“Somethin’ else?” Thereze asked.
“I’m fine, thank you.”
Remy waited until the waitress moved away. “Blue, why would you go around without a bodyguard if people do you that way?” He wasn’t about to let it drop. She couldn’t tease her way out of the question. He wanted an answer. She was as elusive as the wind, but not to him. Never to him. He refused to accept her evasions.
Bijou sighed. “I forgot how relentless you are when you want something.”
She was silent, absently stirring her coffee with a spoon. Remy waited. He had the patience of a leopard on the hunt and it had always stood him in good stead when interrogating a suspect. Bijou was like a wild, wary animal, not certain who to trust. He was going to be that man.
She finally looked up at him, her gaze once again moving over his face as if looking for something. “I’m coming home, Remy. I want a home and this is it, my last stand. I’ve been battling uphill for so long and I’m just plain tired. I’m not makin’ records or doin’ concerts anymore. I want to have a quiet, peaceful life. I need to sing, so that’s why I purchased the club, but I need a home. I’m done with travelin’.”
“You’re very successful as a singer.”
She sent him a brief smile. “Yes. I can’t say the business wasn’t good to me. Nothin’ on the scale of Bodrie, but certainly more than most and I’m grateful. I truly am. I think I had to prove to myself I could do it, and I’ve done that. I just want to come home now.”
He didn’t blink. Didn’t take his eyes from hers, forcing her to hold his gaze. “Why? I’m not buyin’ into the quiet peaceful life, Blue. Not for a moment.”
Color crept into her face and for a moment her blue eyes shifted away from his, feathery lashes veiling her expression. “It’s partly true, Remy. I don’ know what else to tell you. I spent far too long fightin’ a losin’ battle, tryin’ to outrun Bodrie. I learned it was foolish to even try. What was the point? He’s my father. He wasn’t the monster I thought him, or the god others did. I’m not ten anymore, desperate for my daddy’s love.”
“Everyone needs love and family, Bijou,” Remy said.
She pressed her lips together. “I need peace. And a home. I’m not him. I have a voice, but I choose not to be a rocker. I don’ have to make excuses, or be angry. I don’ have to try to please anyone else. It’s been a long road to learn things Miss Pauline tried to teach me so long ago. To be honest, I don’ like the life. I want a different one.”
“Miss Pauline tried to teach us all things we took forever to learn,” Remy said. “The bodyguard,” he prompted gently.
She was hiding something from him. She’d even admitted it, but she wasn’t going to reveal anything else, not so soon. He couldn’t blame her. She hadn’t seen him in years. The strange connection he felt toward her when she was young had been his need to protect a child. Now, she was all grown up and his feelings were so intense he could barely control them.
“If I look like a regular person, everyone local will accept me that way. Eventually no one will think a thing about me walkin’ around town on my own, and I’ll have my life back.” Bijou picked up the menu, clearly finished with the conversation. “What’s good here?”
He let her get away with it even if he didn’t altogether agree with her. “Everything. Emile has turned this little café into the premiere place to eat.” Remy took a sip of coffee and allowed himself to really look at her. “You’re really beautiful, Blue.” It was the simple, raw truth and he saw no reason to pretend otherwise.
Looking at her was painful, and not just because she made his body ache. He was very aware of the other men in the room and the way people were gawking at her. The leopard in him snarled and raked at his gut. He found it necessary to breathe deep to keep the animal calm while he drank her in.
“Thank you, Remy. I do appreciate you sayin’ so, but you’re starin’.”
“I’m well aware of that. I’m thinkin’ you’re goin’ to need to get used to it.”
They both waited until Thereze took their orders. Once the waitress was gone, Bijou opened her mouth to respond, but Remy gave a small shake of his head and without asking a single question, she halted. His leopard had gone still. Coiled. Ready. The great spine flexed. Remy smelled mint and soda pop. He turned his head and watched two young girls approach. Teenagers. Both were nervous, their fear and excitement coming off of them in waves.
Remy was well aware of the deep breath Bijou took as she turned her head toward the girls, a welcoming smile curving her soft lips.
“Can we have your autograph?” one asked while the other looked as if she might faint.
“Of course,” Bijou answered readily. She took the proffered pen and tablet. “What’s your name? Do you live here in New Orleans?”
“I’m Nancy, Nancy Smart, and this is my cousin, Alexandria. We both live here,” Nancy volunteered. “We went to your concert in Lafayette. It was so much fun.”
“That was fun for me too,” Bijou said as she wrote on the tablet. “The Lafayette concert was like comin’ home and bein’ with people I know after travelin’ so much.”
“I heard you bought a place here. Are you goin’ to be singin’?” Nancy ventured as she took the tablets and hugged them to her. “Can underage get in?”
“That’s a good question. I should think about how we can do a few special nights for everyone,” Bijou said. “Thanks for mentionin’ that.”
Nancy beamed. “I hope you do.”
The two girls nearly tripped over one another, giggling as they hurried back to their booth. Bijou twisted her fingers together and sent him a small smile. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’ apologize. That comes with the territory.”