Untrusting Hearts: A Contemporary New Orleans Romance (2 page)

As Jade’s eyes returned to the table after admiring the room, Gage whispered softly enough that only she could hear, “Totaling up the assets?”

Jade gasped. “What did you say?”

“You didn’t catch the question? I didn’t realize I’d stuttered.”

“Oh, I caught it. I just don’t understand why you’d say such a thing.” She came very near slapping the man but just managed to keep her hand at her side.

“So innocent,” he murmured contemptuously.

Jade shook her head, stunned. Luckily, Maylene had been inspecting the covered food and missed the exchange. Jade counted quickly to ten and then walked over to stand next to her aunt. “Is there anything I can do?”

“We’re eating buffet-style tonight, so all you need to do is wait until Ciana removes the covers.”

As if on cue, the girl came from the kitchen and revealed the dishes.

Maylene gestured toward the offerings. “We kept it simple: Louisiana beef stew, rice, and salad.”

Jade, who had been a little worried about being served crawfish or some such thing, smiled happily. “It looks wonderful.”

“Well, take a plate and help yourself.” Maylene went first, placing rice on her plate and covering it with stew. The salad went to the side. Jade followed her lead. She placed a small amount of rice on her plate and ladled on a bit of stew. She started to move to the salad but then decided she wanted more stew. Gage had reached for the ladle at the same time and their hands met, his cupping hers for a moment. Tingles raced through her and she could feel her face flush. Jade jumped and pulled her hand away. What was wrong with her? It wasn’t as if she’d never had her hand touched by a man before. Her response to this man was especially perplexing considering the rude remark he’d made earlier. She concentrated on filling her plate and carried it to the table. Everything was delicious, including the sweet tea that was served. Conversation centered on the different things there were to do in New Orleans.

When the meal was finished, they adjourned to the adjacent sitting room. Pocket doors were slid closed to allow the servants to move about without disturbing conversation. Jade noticed a small white fireplace with a marble mantle. Comfortable, overstuffed furniture and glass-topped tables faced the hearth. The artwork was soft and warm, subdued fields of flowers and cloud-topped mountains. Lamps lit the room, lending the space a cozy feel. Jade imagined how pleasant the room would be in the daylight with the sun shining in.

“So, Jade, I understand you recently lost your grandmother.” Gage picked up his coffee cup from an end table.

“That’s right. It still hurts to think she’s gone, that I’ll never see her again.” Jade, who had just taken a sip of hot tea, blinked hard to keep her tears at bay.

“Were you close?”

“Very. My parents died when I was quite young and my grandparents raised me. Grandpa passed away about ten years ago. It was hard on Grandma, and on me. We were all that was left. My uncle drowned in a boating accident years ago, so we were it. But it was harder on Grandma. Her health started failing after Grandpa’s death. Towards the end, she needed twenty-four hour care. She wanted me to put her in a nursing home, but I wouldn’t have it. I cared for her until one day she simply didn’t wake up.” Tears now rolled down her cheeks and she swiped at them with a hand.

Maylene stood, left the room, and returned with some tissues. “I’m sorry, honey. I know life hasn’t been gentle with you and we shouldn’t have made you talk about it.” She tossed Gage a look of reprimand. “Especially not your first night here.”

“It’s okay,” Jade said. “It’s on my mind, whether it’s mentioned or not. It just hurts, being alone.”

“Well, you’re not alone anymore. You have me.” Maylene patted her on the shoulder.

“You’re right.” Jade forced a smile. “And we need to get to know each other so it is necessary to touch on these topics. To change the subject, didn’t you write that you and Mr. Dubois ran a restaurant?”

“That’s right. Jean Pierre and I opened our first restaurant when we were newly married. JP’s Oyster Bar.” Maylene smiled at the memory.

“First? You have more than one?”

“You didn’t know?” Gage looked skeptical.

“Know what?”

“JP’s is a chain scattered across the entire south. You’ll find them all the way through Georgia and even Kentucky and Tennessee. They are world-renowned; I don’t see how that information could have escaped you.”

