Rue Toulouse (49 page)

Minutes passed while Miss Dauphine stared into her eyes, then she sighed. “I would have preferred to have this conversation with you in a more private and comfortable setting, but if you wish to discuss this now, so be it. Let me make myself perfectly clear. I do not dislike Mr. Michaud. I find him an honest, hardworking, honorable man who would make you a fine husband. What I am opposed to is you and him rushing into a marriage based on a relationship that had its beginnings in what could only be described as stressful and emotional circumstances. I’m afraid once you begin living normal lives, you’ll discover what you thought of as passionate love is nothing more than the result of two people being caught up in the excitement of the moment. I blame myself for sheltering you and not letting you experience more of life. I can’t change the past, but I can try and prevent you from making a huge mistake with your future.”

Caterine opened her mouth, but Miss Dauphine continued without giving her a chance to speak.

 
“Now, I can certainly see how Mr. Michaud could sweep a young girl off her feet and make her think she’s hopelessly in love with him, but a lasting relationship isn’t built on sexual gratification alone. All I’m asking is for you and Mr. Michaud to give your relationship time and not hurry into something you’ll both regret. I’m also asking you to spend this time living back in your own home. Now I’ve had my say. You do what you feel is right.”

“But Grandmère, I—”

“As for me, I’m tired, cold, and weary of all this. I wish to go home and check on Annabelle, then go to bed. I expect Frances and Jules dealt with our house full of guests. That’s one good thing I can say about Frances—when hit with a crisis she can handle a situation promptly. I have to say this will be a Mardi Gras I won’t soon forget. Now, if one of these young men would oblige me, I’d appreciate a ride home.”

Caterine swallowed hard then threw her arms around her grandmother. “I love you, and I promise I’ll think about what you said, but first I have to find Remi and make things right between us.”

Miss Dauphine patted her shoulder. “You go find your young man. I’ll speak with you tomorrow, which will be soon enough to deal with this ugly situation.”

Remi sat on a barstool at Erin Rose, downed his third shot of Jack Daniel’s, and lit another cigarette. Strengthened by his seething anger after leaving Caterine, he’d managed to drag out the rotten log that had been wedged under his car. Then he’d driven home, dropped off his car, and begun to walk, ending up here. He knew, considering the mood he was in, that sitting there getting drunk wasn’t a smart thing to do, but he couldn’t bring himself to go home to his apartment alone.

In all his years on the police force, he’d never felt such gut-wrenching terror as when he’d seen Hyacinth holding that knife against Caterine’s throat. In that moment he’d known that if he managed to get her safely away, he’d fight anyone at any odds to make Caterine his for the rest of their lives.
Well, it seems the lady has other plans that don’t include you
.

He finally told her he loved her, and what did she do but throw it back in his face? Christ, it was only last night he’d made love to her for most of the night, and now she was gone.
You stupid shit, you knew this day would come. Now here you sit, acting as if you hadn’t expected her to choose a life of wealth over staying with you.

He signaled for another shot.
She’ll find some guy of her own class and forget you ever existed.
The thought of another man touching Caterine sickened him and fueled his growing anger.
I’m the only man who can please you, Princess. We’ll see how long it is before you come back, wanting what I can give you.
Images of Caterine’s pleasure as she writhed beneath him had him downing that shot and ordering another.
A few more of these, and maybe I can drink her out of my mind
.

But the more he drank, the more the images of Caterine tormented his alcohol-fogged brain. His melancholy thoughts were interrupted by a group of rowdy Mardi Gras celebrants crowding around the bar. Jostled, he turned, ready to punch whoever was standing behind him. As he stared into the scared eyes of a skinny college kid with glasses, Remi realized he was way too drunk and just looking for a fight. He needed to get the hell out of there, so he tossed down more bills than necessary and made his way through the mass of people. Out on the street, he took deep breaths trying to sober up. Deciding it was hopeless, he headed home.

Caterine paced from Remi’s balcony into the living room and back out again, checking up and down Toulouse each time she stopped.
It’s three in the morning. Where is he?
She knew he had to be someplace close because his car was parked out front. She’d been surprised to find the apartment empty when she’d arrived. She needed to tell him she loved him and that she wanted to stay here with him. She also wanted to tell him she’d spoken with Ray. Randal had been tracked down in the company of that tramp, Laurie Conway. Thankfully, he had not been dressed as a devil or shooting people at the Triple Aces. Whoever that had been had managed to kill Rivette, though, ending any threat to Randal and the High Roller and canceling Charlotte’s debt.

Hyacinth and Paulette were on their way to the state hospital in Baton Rouge for psychiatric evaluation. Annabelle had been treated and released, and she was back at the house with Grandmère.

