Easy Fortune: A Boudreaux Series Novella

“We’ve been over this a thousand times, Larry. It wasn’t your fault.”


“Right. You’re right.”

“I know. Thanks for checking in. I really am doing great.”

“I’m glad. If you need anything, you know how to find me.”

“That I do. Thanks again.”

We end the call, and I sit on the ottoman in my closet and just look around the space. I bought this place about a year and a half ago. I never went back to the house that Lance and I owned together. Instead, my family was happy to have me stay with them until I found this house.

Declan and I have enjoyed renovating it, making it exactly right for me.

I check the time and realize that I’m running late, so I grab a pair of sunglasses, my handbag, and keys, and hurry out to my car.

Even my car is new. He wouldn’t ever let me get the car I wanted because he said it was too much money, that I didn’t deserve a luxury car.

Which is just ludicrous. I work my ass off, and my family is worth billions. I can have any car I fucking want. So, one of the first things I did after the divorce was trade in my sensible Ford for the pretty Mercedes convertible I drive now. It’s red and has all the bells and whistles.

Just one more way to flip off my shitty past.

It’s a beautiful spring day in New Orleans. The trees are blooming, there’s a breeze in the air, and birds sing as I drive toward the French Quarter with the top of my car down.

Despite my best efforts, I still arrive ten minutes late, and all of my sisters and sisters-in-law are already at the restaurant.

“I’m sorry,” I say, taking my seat. “I was moving slow this morning.”

“As you should,” Kate says with a smile. “Eli sends his love.”

“He texted,” I reply. Kate is married to my older brother, Eli. They recently welcomed a beautiful baby girl named Coraline to our family.

In fact, our family has gone from big to huge in the past two years. It seems that once Eli met Kate, each of my siblings found loves of their own, right after each other. I couldn’t be happier for all of them.

“I’m being spoiled today,” I announce. “I’m having brunch with all of you beauties, and then I’m having lunch with Ben.”

“Really,” Gabby, the youngest Boudreaux sister, says with a smile. “As in a date?”

“As in lunch,” I reply and roll my eyes. “You know as well as I do that Ben is off limits.”

“Why is that again?” Callie, Declan’s wife, asks.

“She’s delusional and thinks that Ben is like a brother to her,” Charly says.

“He is,” I insist, frowning.

“No, he’s not,” Gabby replies. “He may be like a brother to Charly and me, but you never thought of him that way.”

“I think you’re the delusional one. Ben and I are good friends, and that’s it.” My argument sounds weak to my own ears. But that doesn’t make it less true.

“Right,” Mallory, my oldest brother, Beau’s wife says. “So that’s why you blush at the mention of his name and bite your lip?”

“Mallory is psychic,” Callie says excitedly. “She can tell you if you’re supposed to be with Ben.”

“No.” My voice is firm as I stare each of them down. “Stop it. Ben is my friend, and I’m not going to fuck that up. If we tried to have a relationship and it didn’t work out, he’d be out of my life completely and I can’t have that.”

“Okay,” Gabby says, holding her hands up in surrender. “What are you doing after lunch?”

“I have a full day of pampering ahead,” I inform them proudly. “And I’m not going in to the office at all.”

“Atta girl,” Kate says with a wink. “You deserve a day off.”

“I also deserve a mimosa.” I grin and search for our waitress so I can flag her down. “In fact, we all deserve a mimosa.”

“Excellent plan,” Charly says. When we all have a drink in front of us, Charly raises her glass in a toast. “I know we’re only focusing on the good today, and every day, and I have to say this.”

We raise our glasses with her.

“You’re the most amazing person I know, Van. It’s been an honor to watch your journey these past couple of years. I couldn’t be more proud of you.”

“Here, here,” Kate says with a nod. “You’re one tough bitch, my friend.”

I giggle at that and clink my glass to the others. “I’ll take that compliment.”

“Hell, yes, you will,” Callie says before sipping her drink. “There are only great things for you ahead.”

“She’s right,” Mallory says with a knowing smile. I frown and she holds up her hands in surrender. “I’m not reading your future, silly. I can’t do that. I’m simply agreeing that you’ve already been through hell. It’s going to get much better going forward.”

“I’ll take that as well,” I reply with a nod. “Here’s to a good life.”

“A good life,” the others happily chime in.

***

I’m so damn full. I forget how I can sit with those women for hours, with never a lull in the conversation. We eat and drink and eat and drink and laugh.

So, I’m rushing directly from brunch to lunch with Ben.

I may not be hungry for food, but I wouldn’t cancel this date for anything in the world.

I walk into the restaurant we started coming to about a year ago and search the room for him. His back is to me, but I’d recognize him anywhere. He’s tall, with super broad shoulders and muscles for days.

For. Motherfucking. Days.

God bless him.

He glances over his shoulder and sees me walking toward him. A smile instantly spreads over his face as he stands and holds his arms open for a hug in greeting.

He’s so damn strong and warm, I could stand here in his arms forever. But the hug ends quickly and he holds my chair out for me.

“Hi,” he says with a grin.

“Hello there.” I glance up to find him studying me with narrowed eyes. “Do I have something on my face?”

“You’re flushed.” He rubs his lips with his fingertips. “Have you been drinking?”

“Yeah, I just came from brunch with the girls and we may have had a mimosa or four.” I giggle and set my menu aside. “I’m so full. I’m sorry, Ben, I can’t eat another bite, but you should eat.”

“I plan to,” he replies. “We could have rescheduled this.”

“No, it’s okay. I haven’t seen you in a while. How are you?”

“I’m good.” He nods as he sets his menu aside. The waitress arrives to take his order, and it’s a good thing I didn’t want anything because she never takes her eyes off of Ben.

The bitch.

She flushes and does a freaking curtsey after taking his order, then hurries away.

“You have a fan.”

“A what?” he asks, completely clueless.

“Nothing.” I shake my head and sip my water.

“How are you today?” he asks.

“I’m fantastic.” I grin as he narrows those blue eyes and studies me for a long moment. “I’m not lying.”

“I can see that,” he says at last, and his shoulders relax, as though he’s been carrying the weight of the world on them.

“I need your help, Ben.”