Easy This Time - JH Croix Page 0,12
a few days to get my bearings and figure out what my plans will be.”
“Excellent. Shall I go ahead and drive you there?”
Mari laughed softly, and I took that as a sign she was relaxing somewhat. “Seeing as I don’t know where to go, I’m entirely reliant on you to tell me where it is.”
When I took an exit leading to downtown New Orleans, Mari commented, “It sure is beautiful here. I’m glad I finally got to visit even if it wasn’t the best vacation.”
I slid my gaze sideways briefly and saw that she had unlaced her fingers over her knees, and her hands were relaxed in her lap now. “New Orleans is a wonderful city. Everyone should visit. I’m sorry you didn’t have a good trip. Perhaps we can remedy that. Where were you supposed to stay?”
“I spent three nights at Inn Boudreaux. It’s …”
“Oh, I know right where that is. Gorgeous place. I know the Boudreaux family and am friends with Gabby. She’s good people.”
“Of course you know them,” Mari said dryly.
“Of course?” I countered.
“You strike me as the kind of man who has connections everywhere. You know my brother, you know the Boudreaux family, is there anyone you don’t know?”
“That’s your brother and one family,” I said as I shook my head. “Forgive me for being well-connected in the area where I live. As for knowing your brother, we have business connections. Because of my real estate business, I’m constantly in need of security. I’d think you know that’s one of his specialties.”
Mari looked my way with a slight smile. “I get it. I was just teasing.” After a pause, she added, “Here’s hoping I can enjoy my next few days in New Orleans.”
“Let’s make a deal.”
“A deal?”
“Yes, a deal. I was born and raised here. Let me show you the city I love. She’s a good friend.”
“She?”
I lifted a shoulder in a slight shrug. “Yes, she.” I forged ahead with my question. “Look, I don’t know much about the nature of your relationship with your ex. He is your ex, right?”
“Oh, most definitely,” Mari said firmly.
“I don’t know what you intended to do on this trip with him, but he left, and he was pretty shitty about it if you ask me. I normally wouldn’t comment on this, but since you told me, I might as well point out that it doesn’t sound like things were all that great with y’all for the last few months. Consider this an entirely fresh start. Leave Brett in the dust and enjoy yourself here in Louisiana.”
Exiting off the highway, I slowed when I came to a stoplight and glanced in Mari’s direction. She was studying me, her gaze thoughtful.
After a moment, she let out a soft sigh. “I always thought of New Orleans as such a romantic city. Obviously, I know better now, but I thought maybe Brett and I could get things back on track this weekend. Don’t go thinking I want him back. I don’t. But it’s just…Well, you said it best. He was shitty to me.”
“You can still have a romantic vacation here.”
I might’ve lost my mind, but I suddenly became bound and determined to make this trip far more than Mari expected.
Her cheeks flushed as she stared back at me. Just when I thought she wasn’t going to say anything, she did. “Okay then. Show me New Orleans.”
“So, that’s your tour,” I said.
I looked across the room at Mari, where she was standing by the windows, which looked out toward the harbor. The Port of New Orleans was visible in the distance. With this building located a few blocks outside of the French Quarter, it was a mix of offices on the lower floors with my company occupying the entire second floor, and residential condos on the two upper floors.
As we’d walked around the small condo, Mari twisted her hair up into a knot and tied it. I was marveling at the fact that it was long enough to stay in place. Mari turned and crossed the room toward me, her footsteps echoing on the hardwood floors. She stopped beside me where I stood by the kitchen island that served as a divider between the small kitchen and the open style living room.
“Thank you, Nash. Now that I’m here, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this. I really won’t stay long, but it’ll give me a few days to pull some kind of plan together.”
Having her stand this close revved my body’s engine.