“Basantes.”
“Harry, it’s your Uncle Jude.” Harry’s family had been lifelong friends with Judge Jude Rose from almost the moment her father had moved to the city from Miami. Jude had met the excellent doctor when his daughter had fallen and hurt her arm, and the two families spent so much time together, their kids considered them family.
“Hey, are you okay?” Harry went from groggy to completely alert.
“I hate bothering you this late, but it’s Monica. We had an incident over here, and she fell down the stairs. Could you come over and examine her? That’d make me feel better.”
“I’ll be there as soon as I get dressed.”
“Thanks, Harry, and ignore the police when you get here. If they give you any problems about coming in, call me.”
“Okay,” Harry said, stretching out the word.
“Trust me, it’s a long story.”
“Who was that?” Desi asked placing her hand on Harry’s back.
“Jude Rose, and his wife fell down the stairs. I’m going to run over there and check her out, so go back to sleep. This shouldn’t take long unless I have to run her to the hospital.”
“Be careful and hurry back.”
“I hate to leave you especially after such a great night, but he wouldn’t have called if he wasn’t worried.”
The closest parking spot Harry found on the street was a block away from the house. She grabbed her bag and wondered what was going on. When Jude had said incident and that Monica had fallen down the stairs, nothing computed.
“I’m Dr. Basantes,” she said to the uniformed officer by the front gate. “Judge Rose called me.”
“Harry,” Detective Sept Savoie said from the front door. “Come on up.”
“Wow, it must be serious if you’re here.” She shook hands with Sept before they embraced. They’d known each other for years. Harry was also a favorite of Sept’s six siblings, when it came to setting bones.
“This is plain bizarre, and there’s going to be hell to pay once we find these idiots. Rose is pissed, but I don’t even know where to begin. Home invasions usually involve robbery, but the two guys who did this were only interested in taking Monica.”
“Damn, that’s scary.” She walked into a room full of police taking fingerprints and dabbing at a small pool of blood close to the stairs. She’d been here plenty of times and loved the house, but never imagined this happening here. “Uncle Jude,” she said, hugging him. “Are you okay?” His face was swollen in multiple places, and his eyes were turning a nice shade of purple-black.
“I’m fine, but I need you to check Monica.”
She opened her arms to the beautiful woman Jude had married and held her for a long moment. “I’m so sorry this happened to you. Is there a room that isn’t being processed?”
“Let’s go up to one of the guest rooms,” Monica said with her arm around Harry’s waist.
She gave Monica an exam before turning her attention to Jude. Both of them appeared battered but thankfully nothing was broken. “Once all these people clear out of here, I’d like you to come to my office and get some X-rays.” She put everything back in her medical bag and sat with them. “It’s only a precaution, but I don’t want to miss anything.”
“This might take a while,” Jude said.
“Uncle Jude, you know I’m not going anywhere, so let’s go see what Sept found.”
“You know Sept?” Jude asked, holding Monica’s hand as they headed down.
“New Orleans sometimes feels like a small town. Sept and I have been friends for years, and she’s the best person for the job.”
The house was still just as crowded, so they sat in the dining room to stay out of the way.
“So, you woke up, and these guys were in your room,” Sept started.
The story was told by Jude first and then Monica. Harry thought it sounded bizarre and was thinking of ways to improve her alarm system at home when the words out of Monica’s mouth hit her like a bundle of bricks.
“The only thing he said that might lead you somewhere is the name Desi. That’s who he was looking for, and believe me when I say he looked baffled when he saw it was me under that sheet.”
“Oh my God,” Harry said, loud enough for the others to stop talking.
“What?” Jude asked, and Monica took her hand.
“Did you get a look at this guy?” Harry asked.
“Stocky build and blond hair,” Monica said, closing her eyes. “There were two of them, but I didn’t see the other one, I just heard him shouting at the one who’d grabbed me.”
Bile rose in the back of Harry’s throat, and her pulse started to race. “The guys you want are Byron and Mike Simoneaux. He was in your court recently on attempted murder and domestic violence charges.” She had to get home. Desi and Rachel weren’t safe if these morons tried this.
“That’s really specific,” Sept said, writing the names down. “Do you know these people?”
“Desi Simoneaux is staying with me,” she said. “I need to get to her.”
“Harry, wait,” Sept said after instructing two of the units to head over to Harry’s and keep an eye on the house. “If Desi is with you, how did they end up here?”
Guilt made her drop back into her chair, and she closed her eyes, not wanting to face people she cared about. “This is my fault. I’m so sorry.”
“I doubt that, but explain,” Jude said.
