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Jack. I will.ā€

ā€œTonight?ā€

ā€œYes.ā€

ā€œCan I make dinner for you, here at my place?ā€

Liz had missed the cozy privacy of his apartment and couldnā€™t think of anywhere else sheā€™d rather see him. ā€œThatā€¦would be nice,ā€ she struggled to get out.

ā€œSeven?ā€

She glanced at the clock, then down at herself. She had a lot of grooming to do. ā€œSeven-thirty.ā€

ā€œI canā€™t wait, chere.ā€

ā€œIā€™llā€¦be there,ā€ she said. Hanging up the phone, she fell back into the nearest easy chair.

What had just happened here? Was she feeling too happy too fast? This didnā€™t mean he loved herā€”it didnā€™t even mean he wanted to get back together. But heā€™d sounded so sexy, so seductive. And the important thing was that she would see him in only a couple of hours. And that the night, like every night in the French Quarter, was full of possibilities.

* * * * *

She showed up in a long, pretty, flowing dress that bloomed with tiny blue and purple flowers and made her look like some kind of beautiful storybook fairy princess. Well, a sexy storybook fairy princess, because the dress clung to her curves and possessed a low v-neck that instantly made Jack want to kiss the shadowy valley between her breasts and run his hands over her lush curves. He checked the urge and hoped heā€™d have the chance later. ā€œItā€™s good to see you,ā€ he said, standing back to let her in.

Her smileā€”the sweet, timid one heā€™d seen on more than a few occasionsā€”seemed to radiate through him. ā€œYou, too.ā€

He took her handā€”merde, just to touch her again was so damn goodā€”and led her out onto the balcony. He held out her chair as she sat down at the table heā€™d set with good dishes and linen napkins, and even a small vase of fresh flowers.

She bit her lip and gazed up at him. ā€œThis looks so nice.ā€

ā€œItā€™s all for you, chere. I hope you like it.ā€

Her smile said yes, and he couldnā€™t help smiling back.

After reaching into the ice bucket heā€™d brought out earlier, then pouring wine in two stemmed glasses, he returned to the kitchen where heā€™d prepared a Cajun feast. He hoped heā€™d made a good decision, but deep inside he wasnā€™t worriedā€”something told him he had.

ā€œI never asked if you like Cajun food, darlin,ā€™ but if this doesnā€™t suit you, just say so and weā€™ll order somethinā€™ in.ā€ With that, he set down a large plate for each of them, both heaping with piles of his homemade jambalaya, red beans and rice, Cajun shrimp, and crawfish cakes.

She cast a tentative smile as she lifted her gaze from the plate to his eyes. ā€œTo tell you the truth, in all the time Iā€™ve been here, Iā€™ve never really tried any Cajun food.ā€

Taking a seat across from her, he raised playful eyebrows. ā€œAn adventurous girl like you?ā€

She laughed lightly. ā€œAs you well know, I didnā€™t used to be so adventurous. And I suppose my taste in food was a lot like meā€”Iā€™ve always played it safe. When I go to a restaurant, I order something tried and true.ā€

He tilted his head. ā€œMais, are you willinā€™ to try this, or should we get somethinā€™ else? I donā€™t mind if youā€™d rather go for a steak and baked potato.ā€

She reached for her fork. ā€œAs you said, Iā€™m much more adventurous now, so Iā€™ll give this a try.ā€

Jack watched as she lifted a bite of his jambalaya to her lovely berry lips. A moment later, she gave him another smile. ā€œSpicy, but I like it.ā€

He couldnā€™t help laughing. In one simple sentence, sheā€™d summed up his feelings for her.

One by one, she tried each of the other dishes, and one by one, she gave her approval, finally thanking him for introducing her to so many Cajun delicacies all at once. ā€œI didnā€™t really know how much I liked hot things before.ā€

Again, he grinned at her unintended double entendre. This time he couldnā€™t help himself from saying, ā€œI did, chere.ā€

She blushed and he laughed. ā€œDarlinā€™, there you go again.ā€

ā€œOld habit,ā€ she said, swallowing, looking nervous. ā€œAndā€¦I havenā€™t seen you in a while. I suppose my comfort level hasā€¦faded a little.ā€

ā€œMy fault,ā€ he supplied. ā€œAnd I need to tell you why.ā€

She blinked, looking interested in what he had to say, and reached for her wine. ā€œIā€™d like to knowā€¦what happened. I mean, I know it was me who changed my mind about moving in with you, but I never wanted to stop seeing you.ā€

He tilted his head, wanting to get the truth on the table right now. He wanted her honesty back, every blunt, lovely, raw part of it. ā€œYou didnā€™t change your mind about movinā€™ in with me, chere. Todd changed it for you.ā€

Her mouth dropped open.

ā€œDarlinā€™, I hid some surveillance cameras in Toddā€™s house, but then I fell behind on my work, so it took me this long to get around to lookinā€™ at ā€˜em all. Late last night I watched the tape from that day after you said youā€™d come live with me. I saw his threats, Liz. I know why you sent that message now.ā€

He shook his head, continuing. ā€œBut back thenā€¦I didnā€™t understand. I was just hurt, and angry. I thought you didnā€™t want to be with meā€¦be with me in a way that means somethinā€™, a way that lasts. I fucked up. I shouldā€™ve called you. I was an idiot to go runninā€™ in the opposite direction, but I was afraid of exactly thatā€”of gettinā€™ hurt, and I didnā€™t want to get hurt any worse than I already was. I was so wrapped up in my own feelings that I didnā€™t spend enough time tryinā€™ to figure out yours.ā€ And the truth, of course, was that he still didnā€™t know her feelings, not really. He hoped she cared for him, hoped she wanted the same thing he did from their relationship. But he wasnā€™t going to push that right now. There was more to tell her.

ā€œI took that tape to the police this morninā€™, chere. They were

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