to help her. Then you going to call me later and take me to the Zulu parade ’cause my uncle Delroy is one of the captains this year. Then we’ll see after that.”
He didn’t know what the last statement meant, but he didn’t care because at that moment, he knew he’d never met anyone like Alicia Laurence, and for some reason, God only knowing, it was meant to be like this. That’s all he knew and that was good enough.
“Let’s roll, then.”
Alicia’s response was to press the accelerator.
* * *
ELEANOR CUT THROUGH several streets, trying to avoid all the traffic around Canal Street, but was blocked at every turn. It felt as if the world actually wanted to prevent her from getting to the coffee shop and Dez.
Which wasn’t true, of course.
It was merely self-doubt whispering that idea.
But even under the whole “maybe I shouldn’t do this” thing, happiness beat in her heart. The past few hours had been the most pleasurable she’d had in a long time. Dez wasn’t what she’d expected. Sure, he was confident and in control, with a sexy alpha maleness that sped a girl’s pulse, but romance also beat beneath the overtly male facade.
I like foreplay.
Damn, those words made her stomach puddle.
Okay, it puddled a little lower than her stomach. Those whispered words were such a turn-on. Anticipation buzzed in her stomach, driving her crazy. Made her hot enough to turn on the AC. She angled the vent at her face. She had to get some coolness, some calmness, or she was going to burn out of control thinking about sex with Dez.
Absurd.
But she cranked the AC higher.
Her phone chirped a happy tune in the cupholder.
She picked it up and took a deep, steadying breath, gathering her composure. “Hello.”
“Mrs. Theriot?”
“Yes?”
“This is Sergeant Baglio down at the Third Precinct. I’ve got your daughter here and—”
“Blakely?”
“Yes, ma’am. Margaret Blakely Theriot? We picked her up on a drunk and disorderly half an hour ago. She’s not exactly cooperating, but we managed to find your number from her cellular phone and thought we’d give you a call.”
“Oh, my God,” Eleanor breathed, her hands shaking so hard she stopped the car in the middle of a street. “I don’t— I mean, what do I need to do? Does she need a lawyer? Can I come get her?”
“Why don’t you come on down here, and we’ll decide how to proceed. You’ll likely have to post bail. This is a courtesy we usually don’t extend, but she’s crying uncontrollably and, well, circumstances being what they are...”
“I’ll be right there.” Eleanor clicked the phone off and tossed it in the seat next to her, turning into a driveway to her left and reversing out. Dez had been following her, thank God, because she didn’t even have his cell phone number.
“Hey, what’s up?” he asked, rolling down the window, his eyes worried. “You okay?”
She shook her head. “No. They just called from the police station and Blakely was arrested.”
“What?”
“Something about a drunk and disorderly. I’m sorry but I have to go.”
“Are you okay to drive?”
She nodded. “Yes. I’m just angry and scared for her. What’s wrong with her? To do something like this? I don’t—”
“All right, all right.” He pressed his hand into the air in a soothing manner, his voice mimicking his actions. “Deep breath, and remember, she’s okay.”
Eleanor sucked in the air and exhaled. Any other time and she would have felt as though Dez patronized her, but she knew he only tried to give her perspective. It wasn’t the end of the world, and Blakely was safe. It was, however, the end of their evening together. “I wanted to spend some more time with you.”
“We have tomorrow. And the next day. And the next. Right now, though, you need to take care of your daughter. Do you need me to come with you?”
“No. I’m fine. I’ll be in touch.”
“Sure. Let me know if you need anything, okay?”
“Thank you,” Eleanor said, inching the car forward as a pair of headlights appeared in her rearview mirror. “You’re a good man.”
“Nah.” He smiled with a wave. “I’m just trying to get you into bed. Later.”
He pulled away, and oddly enough, his flirty words gave her a strange comfort, as if there were lightness left in the world even as she faced something that was definitely a drag on her soul. And that said a lot, considering her soul felt rock bottom in regards to Blakely.
Eleanor pressed a button on her phone, pulling up directions