At that moment, Drake entered the parlor. His eyes and manner were distant as he crossed the room and extended his hand to Cole. “Drake LeVeq.”
Cole took his measure as they shook hands. “Coleman Bennett.”
Drake and Lenny shook as well before Drake took up a position over by his brother. Arms folded, he glowered at them like an angry sentinel. She caught Cole’s small show of surprise and the way he turned to Drake as if re-evaluating him. He and Lenny shared a glance before Cole swung his attention to her. Guilt flared inside. She wanted the scowling pirate to leave. She shot Archer a quick look, saw him sigh and shake his head at his brother’s actions. Knowing there was nothing she could do outside of yelling at him to be nice, she pasted on a bright smile, and said, “So, tell me about Paris.”
Cole, never one to be intimidated, asked the LeVeqs, “Do you mind if we visit privately? I know this is your mother’s home, but—”
Archer replied, “Of course not. Come, brother, let’s see what we can find to feed you in the kitchen.”
He’d left Drake little choice, so Drake inclined his head. “Enjoy yourselves.”
When they exited, Val relaxed but saw Cole’s unspoken questions. Rather than field them, she said, “So, Paris. Did you find an investor?”
In the kitchen, an exasperated Archer said, “You really don’t know what you’re doing, do you? Am I going to have to tie you up outside until Mama and Henri get back?”
Drake glared and set a skillet on the stove. “I think I’m losing my mind.”
Archer said flatly, “She’s not yours.”
Raimond had pointed that out also. “I already have one Raimond in my life, Archer. I don’t need two.”
“What you need is to take your lovesick self home and let her figure out her future alone.”
“I’m not in love.”
“Lust-sick, then.”
Ignoring that, Drake cracked eggs into a bowl, pulled the cream from the cold box, and poured some into the eggs. He wondered if Valinda was hungry. She hadn’t had breakfast, but because of the way he’d acted out there, she’d probably punch him if he disturbed the reunion to ask, so he left the thought alone. “Have you eaten?”
Archer nodded.
He added a pot of grits to the stove, then pulled out the leftovers from last night and added helpings of that to the growing number of items on the stove.
Archer cracked, “You’re never going to get married. There’s not a woman alive who’ll cook that much every day.”
In the breadbox, Drake found the last of the baguettes Little Reba baked yesterday. “Have you noticed that I’m doing all this alone? There are also people you can hire called cooks.”
Once everything he planned to eat was ready, Drake filled up his plate, and he and Archer went into the dining room. “Are you taking Bennett and his friend back to the Christophe?” Drake asked as he began in on his meal.
“Unless you’d prefer to.”
“If you have work to take care of, Valinda and I can do it. No sense in you wasting away your morning.” He and Archer may have been going back and forth, but they were still brothers who looked out for each other.
“I do. Roudanez and some of the other newspapermen are having a dinner this evening. I know the staff can handle things, but I want to be there for the preparations in case I’m needed. However, I’ll stay if you plan to drop the man in the swamp.”
“I promised Valinda I’d be nice. I just hadn’t planned on sharing her this morning.” And he hadn’t. He’d been looking forward to a nice quiet breakfast with just the two of them. “Go on. I’ll take care of her precious intended.”
Archer smiled. “Try not to further embarrass your lady.”
“She’s not my lady, remember?”
Archer gave him a brotherly pat on the back and exited.
In the parlor, Valinda listened to Cole and Lenny talk about their trip to France, the sights they’d seen, the people they’d met. It sounded like a wonderful experience, but the main question remained. “Did you find an investor?”
Cole and Lenny smiled.
She laughed. “Quit teasing me and tell me.”