Easy Magic (Boudreaux #5)

“Really?”


He looks at both of us like we’re nuts.

“Don’t you know who her grandmother was? Her last name is Adams.”

Eli and I look at each other and then back to Ben. “So?”

“Olivia Adams was a super famous psychic. She helped find dozens of missing kids. My mom was obsessed with that stuff. Hell, she still is.”

“I don’t remember her,” I reply, shaking my head.

“Well, even so, we live in New Orleans. There’s some crazy stuff that happens in this town.”

“Regardless of all of that,” I say, interrupting him, “I like her. Her. Mallory, the woman. She’s sexy and smart. She’s a good businesswoman. Being psychic is something she does, but it’s not who she is.”

“I get it,” Eli says with a nod. “I just wonder, is it weird that she reads your mind all the time?”

“She doesn’t,” I reply, getting tired of this conversation. “She says that I’m the one person she can’t read, and I think we both prefer it that way. Now, are you going to play pool or keep asking me about a woman that I’ve just started dating?”

“Both,” Eli says with a grin.

“Hey, I think it’s great,” Ben says, his face totally sober. “If you like her, you should spend as much time with her as possible.”

Fuck.

“Ben, Savannah’s single. You know we wouldn’t mind in the least if you—”

“We’re not talking about me,” he says. “Just spend time with your girl. Now, let’s play some fucking pool.”

***

I haven’t seen her since yesterday morning when we both went to work. I wanted to go to her place after she got home from the séance last night, but she called and said she was tired and headed to bed.

She sounded out of it, and I didn’t argue. For Christ’s sake, I’m acting like I can’t live without her, and I still barely know her.

But I’m drawn to her. I can’t deny it.

So, on my way to work, I stop into Bayou Botanicals to say good morning and make sure she’s okay after last night.

I walk in and smile at her employee, Shelly.

“Hi, Mr. Boudreaux,” she says in greeting.

“Good morning. Is Mallory in her office?”

“No, I’m sorry, she’s not in today.”

I stop short and frown. “Is this her usual day off?”

“No, she called and asked me to cover for her today. She’s out ill.”

I want to ask a hundred questions that I’m sure she won’t know the answer to, so I simply don’t and thank her, then leave the shop and immediately dial Mal’s number.

She doesn’t answer.

“Good morning, it’s Beau. Shelly said you’re out sick, so I wanted to call to see if you need anything. Just let me know if you do. Feel better, sugar.”

I hang up and head for the office, but then decide to go see her myself. I don’t have any meetings today, which is rare.

I pull into her driveway and ring the doorbell.

She doesn’t answer.

I try calling again, and then curse myself a fool. She’s probably asleep and I’m just disturbing her.

But I need to see her.

When one more ring of the doorbell goes unanswered, I turn to leave but the door opens.

“Beau?”

She looks…exhausted.

“Hi, sweetheart. Shelly said you were sick, so I came to check on you.”

“Oh, that’s nice.” She smiles, but she can barely keep her eyes open. “I’m just so tired.”

“I see that. Do you want me to stay?”

“No.” She shakes her head and scratches her cheek. Her red hair is all over the place, as if she’s been thrashing about in bed. Her half-open blue eyes are dull, and surrounded by dark circles.

She looks horrible.

“You should go,” she says and reaches out to pat my chest. “Your muscles are ridiculous. I’m just going to sleep. That’s boring.”

I can’t even bring myself to snicker over the muscles comment.

“Do you mind if I work from here today, while you sleep?”

She frowns, but it looks like she’s going to fall asleep on her feet, so I scoop her up and carry her up the stairs.

“This is a weird dream,” she says and lays her head on my chest. “But a nice one. I haven’t dreamed of you before.”

I kiss her temple and set her down on the edge of the bed. Her clothes are soaked through with sweat.

What the fuck is happening?

“Don’t lie down, sweetness; we need to change your clothes.”

“Too tired.”

“I know.” I quickly rummage through her drawer and find an old tank top and panties. “I never thought I’d be trying to get you dressed,” I murmur and turn back to find that she’s fallen back on the bed, her feet still on the floor, and she’s snoring lightly.

Poor woman.

I manage to get the soaked clothes off of her, and get her into the fresh clothes, then tuck her into bed.

I’m not leaving her here alone all day. She’s just too out of it. So, I run out to my car and gather my briefcase and the work I had with me that wouldn’t fit in the briefcase, go back inside, and set up shop on her dining room table.

My phone rings in my pocket. “This is Beau.”

“Hello, Mr. Boudreaux, this is Hillary.”

“Yes, Hillary.” Hillary has been my administrative assistant for five years, and knows what my schedule is every minute of the day.

“I was just going to remind you that you have a phone conference with Japan in fifteen minutes, sir.”

“Thank you.” Shit. I’d forgotten. “I’m not coming into the office today.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t think I heard you correctly.”

I smile. “I won’t be in today, Hillary. But I am working remotely. Please set the call up through my cell phone, and email me anything that I don’t already have.”

“Yes, sir.”

No matter how many times I’ve told her over the years to call me Beau, she still calls me sir or Mr. Boudreaux.

And she’s only three years older than me.

But I do appreciate her professionalism.

“Is everything okay, Mr. Boudreaux?”

“I understand that I’m a workaholic and that this is unusual, but I’m perfectly fine, Hillary. Thank you for asking. I trust you can handle things there, and I’m available all day. Just call or email if you need me. As if I was on a business trip.”

“Of course, I’m sorry. You’ve just never called out before.”

“Thank you.”

I hang up and briefly check email and my notes on this phone call. If the contract goes through, this will be a three billion dollar deal for Bayou Enterprises. I hope we can wrap it up today, and that I don’t have to go to Japan to do it in person. A month ago, it wouldn’t have bothered me. But now, the thought of being on the other side of the world, away from Mallory, is unacceptable.

So, while the woman who has shifted everything else in my life out of focus recovers upstairs, I prepare to do what I do.

Work.

***

The call went well. There will be no trip to Japan in my immediate future, and a very lucrative agreement was cemented.

It’s been a good morning.