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  Being the smart man he was, LD went to retrieve the requested items. That I’m-going-to–kill-you-with-kindness tone she’d just used didn’t fool him one bit. The woman was furious.

  Light filled the showroom when he returned, allowing him to walk without fear of breaking something else. Three large floodlights illuminated the magnificent stained glass door and the hole he’d made appeared to be the size of the Grand Canyon.

  The closer he got to the door, the worse he felt about breaking it. As he navigated the last of the furniture, he found Marie kneeling on the floor placing small pieces of glass into a box lid. Glass crunched under his boot heel.

  “Stop!” Marie shouted as she turned to glare up at him. “Haven’t you done enough damage?”

  “I was only bringing you the broom and dustpan you asked for.”

  “Thanks, but first I need to pick up the pieces that might be usable for repairing the door.”

  “I’m sorry. I’ll pay to have the door fixed.”

  Marie responded to him with the silent treatment and her back as she continued to retrieve bits of stained glass. Once finished, she stood and carefully placed the cardboard container on a table before snatching the broom from his hand.

  “It’s not just a door and finding a repairman won’t be easy, Mr. Carmouche.”

  LD reminded himself to stay calm. After all, he had broken her door. But the Mr. Carmouche thing really made his nerve endings stand up.

  “This door is almost three hundred years old. It has withstood fires, storms, hurricanes and the invasion of New Orleans during the Civil War. You, however, managed to single-handedly mutilate it on a perfectly calm night.”

  LD watched her clean the area and tried to remember he’d come here to protect her, not to make her angry. “Look, I’m sorry about the door. I thought you were in trouble.”

  “Well, as you can see, I’m completely safe.”

  “That’s your opinion.”

  “You can leave now.” Marie pointed toward the broken door.

  “No.”

  “No?”

  “I’ll wait until you’re done and see you get home safely. After we board up the door.”

  Marie’s jaws were clenched so tight he was amazed he didn’t hear the sound of her teeth grinding together. “The security door will cover the broken glass when I lock up, so you can leave.”

  “No can do.” LD wagged his eyebrows at her and smiled, “The streets around here aren’t safe. I’ll see you home.”

  “Fine, I was just getting ready to close up.” Carrying the broom, dustpan and broken glass, Marie turned toward the workroom. The woman walking in front of him had turned his world upside down and he wondered if it would ever be normal again.

  “What brings you to New Orleans, Mr. Carmouche?”

  “Two reasons.”

  “And they would be?”

  “First and most importantly, Black. He called me earlier today, made it sound like he intended to contact you.”

  The dustpan and broom fell from Marie’s hand with a clatter as they hit the floor. Glass fragments made tiny tinkling sounds as her hand shook the box top containing them. Gingerly, she placed the lid on the workbench and tried to summon the appearance of surprise and panic as she turned to face LD. “Black? How could he be calling you? He’s dead.”

  LD narrowed his eyes at her, making her heart beat faster, harder in her chest.

  “Funny, back in Boston you were trying to convince me otherwise.”

  “True, but as you pointed out, more than once, there was no way Black could have survived the crash.”

  “If he was in the van when it crashed.”

  “How could he have gotten out?”

  “He could have slipped out the passenger’s side before the chase started. We never knew how many people were in the vehicle. We assumed one of the occupants was Black.”

  “Sorry, but I don’t believe it. Black’s dead. End of story.”

  LD took a step toward her. Not smart. She wanted to make him leave, go away and not come back. Instead she’d piqued his curiosity. The last thing she needed was LD, an agent of all things, hanging around right now, mucking things up. And if she was going to get him out of her way, she had to keep her distance from him.

  “Okay, let’s say it wasn’t Black who called me. Then who was it?” LD argued.

  “Why don’t you start by making a list of people you’ve managed to piss off in the last thirty days? When you’re done, we can review it.”

