Chapter Four

You’ll be in good hands. Yeah, that’s what Sasha was afraid of—those hands. Those hands doing things to her, making her forget all her promises about fresh starts. She’d never understood women who couldn’t seem to help themselves when it came to certain men. She’d assumed her good sense would always win out, but that sense—all sense—had deserted her.

Before she could object, Remy pulled her out of her seat, and she found herself on the dance floor. She didn’t understand the French lyrics, but she’d heard enough Cajun music to recognize the familiar tune about life on the bayou. Fascinated by the lively steps, she watched the other dancers. “I’m not sure about this…”

“Trust me and follow my lead. It’s basically two steps in one direction and two steps in the other direction. Watch my feet,” he said and began to demonstrate. “It’s like when you walk. Every time you take a step, all of your weight goes onto that leg. Step, step, step, tap.”

He explained further as he showed her, and she admired his natural grace. Then he put his arm loosely around her waist and rested his hand on the small of her back. He slipped her hand into his other one, and she reached up to put hers on his shoulder. They danced two songs, and by the end, she’d started to get the hang of it, at least enough so as not to be embarrassing and to enjoy herself. She tried not to think too hard about the heat of Remy’s body or the weight of his palm in hers. Stay focused, Sasha. Remy was trouble with a capital T, and she’d do well to remember that.

“I see they brought our appetizers. We’d better get back before Evie eats them all,” he said, close enough to be heard above the music. His deep voice in her ear sent shivers straight to her core.

He led her to the edge of the dance floor, his hand resting on her back as they walked to the table. People greeted him as they passed. Thankfully Sasha didn’t see anyone she knew, but it was plain everyone was taking note of Remy’s hand on her back and wondering who she was. She tried to step away from that hand possessively resting on her lower back. “I shouldn’t be dating the parent of a student.”

“You’re not. My brother got called away, and we’re making the best of it by sharing a table for dinner.”

She drew her head back to look up at Remy. “Is that what we’re doing?”

“It’s one way of looking at it,” he said, the glow of something wicked in his dark eyes.

He pulled out her chair when they returned to the table and waited for her to sit before taking his own seat. The gentlemanly gesture warmed her. Uh-oh. Ethan had shown the same courtesy and, while she appreciated the gesture, it didn’t make her tingle all the way down to her toes. Face it, Sasha, it’s not his manners that have you tingling.

To get her mind off the sexy man seated so close his thigh brushed hers each time he shifted in his chair, she snatched an appetizer from the plate and popped it into her mouth.

Remy sucked in his breath. “Cher, I should warn…”

Too late. Sasha had bit down. Unbearable heat flooded her mouth as tears gathered in her eyes. Spitting it out was not an option, so she chewed as quickly as possible and choked it down.

She started to reach for her water, but Remy grabbed Evie’s milk and put the glass in Sasha’s hands. He wrapped his fingers around hers and didn’t let go until she nodded to let him know she had a hold of the glass.

He dropped his hand. “Drink this instead.”

He rubbed her back as she gulped the milk. If he was looking to distract her from the burning in her mouth, his hand making those lazy circles on her back was working.

“What’s wrong with Miz Honeycutt?” Evie jumped down and ran around the other side of the table.

“I don’t think Miz Honeycutt is accustomed to the heat level of some of our foods.” Remy ran a reassuring hand over his daughter’s dark, shiny hair.

Evie patted Sasha’s thigh. “Are you better now, Miz Honeycutt?”

“I am. Thanks.” Evie’s concern touched Sasha, and she gave the girl a hug. “I wasn’t expecting it to be quite so spicy.”

“Evie, why don’t you go back to your seat?” Remy glanced around. “We don’t want to embarrass Miss Honeycutt.”

“I think I was the one embarrassing you two,” Sasha said ruefully. “Sorry.”

“You could never embarrass me, cher,” Remy said.

“I’m okay now.” Sasha wiped the tears from her cheeks with her napkin. “What was that?”

“Stuffed jalapenos. I should’ve done a better job of warning you.” His hand on her back was more like a caress now.

