Rue Toulouse (44 page)

He knew that despite the difference in their backgrounds he couldn’t allow his pride to let the woman he loved walk out of his life without a fight. He would ask her to marry him. Then it would be up to her to choose either the life he could give her or to go back to the life she’d known.
Great timing, Michaud. You finally decide to stop being a stubborn ass and marry the girl. Now if you make one mistake tonight, she could be taken from you forever.

He threw back the covers and reached for his shirt and jeans. He stomped into the living room and grabbed the bottle of Jack Daniel’s and his cigarettes and headed for the balcony.

“Remi, what’s wrong?” Caterine asked, coming out a short time later.

“Nothing, Princess. Go back to bed.”

She walked closer and brushed the hair from his eyes. “It’s two in the morning. Tell me what’s wrong.”

“I can’t sleep. That’s all. I’ve got a lot on my mind.”

She took the bottle of Jack from his hand and extinguished his cigarette, then sat across his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I know a way to get your mind off your troubles.” She gently kissed him.

Remi tightened his hold on her and returned the kiss. All his fears and anxiety came crashing over him. The thought that his luck might run out and this would be the last time he’d have her in his arms had him tightening his hold and deepening the kiss.

Caterine ran her fingers through the thick hair at the base of his neck, moaning into his mouth.

Remi slid his hand under her oversized nightshirt and began to squeeze and tease her breasts.

“Remi, we’re outside. Someone will see you.”

He chuckled. “It’s the Quarter. Trust me, nobody cares. Besides . . .” His hand drifted lower to caress the slick bud between her thighs. “As you said, it’s two in the morning.”

Her breath was coming in tiny little gasps. “Remi, we should go in.”

“You want me to stop,
cher
?”

“No, but Remi––”

He covered her mouth to swallow her cry of pleasure as her body convulsed around his hand.

“Move your leg so you can straddle my lap.”

“What? What are you doing?”

He unzipped his jeans, smiling devilishly. “I’ll show you, Princess.” Lifting her hips he guided her onto his hard shaft.

“Remi, we can’t do this out here!”

His chuckle was low. “It seems we already are. Now move your sweet little ass.”
 

With his hands on her bottom she rode him until, unable to hold back any longer, he pulled her mouth down to his and swallowed both their screams.

Caterine’s eyes flew open as they heard a burst of applause. “Remi!”

He was laughing as he carried her inside to the bed.

Caterine was awakened from a deep sleep by what sounded like an entire marching band passing beneath their window. She put the pillow over her head and groaned. After Remi had carried her back to bed, they’d made love for what was left of the night. Now all she wanted to do was sleep.

“Happy Mardi Gras, Princess.” Remi pulled the pillow off her head. “Let’s go get breakfast.”

Caterine snatched her pillow back. “You go get breakfast, Remi. I want to sleep.”

“Ah, come on,
cher
. It’s ten o’clock, and it’s Mardi Gras. Let’s go have some fun while we still can.”

Caterine lifted the pillow high enough to look at him with one eye. “Why aren’t you exhausted?”

“You charged my batteries, Princess. Now get up.” He patted her backside. “That’s unless you want more?”

“No. For God’s sake, enough.” She batted his hand away. “Go take a shower.”

Chuckling, he stood and stretched. “Today is going to be just for us. So let’s go have some fun.” Remi plucked the pillow off her head and flung back the covers. He lifted her into his arms and headed for the bathroom.

“Remi! Put me down.”

“Sure thing.” He stood her naked body in the shower and turned the cold water on full blast. Laughing at her shocked expression, he joined her under the spray.

“You’ve got powdered sugar in the corner of your mouth, Princess.” They were seated at a wrought iron table in the sun outside the Café Du Monde drinking café au lait, eating beignets, and watching costumed Mardi Gras revelers filling the streets. “Here, let me get it off for you.” Remi leaned closer and ran his tongue along her lower lip, licking the sweet sugar. “Mmm.” He slid his tongue into her mouth, caressing her sugary tongue with his. “You know where I’d like to put some of this powdered sugar, then lick it off?” he murmured into her mouth.

Caterine felt her face flame and her toes curl. “Stop that. We’re sitting in a public place. What’s gotten into you today?”

He sat back and chuckled at her embarrassment. “It’s Mardi Gras. You’re supposed to act naughty.”

She rolled her eyes. “I can’t remember the last time I was actually on the streets of the Quarter on Mardi Gras. I’d forgotten how crazy it really is. Oh, look, there’s the copper man.” She pointed at a young guy, probably in his twenties, painted copper from cap to shoes, doing baseball stances.

Remi turned in the direction she pointed. “You know him?”

She nodded. “Well, no, I don’t know him personally. The day Elaine brought me home from work he entertained the boys while they were out on the balcony. He’s really quite talented.”

Remi glanced at the copper man then back to Caterine and smiled. “Whatever you say,
cher
. If you’re done with your coffee, let’s go among the masses and see what parades we can find.” He leaned forward until their lips were a hair’s breadth apart. “But don’t you go flashing for beads, Princess.”

