Page 20 of Kidnapped in Dark Waters
“I just wish Daniel would get that damned Pierre under arrest, because I truly believe that man is responsible for her death.” Nola grimaced. “I don’t know what’s taking him so long.”
“Daniel is doing the very best he can to catch Mama’s murderer.” Angelique quickly jumped to her lover’s defense. “Right now, he lacks enough evidence to arrest Pierre, but trust me, he and his men are working hard on the case.”
“I just hate seeing that man walking around like he doesn’t have a care in the world. I guess I’m just an impatient ninny,” Nola said with a small laugh. “And now I’ll just let you all finish your breakfast.”
She left their booth and headed to the other side of the café, where two women awaited her at a four-top table. “She’s as anxious as we are to get this case solved,” Angelique said and then looked pointedly at Dominique. “That doesn’t mean I want my sister out there watching Pierre in the dead of night.”
“I’m perfectly safe in what I’m doing with Luke by my side,” Dominique replied. “He’s a very good bodyguard and last night I even got him to dance in the rain with me.”
Both her sisters stared at her in obvious surprise. “You got Luke Madison to dance in the rain with you?” Angelique shook her head and released a small laugh. “From what I’ve heard, that man is so uptight he squeaks when he walks.”
“You like him,” Monique said.
“I do like him,” Dominique replied.
“No, I mean you really like him.” Monique held Dominique’s gaze.
“I suppose you could do a whole lot worse than Luke,” Angelique added.
Dominique laughed. “Luke is a likeable guy. He’s my partner and nothing more. He is too regimented for me, and I’m too spontaneous and free for him. If we were romantically together, we’d probably kill each other within twenty-four hours.”
“You’re probably right about that,” Angelique said.
They all finished eating and paid, and within minutes Angelique was headed back to her shop and Dominique and Monique were back in the car and heading home.
“This was nice,” Monique said. “I always like it when the three of us get together.”
Dominique shot a quick look at her sister. Her younger sister was the softest of the three. She often kept her thoughts to herself. She was rather shy and quiet unless she was at work or on the dance floor at the Voodoo Lounge. Dominique might havedanced in the rain last night with Luke, but Monique definitely came alive when she was dancing.
“When are you going to find some nice man to date?” Dominique asked.
Monique laughed. “Remember, I’m younger than you so I’m in no real hurry to find a nice man.”
“You’re only a little over a year younger than me,” Dominique replied.
Monique grinned at her and then sobered. “Seriously, Dominique, I have my work and right now that’s enough for me. I know you and Angelique worry about me, but really, I’m doing just fine. However, I’ll be better once Mama’s killer is behind bars and there’s true closure to the case. Right now, it’s just a festering wound.”
“I think we’ll all do better after that happens,” Dominique agreed. They arrived at the swamp entrance, got out of the car and headed in.
When they reached Monique’s shanty, they said their goodbyes and hugged and then Dominique continued on her way. Just as she had when she’d left, she kept an eye out for anyone else who might be on the path with her.
As she walked, her thoughts went to the brief conversation they’d had about Luke. Immediately, the memory of the very hot kiss she’d shared with him warmed her from head to toe.
Surely, Luke’s kiss had seemed unusually hot only because it had been a very long time since she’d kissed a man. Oliver LeBouef’s kisses sure hadn’t been as hot…as wonderful as Luke’s had been.
Would he kiss her again tonight? A shiver of sweet anticipation shot through her. She entered her shanty and shut and locked the door behind her.
What in the hell was she doing? Why would she want a man who was definitely all wrong for her to kiss her again?
THAT KISS…THAT VERYhot kiss with Dominique had been on Luke’s mind from the moment he had gotten home from her place last night and still teased and tormented him long after he’d awakened that morning.
She had tasted of sweet, hot desire and if that lightning bolt hadn’t slashed the dark skies overhead, he had no idea where the kissing might have led.
Now that he’d tasted the sweet heat of her mouth, he was definitely tempted to kiss her again and again. But that couldn’t happen.
Nothing good would come of kissing her, except it would feed his physical desire for her and he couldn’t allow that to dictate where their relationship went. They had no real relationship except they were friendly with each other and he had the task of keeping her alive.
The other thing that had been on his mind was the note that had been left for her. Did it indicate she was in danger? His gut instinct told him no, that it probably was the work of a secret admirer. But could he trust his gut instinct?