“I’ve had jalapenos before, and they weren’t nearly that hot.”

“They stuff them with a certain habanero.” He leaned toward her. “We Cajuns like things hot.”

And he was one hot Cajun. One she needed to stay away from. Something she forgot each time he touched her. Or gazed at her with those deep, obsidian eyes.

“Here. Try one of these. Just don’t take too much dipping sauce.” He handed her the plate of fried shrimp.

The waitress came back with a refill of milk for Evie. “I see our sheriff didn’t warn you about those stuffed peppers.”

“I tried, but it was too late.”

“I’ll survive. It took me by surprise.” Sasha took a sip of her water, hoping to hide her embarrassment and regain her composure. He had derailed the evening just as he had her parent-teacher meeting. Something about this man caused chaos. “Added some excitement to tonight anyway.”

Remy leaned close and whispered, “That was supposed to be my job.”

Her face on fire, and not from the food this time, Sasha glanced at Claire, but she was discussing something with Evie and not paying attention to them. But surely the waitress had heard the exchange. Was she one to spread gossip?

“Well, Sheriff, perhaps you’d best stick to law enforcement. I think that’s where your talents lie.” Good grief, she sounded like some starchy old biddy.

Remy quirked a brow. “Jalapeno poppers and two-stepping aren’t enough excitement for you. Got it. I’ll bring my A-game next time.”

Sasha glanced away as he winked at her, unleashing a storm of butterflies in her stomach. That was not good. He was supposed to be put off, not turned on. And she wasn’t supposed to be getting in deeper and deeper into the same old. “There won’t be a next time, Sheriff. I’m Evie’s teacher.”

She didn’t date parents of students. Or lawmen. Not even handsome charming ones with killer smiles and shiny cowboy boots. Especially not the kind of man she might lose herself in if they were to get involved.

He gave her that killer smile now. “Mon cœur cassé.”

My heart is broken. Sasha had learned that Cajun expression from the doorman at the hotel in New Orleans, who’d said it when he’d learned her friend Denise was married.

Dragging her gaze away from those generous lips, she tried to concentrate on the menu in front of her. She needed to remember she came for a new start, not to lose a good job or her heart because she fell for someone she shouldn’t. Why couldn’t she meet a nice accountant? CPAs weren’t killed by the numbers they crunched.

The waitress finished with Evie and glanced at Remy. “Miss Evangeline wants our crawfish pie. I’m sure that’s okay with you, Sheriff?”

“Of course.” Remy’s attention focused on his daughter.

“Papá, can I go use my quarter now?”

Remy gave her an indulgent look. “That quarter has really been burning a hole in your pocket.”

Evie glanced at her pants. “No, cuz I’m sure I would feel something like that.”

Remy’s low throaty chuckle set off another flurry of butterflies in Sasha’s stomach. Concentrate on your fresh start. Thirty-two wasn’t old, but she still heard her biological clock ticking in the back of her mind. Part of her reason for moving to Rose Creek was to escape her “poor widow” past, meet a man, and settle down to start that family she’d always wanted.

“Go play your game, but stand so I can see you,” he said.

“Okay!” Evie hustled off to the Grab & Win game nestled in a corner of the room, far from the restaurant’s entrance.

The waitress came around the table to Sasha. “How about you? Have you decided what you’d like? Or do you need more time?”

I’ll take the hot Cajun. No, no, no! She needed to stop this right now. He was off-limits. Her fingertips tried to smooth out a crease on the menu page. “Where’s the crawfish pie? I don’t see it listed.”

“Oh, it’s not on the menu. It’s not a permanent item. The regulars know to ask if Dave made any today.” The waitress turned to greet a passing couple.

“Dave’s crawfish pie is legendary,” Remy said. “And I’m sure Claire can get him to adjust the heat level in yours.”

“I can, but his willingness might depend on how many parking tickets you or your deputies have issued to his wife this month.” She tilted her head and gave him a look that said he brought this on himself.

