“What are y’all up to?” I ask my family.

“Well, yesterday was Sam’s last day of school, so we decided to come into town and take Maman out for lunch,” Gabby says.

“Is Rhys gone already?” I ask, then turn to Simon. “Gabby’s husband is Rhys O’Shaughnessy. He plays baseball for the Cubs.”

“I’ve heard of him,” Simon says.

“You follow baseball in England?”

“I follow all sorts of things,” he replies. “Would you like to join us?”

“Oh no,” Mama says, but I can tell that she has an arsenal of questions for him. “But I would love it if you came to dinner before you leave town.”

“It would be an honor,” Simon replies and kisses her hand, and for the first time in my life, I see my mother blush.

“Aunt Charly, are you still taking me on the gator tour this weekend?”

Crap. I forgot.

“You don’t like gators,” I reply, teasing him.

“I do too! And you said that you’d take me to celebrate school getting out. You’ve never gone to see ’em! I have to show them to you.” His face is earnest and excited, and there’s no way I’m going to tell him no.

“You know, I’ve never seen them either,” Simon says, surprising me.

“You’d want to go with us?”

“Well, it sounds like something I should see while I’m here,” he says and winks at Sam. “And you promised him.”

“Right on!” Sam exclaims and high fives Simon.

“Sounds like we’re going to see the gators this weekend.”

“Better you than me,” Gabby replies and takes Ailish from me, who reaches her little arms out for me and pouts. I kiss her fingers.

“I’ll see you soon too, love bug.”

“Call me,” Gabby says.

They say goodbye and go inside to their table and I sit back down and finish my meal, feeling Simon’s eyes on me with each bite.

“Go ahead and ask.”

“Ask what?”

“Whatever it is that you’re thinking because it’s really loud.”

“I don’t know if it’s a question as much as an observation.”

“Okay.”

“A few observations, actually.”

I laugh and sit back to sip the rest of my martini, watching him.

“Go ahead.”

“You and your sister look a lot alike.”

“We do, yes. And Savannah looks similar as well. My father’s genes were strong.”

“And your family is closer than I realized.”

“We are incredibly close.” I nod and tilt my head. “What else?”

“Her children adore you.”

“They adore all of us.” I smile and think about my brothers with Ailish. She has them wrapped around her tiny finger. “Let’s be honest, they’re adorable.”

“They are.” His eyes smolder again as they find mine. “And you’re bloody gorgeous with a baby on your hip.”

I cock a brow and ignore the fluttering in my stomach. “Am I?”

He nods once and finishes his drink, then waves the waiter over and gives him his card.

“I need to walk off some of this energy,” he says after he signs the check.

“Let’s walk over to Café du Monde,” I suggest. “I could use some sugar.”

He takes my hand and leads me down the street. “Me too.” He kisses my head, and I know he’s not talking about the same sugar I am.

I grin and hold his hand tightly, enjoying our banter and our conversation.

Enjoying him.

***

“I’m so damn tired.” I’m in his car later that night, my head leaning back. I roll my head on the headrest so I can look at him. “You’re really here.”

He glances at me and grins. “I’m here.”

“Crazy. Turn left at that light.” It’s dark now. We spent all day in the Quarter, eating, shopping.

Wandering.

We talked endlessly and laughed more than I have in years. I loved showing him my city.

“I’m up here on the right. The yellow house.” I point to my place and smile. I know that I’m not home much, spending most of my time at work, but I love my house.

“This is a beautiful neighborhood,” Simon says as he pulls into my driveway. “Where’s your car?”

“At work,” I reply and yawn. “I’ll get it tomorrow.”

“What time do you go to work?”

“I’ll leave here around nine. That gives me an hour to settle in at the shop before I open.”

He nods and pulls himself out of the rental, circles the car, and opens my door.

“Help.” I hold my hand out to him and he practically pulls me out and onto my feet. “I think I’ll sleep well tonight.”

“Good.” He kisses my nose and follows me up the steps to my front door. I unlock it, but before I can push it open, he turns me around and kisses me chastely, and pulls away.

“If you’re going to kiss a girl, kiss her right.” I grip his shirt in my fist and pull him back to me, kissing him the way I’ve wanted to all day. Our mouths are hungry for each other, devouring lips and tongues. My leg climbs up around his hip, and the next thing I know, I’m boosted up against the door, his hand is up my skirt and on my bare ass, and I’m ready for him fuck me right here, in front of all of Louisiana.

Suddenly, he lowers me to my feet, kisses my forehead, and backs away, panting and swallowing hard.