For The Love Of You

“Oh.” Her voice rose in a note of surprise. “And?” she added when Jewel offered nothing further.

“He came to ask me to reconsider.”

“And?”

“And I agreed.” She held onto her smile.

Minerva clapped her hands together in delighted relief. “Amen! I am so happy that you came to your senses.”

“I’m glad you approve.”

“What made you change your mind?”

“I thought about what you said.” Craig Lawson immediately came to mind. “It’s for the best.”

Minerva squeezed Jewel’s arm. “This will lift a big burden off your shoulders and give you some room to breathe.” She hesitated a moment. “I know I’ve said it a dozen times, but if you’re set against going back to your art, you could have a whole other career in baking. It wouldn’t bring in the same level of money as your paintings and such, but...you love it and your customers love the magic you make.”

Jewel drew in a long breath and slowly released it. “One thing at a time, Minny, okay?” A faint smile of indulgence curved her mouth. “Let’s go take Dad for his walk. Then I actually do need to get into the kitchen. I have an order for three dozen red velvet cupcakes for Ms. Hatfield’s daughter’s sweet sixteen party.”

“See, they love you,” Minerva said with a grin.

Jewel slowly shook her head, tucked in her smile and followed Minerva to her father’s room.

* * *

He’d been out with more women than he could count or remember. There was rarely a time in his life when a woman was not somewhere in the shadows. He adored women, loved the look of them, the way they made him feel about himself. He’d experienced the gamut of emotions for the women he’d been with, but fear was never one of them. But if he were tortured and had to confess, he would admit that he was scared as all hell about this lunch thing with Jewel Fontaine.

He didn’t have a damned thing to prove to her. He wasn’t trying to win her over and get her into bed. This was business. So there was no reason for the churning in his gut or the galloping of his heart.

Craig made the last turn on the road toward Jewel’s home and realized as he gripped the wheel that his palms were damp. What the hell? He maneuvered the Suburban slowly down the narrow dirt lane and came to a stop at the end of it. He cut the engine. Too many scenarios of what came next raced around in his head. He pushed out a breath, opened the door and got out. No point in delaying the inevitable.

He strode toward the front door and up the three steps to the landing. He rang the bell. Moments later the nurse came to the door.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Lawson,” she greeted him with a wide grin. “Ms. Fontaine is expecting you. Please come in.”

All very Southern, Craig mused. “Thank you.” He stepped inside and was once again taken aback by the sweeping grandeur of the home. Tastefully elegant in every detail.

“You can have a seat in the parlor.” She indicated the room to her right with a tilt of her hand. “I’ll let Ms. Fontaine know that you’re here. Can I get you anything?” she asked before turning away.

“No, thank you, ma’am. I’m fine.”

Minerva hurried off.

Craig took a slow turn in the well-appointed room. Old-world charm seeped from every corner. The oak beams, padded antique chairs, heavy glass and wood tables and gleaming hardwood floors with strategically placed area carpeting all added to the flavor of what once was and still existed. He could envision the cigar smoke drifting into the air while men of power sat around making decisions and sipping shots of whiskey.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Craig turned toward the sound of Jewel’s voice and was hit once again with the impact of seeing her. He swallowed. His lips parted for a moment before a response could form.

“Not a problem,” he finally said. He took a step toward her. Her eyes widened, and her bottom lip quivered ever so slightly. What was she thinking? If only he could let her know how hard it was for him to rein in the overwhelming desire to kick the door closed, press her body against the wall and kiss away the shimmering gloss she had on those lush lips. He shoved his hands into his pockets to hide the rise that pulsed and to keep from touching her. That would be a mistake. He tipped his head slightly to the side. “Ready?”

“Yes.” She spun away and led the way out, giving Craig ample time to pull himself together—although looking at her from the rear wasn’t much help, either.

They stepped out into the balmy early afternoon. The sky was crystal clear, the sun high and strong with a breeze off the surrounding brooks and streams cooling the air and carrying the scent of the spring blooms that sprouted from the ground and hung from the trees.

“Did you have someplace in mind?” Jewel asked while Craig held the passenger door for her and helped her in.

“Um, not really,” he drawled. He shut the door and rounded the vehicle then slid in behind the wheel. He turned to look at her. “I was hoping you would suggest your favorite place,” he tossed out as a Hail Mary.

Jewel grinned. “To be honest, it’s been a minute since I’ve been out. Can’t really say I have a favorite place.”

Craig turned the key in the ignition. “Then we’ll find a favorite place together. Sound like a plan?”

Jewel fastened her seat belt. “Sure. Let’s go.”

“I’m working off rusty memory,” Craig said as he pulled onto the main road. “From what I remember there are a bunch of cafés and restaurants downtown. Right?”

“Good memory. I can’t guarantee they’re exactly what you remember, though. There’s been a lot of turnover of small businesses the past few years.”

“Hmm, I can imagine. It’s always the little guy that gets hit the hardest when change comes.”

“Unfortunate and true.”

Craig stole a look and caught the pensive expression that drew her tapered brows together. “Anyone you know?” he gently asked.

Jewel considered the question for a moment. She nodded. “Phyllis Heywood. She owned a small boutique with a lot of handmade jewelry and accessories. The rent got so high she couldn’t keep place. Then there’s the bookstore and the diner that were around since I was a girl.” She paused. “They’ve all been replaced with high-end shops and a real estate office. And those are the ones that I know about.”

“Ouch.”

“Exactly. And of course there are the businesses that never recovered after Katrina. A lot of people are still living in trailers and are out of work.”

Craig nodded. “I know it won’t solve all the problems that are going on down here, but this film will definitely bring business and jobs to the community.”

“But for how long?”

He wasn’t ready to reveal his entire plan. There was no guarantee that it would all pan out. “Let’s say we’ll take it one day at a time.” He reached over and covered her hand with his. An electric charge shot between them.

Jewel’s eyes seemed to brighten, and Craig heard her short intake of breath that matched his own. If he was going to get through this business lunch in one piece and not find some hidden corner to ravish her in, he was going to have to keep his hands to himself. He returned both hands to the wheel and concentrated on the winding road.

* * *

Once they were in the center of town, Craig suggested that he find a place to park and they walk around until they settled on a place to eat.

They strolled along the streets of downtown New Orleans and shared comments on the many changes that had engulfed the area. Intermittently their arms or fingertips brushed as they sidestepped other walkers and pretended the subtle touches didn’t happen. Instinctively, Craig’s hand found its way to the center of her lower back as he guided her along the narrow streets. The heat from her body sizzled on his fingertips, and it took all of his concentration to stay on task and not focus on what her skin would feel like next to his. Talk, don’t think, he reminded himself. Talk.

“I know it’s been a while since I’ve been here, but I got to admit, it feels totally different. Nothing like I remembered,” he said. “I mean, it kind of looks the same, but the vibe is off.”

“I know what you mean. I feel the same way. The only difference is that I’ve been here to see it happen.”