He glanced toward the window. “I used to love coming to New Orleans when I was a kid.”
“You did?”
“My parents would bring us here Sundays for lunch. My mother always made sure we were properly dressed.” He laughed. “That’s one thing I don’t miss. Dressing up to eat. Even at home, we had to dress for dinner.”
“Sounds like your parents had money.” Catty’s parents were well-to-do, but they certainly weren’t rolling in it.
“Yeah. They do. Or did. I haven’t seen them in a while. Not since I moved to Arkansas.” His voice sounded heavy, like he’d been carrying something for a long time, something he desperately needed to put down.
“They must live close.” She pressed her lips together, waiting for him to answer.
“They do. It’s a plantation home, not too far from here. My great-grandfather built it. It’s not as old as the other plantations around here, but it still has a lot of history.” He cupped her neck and rubbed his thumb across her bottom lip. “I once told my dad we should do tours of the house during holidays like Christmas and Valentine’s Day.” His lips turned up into a semblance of a smile. “He said no. Said he didn’t want strangers in the house trying to case the place or steal the family silver.”
She laughed. “Well, I can’t blame him.”
She settled back against his shoulder. “It must have been a great place to grow up. I remember my home. We lived in a subdivision, but the lots were big and our property backed up to a forest. Me and Skylar used to take my mom’s sheets and make forts in the woods. We’d also take her spoons so we could dig in the ground and make a fairy city. She’d always find her spoons bent out of shape and ask if I knew what happened. I would always lie. Although I couldn’t lie when Skylar was around. That girl had an honest streak a mile wide. She threw me under the bus one day when my mom asked if we’d seen her pearl necklace. I said no. Skylar spoke up and said I broke it while we were out in the forest working on our fairy house. We were going to use the pearls as a gate around the fairy house. I stretched it too far and the pearls went everywhere.”
“Sounds like you had a good childhood.”
“I did.” She’d chosen a different path, far from the charmed life she once knew.
“It’s weird when things you took for granted aren’t there anymore.” His wistful tone made her heart ache.
“Yes.” She eased up on her elbow to look into his eyes. “Like Mom’s meatloaf.”
“Or digging up night crawlers to go fishing,” he added.
She grinned. “Or irritating Zane.”
“Oh, believe me he’s still getting irritated by his Guardian brothers.”
“How long have you known Zane?” She trailed her finger down the muscles in his chest.
“For a while.” He shrugged. “We’re not BFFs, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Do you like living in Arkansas?”
“I do. I miss things about Louisiana though. Like the food and my home.” His voice trailed off.
“Why don’t you go for a visit while you’re here?” She lifted her eyes to his.
“Because I’m on business. Besides, I don’t think they want to see me.”
“That can’t be true. They’re still your parents. They love you no matter what.”
A slow smirk grew across his gorgeous lips. “You should listen to your own advice, Catty.”
“I’m different.” She shook her head and fell back onto his shoulder. “I chose this path. I chose the consequences and the shame. My parents would be heartbroken if they knew what I’ve become.”
He raised up on his elbow and lifted her chin with his finger. “What you’ve become is a beautiful, independent woman who looks after the interests of others. Like Mrs. Willis and your friend Jill. You have options and you are a survivor.” His words trickled over her soul like a warm spring, filling her with hope. She’d never looked at herself in that light before.
“Well, maybe if you go see your parents, then I’ll go see mine.” She arched her brow. She couldn’t imagine going home, but she would encourage Lucien to.
“We’ll see.” He laughed and fell back on the bed. “Right now, I’ve got other plans for you.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her on top of him.
“I made a promise you were not getting any sleep tonight. And I never break my promises.”
***
Catty stood at the foot of her bed and watched Lucien sleep. A sheet wound around his waist, the white material hiding his nakedness from her gaze.