“Are you sure? Mano sounded gun-shy this morning.”
“My brother is the cautious one, but he’ll learn you can’t always be too careful. Do that and it makes you seem weak. None of us can afford that.”
“What are your plans for tonight?”
When the car stopped in front of Remi’s building she put her hand on the door handle. It was the only complex in the downtown area built on the river. “I don’t have any yet,” she said, chuckling. “Will I need a date?”
“Have anyone in mind?”
“I’ll think about it. Where’d you want to go?”
Cain pointed at the van behind them. “Someplace fun where I can forget I’m an exotic pet worthy of observation.”
“Emma does tell tales of some impressive feather rustling when you do your mating dance.”
“Get out,” she said, teasing, “and we’ll meet you at eight. Feel like steak?”
“Eight at the Steak Knife. Better make sure you bring cash for some fun later. If you want to attract attention I have a good way to go about it that involves a set of dice.”
Cain nodded and waved as Remi got out and shut the door. As they started moving again Cain let out the air in her lungs, tired from the large lunch they’d had. “Lou, if anyone calls at the office asking about what we’re up to, give them what they want.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m not losing my mind.” Cain let her head fall back and closed her eyes. “I’m just helping Juan make his first move. If he’s going to make one, I want to see him coming.”
*
“Need a ride?” Shelby asked through the open window of her car.
“My office isn’t that far. I’ll walk since I wouldn’t want you to go out of your way.”
“How about a ten-minute truce?” She rested her head on the seat back and closed her eyes briefly. “Try to conjure up how you felt about me the last time you were in my house.”
Muriel opened the door and got in. Shelby turned in the opposite direction of her office. They headed back into the French Quarter and pulled over behind the French Market.
“What’s on your mind? Or did you have a sudden craving for Loretta’s Pralines?” Muriel asked. She turned in her seat and pressed her back into the door.
“I want to know what happened.” Shelby took Muriel’s hand. “I can’t stop thinking about you, and I can’t concentrate on anything.”
“You know what happened. Last night when you stepped into that restaurant should’ve been explanation enough, if I didn’t do a thorough job. Something happened, and with no proof that my family was involved, we were your first stop anyway.” She put her other hand over Shelby’s, squeezed, then pulled away. “Your world doesn’t fit into mine, and no matter how much we want to pretend, it never will.”
“You want to just give up?”
When Shelby’s lip trembled slightly Muriel couldn’t resist holding her. “I care too much about you to lie to you. Do you really want to share your life with someone you’d have to censor yourself around? All that’s left is the physical aspect, and you aren’t that kind of girl.”
“How do you know?” She moved closer into Muriel’s embrace. “If it’s all I can have, I wouldn’t mind.”
“But I would.” Muriel moved back so she could see Shelby’s face and put her palm against her cheek. “You deserve better than that, and so do I.”
“Wait a minute.” Shelby took a deep breath. “Stop trying to think for me, and don’t decide things that will change my life. That’s definitely something I’m not looking for in a partner.”
“I’m not doing that. I’m only trying to be honest and tell you what I want. This isn’t easy, Shelby, but it’ll be ten times harder if we put it off.” She kissed Shelby in the most chaste way she could manage.
“Things are moving too fast, and I’m having a hard time keeping up with it all.”
The strange non sequitor made the skin on the back of Muriel’s neck prickle. “Give it a couple of weeks and I’m sure you’ll be fine. It’s not as if we won’t be seeing each other, considering our jobs,” Muriel said as a joke to loosen Shelby up.
“Do you ever feel everything is being turned upside down and nothing makes sense?”
“Like I said, give it time and you’ll see I’m right,” Muriel tried again.
“Give it time is your best advice?” Shelby reached for her hand again and smiled when Muriel didn’t rebuff her. “I’ve lost you, and work is crazy with Anthony going to work for the Luis family.”
Muriel wanted to call Cain immediately and tell her she was right, but she wasn’t ready to face that humiliation. She wasn’t used to being stupid, but that’s exactly what her attraction to this woman had reduced her to. “I’m sure that isn’t a cause for concern,” she said, trying to keep from screaming. “Your organization puts people undercover all the time. Some go about it more enthusiastically than others.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“That Anthony will probably enjoy this assignment.” It took all her willpower not to add “as much as you enjoyed yours in my bed.”
“It isn’t an assignment, Muriel. He was suspended and he’s retaliating against Agent Hicks.” She paused and sighed for what Muriel took to be effect. “Have you heard anything about him?”
“I need to retire,” Muriel said, laughing. “Because I’ve gotten so dumb I actually fell for this crap.” She opened the door and narrowed her eyes when Shelby tried to touch her.
