Easy Fortune: A Boudreaux Series Novella

“Do it,” Mason says.

I scan it and frown. “Your last clue was your last clue. You’ll be flown to your final destination, and all will be revealed to you there.”

“We’re almost done,” he says and glances my way.

“Time sure flies when you’re having fun.” My voice is light, but I can’t help but feel sad. We have one more adventure, probably just one more night together, and then we’ll go our separate ways again. I’ve known from the beginning that it would end like this, but saying goodbye is going to hurt.

If I didn’t know better, I’d say that I was falling in love with Mason Coulter all over again.

But I’m not. I can’t.

Because he isn’t going to stay.

We’re quiet as Mason drives us back to the airport and we board the plane. Our bags are taken care of.

“I’m going to miss being pampered like this.” I grin and grab a bottle of water on my way to my seat. “A girl doesn’t get to fly in a private plane every day.”

He smiles softly as he watches me uncap the bottle and take a sip.

“What are your plans for the rest of the summer?” he asks as we begin to taxi to the runway.

“Mallory’s talked me into using her husband’s home in Italy for about a month.”

He cocks a brow. “Who is Mallory married to?”

“Beau Boudreaux. His family owns Bayou Enterprises.”

“Yes, I’ve heard of them. You’ll love Italy.”

“I’ve never been off of North America,” I reply with a smile. “So it’ll be fun to explore somewhere new. How about you? What are your plans?”

“I left a job in Chile to come here and take care of Aunt Claudia’s things. I’ll head back down there to finish the job.”

“How much longer until that one’s finished?” I ask.

“About two years,” he replies and laughs when I cough, choking on the sip of water I just took.

“Two years?”

“Yes. We’ve discovered a new Mayan burial place, and we’ve found several mummies. I’m quite sure there’s more to discover in the caves, but it’s a process, and it takes a while to get permission from the government. Every time we want to explore a new cave we have to apply for a permit.”

“Wow.” Two fucking years. “And then what?”

“The next dig,” he says with a shrug. “There’s always something new to find.”

I nod, feeling defeated. Now that I know our trip is almost over, I feel overwhelming melancholy. The trip to Italy was absolutely the right decision. I’ll need the distraction from missing Mason all over again.

“Get comfortable, folks,” the pilot says over the loud speaker, “we have a four and a half hour flight ahead of us.”

I kick my shoes off, and reach for my carry on bag. I packed some yoga pants in case we had a long trip ahead of us today.

I stand and shimmy out of my jeans, then slide the yoga pants on and settle in my seat again.

“You’re prepared,” Mason says.

“Hell yes. Jeans are not comfortable to travel in.”

He nods and pulls his iPad out of his bag, but before he can wake it up and do whatever it was he was going to do, I climb into his lap and lean my head on his shoulder.

“You okay?” he asks softly.

“Yeah. I’m just going to enjoy you while you’re here.”

He sighs and brushes his fingers up and down my arm.

“You can sit here for as long as you need.”

I can’t reply. I simply nod and settle in closer, listening to his heartbeat.





Chapter Eight



Mason

She fell asleep on me, and I didn’t have the heart to wake her and move her. She doesn’t weigh much, and she smells like fucking heaven.

My time with her is short. I didn’t factor in the fact that I’d enjoy her so much during this trip. Getting to know her again has been intriguing and her body is every fucking fantasy I’ve ever had in my life.

We fit well together. I know how rare that is, but it doesn’t change the fact that I’ll be leaving for South America soon, and she’ll go back to her life too.

“We’ll be landing in about thirty minutes,” the pilot says, waking Lena.

“I’m sorry,” she says, looking around. She has a mark on her cheek from my shirt. “How long did I sleep?”

“A few hours.” Her pretty blue eyes widen, making me smile.

She slides off of my lap and onto the seat beside me and rubs her hands over her face.

“I was knocked out,” she says. “Dreaming and everything.”

“I could tell.”

“I’m sorry,” she says again, but I take her hand in mine and kiss it.

“Don’t apologize. I enjoy having you in my arms.”

The wheels touch down, and the pilots come out of the cockpit.

“This is our last stop. We’re in Montana. A car is here to pick you up and you’ll be taken to where you’ll be staying.”

“Are there really no more clues?” Lena asks, disappointment heavy in her voice.

“No more clues,” he replies. “Have a good visit.”

Our bags are already being loaded into the car, which isn’t a rental car, but one with a driver.

“Fancy,” Lena says with a wink and slides over the black leather seat, giving me room to scoot in next to her.

“Good evening,” the driver says with a nod. “We’re in Missoula, and our destination is Philipsburg. It’s only about an hour away.”

Lena settles in next to me and leans her head on my arm. I love her touch. Her hands are small, but strong, and when she reaches for me it’s not to barely brush her fingertips over my skin. She touches me, firmly. Purposefully.

God, I want her.

We’re quiet on the drive, watching the mountains and green pastures until the car turns into a driveway with a bed and breakfast sign arched over the road.

“Here we are,” the driver says and steps out to gather our bags.

A woman opens the front door with a smile and waves at us.

“Hello, there,” she says. “I’m Sandra. You’ve had quite the day.”

“It’s been a long one,” Lena agrees.

“Well, not to worry, dear. Your room is ready, and I’ve made dinner for you.”

“You’re my new best friend,” Lena says.

“Would you mind if we took our dinner in our room?” I ask. “I think we’d like some quiet time this evening.”

“I was going to suggest that,” Sandra says with a wink. “Just follow me.”

She leads us into a massive log house. The living room has a vaulted ceiling with floor to ceiling windows, showing off a beautiful view of the mountains.

“Your room is upstairs.”

There’s a king sized bed, and an adjoining bathroom with a soaking tub and steam shower.

“It looks so rustic from outside, but it’s been nicely updated,” Lena says with a smile. “Your home is beautiful.”

“Thank you,” Sandra says. “Why don’t the two of you get comfortable and I’ll bring your dinner up in about thirty minutes?”

“Perfect,” I reply. “Thank you, Sandra.”

She nods and closes the door behind her. Lena flings herself onto the bed and stares at the ceiling.