Pretty Dangerous (14 page)

“How many times did you believe Jack? What
about the last boyfriend? What’s his name; the creep who led you on
for months.” Willa sat back in her chair in a waiting pose.

Jazz finished the last chunk of cake, licked
glaze from the fork and put it down. “Okay, now I gotta stick up
for my girl. We both know being a jerk doesn’t mean he’s guilty of
a crime.”

“Thank you, Jazz.” MiMi gave Willa the
side-eye. “Some of us have forgotten that we’ve all been falsely
accused.”

“Fine, cling to him like a he’s your last
hope for a rich husband. Oh wait, he is.” Willa pretended to duck a
punch.

“Keep the jokes coming. One of them will be
funny eventually,” MiMi grumbled. She emptied the cup of lukewarm
coffee and poured more.

“Okay, okay. That was low,” Willa said, yet
still laughed. Then she grew serious. “The good news is Edselle is
confident and has a plan.”

“Yeah, but he doesn’t know what the FBI
knows,” Jazz said.

“If they prosecute they have to share
information with her lawyer.”

MiMi came back and sat down again. “You give
me hope then snatch it back.”

“Edselle has experience with federal
prosecutions. The time to worry is when he tells you to.” Willa
smiled.

“Thanks. I could use some good news. Hey, and
even if Roderick isn’t telling the truth, he’s motivated to stand
by me. We’re in this mess together. Remember his dead weed man in
Santo Domingo.” MiMi looked at Willa and Jazz.

Jazz nodded slowly. “Yeah, let’s not forget
murder.”

“Roderick needs me in case the DR National
Police decides to arrest him. He better hope they don’t have a
strong extradition treaty with the U.S.” MiMi cocked an eyebrow at
her friends.

“I’ll research it,” Willa said promptly. She
went to a notepad usually used for shopping list and began
writing.

Jazz looked at MiMi. “Wait a minute. You were
all trusting about the guy a minute ago.”

“You taught me to always have a Plan B.” MiMi
wore a hard smile. “Call it a little insurance policy.”

****

A week later MiMi and Roderick went out to
dinner at Galatoire’s, a perfect Saturday night date. Roderick
seemed intent on courting her in style. MiMi wasn’t one to refuse
being treated royally. She had to admit Roderick knew his stuff.
He’d sent flowers to her office twice. His romantic text messages
brightened her days. All that, plus there had been no more visits
from the FBI. MiMi could almost believe the storm would pass over
her.

The waiter served them grilled redfish with
garlic potatoes and tender spring vegetables. MiMi had to admit,
Roderick had the whole charming dinner companion down to
perfection. He kept her laughing with jokes about his father, and
even a few about hers. His voice changes when he imitated were dead
on.

“How do you keep a straight face when they’re
bumbling with computers and cell phones?” MiMi dabbed at the tears
on her cheek from laughing hard.

“Your father is the worse. He won’t admit he
can’t do much more than click send on an email. Mostly I just bite
my tongue and pretend they’re doing okay.” Roderick shrugged with a
cheeky grin. “It’s not honest, but it’s safer. Dad still signs my
paychecks, and I’m still in the will.”

“I doubt Daddy sends much email.” MiMi puffed
up and sat straight. “This is him. ‘If I wanted to type,
then...”

“I would have gone to secretarial school,”
Roderick finished. They both dissolved into giggles. “

“But give them credit, they’re both sharp
when it comes to business decisions.” MiMi finished the last of her
fish. The delicate flavor was a delight.

“They might be old school when it comes to
technology, but I listen when they give advice. They’re the reason
we both live so well, right?” Roderick winked at her.

“Since we were kids,” MiMi agreed. “Of course
it helped that our grandmothers and fathers left them nice estates.
But they built on what they got.”

“Exactly.” Roderick became serious. “We both
know people who pissed away assets on bad decisions, gambling,
heavy drinking.”

“Speaking of which, do you ever hear from
Andre?” MiMi sipped water. “I heard he tried to get his life
together. Y’all were tight in high school.”

“Yeah, he took partying to the next level and
it wasn’t a good thing. I haven’t heard from him in...” Roderick
blew out air. “I want to say it’s been a good ten years. He didn’t
make it to junior year at Hampton. I heard he was doing okay, but I
don’t know.”

“Hmm, hope so.” MiMi raised an eyebrow at
him. “You were sweet on his sister for a minute.”

