Restoring Hope (10 page)

Hope froze in place, as Nic took in the sight of long blonde hair, shapely legs that looked smooth as silk, and a towel that barely covered Hope’s more than generous breasts. Neither said anything, just stood there staring at each other like a deer caught in the headlights of a car. Hope watched as Nic scanned her body, his eyes growing darker, hungrier. He took a step towards her, and she came out of her frozen state squeaking out “I’m so sorry. I was taking a bath,” as she ran back down the hallway disappearing into the master bedroom.

Nic stood there for a long moment, his breath coming in deep and hard trying to force down his reaction. It had been too fucking long since he’d had a woman and seeing Hope standing there like that lit a fire in him.

Moving to the kitchen and unpacking the food he’d brought her, he pulled out the coffee pot and went to work making a pot all while the vision of Hope was seared into his brain. He pulled cups from the cabinet and then paused, he could hear the water in the tub splashing, and he groaned. In his mind’s eye, bubbles ran down her chest, clinging to what he was sure were light pink nipples. Taking a deep breath, he pulled a plate down and loaded it with beignets from the bakery down the street. He heard the sound of the tub draining and another vision of Hope standing naked, water running down her body as she grabbed a towel to dry off, and he closed his eyes and clenched his fist.

Nic turned when the coffee maker gurgled the last of the water through the filter and grabbed two cups, filling them. He pulled milk from the fridge, got sugar, put it in a bowl, and then placed them on the counter. Then he leaned back against the countertop, lowered his head, closed his eyes, and tried to will away the erection his thoughts had created.

The smell of jasmine had hit him before Hope did, and he wanted to say, “Fuck it,” grab her head and kiss her until she moaned in his mouth. But, he knew he shouldn’t, couldn’t. He needed to focus on Nicky, not on his own needs, and Hope was ready to bolt at the slightest provocation; she needed his help more than he needed her legs wrapped around his back.

Taking a deep breath, he turned his head as she walked in dressed in a loose T-shirt and shorts, and big socks covering her feet; she almost looked like a kid standing there. Before she could open her mouth to speak, Nic beat her to it and apologized.

“I should have knocked before I entered, sorry, it won’t happen again.” Hope barely met his eyes. She was mortified at having been caught in just a towel.

“It’s fine,” she laughed nervously.

Nic grinned a crooked grin, then, not being able to help himself mumbled “I’m not complaining, sugar, I just don’t want you uncomfortable your first day here.”

Hope rolled her eyes at his answer and he smiled. She looked at the counter and saw the sugar coated beignets and licked her lips. Nic’s eyes zeroed in on them and for a second wondered what she tasted like. Breaking his stare, he cleared his throat moving to the cups of coffee he’d poured.

“You take milk or sugar in your coffee?”

“Both, two sugars. You didn’t have to do this, Nic, I was going to go out in a little while and get some lunch.”

“I was hungry, figured we both could use some food, it’s no big deal.”

“Yes, it is, and I’ll repay you. I saw those bags from the grocery store.”

“Keep your money, just a friend helping out a friend.”

“I can’t let you buy me groceries, Nic.”

“You gonna be stubborn about this, too?”

“Definitely,” Hope answered.

Nic grinned and shook his head; he didn’t doubt for a minute she’d put up a fight.

“Then you can invite me for dinner when you cook the food and we’ll be even.” Hope stared at Nic, and for the life of her couldn’t find a reason to say no. Nodding her head she reached across the counter and grabbed a beignet, bit into it, smearing white powdered sugar on her nose and then closed her eyes moaning at the taste.

Nic watched as she chewed, savoring the sweet pastry, and he tried to remember the last time he’d enjoyed anything as much as the site of Hope devouring a French pastry.

“Order up,” Hope called through the kitchen pass-thru and then rang the bell for good measure. Business had been brisk that night at The Bayou; tons of tourists came in after a day of sightseeing. Rose stuck her head in the opening just as Hope was about to turn, grinning.

“How you doin’ T-Hope.”

“I’m good, Rose. How about you?”

“I always good,
Cher
. Any’ting new wit’ you?”

Hope started to say yes, but the look in Rose’s eyes said she already knew.
Crazy old woman probably put Nic up to it.

“Nothing new, Rose,” Hope answered and then watched the old woman’s face fall in disappointment. Hope almost laughed at the sight and figured it served her right. Nic’s place was beyond wonderful, but she didn’t want to get too comfortable there. It’s temporary she kept telling herself.

“I see. Well, I bettah’ get dis’ to da’ customer,” Rose groused and then grabbed the plate of Cajun fish, her lips puckered in frustration and when she was out of sight, Hope did laugh.

“What you do?” Big Daddy asked. He’d been watching the interaction between Rose and T-Hope and he could tell that something didn’t agree with the old woman.

“Teaching her a lesson,” Hope laughed.

“Fill Big Daddy in. Dat’ woman sticks her nose in everah’ones b’nez. Be good to see her get some.”

“Oh, I got moved today against my will and I think she’s behind it.”

“Where you move?”

“Nic Beuve’s downstairs condo.”

“You don’t say?”

“Yep, and I got caught with my knickers down by him too, it was so embarrassing.”

“
Cher
, trust me, da’ man won’t care if you walk around naked. Trust Big Daddy, you all dat’ and more.”

“Yeah, yeah, get back to work,” Hope laughed but a part of her wondered if Nic really did like what he saw. Not that it mattered she had to keep reminding herself. Nic was a nice guy, a great guy from what she saw, and there could never be anything between them. He deserved better, deserved someone whose past wasn’t tainted and dirty. Shaking her head at her schoolgirl crush, one that could never be acted upon, Hope got back to work filling orders.