She told them about Mike following them and where she’d stopped to confront him. “All I could think was to keep the girls safe, but I stopped in your driveway. He must’ve assumed this was my house.”
“Harry, we don’t blame you,” Monica said.
“Your Honor, I need to go and talk to Desi Simoneaux to get the information about where to find these two. I’ll be back before the guys wrap this up,” Sept said, motioning Harry toward the door.
“Uncle Jude, I never meant to put you or Monica in danger. Please believe that.”
“Go on. No one is blaming you. Tell Desi I’d like to meet her as well, and Rosa will be thrilled to see you this protective of someone. She must be special.”
“She is, but we need to get Byron out of her life for good.”
“That isn’t going to be a problem if I have anything to say about it,” Jude said firmly.
And she believed him. He’d assaulted a judge and his wife and by doing so had made it a hell of a lot easier to put him away. She just had to keep Desi safe in the meantime.
* * *
Harry waited for Sept to get out of her car and had her wait in the kitchen while she went to talk to Desi. She took the stairs slowly, trying to think of the best way to tell Desi what had happened. All her promises to keep her safe gnawed at her.
“Sweetheart,” she said softly as she ran her hand gently over her leg. “Wake up.”
“Harry.” Desi blinked up at her and smiled. “Is your uncle okay?”
“He’s fine, but you need to get up and get dressed. There’s a police officer downstairs, and she needs to talk to you.” She told Desi what had happened and held her when she started crying. “It’s going to be okay, but Sept needs a clue about where to start looking for them. Think you can do that?”
Desi put her nightgown and robe on and held on to her as they joined Sept. She took plenty of notes on all the home addresses Desi gave them as well as the other places the brothers liked to hang out. “Once you find them, they’ll deny it. They’ll also have an alibi in their father.”
“Leaving your DNA at a crime scene will trump any alibi, so don’t worry. You might not realize it yet, but you have some influential friends who’ll carve this guy out of your life.” Sept patted Desi on her good knee. “The only thing you’ll need from now on is help with this one. She’s barely housebroken.”
“Why are we friends again?” Harry asked, glad that Sept’s joke had made Desi smile.
This was what she wanted for Desi. People in her life who cared about her. The thought of Byron getting to her and hurting her again made her nauseous. “You’ll call us if you find him, won’t you?”
“I sure will,” Sept said, taking Desi’s hand. “Trust me, I will find him. I do a pretty good imitation of a bloodhound.”
She saw Sept out and made sure the gate was closed before going in and setting the alarm again. “Come on, let’s go back to bed.”
Desi was tense when she picked her up, but she couldn’t blame her. “He’d have killed both of us if he’d come here. I can’t believe he did this.” Desi’s words were broken by her tears. “If he’d found us in bed together, we wouldn’t have survived. He always went on about how relationships like ours were perverted.”
“Listen to me.” She put Desi down and moved to hold her. “I’m going to do my best to protect you from anyone or anything that means you harm. The only thing I ask is that you don’t run, thinking it will keep me safe. We’re stronger together.”
“I’m running because it’s the best thing. You can’t keep me here any longer. Think of Mona if he somehow figures out where we are.” Desi was starting to sound hysterical. “I want you more than anything, but I can’t live in a world that doesn’t have you in it.”
“You love me?” she asked, gazing at Desi’s face with a smile.
“Concentrate on the rest of what I said,” Desi said, kissing her shoulder.
“Uh, no. You can’t throw that in there and expect me to let you go. Will it make it easier to convince you of what I’m saying if I tell you I love you too?”
“Are you saying it to make me stay or because you mean it?”
“Loving you has never been about trying to gain something you’re not willing to give, and it never will be.” She kissed Desi and wiped her tears with the corner of the sheet. “Loving you is the easiest thing I’ve ever done, and nothing has ever brought me this kind of happiness. I want you here, and I’m not letting go easily.”
“I love you, and I need your word that you won’t do anything stupid because of me. You don’t know Byron like I do. He’s an animal with no conscience. Maybe I could leave until he’s caught.”
Harry stared at Desi and shook her head. “Life is many things, but when it comes down to the truth, it’s about surviving every day that’s given to us. That’s what I’ve done for years because I never expected you to come back.” She blinked when her tears blurred her vision. “I lost you, so I went to class, studied, and counted the days. It’s like a blur now—graduating, going to medical school, and starting a practice. At the center of all that, in the deep parts of my brain, there was always you. The girl I loved and always would, no matter how hard I tried to erase you.”
“I’m so sorry, my love.” Desi brushed her cheeks and kissed her again.