  LD closed the space between them in lightening speed. His hands rested on the workbench edge on either side of her waist, caging her in. Marie looked up, expecting to see him glaring at her, but instead found him staring at the items on the bench behind her. His chest brushed against hers as he reached past her. She inhaled sharply, which was a bad move since it pushed her even tighter against his body.

  “Are these what I think they are?”

  Her stomach rolled and her knees went weak. She didn’t need to look to know what he was holding. “Diamonds.”

  “You always leave them lying around?”

  Suddenly it was extremely warm, and a single bead of sweat rolled down between her breasts. “We keep a supply on hand for jewelry repair. I was going to sort them tonight, but you interrupted me.”

  Marie watched LD’s face as he rolled a few stones in his hand. He didn’t believe her. He didn’t have to say the words, she could feel it. She closed her eyes as he placed the gems he held back with the others. Dark doubting eyes gazed back at her when she opened her eyes.

  “This isn’t a game, Marie.”

  “I know.”

  “Then why are you playing one?”

  “I’m not.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  LD closed his eyes and hung his head, almost like she’d hurt him. She wanted to tell him, wanted him to help her, she even opened her mouth to tell him so, then closed it. The risks were too high.

  LD’s eyes blazed when he looked up at her once more. “Fine, then understand this. From this point on, I’m your shadow. Everywhere you go, I’ll be there.”

  “I don’t need or want you following me.” Marie snapped as she shoved her hands between them and pushed. LD didn’t budge, despite her best effort.

  He shrugged, “I’ve just become your personal bodyguard, so get used to it.”

  This wasn’t working, Marie thought as her hands rested against his strong, solid chest. In the last two minutes he’d moved even closer and didn’t seem to be backing off. She needed to change the subject…now. “You never told me your second reason for coming back home.”

  The smile that crossed his lips was purely carnal and sent a shiver down her spine.

  “I thought it might be worth checking out this thing that seems to be going on between us.”

  My life sucks, Marie thought as she took a deep breath and said what needed to be said. “You were wrong. There is nothing going on between us.”

  LD lifted a hand and traced her lips with his finger. “Not yet, but with the vibes we seem to generate I thought it’d be worth checking out?”

  “There are no vibes. Obviously, you’re just not used to rejection. Now please move.” Marie pushed hard against his chest. Anger etched his face, taking away her breath. Instead of stepping back, he cupped her face gently with his hands as his thumbs began to caress her checks. Before she could find the words to stop him, he leaned forward and his lips brushed hers in a feathery stroke.

  Then again.

  If he’d kissed her hard and demanding, she would have been able to push him away. But the oh-so-sweet, gentle kisses he showered first on her lips, then on her eyes, unnerved her.

  Then she felt, more than heard, her name whispered against her lips as he leisurely took her mouth with his. A slow burn started low and deep in her belly.

  Marie lifted her arms and wrapped them around his neck as a cry of surrender escaped her lips and into his. Pulling him down to her, she demande
d more.

  And he gave it.

  Hands that once held her face, roamed freely over her body. He traced the length of her spine with his fingers, sending shivers down to her toes. When he reached her hips, he jerked her up against his pelvis. The well-worn jeans he wore left no doubt of his arousal and her body responded.

  LD’s hands and mouth where everywhere, making her whimper with desire.

  Then suddenly, there was nothing.

  Marie swayed as she reached back and clutched the edge of the workbench. Blinking, her world slowly focused on LD. The man stood less than a foot away and she could feel the anger and heat radiating from him.

  “No sparks, Marie?”

  An hour later Marie stood on her front porch and watched as LD walked toward his car. “Thanks for following me home. It wasn’t necessary.”

  “It was my pleasure,” he called over his shoulder.

  “By the way, you need to have the right front tire on your car checked,” she called to him.

  He stopped to look at the tire, shook his head and gave it a kick. “It looks fine to me.”

  “Suit yourself,” she muttered, knowing he wouldn’t have it checked. Men!

