Mischief in Mudbug (21 page)
Sabine brushed a single tear from her face with the back of her hand. “Well, you always told me not to contradict my elders…”
Three hours later, Sabine crawled into her bed at the hotel, certain she was going to sleep for a week. Mildred was tucked in her bed at the hotel, absolutely refusing to stay in the hospital another minute. The hospital staff didn’t argue over the release, probably glad she was going and worried about being sued for letting killers have free access to the patients. Maryse was asleep on her couch, refusing to give up her patrol duties, especially after passing out on the job.
Mildred had given her statement to the Mudbug police and explained how Raissa walked in after the fact, but Sabine knew she was lying about that part. Once the dust had settled on all of this, Sabine was going to get the truth out of her. She turned off the lamp and pulled up the covers. She was just about to doze off when she heard the connecting door open.
“Sabine?” Beau whispered. “Are you asleep?”
“About two seconds from being.” She propped herself up on her elbow and looked over at him. “Did you
get everything settled at the Big House of Horrors?” Beau had left for the Fortescue estate right after the police arrived at the hospital. Without a sane person in the mix, he was afraid the state police wouldn’t have any idea what to do with a murdering socialite, a dead husband, an insane daughter, the terrified housekeeper, and the body in the backyard. Sabine only prayed that Helena hadn’t decided to “help” while the police were there.
Beau walked over to the bed and sat next to her. “It’s a real mess over there. Even the state police were blown away by all of it. Catherine’s still tight-lipped, but Adelaide is singing like a bird. They had to sedate Frances again and cart her off to the hospital. I’m thinking she might need permanent care.”
Sabine’s mind flashed back to Frances, digging in the garden in the middle of a hurricane. The expression on her face was a mixture of so many things—fear, revulsion, horror, and not an ounce of sanity left. “After all that, it’s no wonder.”
Beau placed his hand on Sabine’s. “I’m afraid you don’t know everything. Hell, I’m starting to wonder if anyone does. That place was a regular house of horrors during Catherine’s reign.” He paused for a moment, the indecision on his face clear.
“What is it, Beau? There’s nothing that could shock me now.”
Beau nodded. “I know. And this isn’t shocking as much as it makes sense but is incredibly sad.” He took a deep breath and blew it out. “The police found another body in the backyard with William…an infant. I think Frances had twins.”
Sabine’s eyes clouded with tears. “Twins…yes,
that would make sense, given the family history. I guess Adam couldn’t save the other baby.”
“I guess not. It’s all so tragic. I mean, obviously Catherine deserves no sympathy. She’s been evil from the beginning, but Frances’s mind eaten away by that horrible disease, William killed just because Catherine wanted more status and money than Lloyd would inherit, and Martin’s mother murdered and her babies stolen. Then Adam taking you and hiding from his family because he knew it was the only chance for you to live.” Beau squeezed Sabine’s hand. “Adam must have been an incredible man.”
Sabine brushed a tear from her cheek. “I think he was, and my mother…well, the woman I thought…oh, you know. I mean, she had to know what they were doing and she agreed to it to save me. They were still my parents in every sense of the word for as long as they lived.”
Beau nodded. “They loved you enough to die for you. I’d say that definitely makes them mom and dad.” Beau leaned down and wrapped his arms around Sabine. “I am so sorry, Sabine. I expected something bad when I took your case. That’s why I wanted to stick around even after we found your family. I didn’t want you working with someone inexperienced with these things.”
Sabine gave a single laugh. “You mean inexperienced with an evil grandmother, a crazy aunt, and a gun-toting ghost?”
Beau released Sabine a bit and pulled back enough to smile down at her. “The ghost was more than anyone would want to take. I gave her a ride back into Mudbug. She was in my truck and passed me a note. I had to stop
at the convenience store and buy her a dozen hotdogs and a whole box of moon pies. I didn’t think the dead were supposed to be so expensive.”
Sabine smiled. “Helena sorta operates by her own set of rules.”
“Well, I never would have believed it if I hadn’t seen it, and I like to think I’m fairly open-minded. All the same, I’m glad she’s around.”
“Me, too,” Sabine said, “but don’t you dare ever tell her that.”
Beau laughed, and then his expression grew serious. “And what about me…have you given any more thought to having me around? I wouldn’t bill you for it, of course.”
Sabine sobered. “I don’t know. I’m drawn to you like I never have been to anyone else. I care about you, and more importantly, I respect and admire you, but I don’t even know what my own future holds. How can I ask you to live that way?”
“You mean one day at a time with you?” Beau placed his hands on both sides of her face and lowered his head, brushing her lips gently with his. He pulled back a bit and looked at her. “I love you, Sabine LeVeche. I don’t care if we have fifty years together or two weeks. What I
do
know is that I don’t want to live one more minute of either of our lives without you.”
Sabine’s heart pounded in her chest and tears filled her eyes. Everything around her seemed to blur, but Beau remained clear. It was a huge risk, but she knew she had to start living. It might be her last chance to do so. “I love you, Beau. God help us both. I don’t want to spend another minute without you in my life, either.”
Beau pulled her close to him and hugged her as if he
would never let go. And the wonderful thing is that Sabine knew he wouldn’t.
“We’re going to do everything possible for you, Sabine,” Beau promised. “Even if it means extorting bone marrow from Frances.”
