Rue Toulouse (26 page)

Remi nodded.

“Go on ahead, then. I’ll hold back.”

At the top of the stairs, to the right, people sat quietly playing Bourré, blackjack, and baccarat. To Remi’s left, the two men headed down a hall that led past restrooms and closed office doors. To his relief, directly ahead of him was a large oval bar packed with people. He took a seat at the bar where he’d have a clear view of the hallway but not be easily seen. Soon Paul took a seat on the opposite side, also having a clear view.

“Oh, excuse me.”

Remi silently cursed before turning to the buxom redhead who had purposely pressed her breast against his arm as she took the seat next to him. “No problem.” Remi gave her a quick smile before resuming feigned interest in a televised basketball game.

“It’s awfully crowded in here, isn’t it?” Obviously not deterred by Remi’s lack of interest, she leaned forward, giving him a nice view of her cleavage. “I’d love a glass of white wine. Would you mind getting the bartender’s attention for me?”

Remi motioned for the bartender. Somehow he had to get rid of the girl. Catching Remi’s eye, Paul rose, pointed at his cell phone, and walked toward the stairs.

Seconds later Remi’s phone rang. He turned away from the girl and answered. “Yes.”

“That girl next to you is a friend of Charlotte’s named Laurie Conway. Charlotte, Randal, and our two friends just came out of one of the offices. Charlotte, Randal, and Laurie will recognize me, so you’re on your own for now. I’ll be down below.”

“Right.” Remi placed his phone back in his pocket as Charlotte and her party came out of the hall. The three men headed toward the high stakes tables, while to Remi’s chagrin Charlotte headed directly toward him, stopping next to the redhead.

“Laurie, what are you doing sitting here? I thought you were playing baccarat.”

Remi, seemingly engrossed in the television, strained to hear their conversation. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the girl shrug.

“After I lost a few thousand, I quit. Besides, I got bored waiting around, so I thought I’d find myself a more interesting distraction.”

Remi could feel both women’s eyes on him. When the bartender sat down the glass of wine, Remi put on his best smile and turned, hoping like hell Charlotte wouldn’t recognize him from the Gumbo Shop. “Here,
cher
, let me get that for you.” He laid a twenty on the bar.

The redhead smiled. “Why, thank you, handsome. I’m Laurie.” She held out her hand.

Remi gently squeezed it. Something about the woman seemed familiar. “I’m Remi.”

Laurie nodded toward Charlotte. “And this is my friend Charlotte.”

Remi held his breath as his eyes met Charlotte’s. Seeing no recognition, he relaxed. “Hello.”

Charlotte smiled. “Well, hello to you, too.”

Remi studied Charlotte’s dilated pupils and animated face. He’d seen people high on coke often enough to be convinced the guy in the BMW was her candyman.

“Hands off, Charlotte. I saw him first.” Laurie placed a proprietary hand on Remi’s knee. “Tell me, handsome, are you here all by yourself?”

Remi nodded. Then recognition hit. She was the woman dressed as Cleopatra at the masquerade ball.

Laurie’s smile brightened as she ran her hand up his leg. “I’m going to be joining some friends out on the deck. Would you like to come with me?”

Remi grinned. So far his luck had held and she hadn’t recognized him. “
Oui
.”

“God, I love to hear a man speaking French.”

He got off the bar stool and put his arm around her nearly bare shoulders. Bending close, he whispered in her ear.

“Oh, yeah, handsome, I think you’re lookin’ good, too.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her breasts into his chest.

“For Christ’s sake, Laurie, don’t attack the poor man right here.”

Laurie swayed slightly as she glanced up at Remi with sultry eyes and slurred, “You don’t mind, do you, Remi?”

“No,
cher
, I don’t mind, but perhaps we should go out and get some air.”

He wasn’t sure where the three men had gone, so he hung back as Charlotte led the way past the high stakes tables toward a door marked
Private
. If Earl was waiting on the other side of that door, his ass was busted. As for Rivette, he didn’t think he’d paid much attention to them in the Gumbo Shop. He put his hand in his jacket and felt for his cell phone, praying he could hit the speed dial for Paul.

