“Jacques…” Now she was pleading. But in her plea to leave her alone, she was still giving him the choice, and he wasn’t about to choose to walkaway.
“Just dinner. Just talking,” he said, unwilling torelent.
“Jacques.” Her voice was firmer, but he still hadn’t heardno,so he took this as a sign ofvictory.
“Is there anything you don’teat?”
“Barbecue,” she said withouthesitation.
Jacques chuckled. “The girl withMemphisas her middle name doesn’t likebarbecue?”
“Yeah, I don’t have many good associations with Memphis,” she said quickly and with feeling “…but even if it weren’t the barbecue capital of the world, I’d still hate barbecue. I mean, barbecue sauce?Eww.”
She’d done it again. He was laughing, and that was how Kate foundhim.
“What’s taking so long,Gilchrist?”
Jacques spun to find her standing right behind him. He had no idea how long she’d beenthere.
“Des has to go to work in an hour, and we need to nail your last two pity party songs before tomorrow night’sshow.”
Kate delivered this little speech at full volume and before Jacques could cover thephone.
“Pity party songs?” Rainey asked in Jacques’sear.
He sent a scowl Kate’sway.
She came back with a suspicious stare. “Who’s that?” she asked, nodding to thephone.
“Rainey, I need togo—”
“Oh, goody. He’s talking to his muse.” Kate’s sarcasm came out in stiltedmonotone.
He ignored her and tried to lock down plans with Rainey. “But is seven okay? I promise I won’t bringbarbecue.”
“And he’s going to see her again.” Kate narrated for noone.
When Rainey didn’t respond, Jacques tried harder. “I can bring enough for your sister. You said things have been rough. You been taking care of her? Cooking for her? Let me take that off your platetonight.”
“What. A. Guy,” Kate said, rolling hereyes.
Jacques clenched his jaw and gave a tight jerk of hishead.
“Boy, she’s really busting your balls, isn’t she?” Rainey sounded less than amused. In fact, she sounded a littlepissed.
Jacques’s jaw unclenched as he remembered their encounter with Casey North. The feeling it summoned made him even moredetermined.
“I’ll be there atseven.”
He heard her sigh. “Alright, yes. Seven itis.”
His full-strength smile broke free, and he watched Kate’s lip curl a little in apparentdisgust.
“Great. I’ll see you then.” Jacques made his goodbyes and glared at Kate as he tucked his phone in his back pocket. “What thehell?”
She cocked a brow and smirked. “You’rewelcome.”
“What?” he asked with ascowl.
