Page 37 of Lulu’s Recipe for Cajun Sass

He laced the fingers of his right hand with her left, and squeezed before laying their closed double fist on his thigh. “You never let me get away with anything, do you?”

She didn’t know about that. It seemed to her as if he was going away soon, no matter what. That was the same as “getting away,” wasn’t it? She didn’t say that, though. Instead, she told him, “That’s the key to Cajun Sass, honey.”

“What is it with you and that Cajun Sass stuff?”

She just smiled.

* * *

Love was in the air…

Justin was excited to show off Louise at the wedding reception because, frankly, he’d fallen hook, line, and sinker for the woman, and he wanted his family and friends to like her as much as he did.

Like? Hah! He was in love, all right, for the first time in his thirty years. Oh, he’d had all the usual teenage crushes and several long-term (like three months max) affairs, but he’d never felt like this. He couldn’t imagine the rest of his life without Louise in it. The logistics of it would have to be worked out, but he was confident that love would out.

Not that he’d said any of this to Louise. Yet. He was waiting for the perfect moment. Hopefully tonight.

“Are you as nervous as I am?” she asked.

They were in the circular driveway of the country club, two cars behind the valet stand waiting their turn.

“No, why would you be nervous? These people are the same as you and me. Maybe with deeper pockets, but that doesn’t make them better.”

“I don’t care about that,” she said with a wave of her hand.

She was sitting as close to him as he could get her, with his right arm over her bare shoulders. Every time she moved, he got a whiff of her rose bath oil, which sent a message direct to his favorite body part. Would he be like that Pavlov dog from now on? Every time he smelled a rose, he’d get a hard-on?

“I’m nervous because you and I are out in public for the first time,” she continued. “We’ve been discreet so far. I don’t want everyone knowin’ about the hanky panky we’ve been engagin’ in.”

He had to smile at her choice of words and squeezed her shoulder. “They probably have their suspicions anyhow. You know how bayou folks are, mindin’ everyone’s business.” He laughed and said, “If your daddy were alive, he’d be askin’ my intentions.”

She elbowed him in the side

They arrived at the valet stand. He got out to get his ticket while another attendant opened the door for Louise. He took her hand and led her forward.

“Wow!” she remarked as they walked up the wide steps of the old rice plantation house complete with columns and verandahs. The mansion had been converted to a golf club with a wrap-around terrace giving access to the interior through a half-dozen sets of French doors.

“I feel like Cinderella just arriving at the ball,” she said.

“Does that make me Prince Charming?” he asked with a grin.

“Oh, you a charmer, all right, cher,” she drawled.

“You’d better not lose your shoe.”

“Me, I’m more worried about turnin’ into a pumpkin.”

They both laughed and entered the crowd. The cocktail hour was still going on, so, people were scattered about in small groups both here on the terrace and in the reception rooms.

He recognized some of them, and Louise knew even more. They were constantly stopped for bits of conversation while he led her toward his parents and his brother and his new bride.

“Justin! Congratulations on your upcoming graduation.”

“Louise! How good to see you out and about. Are you still making those herbal remedies?”

“You must meet my niece, Justin. She’s a nurse.”

“What a lovely dress, Louise! Where did you buy it?”