Page 50

“Right now, I don’t feel much like dancing,” she replied.

“Maybe you’ll change your mind when the time comes.”

“We’ll see,” she replied and then released a deep sigh. “I was really beginning to feel safe again. I thought it was all over, and I would be able to go home and give you your life back.”

He smiled at her. “Trust me, my life was nothing special before you started staying here. Besides, I do enjoy your company.”

“Just not all the time,” she replied and this time a tiny sparkle was back in her eyes. “Trust me, I know there are times you just want me to shut up.”

He laughed. “Maybe just occasionally.”

“Honestly, Jacque, I don’t know what I’d do without you. I… I can never thank you enough for your kindness and protection. I’m just sorry I got you into this whole mess.”

“You didn’t get me into this mess, and I’m glad I can be here for you,” he replied.

It was at that moment Jacque realized the depth of his feelings for her.

He couldn’t be in love with her. He’d refused to ever do love again. But his feelings for her felt like love and that scared the hell out of him.

Chapter Eleven

She had almost told him she was in love with him. The words had burned on the tip of her tongue begging to be freed, but thankfully she’d managed to swallow them back.

Now wasn’t the time for her to profess her love. With the shooting just now, she had a feeling he would believe it was all about gratitude and fear and not about real love.

She would wait until the time was perfect. And she was hoping when she did confess, he would realize he was in love with her, too. That would be positively wonderful…if it happened that way.

Monique took her phone and went into the bedroom where she called Angelique and then Dominique. The calls were just friendly check-ins. She didn’t mention her close call with a bullet. The last thing she wanted to do was worry them. They both had wonderful lives, doing what they wanted for work and living with the men who loved them. There was no reason to bring her drama to them, although she had no idea if Daniel actually would tell Angelique about the shooting.

After that she called the store and had a quick conversation with Cynthia who was working. Cynthia indicated that everything was fine although it had been a slow sales day.

With all the shock of the shooting, Monique needed a little normalcy and talking to her sisters and checking in at the store gave her that for a moment. She finally left the bedroom and returned to the living room. Jacque wasn’t there.

She found him on the back porch, cleaning the fish they had caught. “Don’t come out here,” he said when he saw her. “I’m almost finished, and then I’ll be back in.”

She turned around and headed to her usual spot on the sofa. He came in just a few minutes later, a pan of fish fillets in his hand. “Are you hungry?” he asked.

“I guess I could eat.” She looked at the time on her phone, surprised to realize it was almost six thirty. With the shooting, the day had completely slipped away.

“Sit tight, and I’ll have some fish fried up and a salad made in just a few minutes,” he replied.

She got up and moved from the sofa to the kitchen table to watch him cook.

“If I had caught two more fish, you would be in here fixing dinner.” He cast her a quick smile. “If you feel like it after dinner, I’m ready for a dance party. We need a little fun around here.”

“Jacque LeBlanc is looking for some fun? Wow, I’m impressed, and I’m definitely up for some fun, too,” she replied. “I used to love dancing at the Voodoo Lounge. Usually from the minute we got there until we went home, I was out on the dance floor the whole time.”

“I’ve never been there,” he said as he dredged the fish through a flour mixture and then put the pieces in the awaiting skillet.

“You would probably hate it. It’s loud and usually really crowded. Besides, you’ve never been to most of the places in town,” she replied dryly. “It wouldn’t be seemly for the town’s hermit to be seen out and about.”

“Hey, I was out and about with you,” he protested. “And I resent being called a hermit.” His eyes twinkled with a teasing light.

“Okay then, a curmudgeon, a cranky-pants, an ogre…”

“I refuse to wear any of those titles when I was just a loner minding my own business before a beautiful woman knocked on my door and turned my world upside down.”

“Just think how bored you would be if that woman hadn’t knocked on your door,” she replied.