Maylene turned a flabbergasted look on Gage. “Gage, how could she possibly have known? I’m sure I never mentioned the name of the business.”

“No,” Jade assured her, tossing Gage an indignant glance. “You didn’t. Actually, I gleaned from your emails that you were, how should I put this, having trouble making ends meet.”

“Oh, my gracious!” The older woman laughed softly. “Can you just picture it, Gage? Jade arrived thinking she’d have to help wait on tables, or maybe wash dishes.”

“Yes, I’m sure she expected just that. Probably thought you lived in a shack.” His dry tone was just short of sarcastic. Jade looked at him. His brown eyes were unfriendly and the lips she’d thought seductive earlier were drawn in a tight line. He made a point of checking the time on the mantle clock. “I think I’ll excuse myself now.”

“Oh, don’t be silly,” Maylene said. “It’s early yet; stay awhile. I’ll have Ciana refill our drinks and serve dessert.” Before he could get in another word, Maylene had risen and left the room.

Normally, Jade wouldn’t be at a loss for words with a near-stranger, but Mr. Pichot left her feeling disconcerted. He obviously didn’t want to be here and wasn’t hiding the fact. She couldn’t fathom a reason for his hateful attitude. She could only assume he had better things to do. Perhaps he’d been compelled to cancel personal plans and didn’t appreciate giving up his evening. Or maybe he’d taken an instant dislike to Jade, which might at least partially explain his attitude. But even surly, he still exuded a near-irresistible sex appeal. In a way, it was maddening.

Gage stood and moved around the room restlessly. When he sat again, he chose a place at the opposite end of the sofa from Jade. He stared openly, studying her like a bug under a microscope.

Calmly, Jade stared back. She nearly sucked in a breath as she took in his whiskey eyes and long lashes. She could drown in those eyes if given half a chance, if he’d only show her a glimmer of warmth, something to hint that a kinder personality existed beneath his abrasive surface. He didn’t have the body of a muscle builder, but she could tell his abs were well defined, even through his shirt. She longed to run her hands over them, an impulse she immediately squelched. He was a man in fine physical form, fit and strong. Yet there was an edginess which showed in his movements. She could tell he wanted to be up and going. But Maylene was his boss, so he stayed.

Conversation might ease some of the tension in the room, but Jade couldn’t think how to start one. To confront him about his earlier remark would only set things between them more firmly on the wrong track. Perhaps she could get him to open up about his job. She still didn’t know what part he played in Maylene’s business. She was just about to ask, when he spoke.

“I hope you remembered to bring some casual outfits.” His eyes traveled over her attire. “You won’t be comfortable trudging around in dress clothes when you get to the sightseeing part of your visit.”

Happy he’d broken the ice, she responded, “Of course. I tried to pack for every contingency. Dress to casual and in between.”

“Good, good.” He sounded dismissive. “Let’s talk about tomorrow. After I finish with a quick job I have at work, I’ll be here to get you and Maylene. Probably about nine o’clock.”

Her heart sank. “You’re picking us up?”

“That’s right.” He came close to smiling, but missed it by a fraction. “I’ll be escorting you.”

She now thought she had a handle on the reason for his animosity. Maylene had pressured him into taking time off work so he could show them around. Jade sympathized with his resentment but thought he had no right to take it out on her. It would serve him right to have to haul them around; he needed a lesson in courtesy. With Maylene there, he’d be forced to behave politely. The idea gave her a twist of wry satisfaction. Nevertheless, she wanted to let him off the hook, and do herself a favor at the same time. Putting up with a sullen tour guide was not her idea of fun.

“Listen, Gage,” she began. “There’s no need for you to be inconvenienced. I do appreciate your offer, but I think we can manage on our own. I printed out a list of things to do in New Orleans and …”

“Forget the obligatory objections. No sense in wasting the time or energy.” He cut her off. “I’ll be here by nine and that is that.”

She lifted an eyebrow in mild surprise. “That is that, is it? Do I have a choice in the matter?”