Remy heaved a deep sigh, as if this wasn’t a new argument. “Amy Jo needs to understand parking in front of a fire hydrant is a safety hazard even if she’s just running in to return her library books. The library has a parking lot around back for a reason.”

The waitress threw up her hands in a gesture of surrender, her pen and pad clenched in one fist. “Don’t shoot the messenger.”

Sasha’s gaze swung from Remy to the waitress, and she bit her bottom lip. “Maybe I’ll order a salad.”

Claire patted Sasha on the shoulder. “It’s all good, sweetie. I’ll tell Dave that there’s a woman out here keeping our intrepid sheriff on his toes, and he’ll make sure you enjoy your pie.”

Remy made a derisive noise by blowing his breath through his lips.

Sasha bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. She didn’t need to call any more attention to their table. “Okay, what the heck. I’ll take a chance.”

Remy held up the menus for Claire. “Make that three pies.”

“Great. If you need anything else, give a holler.”

Sasha watched her leave, gnawing on her lower lip. “Maybe I should’ve gotten a salad.”

Remy put a finger on her arm. “Don’t you trust me?”

About as far as she could throw him. She didn’t want to think he’d engineered for Ethan to be called away. But finding out after his death that her husband had a side she knew nothing about still had her questioning her judgment five years on. “Should I?”

“You’re not going to blame me for the appetizer, are you? Or is this about something else?” His gaze flicked over her.

His scrutiny was like a physical touch, a caress. She tried to tell herself it was because she’d been viewed as nothing but “that poor widow” for so many years. So now you’re into self-deception? “I’m just not taking any chances.”

He scowled. “I wouldn’t steer you wrong.”

“Why do I find that hard to believe?” If she wasn’t careful she’d be following him like the Pied Piper, and then she’d be out of a job, a failure in the first month.

He glanced over to where Evie was still playing the game. “You are aware, cher, there’s two kinds of wrong. The good kind and the bad kind.”

That deep drawl sent shivers down her spine. “Are you telling me, Sheriff, that you do only the good kind of wrong?”

“Of course.” He raised his eyebrows and grinned. “And I think you and I could get into all kinds of wrong…in a good way, of course.”

“I didn’t realize there was a good way to do wrong.” Maybe if she were ten years younger she’d be interested in a fling, but sadly she wasn’t.

“Oh, pauvre bete, you poor thing.” He placed his hand over his chest in mock distress. “You can’t mean that.”

“I don’t exactly have a wild streak.” She knew when his eyes widened that honesty was overrated. She did not want Remy Fontenot to think she was some babe in the woods. Even if she was.

He studied her as if he couldn’t figure her out. “And yet you made a bet with your girlfriends to kiss me. I wonder why that is?”

“I told you it wasn’t a bet about you…just…just a guy.” Yeah, this was making it better. Not.

“Except I don’t believe that for one minute.” He gave a wry laugh.

“You’re rather full of yourself.” Great. Starchy Sasha was back. She fiddled with straightening her silverware.

His eyes contained a sensuous gleam. “Now, cher, who else would I be full of?”

She laughed in spite of herself. When was the last time she’d had a man flirt with her? Soon after Jimmy’s death, his police friends had strung caution tape around her. She knew they’d done it in part to honor their friendship with Jimmy, but also letting it be known that she wasn’t to be taken advantage of. She’d received her husband’s death benefits, so the poor in “poor widow” had nothing to do with finances. At first, she’d appreciated the help and concern, but after a while it had become stifling. And lonely. Maybe if she and Jimmy had had that baby she’d yearned for then— No. Tonight wasn’t the time for those thoughts, those regrets.

Remy reached out and touched her arm. “I like that laugh. And the smile that goes with it. The one that reaches your eyes.”

“Papá, look what I won. I did it. I did it.” Evie rushed back and dropped a small stuffed panda into Remy’s lap.

“Would you look at that.” He picked up the toy as if examining it. “You’ve been trying to win something for a long time now.”

“Uh-huh. I think Miz Honeycutt brought me luck.” Evie turned to Sasha with a calculating smile. “Maybe you should come with us all the time.”