“Whew, that’s ancient history. She’s married
with three kids and living in San Jose, California,” Roderick
replied.

“Oh yeah? I notice you kept up with her
marital status and whereabouts.” MiMi grinned when he groaned. “You
know I’m kidding.”

“Seriously though, that stupid move on our
trip is not usual me. I don’t want to be like Andre. You know, the
subject of a ‘Such a shame how his life went off the rails’
conversation over dinner.”

“I understand,” MiMi said. Then she started
when Roderick took her hand and gazed at her intently.

Roderick stroked the back of MiMi’s ring
finger. The he produce a deep blue velvet box from a pocket and
pushed it across the table. “Open it.”

MiMi felt a shiver of excitement. She
caressed the silky smooth surface as she enjoyed the anticipation.
Finally she opened it and gasped. A two carat round diamond ring
set in platinum nestled in the silver satin interior. Roderick
kissed her on the lips. Then he removed the ring and slipped it on
her right ring finger.

“I, I don’t know what to say,” MiMi murmured.
The soft lighting combined with the exclusive ambiance maximized
the romantic mood.

Roderick folded her hand in both his larger
ones. “I want only the best for you and Sage. I’m going to work
hard, make a lot of money for both our tech challenged
fathers...”

“Please help the poor things,” MiMi broke in
with a soft laugh.

She held her breath when Roderick leaned even
closer. The delicate scent of his cologne mixed with the warmth of
his solid hands thrilled her. He brushed her lips with his, then
gently nipped her bottom lip.

“I didn’t start seeing you because of my
parents, MiMi. I want to be with you. When I’m with you, it’s
real,” Roderick said softly. Then he smiled teasingly. “Hey, I
better stop before they put us out of here.”

“No, don’t. Let them stare.” MiMi sighed. She
swam happily in a haze of desire.

“So the answer is...?” Roderick kissed her
again and pulled away.

“Yes, very much yes.” MiMi wrapped both arms
around his neck.

They kissed again, admired the way her new
diamond caught the light and talked as if no one else existed in
the world. Would they buy a new house or build? Live in town or
move to a new development? Get married in Baton Rouge or on a beach
in the Bahamas? So many delightful decisions. Finally they both
wound down and simply gazed at each other.

“I’m going to the men’s room. All that sweet
tea is working on me. Be right back.” Roderick gave her cheek a
gentle pinch and left.

The waiter approached. “You need anything,
ma’am?”

MiMi let out a slow breath. “No, I’ve got it
all right here.”

The young man gave her a knowing smile. A few
older couples at nearby tables had been sneaking looks at MiMi and
Roderick. MiMi beamed back at them as she waved her hand showing
off her ring. The finest man in the room only had eyes for her. The
world could stare all night if they wanted to. Worries about
investigations and FBI questions shrank to nothing. She and
Roderick, along with their powerful families, would face down
anything. MiMi laughed to herself with delight. Then she heard the
buzzing sound in her small purse. She unzipped the soft pink
leather clutch.

“I hope everything is okay with Sage at
Adrienne’s,” MiMi muttered as she pulled out the smart phone.

Then she wore a big grin. Roderick’s cell
number displayed along with his smiling face. She opened the text
message and the attachment. MiMi sat frozen, watching the video
that seemed to play in slow motion. Fifteen seconds later Roderick
walked back to their table, turning heads and wearing his signature
gorgeous smile. And hell broke loose.

Sunday morning dawned, and MiMi dragged
herself out of bed when Willa had shown up for support. Jazz
stumbled in about an hour after Willa arrived, yawning and looking
annoyed. Sage was still at Adrienne’s house, so thankfully MiMi
could give in to self-pity.

MiMi watched Willa move in and out of the
kitchen. She straightened up the den. No doubt she’d been upstairs
as well. Jazz treated the large mug of coffee she held like a long,
lost lover. The oven bell pinged. Like a genie, Willa appeared and
went straight for it.

“As usual, Willa is playing the role of
mama,” MiMi said with a sigh.

“Humph, as usual, Willa is the control junkie
ready to order you around,” Jazz retorted.

“You know I can hear you, right?” Willa
called without turning from serving up helpings onto plates.

“Yeah, and you know I don’t care. Right?”
Jazz shot back. She picked up the first section of the Sunday
paper. “Let’s see if last night’s Rumble in the Restaurant made the
news.”

