Easy This Time - JH Croix Page 0,32

of stories. I’m going to start with Inn Boudreaux. I already talked to Gabby, so I’m planning to go out tomorrow.”

“Need a ride?”

“I can handle it. I’m picking up a rental tomorrow morning. My job will cover it. How about you work, and let me know what’s next on the agenda for our tour tomorrow afternoon?”

“You got it.”

Mari fell quiet as the trees opened up. “Oh wow,” she breathed. “This is beautiful.”

The narrow road we were on opened up to a field. The Mississippi stretched ahead with cypress trees dotting the shoreline and Spanish moss swaying lazily in the soft breeze. I came to a stop on the edge of the grassy field.

Mari threw her seatbelt off and clambered out quickly. I followed as she walked to stand beside a picnic table situated under the shade of an old live oak.

“Is this a public place?” she asked when she glanced up at me.

“No, darlin’. It’s part of the property I bought for my parents.”

“Wow, it’s incredible here.”

Mari spun in a slow circle before walking closer to the shoreline. The scent of gardenias filled the air, along with the subtle hint of salt from the ocean nearby. Gulls called, and the river drifted slowly in front of us. This portion of the property was on a bluff above the river.

I paused at Mari’s side. “I love it here,” I commented.

“It’s hard not to love it. I imagine it’s different for you because this is where you grew up.”

Glancing down at her, I nodded. “It feels like home to me. Always will.”

When she looked back toward the water, I closed my eyes and took a breath. Since it was mid-afternoon, the day’s heat was at its peak. The languid air clung to my skin, but I didn’t mind. Under the generous shade of the trees, I let the peace of this place wash over me. Although I hadn’t grown up in this specific spot, everything about it felt familiar.

I’d spent many a day when I was a boy near the shores of the Mississippi, playing in the water and getting called back whenever a storm rolled in.

When I opened up my eyes, I felt Mari’s gaze. Turning to face her, I took a moment to absorb her. She had her dark hair pulled up into a knot. It had been down earlier, but now she had a pen stuck through it. Several loose tendrils curled against her neck. Lifting a hand, I brushed a lock off her cheek, feeling it slide through my fingers when I tucked it behind her ear. “How am I doing so far at giving you a good week in New Orleans?”

Her eyes darkened to navy as she looked at me. “You’re doing very well. Under the circumstances, that’s remarkable.”

“I’m sorry about everything Brett’s doing. We’re going to stop it.”

Anger tightened my chest. The feeling spun into the ever-present desire that ran like a live wire through my body whenever I was near Mari.

“Not that I need to point this out, but none of this is your fault, Nash. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your help. Between you and Max, I know it’ll all be okay. In the meantime, you’re making me fall in love with New Orleans.”

As we stood there, the air felt electrified—snapping and crackling around us. I couldn’t have stopped myself from kissing Mari if I wanted. As she watched me, her tongue darted out, dragging across her bottom lip.

Stepping closer, Mari’s scent drifted around me—that hint of vanilla and some kind of flower. It was intoxicating. I slid my hand around to cup her nape. When her breath drew in and caught in her throat, lust sizzled through me.

I waited for a beat—because I didn’t want to be alone in this. She bit her lip. “Kiss me, Nash.”

I was all about taking that kind of order from Mari. Then, she was arching into me and yanking me down, her mouth opening sweetly the moment our lips collided.

Chapter 14

Mari

Nash’s palm slid down my back to rest at the dip of my waist. His tongue stroked against mine, and I gasped into our kiss. Nash was beyond tempting. With his muscled body right there for the taking, I let one hand map his chest while I slid the other up and gripped the corded muscles of his back. I wanted to climb him like he was my personal tree.

Oh my God, the man could kiss. His lips molded to mine as he set