Garden of Dreams and Desires - Kristen Painter Page 0,21
she could do, but he didn’t want to tell her that. Instead, he reached over to take her hand. “We’re all working to figure out how to get Harlow back. Even Fenton. It’s our main priority.”
She picked up the bottle of bourbon and cradled it in her lap. “I guess I know the real reason you brought me this now.”
Ava Mae hadn’t even put her foot on the first stair when Augustine leaned over the upper railing to call out to her. “How was your shopping?”
“Fun.” And more productive than she could have hoped. Meeting Rufus Ogun had been a delightful turn of events. “Do you want to see what I bought?”
Harlow sighed. No, he doesn’t.
He smiled, thrilling her down to her toes. “Sure.” He tilted his head to the side. “Come on up and give me a show.”
Well, this was a delicious new twist. Lover boy was finally warming up to her version of Harlow. It was about time. “On my way.” See, Sister dear? Boring and dull would have never gotten you this far.
Harlow went quiet, but Ava Mae could sense her sudden despair at Augustine’s invitation. With a smile that was much larger on the inside, Ava Mae jogged up the stairs, shopping bags swinging. She carried them all the way to Augustine’s fourth-floor apartment, where he occupied half of the converted attic. The rest was storage, but his side was beautiful, spare and clean and lit by several windows, the largest an enormous leaded glass circle that looked out over the rest of the Garden District neighborhood. The mouthwatering aroma of smoke, his signature scent, perfumed the air and every inch of the space dripped with his masculine energy.
But her favorite feature was the big king bed occupying the far wall when she first entered. With its fluffy down comforter, fat pillows and crisp white sheets, it looked like a nest. The kind she wanted to burrow into with him. Again.
That was if she actually had the first time. Her memory of that evening three nights ago was painfully unclear. It was embarrassing to think they might have already slept together and she couldn’t remember it. Was it possible they’d been intimate and it hadn’t been memorable? Or had something else happened? Something Augustine had done? The unknowing almost made her growl in frustration.
No matter what her suspicions were, this time it was going to happen for real. And she was going to remember it. So was he.
He looked up from where he was sitting on the couch. “That was fast.”
She grinned. “I didn’t want to keep you waiting.”
He sipped a tumbler of amber liquid and smiled. “I appreciate that.” He tipped the glass toward another one on the coffee table. Next to it was a tall bottle of bourbon. “After all that shopping, you must be ready to unwind. Fortunately for you, it’s cocktail hour.” He grinned, almost knocking her down with the brilliance of his smile. “Come join me for a drink and then you can show me everything you bought.”
She hesitated. “I don’t know. The last time I had a drink with you, I had too much and passed out.”
Which was why that evening three nights ago was so cloudy. She couldn’t for the life of her remember what had happened after he’d carried her to the bed. She’d tried, but it was almost like the memories were being purposefully suppressed.
Could Harlow be doing that? Harlow, are you hiding something from me?
Her sister snapped back. No, I’m angry at you, you dumb twit. Leave him alone.
Ava Mae gave a little internal shrug and did her best not to laugh. Poor Harlow. That’s not going to happen. Not when I’m this close to having the night I’ve been dreaming about. She wasn’t about to be derailed by her sister’s sour attitude. She turned her attention back to Augustine.
He held her glass up to her. “Don’t worry, I won’t let you have more than this one.”
She sashayed forward a few steps. “You promise?” She did enjoy the way the bourbon warmed her up inside.
“Cross my heart. This one glass only.” His smile was impossible to look away from. “Besides, it’s considered impolite in this city to turn down a drink.”
She hesitated. There was no way she could say no to that wickedly handsome face. “Tell you what? I will, but I want to put on one of my fancy new outfits first. Okay?”
“Okay.” He lifted his glass. “I’ll be waiting.” He pointed out the door.