cody. Scarred by abuse, she hides from prying eyes.

Cody loves Hunter enough to let him go. Full of guilt, she is prepared to disappear from his life. Hunter begs to meet her but she refuses. But if Cody won’t come to him, Hunter will come to Cody.

Louisiana is in the midst of Mardi Gras, a time of love, laughter and letting the good times roll. Masks are worn at Mardi Gras and the mask Cody wears will hide more than a pretty face.

http://sablehunter.com/

****

CAJUN SPICE by DESIREE HOLT

Daisy Kerr’s life has reached the edge of the cliff and fallen off. Her so-called fiancé Craig Myers has embezzled millions from the investment firm where they both work and left her holding the bag. The FBI thinks she’s somehow involved, she’s been fired from her job and the condo she lives in belongs to Craig. Heartsick and depressed, she decides to use the tickets Craig had bought for their trip to Mardi Gras and see if she can “Let eh good times roll” in New Orleans. For a few days she can party and forget about her troubles. Maybe even meet a sexy Cajun man to take her mind of her troubles. A fling sounds really good to her right about now.

Leaving the airport she meets Marc Doucet, a Louisiana native now living in New York. He tells her he’s in town on business but he’d love to show her the ropes of Mardi Gras. And a whole lot more. It’s not long before he’s really putting some Cajun spice in her life and then some. Sex had never been so good or made her feel so special. Maybe they might even see each other back in New York if she can straighten out the mess her life is.

But what Daisy doesn’t know is Marc is an FBI agent sent to ferret out any knowledge she might have of Craig’s scheme. His plan was to romance her, until romance landed in their laps for real. When Daisy overhears him in a phone conversation with his boss she feels betrayed once again and can’t get out of town fast enough. It will take a grand gesture on Marc’s part to get past the new walls around her heart and convince her what they have is real.

****

HURRICANES & HANDCUFFS by JODI REDFORD

Gabrielle Scott is fed up with helping her playboy boss seduce and woo his countless bimbettes courtesy of her culinary masterpieces. Yeah, the pay is good, and you can’t beat the luxurious digs she’s treated to as his resident personal chef. But she can’t afford the frustration of living under the same roof with the one man who drives her crazy in every possible way. The damnable truth? She’s in love with the irredeemable bastard, and the only way she’ll get over him is to get naked under him. The plan? Attend Jax’s annual Mardi Gras ball incognito and entice him into a hot night of sin—right before handing in her resignation.

Jaxon Noble always gets what he wants. Especially when it comes to the opposite sex. So when Gabbi shows up at his party in an eye-popping costume and outrageously flirts with him it’s a foregone conclusion that she’ll finally be his. He’s more than happy to go along with her game, and the combustible heat they generate together proves it was well worth the wait to have her. But when morning comes and Gabrielle calmly announces she’s quitting, Jax is faced with the sobering fact that perhaps money can’t buy everything. Or more to the point—the only person who’s ever meant anything to him.

For someone who’s used to winning at all costs, losing Gabbi isn’t an option. And Jax will pull out every sweet and sexy trick to convince her to take a chance on a forever with him. Even if it means handcuffing her to his bed.