MiMi shrank into her French terry robe until
the collar hid part of her face. “That’s not funny. Please tell me
you don’t see my face in there.”

Jazz turned a few pages. “Hey, nice action
shot.”

MiMi moaned and jumped to her feet. “We have
to go over to my parents’ house.”

“What in the world are you talking about?”
Willa continued to put plates on a tray, along with two full coffee
cups.

“I have to steal the Sunday paper before they
get home from church. They go at seven and they read the paper when
they get home like clockwork.”

“Seven? In the morning? Not even God gets up
that early on Sundays,” Jazz joked. She raised the mug to her mouth
with one hand while still reading the paper.

Willa deftly spun around, grabbed MiMi by the
arm. She pushed MiMi back to the kitchen island and onto a
barstool. “Shut up. You’re gonna give her a seizure or
something.”

“Girl, I’m messin’ with you. I was talking
about this picture of a kid on his bicycle. Keep your panties on,”
Jazz said.

“Thank you, Jesus.” MiMi slumped onto the
counter top, her forehead on her folded arms. She was too relieved
to be angry at Jazz’s bad attempt at humor.

“Be grateful for sure, hitting Roderick over
the head with a bottle of wine in a restaurant. Eat something, some
protein. You’ll feel better.” Willa sat down. She ate a forkful of
food.

MiMi sniffed the air and moved to the
breakfast table and sat next to Jazz. “What is that?”

“Aunt Ametrine’s famous breakfast casserole.
You’ve got layers of eggs, two kinds of cheese, sausage and a hint
of sour cream. It should be three kinds of cheese, but I only had
two. I figured you needed us fast so I didn’t stop at the store.”
Willa spoke around chews. She drank orange juice.

“She didn’t need me at this hour. Y’all need
to remember my club closes at two in the morning.” Jazz yawned
widely as if reminded she should be in bed.

“Yeah, right. You wanted to hear the
details,” Willa shot back and continued eating.

“Speaking of...” Jazz turned to MiMi. Her
eyes lost the sleepy look. “Girl, you need to be thanking God and
everybody else you didn’t end up in jail, let alone on the news.
You hit the man over the head with a wine bottle? He could be in a
coma.”

MiMi sat up. “I didn’t hit him with a bottle!
I threw my wine glass at him. It barely tapped him on the
head.”

Willa dabbed her mouth with a napkin. She
spoke as if she hadn’t heard MiMi’s protest. “Y’all must not be
familiar with the concept of keeping a low profile.”

“And everybody says I get in trouble. Humph.”
Jazz sipped more coffee.

“Oh Lord, what if the FBI has been following
me all this time? They already know about last night.” MiMi covered
her face with both hands again.

“Kill the drama, girl. I doubt the FBI thinks
you’re that important,” Willa drawled.

“I wanna see the video. C’mon, let’s have a
show.” Jazz wiggled her eyebrows.

“Here, she sent it to me. Got it on my
tablet.” Willa grabbed her large leather purse and pulled out a
tablet computer. She hit the play button on her app.

“No, no, no.” MiMi covered her ears and
squeezed her eyes shut. Still she could hear the groans and
shrieks.

“This girl is limber, and your man got
skills. No wonder you stuck with him,” Jazz said, and let out a low
whistle.

At first sitting in the middle of the
restaurant, MiMi didn’t quite make out what she was seeing. Then
she recognized the naked male’s hip. Roderick’s strawberry shaped
birthmark was visible as the camera angle caught him gleefully
pleasuring a woman. Someone definitely not MiMi. Roderick kept up a
steady stream of dirty talk. The woman screamed back, urging him to
go faster and then to slow down. One minute and twenty-two seconds
of sex tape.

Willa tilted her head from side to side as
she watched. “Wow.”

MiMi grabbed the tablet and closed the app.
“I should have thrown a bottle, no ten.”

“Girl, I’m so, so sorry.” Willa shook her
head slowly. She gave MiMi a look of pity. “Glad I never got video
of Jack cheating. Shoot, I’d have a whole library.”

“Oh please, it’s not like she was in love
with frat boy. He’s a meal ticket.” Jazz got up and refilled her
mug.

“Real sensitive,” Willa scolded.

“Okay, watch this. Tell her, MiMi.” Jazz
started to sip coffee but froze. She gaped at MiMi. “Oh hell no.
You actually fell for this jackass?”