  He’d insisted on seeing her home, then checked the place before leaving. The door wasn’t even closed before Tammie started.

  “Whoa. I didn’t know you knew LD Carmouche. I mean earlier, when he called and asked for you, he said he was Agent Carmouche.” Her words came out in an excited gush as they moved through the house toward the kitchen. “I didn’t think anything about it. I mean there are so many of them around this town. I didn’t know he was that Carmouche. So, like, when and where did you meet him?”

  Marie rubbed her throbbing temple as she crossed the kitchen, picked up a glass and moved to the sink. Tammie’s questions came in rapid-fire succession. Most people lived on oxygen, but Tammie survived on gossip. “We met while I was in Boston. I thought you were headed back to your dorm room. You spend more time here, in your old room, than there.”

  “Boston? And he followed you home?”

  Marie’s attempt to divert Tammie failed miserably. “He didn’t follow me home.”

  “Yeah, right.”

  “He’s here visiting family.”

  “He’s here because he has the hots for you.”

  Marie fumbled the water glass in her hand, spilling most of the contents. “I don’t think so.”

  “You didn’t see the way he looked at you when your back was turned.”

  Grabbing the dishrag, Marie avoided looking at Tammie by concentrating on the spilled water. “And how was that?”

  “Like you were a dish of tiramisu and he couldn’t wait to dive in.”

  Marie’s face flushed with heat as she remembered the way he’d kissed her earlier.

  “So, you planning to jump his bones?”

  Marie sputtered, “N-No.”

  “Well, you should. There is no way I’d let a boy-toy like him get away if he were interested in me. I’d go after him even if he wasn’t interested.”

  “Tammie, that’s enough.”

  Tammie shook her head slowly. “No, it’s not enough. The years you should have been dating and having a wild time were spent raising Timothy and me.”

  “I don’t regret it.”

  “I didn’t say you regretted it, and Lord knows Tim and I are both thankful. Otherwise, we would have been raised by crazy Aunt Laney.” Both women shuddered at the mention of the loony distant relative. “But now that we’ve moved out, you have the house to yourself. You should be living it up.”

  “I’ve been busy.”

  “With work.”

  “And remodeling the house.”

  Tammie sighed and it was the sound of one who was fast losing patience. “You need adventure.”

  Marie shuddered. She’d already had enough adventure to last a lifetime, and it wasn’t over yet. “I go on buying trips all the time.”

  “That’s not the kind of adventure I mean. You need to experience life, love and wild sex on a moonlit beach.”

  “What do you know about wild sex on a beach?”

  “More than you.”

  Sad, but true, Marie thought as Tammie stood and gathered her clean laundry.

  “I just want my big sister to be happy.” Her sister’s voice was filled with too much wisdom for someone so young.

  “I am happy.”

  Tammie walked to her, and slowly wrapped her in a big hug. “I don’t want to see you pass up a chance at lifelong bliss.”

  There wasn’t anything wrong with her life. She had an education, good job and a solid circle of family and friends, Marie thought, crawling into bed thirty minutes later after seeing Tammie off. So what if that circle was small.

  There was nothing wrong with routine, knowing what was scheduled next. Not everyone needed excitement in their life on a daily basis. The quicker she got Black out of the picture, the faster she’d get back to her comfort zone.

  Because the unrelenting restlessness and emptiness she felt was due to Black’s presence in her life. And nothing more. Definitely not because of a man with soft brown eyes who invaded her dreams and kissed like the devil.

  * * * * *

  “Evening, Sanders.” LD dropped the suitcase he was holding in the entryway of his parents’ private residence.

  “Mr. LD, what a surprise. I wasn’t expecting you.”

  “Neither are Mom and Dad, so don’t feel left out. Are they home?”

  “Yes sir, they are. I’ll announce you.”

  “Don’t bother,” LD tossed over his shoulder as he moved across the entryway. “I’ll announce myself.”

