Easy Nights (Boudreaux #6)

“No, I’m no god,” I reply with a sassy smile as I stand and he zips up his pants. He’s watching me intently, his eyes on fire. “I just couldn’t help myself. You’re sexy as fuck, Ben.”

“I want you,” he says. His voice is deceptively calm and low. He stalks toward me, and I walk backwards. Not trying to get away from him, but wanting to see where he’s going with this. When my back hits a wall, he cages me in, leaning his hands on the wall at the side of my head. He kisses my forehead.

“Look at me.”

I comply, looking up at his handsome face. I can’t help but cup his face in my hands and enjoy the way the stubble feels against my palms.

“Hi,” I say. He smiles slowly, and then chuckles just before he kisses me soundly.

“You’re just full of surprises, Angel.”

“Well, I don’t want to be boring.”

He shakes his head, his eyes pinned to my lips. “You’re never boring. And I don’t know what I did to deserve that, but I’ll do my best to do it more often.”

It’s my turn to laugh. “Let’s say it was a combination of adrenaline and lust.”

“So we have to become avid thrill seekers.”

“No,” I reply. “I don’t need thrills to want you.”

“I want you every minute of every day,” he says. “I’d love nothing more than to boost you up against this wall and have my way with you.”

“Seems like a waste to not take advantage of this wall. It’s just standing here. We should use it for something.”

“You’re quite the smart ass today. I like it.”

I just smile and feel the loss when he pulls away from me.

“Come. Let’s get your things and get out of here. I want to take you out tonight, if you’re feeling up to it. If you’re not, we can just watch a movie or something.”

“Like, on a real date?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Cool!” I do a little shimmy before I head up to my bedroom to pack. I’m definitely up for it. I feel like I could be up for anything right now. Adrenaline really is a thing. “Thanks for the heads up. I’ll pack a pretty dress.”

“Don’t forget the heels!” he calls after me.

“Have you met me?” I yell back and smile at the sound of his laugh.

Tonight is going to be fun.

***

It’s windy this evening. I wore a flowy organza dress that I love because of the pretty yellow flowers embroidered in the material. But it doesn’t match well with wind.

I might flash someone, or everyone, in the Quarter, and that would be bad. Much to my ex-husband’s disappointment, I’m not an exhibitionist.

But here in the restaurant, I’m comfortable and feel sexy in this dress with my red peep-toe stilettos and my hair twisted up off of my neck. Ben keeps brushing his fingertips over the skin at the base of my neck, sending shivers down my whole body and puckering my nipples.

We’re waiting at the bar for our table to be ready, sipping a drink and just enjoying being close to each other.

“You’re sure you’re up to this?” he asks.

“Ben, I’m fine. My shoulders are a little sore from tensing up and the seatbelt, but other than that, I feel good. Also, you’ve asked me that about seven times. If I didn’t want to be here, I’d tell you.”

“Okay,” he says and kisses my temple. “You look so beautiful.”

I grin as he presses his lips to my ear. “I’ll be right back.”

He might as well have just said, take all of your clothes off.

“Okay.” I smile at him as he saunters away and take a sip of my lemon drop. Kate got me hooked on these when she moved to New Orleans a couple of years ago. I don’t drink often, but I think I’ve earned one or two of these after the day I just had.

“Hey there, sweet thing.”

I glance to my left to find a middle-aged, balding man standing next to me. He has something black stuck between his two front teeth.

I don’t reply, but he keeps talking.

“How many drinks do you think it would take to get you to come home with me?”

Lord Jesus.

I roll my eyes and turn to face him. He’s grinning, showing off that hideous hunk of food in his teeth. “There isn’t enough liquor in this bar to make that happen.”

His smile slips. “So I should just keep on walking by then?”

“Oh yeah. For sure.”

I turn away just in time to see Ben sit next to me. My shoulders relax in relief. Not because I couldn’t handle that jerk by myself. Because I could have. And I did.

“Who was that?” Ben asks.

“Absolutely nobody,” I reply just as the hostess comes to tell us our table is ready. It’s tucked in the corner of the dimly lit restaurant. There’s a candle burning on the table for two and it feels intimate and romantic as we sit and look over the menu. The waitress refills our drinks and takes our order and Ben takes my hand, kissing the knuckles.

“You look nice.” I sigh in pleasure and look him up and down. He’s in a black button down with the sleeves rolled, showing off his tattoos, and a pair of black pants that hug his ass in the most delicious way.

“You are stunning,” he replies. “You didn’t disappoint with those shoes.”

“These are some of my favorites,” I agree and stick my foot out from under the table so I can admire them. “It also helps that you’re so tall and I’m so short so I can wear any height of heel that I want.”

“That must be a woman problem.”

“Absolutely.” I nod and sip my drink. “I know that some women don’t care if they’re taller than their guy, but I prefer a tall man. Not that it’s ever been much of an issue for me. All of us Boudreaux girls are petite.”

“Your mama is tiny,” he reminds me and I nod again.

“This is nice.”

“I should take you out more often.”

“I’m not complaining,” I reply. “By the time we’re both out of work at the end of the day, we’re tired. I like just being with you in the evenings.”

“I do too. But some of this is nice now and again as well.”

“I won’t argue,” I say as our food is delivered. “Have you heard from the garage about your car yet?”

“I’m not expecting to hear from them until Monday. I hope you don’t mind if we use your car for the next few days.”

“I don’t mind at all.”

We enjoy our dinner, and each other, chatting while we inhale our meal. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until the food arrived.

“Can I interest you in any dessert?” The waitress asks.

“No, thanks.” I shake my head and sip the last of my drink. “I’m stuffed.”

“Just the check, please,” Ben says, smiling at me. “How do you feel?”

“A little buzzed,” I admit. “How many of these did I have?”

“Three.”

“Yep, that’ll do it.” I giggle and then cover my mouth with my napkin. “I promise not to embarrass you with my drunken antics.”

“You’re not drunk, and you would never embarrass me.”

I snort and gather my clutch as we leave the restaurant. Ben’s right, I’m not drunk, but I do feel mighty fuzzy and I can’t say that I don’t like it.