Laurie glanced back. “Remi, what are you doing?”

He smiled, showing her the pack of cigarettes he’d pulled from his pocket. Seconds before they reached the closed door, his phone blessedly rang. It would be Paul calling him back. “I’ll be right with you.” He stopped as Charlotte opened the door, giving him a quick look out onto a deck where three men sat in shadow around a table.

He took a step back as the door closed. “Yes?”

“It’s me. What’s up?”

Remi spoke quickly, “I’m with Charlotte and Laurie. We’re about to go onto a private deck off the stern. There are three unidentifiable men sitting around a table. Do you happen to know where our two friends are?”

“Earl is about fifteen feet away from me nursing a beer. I don’t know about the other one. Do you need me?”

“No, my phone will be on vibrate. Call me if Earl moves.” Remi slipped the phone into his pocket and stepped through the door onto the deck, the pungent smell of the river filling his nostrils.

“There you are, Remi.” Laurie waved. “Come over here by me and I’ll introduce you.”

As he stepped closer, he was grateful the only illumination came from the full moon and dock lights, for Rivette was one of the three men at the table.

“This is Randal, Markus, and Dominic.” Laurie pointed at each man as she introduced him. “And this is Remi. He was kind enough to buy me a drink, so I invited him to join us.”

Remi took a seat next to Laurie, nodding at each of the men.

“Any friend of Laurie’s is welcome,” Randal said. “Are you from around here?”

“Born and bred on de bayou,” Remi replied, thickening his Cajun accent.

Laurie grinned. “I love to listen to you talk.” Beneath the table, she ran her hand up his leg.

He stopped her seconds before she reached his crotch.

“Is this your first time on the High Roller?” Markus asked.

“No, I’ve been a few times. It’s a real friendly place, a little more laid back than the Triple Aces.”

Laurie giggled, tugging at her hand, which Remi held tightly.

Charlotte chuckled. “Whatever you do, Remi, don’t compare the High Roller to the Triple Aces,” Charlotte said. “Dominic goes ballistic.”

“Don’t exaggerate, Charlotte.” Dominic’s words were low and his smile seemed forced.

Laurie managed to get her hand from Remi’s. “Well, there’s really no comparison. I mean, Randal, the High Roller is a nice boat, but the Triple Aces is a class act all the way around.”

“A nice boat,” Randal repeated through gritted teeth. “It’s more than just a fucking nice boat.”

Before he could continue, Charlotte, with a nervous laugh, quickly cut him off. “How about another round of drinks?”

Randal visibly fought for control, then his eyes softened and a jovial expression again filled his face. “Good idea. Does everyone want the same?”

When they all nodded, Randal put in their order.

“I take it you’re Randal Doucette, the owner of the High Roller,” Remi asked.

Randal nodded. “At your service. Casino boat owner and Doucette family black sheep. Although, actually, I’m not the only Doucette black sheep sitting at this table. Markus is my uncle, and Charlotte is my cousin.”

Charlotte scoffed. “Speak for yourself. My record is clean.”

Randal almost choked on his drink. “I’m afraid, dear cousin, you’re confusing yourself with Caterine.”

Charlotte grimaced. “Not hardly. Who in their right mind would want to be anything like Caterine?”

“Maybe not be like her, but have what she has,” Randal needled.

“What in God’s name could Caterine have that anyone would want?” Laurie asked as her hand again crept up Remi’s leg.

“Not a damn thing,” Charlotte snapped.

She’s coming off her high
, Remi thought, clasping Laurie’s hand in his.

Randal snorted. “You’d be surprised, sweet Laurie, how many people do want what Caterine has.”

“Well, now, nobody is going to get it, so you two need to let it go,” Markus said before taking a long swallow of his drink.

“Get what?” Laurie asked. “What are y’all talking about?”

Randal smiled sardonically. “Why, the jewel of the Doucette crown, what else?”

