“I’m sure we will,” Lottie said.
“For real?” Knox whispered when Geneva had disappeared out of the room.
“We already have, but you do realize we have to survive our first big argument before this can be considered long lasting, don’t you?” Lottie asked.
Knox picked up the briefcase and laced the fingers of his free hand with hers. “Do you already know what we are going to argue about?”
“No, but it has to be good enough for both of us to want to throw in the towel and never see each other again.” She pushed the up button on the wall beside the elevator, and the doors slid open immediately.
He followed her inside. “And how do you know all this?”
“Because I’ve never been in a relationship that has recovered from such a thing. If we can do that, we might have a chance at living on your new property until we are old and gray. Have you ever had a fight too big to survive?”
Knox nodded. “No, can’t say I have. Mostly, it was all rainbows and romance at first, then it died in its sleep, or else she got angry over money.”
“Why over money?”
“One relationship lasted a whole two weeks. She knew I had money. She wanted me to buy a big diamond engagement ring. I wasn’t ready for that step,” Knox answered. “But this weekend is for relaxing and the two of us having a goodtime. So, let’s put this conversation about arguing on a back burner. Maybe we won’t even turn the heat on under it, so it won’t boil over.”
“I agree. The papers are signed. You are the owner of a big chunk of land, plus a house. What is next?”
“There’s a Cajun place not far from here, and I’m starving,” he answered. “I’ll put this briefcase in our room, and…”
“Maybe we could just DoorDash a place that makes shrimp po’boys and have dinner in our room,” she suggested.
The elevator doors slid open, and an older couple stood back to let them exit first. “Y’all have a nice day,” the guy said.
“You too,” Lottie replied with a smile.
“Folks are friendly in this area, and I love their accents,” she said as they made their way to the room.
Knox fished the key card from his pocket and tapped it on the lock. “Ever worked with Jack on a project in this area?”
“Nope, but I researched this place when you invited me to come with you. Tomorrow, I want to go to the park and see the Bayou Teche, and would love to have breakfast at the café where Dave Robicheaux ate,” she told him.
“You read James Lee Burke books?” Knox asked.
“Yes, I do,” she answered, “and although I didn’t bring any with me, I have eaten at Victor’s Cafeteria, and it was a really neat place.”
He set the briefcase on the floor beside the minibar and gathered her into his arms for a hug. “You amaze me.”
“Why? Because I read mystery books, or that I want to have you all to myself and not share you with a restaurant full of people?” she asked.
“Both of the above,” he answered. “Have I told you how beautiful you look in that dress you are wearing?”
She stepped back and leaned in for a kiss. “Four times, and I’ve loved every one of those, but right now, we need to order food. I need energy for dessert.”
“Oh, really?” Knox grinned as he took a couple of steps back and slipped his phone from his pocket. “I thought I would get some beignets for dessert.”
“You can do that, and we’ll have them after the dessert we are going to have before supper gets here,” she teased, liking the new Lottie more with each passing hour she spent with Knox.
He put their food order into DoorDash, and the app told him delivery would be in half an hour. He placed the phone on the nightstand and drew her close to his chest again. “We have thirty minutes. Think we could celebrate being landowners”—he slowly unzipped the back of her dress—“by using up a little of what energy we have left after our busy day”—he slipped her dress down over her body, letting it puddle on the floor at her feet—“and before the food gets here?”
“And reboot for another session after we eat?” she whispered.
“That would work just fine”—he unfastened her red lace bra, eased the straps down over her shoulders, and droppedit on the floor—“and after that, we might need some sugar from the beignets to help us be able to sit out on the balcony and look at the stars.”
“Or something else,” she said as she slowly began to unbutton his shirt.