“You’ve always been my hope, baby. I love you, and you can’t ask me to let you go. I can’t. Not again.”
“Please don’t cry—I promise, I’m not going anywhere,” Desi said, running her hands through Harry’s hair. “And I’m glad you never gave up on me. I’d be lost if you had.”
“I never did, you know. The day I found out I’d passed my boards, I went to your house. It was stupid, but I thought you’d want to come and celebrate with me. You’re the first person I thought of, and I hoped if you saw me again, maybe you’d forgive me for whatever I’d done.”
“You did?” Desi asked and she nodded. “What happened?”
“Your father told me you were married and deliriously happy. That I should understand that and leave you be.” Harry laughed bitterly. “He slapped me on the back, saying how proud of me he was, and how different our lives had become.”
“Clyde was a bastard. There’s no denying that.”
“He was so convincing when he told me all you wanted was to be a good wife and mother. That you didn’t have children yet, but you had one on the way.”
Desi placed her hand on her cheek. “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry.”
“He said it with such a straight face, it was like a knife through my heart. There was nothing left but work, so that’s what I did. I worked, worked out, and fucked around. That was my life.”
“I wish I’d had more strength. I wish I’d seen you that day. I wish…so many things.”
“What I’m telling you is we’re better off together. We are happy together, so don’t throw that away. Don’t let him win.”
Desi didn’t hesitate to kiss her with the kind of passion that made Harry glad to be alive. She reached for the hem of Desi’s nightgown and pulled it up until she could put her mouth on her nipple. “It’s been you—always you.”
“Touch me,” Desi said as she spread her legs and pushed Harry’s hand down. “Let me feel you over me, loving me and making me yours.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Desi said as her hips bucked up to meet her hand. The one-word answer was firm and broke through her restraints to be gentle and go slow. Desi was wet and sounded like she knew what she wanted.
She lifted her hips to fit her hand between them and put two fingers in. The feel of Desi’s fingers on her clit made her lose focus for a second, but she wanted Desi to get lost in their passion and put her past to rest.
“Does that feel good?” Harry asked as she pulled out and slammed her fingers back in. This was how it had been in the beginning. She wanted to make Desi forget everything but her.
“Yes, don’t stop,” Desi said, her fingers moving fast and hard over her clit. “You make me feel…oh God,” Desi said, her hips coming up to meet hers. “Baby, please, harder. Yes, like that.” Desi put her free hand behind Harry’s head and pulled it down. “I love…damn, oh, oh…the way you touch me. More, baby, more.” Desi moved her hand down to her ass and squeezed. “I’m coming. Don’t stop, I’m coming.”
Harry concentrated on her hand, wanting to see Desi reach her peak. Before she could act, Desi pushed her onto her back and moved down her body. “Do you want me, baby?”
“Shit, yes,” she said, putting her hand behind Desi’s head and holding it between her legs. It was like a lightning strike that electrified her body when Desi sucked her in. Whatever they’d been worried about emptied from her brain as Desi’s relentless mouth never let up. “So fucking good.” She wouldn’t last much longer as Desi entangled their fingers and glanced up at her. “Fuck,” she said as the orgasm hit her when Desi flicked her tongue rapidly until she’d drained her.
“I love you,” Desi said, coming back up and lying over her.
“I love you too, and that was fantastic.”
“It was, and you’re right. I’m tired of apologizing or being afraid of what I want. You’re mine, Harry, and I don’t want to lose you.”
“That’s the last thing you’re going to do. We started out together, and that’s how we’ll finish.”
* * *
Desi woke to an empty bed and lifted her head in search of Harry. “Where’d she disappear to?” After a night of making love she was a little hurt Harry would’ve left without saying anything. “Harry? Where are you?”
Harry stepped out of the bathroom, still naked, and stretched. “Sorry, I had to go.” Harry put her arms around her when she climbed back into bed and kissed the side of head. “Go back to sleep. It’s still early.”
She put her head on Harry’s shoulder and ran her hand from her neck to the top of her sex. She’d loved touching Harry from the first time they’d gotten naked together. “You feel so good,” she said, repeating the move but going lower this time.
“I’ll feel really good if you keep that up.” Harry’s hand landed on her ass and she smiled when Harry rubbed it.
“I remember sitting in English class with you and having the urge to put my hands in your pants and over your butt. Remember the day we knew we were alone in the house for a few hours?”
“That kitchen counter was hard to say goodbye to when my parents sold their place.”
“Having you between my legs with your pants around your ankles while you made love to me is one of my favorite memories.” She moved her hand over Harry’s sex, not surprised to find her hard and ready. “You made me crazy once I knew I could have you any way I wanted.”