Sabine leaned back a bit and looked at him, her eyes filled with tears but her heart full of the love for this man who had put everything on the line to protect her. “That won’t be necessary. Mildred was tested last night in the hospital. She’s a match.”
Beau’s eyes lit up with the hope and promise that Sabine felt for the first time in a long time. He lowered his lips to hers and she melted into his embrace, hoping she had a long, long time to feel as good as she did right now.
One week later
Sabine closed her shop and walked upstairs to her apartment. She could hear soft music playing inside before she even opened the door, but nothing prepared her for the gorgeous man standing in her kitchen, chopping vegetables and wearing nothing but an apron and a smile.
“I’m making you my famous spaghetti,” he said.
She walked into the kitchen and pulled his apron to the side, laughing as he playfully slapped her hand away. “Tease,” she said. “So does your secret recipe call for cooking in the nude?”
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “No.
You
call for me cooking in the nude. For some reason, when I’m around you I don’t feel like wearing clothes.” He eased back from her a bit and studied her face. “How are you feeling?”
Sabine smiled. “No side effects from the radiation at all. I think Maryse may be up for a Nobel Prize some day.”
“And did the doctor call with your test results?”
“Just before I closed up. He said I’m responding well to treatment and everything looks great.”
The relief on Beau’s face was apparent. “Then I have a surprise for you.”
“What kind of surprise?”
“The kind that involves you leaving this state for the first time. And it has a beach, and a private hut, and a minister waiting for a phone call from me. That is, if you’re willing to marry a naked chef.”
“Well, I don’t know. You might want to put on clothes before we meet with the minister.”
“Is that a yes?”
She leaned in and kissed him gently on the lips. “That’s a definitely.”
To my friend, Tracey Stanley, for being a constant reminder that there are truly good people in this world. To my fabulous critique partners and friends, Colleen Gleason, Cari Manderscheid, and Cindy Taylor for keeping me on task and propping me up with wine and homemade cookies. My parents Jimmie and Bobbie, brother Dwain, sis-in-law Donna, and incredible niece Katianne, for all your support. My mentor, Jane Graves, for all your support, whether it was a plot problem or career advice—I’m lucky to have you. To my agent, Kristin Nelson, for taking a chance on something different and always believing in my ability to write, even when I sometimes forget. And to my incredible editor, Leah Hultenschmidt, for your brilliant editorial comments that always take my story to another level. And a huge THANKS to the cover artists for the absolute best covers in publishing—I love the shoe!
TROUBLE IN MUDBUG
“DeLeon brings her spunky style to a novel that’s plenty of fun to read. The characters are easy to indentify with and demonstrate their multifaceted personalities in their actions and words. DeLeon is excellent at weaving comedy, suspense and spicy romance into one compelling story.”
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RT Book Reviews
“Funny and exciting Deleon manages to keep you guessing and laughing from start to finish…I would recommend this to anyone.”
—Night Owl Romance Reviews
“A lighthearted romp…loaded with humor, intrigue and romance.”
—Genre Go Round Reviews
“Interesting characters and a fun and entertaining mystery make
Trouble in Mudbug
a novel I highly recommend.”
—Romance Reviews Today
“The quirky characters keep the action moving and I’m sure Mallory has been sitting next to me every time I go to the casino.”
—Barbara Vey,
Publishers Weekly
Beyond Her Book Blog
“With original, smart and comedic writing, DeLeon delivers a three-dimensional hero and heroine, a community of offbeat secondary characters, a complex and intriguing plot with a hint of paranormal and a fascinating peek into the world of casino poker.”
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RT Book Reviews
“Ms. DeLeon has an excellent knack at weaving the total story together. She gives the right amount of mystery and suspense with plenty of romance and lots of laughter thrown in. I enjoyed every page and found it hard to put down. I think many people will be putting
Unlucky
on their keeper shelves.”
—Once Upon A Romance
“Ms. DeLeon provides a great plot and a lot of mystery. The heat that sizzles off of Mallory and Jake keeps you turning the pages to see what will happen next. And right when you think you have it all figured out, you realize you don’t. Things are never as they seem on the bayou!”
—The Romance Reader’s Connection
“
Rumble on the Bayou
is a wonderful, poignant and fun mystery…Filled with likable and interesting individuals, this first-rate debut novel is a truly fantastic read.”
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RT Book Reviews
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1
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stars;
Reviewers Choice Nominee
“Jana DeLeon’s debut had me chuckling from the opening pages, and I never stopped laughing. It’s a fresh, fast-paced, fabulously funny mystery where sexy blondes have brains, small towns swarm with crazy characters, and everyone’s afraid of the gators!”
—Diana Peterfreund, author of
Secret Society Girl
“Racy, rambunctious, rollicking.”
—Carolyn Hart, author of
Dead Days of Summer
“A very impressive debut novel.
Rumble on the Bayou
kept me enthralled from the first page to the last!”
—Fresh Fiction
“Debut author Jana DeLeon has created a whole passel of down-to-earth, wonderful characters, and a page-turning, interesting mystery.
Rumble on the Bayou
is a perfect blend of secrets, intrigue, romance and laughter.”
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Affaire de Coeur
LOVE SPELL®
October 2009
Published by
Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.
200 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
Copyright © 2009 by Jana DeLeon
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