“That’s sweet, but your dad says you’ve been trying to win for a long time, so I’ll bet all that practice helped more than my presence.”

Evie shook her head. “I just knew something good was gonna happen when I saw you here. And it did.”

Remy turned to Sasha and winked. “I gotta agree with my daughter.”

Before Sasha could answer, the waitress returned with a tray laden with plates balanced on her shoulder. She set a plate with a round baking dish in front of each of them.

Flaky piecrust covered the edges of the pie but left the middle uncovered to reveal a crawfish étouffée sprinkled with shredded cheese and diced red peppers. The pie looked delicious, but Sasha was careful to take only a small bite at first.

Remy chuckled at her caution. “Was I right?”

Sasha had never been a sore loser, so she told him the truth. “I think I’ve just found my new favorite food.”

He grinned broadly and dug into his.

They ate in companionable silence for several minutes.

Remy paused and took a sip of water. “So where are you living? There aren’t many apartments available, and I hadn’t noticed or heard about any moving trucks around town. Word tends to travel quickly around here.”

Sasha swallowed and dabbed her mouth with the napkin. “I haven’t found a place yet. I’m still at the extended stay hotel on the edge of town.”

“Are you planning to buy or rent?” he asked before taking another bite.

“I think renting first is the smartest option. I checked out a few apartment complexes in neighboring towns, but it’s hard to find one that doesn’t want me to sign a year’s lease. Plus I’ll need pet friendly. Once I get a contract for the next school year, I’d like to start looking at homes or condos for sale. ”

Evie set her fork down. “But Miz Honeycutt, we got lots of room. Why don’t you come live with us? You could bring Henry, too. Charlotte was ’lergic, but she doesn’t live with us no more.”

“You’re very generous, Evie, but I think Henry and I need to find our own place,” Sasha explained gently, not wanting to spoil Evie’s guileless offer. Even if he had ten empty bedrooms, there was no way on God’s green earth that she’d move in with Remy.

Remy held up an index finger. “I may have a solution.”

“Is Miz Honeycutt moving in with us?” Evie’s eyes widened.

Remy chuckled softly. “I’m sure you’d love nothing better, Evie. But I think Miss Honeycutt is right about needing her own space.”

“Do you know of a place that’s available?” Could Remy work some sort of magic? Sasha had asked fellow teachers and scoured the classifieds only to come up empty. Although she preferred not to, she might have to cast her net wider, beyond Rose Creek.

“Are you free tomorrow? I’ll take you to the rental I have in mind.”

“Well…I…” Sasha hesitated, torn between wanting to move out of the hotel and feeling indebted to Remy. But she was starting to feel settled in her new job and longed for a home of her own. Not to mention a monthly rental would be more budget friendly. “Okay. Thank you. Is it a house or apartment?”

“Does around ten work for you?” Remy asked, ignoring her question. “Evie has a birthday party, so I’ll drop her off and pick you up.”

Evie frowned. “But I want to go with you and Miz Honeycutt.”

He shook his head. “You’ve already accepted the invitation to the party, and you’ve been excited about going to that indoor bounce house for weeks.”

She looked torn. “But when do I get to meet Henry?”

“You can come in tonight and meet him when you take me home…if it’s okay with your dad.” Sasha wasn’t sure she wanted Remy in her space, even if it was just an extended stay hotel room, but Evie’s disappointment clutched at her heart. The little girl had been dropping hints from the moment she’d set eyes on Henry’s picture.

“Please, please, can I?” Evie bounced up and down.

“I have to admit, I’m curious, too. I’ve heard so much about him,” Remy said.

“You have?”

Remy’s dark eyes twinkled. “You and your cat are a prominent topic during mealtimes.”

“I told Papá all about Henry,” Evie said.

Aha, that explained the cat lady remark. “I hope neither one of you will be disappointed by the real thing. Really, he’s just a cat not imbued with any special powers.”

His smile widened. “I haven’t been disappointed by you yet, Sasha Honeycutt.”

Yep, he was trouble with a capital T, all right.