“You didn’t get into trouble with your ex-husband,” I say, and take her face in my hands, making her look at me. “He was an asshole who didn’t know a good thing when he had it. He doesn’t know how to treat a woman, Kate. And wanting to please people you love isn’t a bad thing, when it’s done sincerely.”

“Thanks,” she whispers.

“So, you’ll wear the sexier than fuck nightie?” I ask with a grin, lightening the mood again.

“We’ll see,” she says with a wink. “I don’t want you to think I’m a sure thing.”

“Oh, sugar, that ship has sailed.” I laugh and pull her in for a hug, delighted with her. “You make me laugh.”

“Do I make you want to pack things?” she asks, making my heart still at the reminder of her leaving. “Because I need to finish this and you’re distracting me.”

“You make me want to undress you,” I reply, but she backs out of my reach.

“Oh, no.” She points a finger at me and glares.

“You don’t scare me.”

“No hanky-panky. This has to get done.”

“Hanky-panky?” I ask with a laugh. “What, exactly, is hanky-panky?”

She giggles and backs further away. “You know what it is. I have to get this done, Eli. I don’t have time for shenanigans.”

“Oh, there will be shenanigans, cher.” I slowly saunter toward her. She’s run toward the balcony, caging herself in. “Admit it. You like the shenanigans.”

“No. I don’t.” She giggles.

God, I love her giggle.

“You also like it when I get you naked.”

“Stop it.” Now she stands firm, her hands on her hips, as though she’s a teacher and I’m an unruly student. “I’m serious, Eli. I have work to do.”

I grin. “So do I.”

Chapter Nineteen

Kate

“I never did ask you what happened with Asher.” I’m chatting on the phone with Lila. “I was too busy looking like a blow fish.”

“A lot happened with Asher,” she says.

“Was there sex?” I ask, and throw the last of my things in my carry-on bag.

“Oh, indeed, friend. There was lots of sex.”

“Was it good sex?” I grin and flop on the couch, wishing Lila was still here, rather than back in Denver.

“Maybe the best sex that has ever been had on this planet. Every time.”

“Every time?”

“Every. Time.”

“So, was there the exchange of phone numbers?”

There’s a pause, and I sit up straight, stare at my phone, then, “Seriously? Lila!”

“I don’t have time for a relationship.”

“Who said anything about a relationship? Just call him up now and again have the best sex on the planet.”

“Impossible,” Eli says as he walks through the door. “We have the best sex on the planet.”

I laugh and hold up my hand, signaling that I just need one more minute.

“He lives in Seattle, Kate,” Lila says with a sigh. “I never go to Seattle.”

“Maybe he goes to Denver,” I suggest.

“I’m not going to be in Denver much longer either.”

“You’re not? Why?”

“Because, while I was in New Orleans, I had that interview with Tulane University, and I have a new job beginning this fall.”

“Shut the front door!” I exclaim, and jump to my feet, dancing around the living room. “I’m so excited for you!”

“Thank you. So, I have enough to keep me occupied for now.”

“It’s not like being occupied by the best sex on the planet is a hardship,” I remind her dryly.

“Seattle, Kate.”

“Fine.” I sigh. “I guess it doesn’t matter anyway, since you didn’t get his number.”

“When do you come home?”

“Tomorrow.” I bite my lip and glance back at Eli, who’s sipping a bottle of water and leaning against the countertop, watching me. “I get in around noon.”

“Want me to pick you up?”

“Sure.”

“Okay, send me your itinerary. I’ll see you tomorrow. Go enjoy your sexy business man. Have the second best sex on the planet.”

“You’re sick,” I reply with a laugh. “Bye.”

“How is Lila?” Eli asks and joins me in the living room.

“Good. She got the job at Tulane.” I grin and stand on my tip-toes, so I can kiss him. He still has to bend down to meet my lips.

“Good for her.” He cups my neck in his hands and takes the kiss deeper, in that way he does that makes my toes curl and my fingertips tingle.

The man can seriously kiss.

“What would you like to do this afternoon?” he asks.

“I want to take one more walk through the Quarter. It’s so pretty this afternoon.”

“Grab your hat,” he instructs me, making me grin.

“Yes, sir.”

“Don’t sass me.”

“No, sir.”

He swats my butt. “Smart ass.”

“Yes, sir.” I tug my hat onto my head, grab my purse, and Eli leads me down the steps to the sidewalk.

“Which way?”

“I get to choose?”

“Of course.” I stop on the sidewalk and take him in, standing so tall, his dark hair moving in the summer breeze, his sunglasses hiding his whiskey eyes. He has a little dark scruff on his face, and his lips are tipped in a half-smile, as if he finds me amusing. His body is perfectly comfortable in a white button-down and jeans, and despite having had him mere hours ago, I want to climb him.

“Cher?”

“Oh, what?” I shake my head and look up into his face.

“Where would you like to go?”

“Oh. Let’s start in here.” I lead the way into the amazing botanical shop beneath my flat. “I love the way it smells in here.”

“After you.” He holds the door for me, then follows me in, hanging back as I wander through the racks and tables of lotions, soaps, oils, and extracts. I saunter through, smelling the potions.

“Hi there,” a woman with long, thick dark hair and bright, happy blue eyes says from the checkout counter. “Can I help you find anything?”

“No,” I reply with a grin. “I’ve been staying upstairs, and I’ve wanted to stop in to look around. The smells that drift upstairs are delicious. I stopped in briefly one day to buy shampoo, which I love, but I didn’t have time to browse.”

“Well, I’m Mallory, the owner, and just let me know if I can answer any questions.”

I nod and smile, and before I’m done, I’ve gathered more shampoo and conditioner, cucumber lotion for my eyes, lip balm, and an eye-pillow full of lavender.

Mallory rings me up and Eli pays before I can pull my wallet out of my purse, earning a glare from me.

“You’re not paying for anything when you’re with me, Kate.”

“Thank you. That was fun,” I say with a smile, as we step out onto the sidewalk. “I should have gone in there before. I love girlie stuff.”

“Well, you are a girl, so I guess that fits,” Eli says with a laugh, and takes the bag of goodies out of my hand.

“You’re quite chivalrous, you know.”

“Mama raised me right,” he replies. Damn that accent gets me every time. Especially when he was in my hospital room, whispering in my ear.

You made a man who’s incapable of love fall in love with you.

He thought I was asleep, but I heard him.

Not that it changes anything. I’m still leaving tomorrow, and I refuse to be the one to tell him that I love him when I’m not full of medication.

Because, what if I was wrong? What if I was hallucinating?

How embarrassing would that be?

He takes my hand, kisses the back of it, and leads me down the sidewalk, toward Jackson Square, toward the sound of music and people and the smell of beignets.

I’m going to miss this.

I’m going to miss him.

I glance up, and for just a moment, the words are on the tip of my tongue.

“What is it, cher?”

“I just—” I take a deep breath and chicken out. “I’m going to miss this place.”

He smiles softly and kisses my cheek, but doesn’t say anything in return, and I swallow my disappointment and decide to simply enjoy our last day together.

***

“Another lemon drop?” Joe the waiter asks, as he delivers our Brussels sprouts.

“No,” Eli answers for me, giving me a stern look. “I’d like to actually have a coherent conversation with you this evening.”