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Chapter Eleven
“Good morning.”
Drake opened an eye and saw his brother Archer standing by the door, arms folded, amused curiosity in his eyes. In Drake’s lap, Val stirred. Seeing their visitor, she startled and quickly turned her back to redo the buttons on her blouse, while Drake glowered at his sibling for his presence.
“You two look comfortable.”
“Go away,” Drake growled.
“I will in a minute. Just wanted to let Valinda know her intended and his business partner are downstairs.”
Panicked, she scrambled to her feet. “Will you tell them I’ll be down shortly?”
He nodded.
Before she could hurry off, Drake caught her hand and met her eyes. He placed a soft kiss on her fingertips and released her. She rushed out.
Drake’s eyes stayed on the open door then settled on Archer’s face. “Didn’t Mama teach you to knock on a closed door?”
“I did. Knocked on her door, too. No response from either. Imagine my surprise finding her here. What the hell’s the matter with you?”
Drake stood. “Stay out of my business.”
“Drake—”
“Nosy and deaf,” Drake said, cutting him off.
Archer sighed. “Okay. I just hope you know what you’re doing.”
“I don’t, but thanks for the good wishes.”
Archer shook his head, turned on the heels of his expensive boots, and left him alone.
Drake ran his hands wearily down his bearded face and headed to the bathing room.
In her room, Val studied herself in the mirror. Her eyes were red from lack of sleep, her hair a mess, her lips kiss-swollen, and she needed a long soak in the tub to make herself right again, but she had no time. When had Cole arrived? And what had Archer thought upon finding her asleep in his brother’s lap? She had no answers. All she knew was she needed to hurry and make herself presentable to keep Cole from waiting any longer.
When she entered the parlor, Cole and his business partner, Leonard Carson, both smiled. Lenny stood. Cole, aided by his cane, did the same. He opened his free arm and she stepped into the embrace, hugging him tightly. “So good to see you, Cole.”
“You, too, Val.”
She shared a hug with Lenny and then gestured for them to retake their seats. She hazarded a glance Archer’s way as he stood by the windows, and he gave her a smile which made her feel better. “When did you arrive?”
“Last night at the height of the storm. A hack driver gave us the name of Archer’s hotel. Imagine our surprise when we told him why we were in New Orleans and he mentioned you were staying with his mother.”
“She’s been a blessing.”
Cole looked confused. “What happened with the nuns? Weren’t you staying with them?”
She gave him a quick summary of her housing woes and how she came to be at Julianna’s.
Cole asked, “Is she here, so I can thank her personally for offering you a haven?”
“She and her husband are in Baton Rouge. They’ll be back in a day or so.”
“So, you’re here alone?”
“No, her cook is here, but left yesterday to see to a sick relative. Archer’s brother Drake is here, too.”