  LD approached his father’s library and prepared himself for the confrontation that was sure to come. If it were only his mother in residence, he’d have been a happy camper. His father’s presence added an extra level of stress he really didn’t need at the moment. He wasn’t up for conversations about how well his cousins were doing in business here in town, or how he was the family’s black sheep.

  LD ran his hands through his hair in an unconscious attempt to improve his appearance before he stepped into his father’s domain. He stopped short as he entered the room. Damn, a political gathering. Before he could back out of the room and run, one of his father’s colleagues recognized him and motioned for him to join the small group.

  He requested a bourbon and water from a passing waiter before joining the men. A few minutes of polite conversation and a quick explanation that he was in town on vacation was all he could stand before he extracted himself from the group. Ken Schelling and his father were in deep conversation and as he approached, neither man noticed his presence.

  “So, you enjoyed yourself?” LD’s father asked Schelling.

  “Yes, and thanks again for the use of the cabin.”

  It still amazed LD that Ken, or the weasel, as he preferred to think of him, had gotten elected lieutenant governor.

  “Hello, Father.”

  Before LD’s father could respond to the greeting, the weasel began choking and coughing uncontrollably.

  LD’s father whacked Ken on the back a few times, his lips quirking upward while he pounded. If LD didn’t know better, he’d swear his father was enjoying himself.

  “You gonna make it, Ken?” his father asked.

  Wiping his eyes, Ken looked up. “Yes. I’ll be fine, Mr. Governor.”

  Chapter Five

  LD’s father turned and arched one eyebrow at him. “Last I heard, you were headed down to the sunny Caribbean for a few weeks.”

  LD shrugged. What? Was he crazy enough to expect open arms and a warm welcome from his dad? Yeah, he was. “Last-minute change of plans.”

  “Care to elaborate?”

  “Nope.”

  Kevin Carmouche’s posture stiffened and LD knew he’d hit a nerve. There’d been a time when he and his father talked about everything, but their relationship became strained when LD chose a career that took him away from home as op
posed to one which would have kept him in Louisiana. What little connection that remained between them dissolved when he turned down the bureau’s first relocation offer to New Orleans. Five years later and it was no better.

  “Well, your mother will be glad to see you.”

  That makes one person in the whole damn town, LD thought as his father turned to a group of men and joined in their discussion. LD downed his drink, then ordered another.

  Close to midnight, LD stood in the doorway to the newly refurbished guestroom.

  “What do you think?” Linda Carmouche asked as she folded back the covers and fluffed the pillows for her son.

  LD couldn’t help but smile. His mother only asked such superficial questions when she was leading up to the really big question. “It looks great, Mom.”

  Sitting on the edge of the bed, she patted the space next to her. LD dutifully followed her silent request. As he sat, she laced her fingers through his. “So, what’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Wanna try again?”

  “It’s nothing. Really. I’ve just got some business to take care of here in town. I’ll be coming and going all hours of the day and night. If it’s a problem, I can stay elsewhere.” LD stared at the toes of his battered boots while his mother watched his every movement.

  “So, who is she?”

  “Who?” His shoulders tensed and slowly he turned to meet his mother’s gaze.

  “I know you, LD, and the only thing that’d bring you home other than a wedding, funeral or major holiday is a woman.” His mother’s eyes sparkled. “So, is it anyone I know?”

  LD shook his head. “Sorry to disappoint you, but there’s no one special.”

  “Oh, well,” Linda stated as she kissed him on the cheek. “A mother can always hope.”

  LD walked his mother to the bedroom door.

  “I’m glad you’re here.” She smiled up at him.

  “So am I, goodnight Mom.”

  “Night,” Linda called over her shoulder.

  After watching his mother walk down the hall, LD closed the door. He stripped down to briefs and t-shirt, then looked around the room for his laptop. Remembering it was still in his condo in D.C., he muttered a few choice words.