Laurie’s Botox-enhanced mouth frowned. “Randal, I haven’t a clue what you’re talking about.”

Remi, grateful for Laurie’s distraction, took the opportunity to remove her hand from his leg.

Charlotte’s eyes darted between Randal and Remi. “Don’t pay any attention to Randal, Laurie. He’s just being an ass.”

“I’m sure Remi and Dominic aren’t interested in hearing about our family squabbles,” Markus said.

Laurie’s eyes widened. “Are y’all referrin’ to Ma Chérie? What’s Caterine have to do with that? I thought Miss Dauphine was in charge.”

Randal scoffed. “Not anymore.”

“Y’all don’t mean Caterine now has Ma Chérie?” Laurie asked. “Charlotte, how can that be? I thought you said you were next in line.”

Remi surreptitiously watched Randal, Charlotte, and Markus for their reactions. Markus took another deep swallow of his drink. Randal fidgeted with a cigarette. Charlotte, reaching for her purse, was stopped by Rivette placing his hand on her arm. Remi thought she was probably going for more coke. He knew he’d been under close scrutiny by Rivette since he’d sat down and hoped like hell Rivette had stopped Charlotte because Remi was a stranger and not because he thought he was a cop.

“Well?” asked Laurie. “Isn’t someone going to tell me what’s going on?”

Markus sighed. “A few days ago Miss Dauphine turned total control of Ma Chérie over to Caterine. That’s all.”

Laurie’s eyes opened even wider. “But Charlotte, I thought you said you needed . . .”

“Can it, Laurie,” Randal said tersely.

Looking petulant, Laurie got to her feet, grabbing onto Remi’s shoulder for support. “Remi, I’m ready to leave. Would you please take me home?”

Randal sighed. “Sit down, Laurie. I’ll take you home.”

“You’re too drunk to drive and so am I. Besides, I want Remi to take me.”

“Maybe Remi doesn’t want to take you,” Randal retorted.

They’re afraid of what she might say if she’s alone with me
, Remi thought. Aloud he said, “I don’t mind. I’ll drive her.”

He didn’t miss the tightening of Randal’s mouth or the narrowing of Charlotte’s eyes.

Laurie smiled triumphantly, putting her arm through Remi’s as he rose. “See y’all later.” She gave them a finger wave as she pulled him toward the door.

“Sorry, but I’m going to need to use the gents’ before we leave. I’ll meet you in the lobby.”

“Don’t be long, Cajun. I can’t wait to get you home.” She wound her arms around his neck and kissed him, practically swallowing his tongue.

Once in the men’s room, Remi hit redial for Paul, speaking quickly when he answered. “Change of plans. I need you to follow me when I leave. I’ll be with Laurie.”

“And we’re going where?”

“To take the lady home. Give me five minutes once I get her inside, then call me. I’ll fill you in on our way back.”

“What about Earl? He’s still sitting here.”

“Leave him.”

“I’ll be there. This has to be good.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Remi found Laurie leaning against a pillar when he reached the foot of the stairs, then spotted Paul playing a slot machine close to the boat’s arched entryway.

“Give me your keys,
cher
.” He placed a steadying arm around her.

She smiled drunkenly and dropped the Porsche’s key between her breasts. “Come and get it, Cajun.”

Remi sighed and could have sworn he heard Paul laugh. Resigned to playing her games, he gave her his sexiest grin then plucked out the key. “Where you parked?”

By the time they’d reached the car, his patience had about reached its limit. Not only did he have to keep her upright, he had to keep her persistent hands off his body.

“Okay, here we are. In you go.” Remi poured her into the passenger seat and slammed the door. He scanned the parking lot, relieved to see Paul’s Mountaineer coming toward them. He gave him a thumbs-up and slid in behind the wheel of the Porsche.

“Where do you live?” he asked as she flung herself over the console into his arms, crushing her mouth against his as her hand searched for the zipper of his jeans.

“You don’t have to wait, Cajun. I can make you feel real good right here,” she whispered against his mouth.

Before he could stop her, she had his zipper down and her hand around his semi-hard erection.