Chapter Forty-One

Talk about déjà vu,
Caterine thought as she stood in the glittering Doucette third-floor ballroom dressed in her ice princess gown.

She watched as a handsome, black-clad masked pirate walked toward her.
He can make my pulse race as much tonight as he did the first time I laid eyes on him.

“I believe this dance is ours, Princess.” Remi gave her a devilish grin she now knew so well.

She opened her eyes wide. “Oh, I don’t know. I hear pirates can be dangerous.”

He moved in closer, caressing her body with his eyes. “I’ll bet we’ll discover that you enjoy what dangerous pirates can do, Princess.”

She chuckled. “Since I’m wearing a microphone, I hope nobody but you is listening.”

“Where did you put the mike?” Remi took a step back.

Caterine gestured between her breasts. “It seemed like the safest place.”

He stepped close and looked down. “I don’t see it.”

She pushed him away. “You’re not supposed to. Trust me, it’s there. The ballroom is beginning to fill up. Are all your men in place?”

Remi nodded. “They’re all dressed as pirates, and the code word is
vien
. If anyone you don’t know, or who makes you feel uncomfortable, approaches you, say
vien
and I’ll hear you.”

“
Come
. That’s original.”

He smiled. “It works. Well, I hope it does. If this room gets really noisy, I may have difficulty hearing you. If you need to, scream my name.”

“Oh, there’s Elaine.” Caterine waved to Marie Antoinette. “But where’s Paul? I don’t see him with her.”

“Right here, Cat.”

Caterine jumped at the voice behind her and looked up into Bluebeard’s grinning face. “For heaven’s sake, Paul, you about gave me a heart attack.”

“Sorry, I couldn’t resist.” Paul turned to Remi. “I just spoke with Ray. He’s helping get Miss Dauphine and Annabelle settled into chairs.” He pointed to the ballroom entrance. “Ray said the family is all here except Randal.”

“What’s Ray dressed as?” Caterine asked.

Paul’s grin widened. “A bandit. I think he’s Jesse James.”

“This is like déjà vu,” Elaine said, joining the small group.

Caterine smiled. “I know. I had the same thought.”

“Yes, but this time I’m a nervous wreck and I’m not leaving your side.”

“No, Elaine, you can’t do that,” Paul said. “Caterine has to be alone in order for the perp to approach her.”

Elaine scrunched up her nose. “The what?”

“The person who’s after her,” Remi clarified. “Now, Paul and I need to disappear into the crowd. We don’t want to draw too much attention to ourselves. Remember, Caterine, someone will have you in sight at all times. Do not stand with your back to the doors leading out onto the gallery. Do not leave the ballroom without making sure someone knows where you’re going. Understand?”

“Yes, Remi, I understand. I won’t do anything stupid. But I can’t just stand here in this same spot. I have to mingle a little.”

“That’s fine. Just pay attention to your surroundings. Don’t get yourself in the middle of a tight crowd of people where my men can’t see your back. Try and keep yourself out on the fringes.”

“I can stay with Caterine for a while, can’t I?” Elaine asked.

“Sure.” Paul nodded as he and Remi walked away.

“There goes our dynamic duo,” Caterine said. “You know, Elaine, sometimes I wonder if Remi regrets leaving the police force.”

“I know. I wonder the same about Paul. But I’m a lot happier now that I don’t have to worry every time he leaves the house.” Elaine reached out and squeezed Caterine’s hand. “Are you okay, Cat? You have to be a little scared.”

She squeezed Elaine’s hand back. “I’m okay, but I’m more than a
little
scared. I’m anxious as well. I just hope whatever’s going to happen happens quickly.”

“I can’t believe Remi and Paul actually expect someone to come after you in the middle of all these people.”

Caterine nodded. “They think they’ll either try an attack here in the ballroom where they can just vanish back into the crowd, or try and lure me outside. Either way I’ll be ready. Actually I’m more angry than anything else. Whoever is behind this has—without provocation—tried to have me killed, attempted to hurt Grandmère, and has totally disrupted my life. When I find out who it is, Remi may have to be more concerned about what I do to them than what they might do to me.”

Elaine smiled. “Let me know if you need help, because if it turns out to be Charlotte or Paulette, I’ll happily get in a couple of slaps. Oh, I see my parents are speaking with Miss Dauphine; I should go join them. Who’s the lady sitting with her?”

“She’s Remi’s grandmother, Miss Annabelle Michaud. She and Grandmère have known each other since they were girls at school. I didn’t know about the connection with Remi.”

“Wow, isn’t that something? That reinforces my conviction you and Remi were meant to be together. By the way, best friend of mine, you didn’t call me and let me know how it went at Remi’s family party. Was I right and you had yourself all worked up for no reason?”

Caterine grinned. “Okay, yes, you were right. They were all very nice to me, and I didn’t say or do anything to embarrass Remi.” Visions of them making love in the swamp flashed through her mind and she smiled to herself. “And you’ll have to wait to hear all about it tomorrow, because if I’m not mistaken here comes Remi’s cousin, Antoine.”

“Good God, dressed like that he could pass for Remi. How can you tell them apart?”

“Oh, trust me. I’ll know if it’s Remi.”