Harry moved her so she was on top, her legs spread over Harry’s thigh. She smiled when Harry moved her fingers from her ass down to her sex. After last night she shouldn’t be this ravenous, but they couldn’t stop now.
“You make me fucking crazy,” Harry said as she lifted her hips a little, chasing her fingers.
“It’s mutual, baby. I’d keep you in bed if I could, but that’s never stopped you before.” She thought of all the places they’d fooled around because they couldn’t wait anymore. “So, we’re okay?”
“Not as okay as we will be when we finish what you started,” Harry said, rolling over and putting more pressure on her clit. “Right now, I don’t want to talk.”
“Uh, uh, like that, baby. Like that,” she said, lifting her ass to give Harry better access. “That’s so good.”
“Yeah,” Harry said, her fingers sliding alongside her clit and squeezing hard as she moved them up and down. “You’re so wet,” Harry said, quickening her movements. “I love when you get this wet for me.”
“Honey, don’t stop. I need more.” She wanted to protest when she stopped stroking and moved her fingers, but like last night, everything flew from her mind when Harry filled her up and drove her need for an orgasm. The relentlessness of her passion made her feel like she was coming apart, but it all concentrated in her groin as she climbed the peak Harry was leading her to. “Yes…yes…oh God, yes,” she screamed as she came. Harry wasn’t far behind as she came on her thigh and trembled as she tried to hold herself up.
“I love you,” she said, rubbing Harry’s back. “And I thought of something to do.”
“Something to do?” Harry asked sounding confused as she rolled off her.
“You know. Like a job,” she said, moving so Harry would spoon against her back.
“That’s good news, and you’re amazing if you can think of future career prospects while we’re making love. My IQ drops to my shoe size,” Harry said, putting her hand flat on Desi’s stomach. “Is it a secret?”
“No, and I wasn’t exactly thinking about it right then. It was your hands that reminded me of the idea Tony gave me. It’s something we can do together.”
“You and me, or you and Tony?” The way Harry spoke to her made her feel human. It was such a strange sentiment, and she was getting used to it in the best way.
“You have a job, love.” She ran her fingers along Harry’s forearm and smiled.
“Did you fall asleep to keep me in suspense?” Harry kissed her neck and tickled her middle when she didn’t answer. “Whatever it is, will it make you happy?”
“Yes,” she said, clearing her throat. “I was thinking of becoming a potter.” She spoke fast, trying to remind herself this wasn’t Byron.
It was a craft she’d learned as a child and had Harry’s mother to thank for. When she’d shown interest in developing her talent, Rosa had paid for the lessons. She’d become friends with Tony when he took art classes alongside her. Desi loved it until she’d graduated from high school. Magazine Street with all its boutiques full of pottery made her think she could make a living at it. At least, she could contribute to their life together.
“A potter?” Harry sounded confused.
“A person who makes pottery. Remember, I used to do that when we were growing up. I thought I’d gotten pretty good, and with a little practice maybe I could again. Tony could help me think of designs and sell what I make.” She started to slow as her idea fizzled out. “Do you think it’s stupid?”
Harry came up on her elbow and waited for her to look back at her. “I’m sorry, have we just met?”
“What do you mean?” Her insides trembled as she waited for the letdown, to be told her idea was ridiculous and not to be naive.
“You can’t think I’d ever consider anything you want to do stupid.” Harry leaned down and kissed her. “You can do anything you set your mind to. I’ve known that since grammar school, and you’ve survived something and come out the other side. That means you can do anything you set your mind to. If this is what you want, then what do you need to get started?”
The trembling feeling in her stomach took a moment to settle, and she waited until she could breathe past it again. “Are you sure? It might take me some time to save to buy what I’m going to need.”
“Let’s not worry about that now. Tell me more about the pottery.” Harry rested her head on her palm and seemed interested.
“Tony said there were a few stores always looking for new stuff. If I come up with some new designs, maybe they’d carry them.” She shrugged, a little overwhelmed now that she’d voiced something she really wanted. “If I was good enough.”
“If you want my opinion, you’re going to be great at this. You aren’t going to forget about me when you become famous, are you?” Harry chuckled and it lifted a weight off her chest. “Tomorrow we’ll figure out how to get you started. Mona will be thrilled, since this is something you can do from home. We’ll also have to set up one of the guest rooms for when Tony moves in.”
She turned on her back and put her arms around Harry. The burn between them started again, but this time it was slow, and they enjoyed each other until they were sated. She loved the small caresses and kisses as they talked until it was time to get up.
Her heart had finally come home.