“What the hell?” Rett asked as he took the strip of material.
I tried to contain my smile. “It’s your turn.”
By Rett’s expression, he was obviously confused.
“Do you remember the morning you came to get me in the back of the shop on St. Peter?”
“Yes, that day is etched forever in my mind.” He lowered his voice. “I especially remember after the reporters left.”
My eyelids fluttered as warmth crept up my neck and cheeks.
After the reporters and our attorneys left, we retired to our suites. Neither of us had slept the night before, and yet once we were alone, sleeping wasn’t our goal.
I cleared my throat. “Yes, well that day, Edmée questioned Leon because my mother is very private. She only allows a select few to know where she lives.”
Rett looked up from the blindfold in his grasp. “It’s the bayou. I’ll never remember.”
“Boss,” Leon said, “Ms. Edmée made me promise. If I upset her, I’ll upset the spirits.”
Rett rolled his eyes and exhaled. “Only me?”
Ian and I both held up a blindfold. “She said it was all right for Leon to see since he’s been there once before.”
“And he’s driving,” Rett added. He tied a knot with both ends of the fabric. “May I help you, Mrs. Ramses?”
“As long as you promise to put yours on too.”
“I promise.”
I turned away as he fitted the soft material over my eyes. Securing the tie, he leaned close and lowered his voice. Warm breaths skirted my neck, leaving goose bumps. “I’d forgotten how sexy you are in a blindfold.”
My smile grew as I turned to him. Even though he was obscured from my vision, I pictured him, every inch, every muscle and crevice. I reached out until I found his eyes, also covered. “Thank you.”
The tires bounced as the terrain became less refined.
I wasn’t sure how long it took. With my hand in Rett’s and my head on his shoulder, I didn’t care. I was with the man I loved, surrounded by others I knew would protect me, and on my way to see my mother.
The SUV came to a stop.
“We’re here,” Leon announced.
I tugged on the knot in time to see Rett’s eyes covered. Leaning closer, I kissed his cheek. “You can take that off now.”
His handsome features morphed to a grin as he removed the fabric and the sexiest brown stare came my way. “This gave me a few ideas.”
I shook my head as Ian opened the door beside Rett and we both stepped out onto the hard-packed ground.
“Wow,” Rett said. “This house is...” His sentence trailed away.
“It’s nicer than you expected,” I said, finishing his sentence. I tugged on his suit coat. “I’d leave that in the car if I were you. I warned you about the lack of air conditioning.”
Before he had the jacket off, Jezebel stepped onto the porch, her presence announced by the slamming of the screen door.
“You came.”
Leaving my husband, I hurried up the steps and we embraced. If it were to be a quick hug, neither of us got the memo. There weren’t words to describe my feelings at being in her arms. When the hug ended, she reached for my hand and with her other, she reached out to Rett.
I knew they’d spoken at the warehouse. He’d told me about it, yet as he stepped forward and offered a bow before taking her hand, I was certain my chest would explode. It was everything I’d never imagined.