He scowled. “About as much as I do.”

She blinked a few times, stung by his words. “So you’d prefer not to spend time with us, is that what you’re trying to tell me?”

“I never said anything of the sort. I’m just telling you plans have already been made for us.”

“I’m sure that’s not true; we both can make up our own minds,” she corrected.

“Obviously, you don’t know Maylene very well yet.” He laughed and shook his head, finding amusement in her words.

A flush bloomed in her cheeks. “That’s true enough. But I hope to get to know her. That’s why I’m here.”

“Is it?” He draped an arm over the back of the sofa and turned slightly. His eyes probed hers. “So you had no idea Maylene was… well-off?”

“Well-off?” Jade asked, parroting his tone.

“Loaded? Flush? Well-heeled?” His smirk angered her. “Wealthy?”

“I know what it means,” she snapped. “And no, I didn’t know until I saw the house.”

“It was just happenstance that you found your long-lost distant relative and began emailing her soon after her interviews about JP’s were plastered all over the internet?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about; what interviews?”

“Interviews about Maylene and Jean Pierre, and their story of success.”

“I didn’t see any such interviews, but I’d like to, if you can tell me what to look for, or I could Google them.”

“Yes, do that. It should be easy to find them. Perhaps you could check the history and bookmarks on your computer.”

She bristled at his rudeness but determined she’d not allow him to rattle her. It was obvious he thought she was lying. She wasn’t dense. He clearly thought she’d come here with greed in her heart. And she wasn’t happy about it. She felt so uncomfortable and unwelcome, if it weren’t for Maylene, she’d get up and walk out. Then her stubborn streak reared its head and she decided she wouldn’t allow his insinuations to spoil her trip. Through gritted teeth, she said, “You’re mistaken.”

He pressed a fingertip to his temple, as if a thought just occurred to him. “Oh, wait, I remember now. You claim you’ve never heard of the most famous oyster bar in the south.”

Jade’s face reddened with anger. “Just exactly why would I have heard of them? I don’t live in the south. By the way, the home I live in is paid for and I have funds put back from the insurance proceeds to cover my living expenses until I find employment. Stop trying to make me sound like poor relations begging at the door for a handout.”

“Isn’t that what you are?”

Maylene returned before Jade could respond, followed by Ciana who carried a tray with plates of cheesecake. Oblivious to the waves of hostility flowing between her guests, Maylene sat down and smiled as Ciana passed out the dessert. “Does anyone want a refill on their drinks?” Maylene asked as the maid gathered up the tray and prepared to leave the room.

“No thank you,” Jade managed to say with a smile.

“Nothing more for me either.” Gage wolfed down part of his dessert and rose. “I really must go. My work won’t finish itself.”

“You’re leaving?” Maylene plainly disapproved of Gage’s manners but chose to let the matter slide. “Well, if you must; we’ll just have to carry on without you.”

Gage shook Jade’s hand and squeezed out a civil goodnight. He gave Maylene a peck on the cheek and left the room. A sense of relief spread through Jade. She hadn’t realized how tense she had been until he was gone.

“I don’t know what I’d do without Gage. Isn’t he divine?” Maylene gushed. Pride shone in her sapphire eyes.

“He’s quite good-looking.” Jade took a bite of cheesecake to keep from having to say anything more.

“And such a joy to be around. Too often, handsome men grow large egos. Not Gage. He’s never let it go to his head. Unpretentious and ever so pleasant.”

Jade couldn’t believe Maylene was describing the man who’d just left. If that was unpretentious and pleasant, she’d hate to see him on a bad day! Of course, he’d have to be at his best in front of Maylene or she wouldn’t keep him around. So why was he taking them sightseeing? Maybe he hoped to woo Maylene’s niece so he could become part of the family. Given the way he’d treated her, Jade thought that possibility unlikely. Or maybe Maylene had simply ordered him to do it and he had no choice but to comply.

Jade was still angry over his conduct toward her, but choked it down and kept her voice even. “Is there any reason just you and I can’t see the sights together?”