Later that evening Rose entered the kitchen clucking her tongue with a look of triumph on her face.

“Notin’ new, huh?”

“Whatever, did you call him just to find out?” Hope asked, surprised Rose would go to that much trouble.

“No need, he come to da’ bar. Just told me himself you moved in wit’ him.”

“I was strong-armed, Rose.”

“It don’t mattah,’ you in a safe place now, dat’ what mattah,'” she preened on, happy with herself. “You should go out and say hi.”

“I’m busy.”

“It slow now, go, be nice to da’ man. You not the only one wit’ troubles.”

Hope stopped wiping down her workstation and turned towards Rose gauging her honesty. She stood there with both hands on her hips staring back at Hope, her stern face saying she was telling the truth.

“What trouble does he have?” Hope found herself asking.

“He lost his
‘tite ange
a year ago. Dat’ girl was da’ light of his life, but he couldn’t save her and he blames himself.”

“He lost his daughter?” Hope whispered her eyes already moving to the door behind Rose.

“
Oui
.”

“How?”

“Chelsea was smart but did not handle her parent’s divorce well. Got mixed up wit’ bad kids and took drugs.”

“Oh, my God.”

“Nic put her in rehab and she took off, used too much and she is wit’ God now. He blames himself for da’ drugs because of divorce.”

“Oh, my God,” she repeated again and without thinking threw her rag down and moved to the door, pushing through it and looking around until she saw Nic. He was seated at the bar, a shot of amber colored alcohol in front of him, his eyes staring out the window, lost in thought. As she walked towards him, he caught her approach, turned his eyes to her and with a smile said, “You like torturing Rose.”

“Guilty,” she laughed.

“What tipped you off?”

“She looked like a dog salivating over a bone . . . So; she put you up to it?”

“More or less, but I didn’t hesitate when she mentioned it, so don’t get any ideas I don’t want you there.”

“Okay, fair enough. Have you eaten?”

“Nope, was busy. I’ll get around to it,” he answered, and then threw back his shot. Looking around the restaurant, she didn’t see Nicky, not that she thought he’d slide up to the bar and do shots while his son was with him.

“Where’s Nicky?”

“With his mother, she gets him this next week.”

“That must be hard. Guess you miss seeing him when he’s gone?”

“Yeah, you could say that. Been divorced three years, still haven’t gotten used to not seein’ him and his sis—” Nic stopped, but Hope knew what he was going to say.

“Rose told me, I hope you don’t mind that I know.”

“Not much Rose won’t talk about, don’t worry about it.” Nic sighed, feeling older than his forty-two years all of a sudden.

“I think you’re right about that,” Hope chuckled then leaned in, and with sincerity said, “Just so you know I’m a good listener. I’m sure you have plenty of people to talk to, but I wouldn’t mind at all, you know, if you needed an ear.”

A piece of blonde hair had escaped from her ridiculous hairnet, and Nic fought himself to keep from pushing it behind her ear. She was so damn pretty, so damn sweet; nothing like Kat. He was tempted, more than tempted, and he was about to ask her if she needed a ride home since he’d come in his car, when he heard “Dad,” from behind him. Turning on the stool, he looked behind him and saw Nicky and Kat walking into The Bayou.

“What are you doin’ here?”

“Practice ran late and mom said we should come here and see if you wanted to eat with us.”

“How’d you know I was here?” Nic asked.

“Now, sugar, I know you better than anyone. Always have, always will,” Kat purred, running one of her hand up and down his arm. Kat was in a tight dress of deep burgundy with a low cut V-neck to show off all her charms. She wore black strappy sandals with three inch heels that made her legs look longer and showed off the hours she put in at the gym. Her blonde hair was down, curled slightly; volume put in at the crown and had that “just had sex” look about it. She was dressed to impress, and any other man would have been hard at the sight of her, but Nic wasn’t any other man.

“Kat, nice to see you,” Nic deadpanned.

“Always a pleasure seeing you, honey.”

“Hey, T-Hope,” Nicky called behind Nic and they all turned to see Hope standing there watching them.

“Hi, Nicky, nice to see you again,” Hope called out, feeling like a third wheel. “I’ll just get back to the kitchen; you all enjoy your meal.”

“Hope,” Nic called out stopping her. When she turned to him, he smiled, saying “Thanks. I’ll be here until you get off, come find me and we can ride home together.”

Nic saw her eyes go wide then she looked over his shoulder. Ducking her head, she nodded and then turned on her heels and went back into the kitchen.

“What do you mean ride home together?” Kat gritted out.

“Hope is renting the downstairs condo.”

“Is she now? Well isn’t she fortunate to have such an accommodating landlord.” Nic ignored her. He could see her claws coming out, so he motioned them forward and out of hearing distance of Hope. As they moved towards the table for a meal he’d rather not have, he looked back at the bar and saw Rose standing there looking fit to be tied. Nic rolled his eyes at the old woman ‘cause he could read her thoughts. She hated Kat and if Nicky weren’t here, he was sure she’d have marched over and thrown Kat out with her own two hands. Rose marched back into the kitchen, and a few moments later as they were all seated, Big Daddy came out with a smile on his face and said, “What can I cook for my two fav’rit boys?” Kat arched a perfectly plucked eyebrow at Big Daddy for the slight and Nic bit his lips to keep from laughing. Rose may not throw her out, but no way in hell was she serving Kat. Tired, and not caring if it pissed her off, for the second time that day Nic couldn’t help himself, he threw his head back and laughed.