As she once again leaned over the balcony railing, Caterine heard footsteps approaching from the direction of Bourbon Street. She said a quick prayer of thanks when she saw it was Remi and that he was safe. She waited for him to see her, but he seemed to be having difficulty getting his key out of his pocket and walked right beneath her without looking up. She smiled and went to wait for him inside.

As she heard him fumbling with his key, she hurried to open the door. She took a step back at the sight that greeted her. He looked disheveled, drunk, and a little dangerous.

She moistened her lips before she spoke. “I’ve been waiting for you. Are you all right?”

Remi leaned against the doorjamb and tried to focus. Was he so drunk he was seeing things? He closed his eyes and opened them. No, she was really standing there. “What the hell are you doing here, Caterine?”

Confusion filled her face as she took a step back. “I live here. I’ve been waiting for you. I have things to tell you.”

He came into the room and slammed the door behind him. “Is that right? What is it, Princess, you’ve come to tell me? Could it be the fact that you’re done with me? Have I served my usefulness and now you’re going back where you belong? Or could it be you’ve come back for one last fuck before you go back uptown?”

Her eyes opened wide then narrowed. “Remi, you’re being vulgar and crude. Obviously, you’re still angry and this isn’t a good time for us to talk. You should just go to bed.”

“Talk about what? About how you got what you needed out of me and now I’m not good enough for you anymore? I was sure good enough to spread your legs for. I was sure good enough to put my mouth on your little
cocotte
and my dick inside you. I was sure good enough to save your sweet ass from being killed, but when it comes down to it, I’m not good enough for uptown Caterine Doucette to marry. Well, Princess, if you came wanting sex, I’ll be happy to oblige.”

As he talked, he’d been backing Caterine toward the sofa. Now as he reached for her, she adeptly scooted around to the back, putting the sofa between them.

His smile was pure satisfaction. “You want to play games, Princess. Then let’s play.”

“Remi, you’re very drunk and acting extremely mean and nasty. I don’t want you to come near me until you sober up and calm down.”

“Is that right? Then you shouldn’t have come here, because you’re right—I am drunk and looking for a fight.”

“Well, I don’t want to fight with you.” Her own anger visibly rose. “I came here to talk to you about us.”

His laugh was humorless. “What
us
? You dumped me. Remember?”

Caterine put her hands on her hips. “I did
not
dump you. And I’m not going to try and explain anything to you while you’re in this condition. You know what, Remi? You’re right. I need to leave. I’ll call you tomorrow and we’ll talk.”

She edged her way toward the end of the sofa closest to the door and began to run. Remi caught her, tumbling them both onto the thick rug in front of the fireplace, with him landing on top.

As he looked down into her startled face, all the fight in him slowly drained away, replaced by his love for her. He swallowed hard. “I can’t lose you, Princess.” He brought his mouth down on hers for a crushing kiss. Expecting resistance, he moaned deep in his throat as her mouth softened under his.

When he broke the kiss, she gently brushed the hair from his forehead. “I love you, you idiot. I don’t want to leave you. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.”

He gazed into eyes full of love and tenderness. When he spoke, his words were raw with emotion. “God, Princess, don’t leave me. I can’t live without you. I’ll love you until the day I die.”

Caterine’s eyes flooded with tears. “I love you with every breath I take, and I’ll never leave you, Pirate.”

He blinked back the moisture that filled his own eyes. “How did I not only get lucky enough to find you but lucky enough to have you love me as well?”

She smiled. “I’m the lucky one. You showed me I don’t have to be afraid to give my heart and love to someone.”

His lopsided grin was pure devil. “I’d carry you to the bed, Princess, but I think I’m too drunk to make love to you. And besides, I’m afraid we wouldn’t make it that far.”

She began to unbutton his shirt. “I kind of like it right here. I believe the floor is one place we haven’t made love.”

As she watched, his eyelids slowly began to close. “Oomph.” A whoosh of air escaped her lips as his full weight fell upon her. “Remi?” She shook him. “Remi, wake up you’re squishing me.”

She tried to shove him off, but his body was dead weight. He began to snore. “Great. Now what?” She wriggled and pushed until she was finally able to get herself out from under him.

Chapter Forty-Six

I’m going to kill whoever is ringing that fucking bell
, Remi thought as his eyes slowly opened. Blinking, he tried to clear his pounding head. As his eyes focused, he stared uncomprehendingly at the cream and green pattern beneath him. Where the hell was he, and why did his head feel like an entire zydeco band was playing inside it?

Untangling himself from a blanket, he rolled onto his back on the hearth rug and groaned. In the background, he could hear a quiet female voice. Memories of the night before began to trickle back into his whiskey-soaked brain. He put his hands over his face to block out the morning light and attempted to listen to Caterine’s phone conversation, but the accordion playing in his head was way too loud. He sensed her standing above him and eased his hands off his face, tentatively opening his eyes.