Bonne Chance: Bourbon Street, Book 2 (8 page)

“I take it you ordered a slice too, Daddy?” She leaned over him and waved at her brother-in-law. “Hey, Darren.”

“He did. How’re you, Chance?”

“Hanging in there. You boys enjoying your breakfast?”

Her father grinned. “We are. But it’s better now you’re here. Now what did that young man mean when he said you were important people?”

Chance sighed, then perked up slightly as their server returned with two slices of The Grill’s famous chocolate pecan pie. She took a single bite, easing it slowly off her fork and savoring the flavor. “Mmm. God, I love this stuff. Okay. How much do you really want to know?”

Her father cocked his head, scrutinizing her. “How much do you want to tell me?”

She took another bite of the pie, taking her time. Stalling. “Adrian Lacroix, he’s…well known. I’m known in a few circles.”

“As a therapist?”

Chance swallowed a small bite quickly, hoping for courage in sugar and chocolate and pecans. “Sort of. I’m not only a therapist, I’m a Dominatrix, I do couples and sex therapy on a very exclusive basis and I specialize in kink and alternative lifestyle sexual needs. Adrian’s kind of my handler—he screens clients and runs my books.”

She cautiously looked up, but her father simply said, “Huh,” and took a large bite of his pie.

Chance took a moment to grow cautiously optimistic.

“Are you good at it?”

She smiled. “I am. I’m really good at it.”

“And do you like what you do? Are you proud of it?”

She looked hard at him and slowly nodded. “I do. I am. I love it, Dad.”

Otis shrugged. “Well, that’s what matters, honey.”

Chance stared at him, pie forgotten, then looked over at Darren, who was still working on his steak and omelet. Her brother-in-law looked up and winked. “Pretty fucking cool, if you ask me. Just don’t tell your sister I said so.”

She barked a laugh and shook her head. “I don’t think that’s going to be a problem. Mom’s basically not speaking to me. And Bels…”

“They’ll come around.” Her father stuffed the last piece of pie in his mouth and chased it with half a glass of milk.

Chance shook her head again and patted his arm with a smile. “I’m glad you’re feeling better, Daddy. I need to get going.” She motioned to the server, who brought over a to-go box for her pie.

Otis nudged her. “Here I was hoping you’d let me finish that.”

“Ha. Fat chance. The pie is mine.”

“Fine, fine… Give me a kiss before you go.” She leaned in, dropping a kiss on his cheek, and her father smiled. “That’s my girl. Now, I want you and that Sergeant Boudreaux of yours to dinner before we go, all right? Especially since we missed you last night.”

Chance froze. “Dad, about Landry… He’s not… We’re not…”

“I know.” Otis grinned. “But he likes you. A father can tell.”

“All right. But if Mom and Bels—”

“It’ll be the three of us. Four, if I need Darren as my cover. You won’t mind, will you, Darren?”

Her brother-in-law smiled. “Nah. I like you guys. And I bet you know all the good places to eat around here.”

Chance laughed. “I do. I’ll see if Adrian can get us a table at Antoine’s, then. See you guys.”

“Later, honey.”

“Hey, Chance?”

She looked up at Darren, who wiped his face and tossed the cloth napkin down on the bar before spinning to face her. “Go easy on Bels. To her, you’ve got the perfect life. You look good, you’re happy, you’re not hurting for money, you could get any guy you wanted… And while I know she loves me, she feels very decidedly unsexy right about now. She’s covered in baby spit half the time, her nipples are all messed up from nursing, she’s still working off the pregnancy weight—which, between you and me, because she won’t hear it, looks damn good on her—”

Chance laughed, holding up her hand for him to stop. “Too much information, Darren. She is still my baby sister. But I know. We actually talked. Without killing each other. I won’t say we’re perfect, because we’re still a long way from it, but we’re…closer to good than we’ve been in a long time.”

Darren nodded. “Good. Thanks, Chance.”

“Anytime.” She grabbed the box with her pie, eyeing her father as she did, and headed out the door feeling much more hopeful when she entered. Her father’s reaction was far better than she’d dared dream of, and Darren’s approval didn’t hurt, either. Chance laughed to herself. She still had no idea how Belinda had landed such a great guy, or why Darren put up with her, but who was she to question love? She only hoped Bels knew how lucky she was.

Oh well. Not my problem.

Her problem was currently on duty at the Marine facility over in the old naval base.

One thing at a time. At least her family was dealt with, and that had gone better than she’d hoped.

Chance took a deep breath, inhaling the unique smell that was New Orleans in the summer—spicy food, fresh seafood, the waterfront, that slightly sickly sweet tang of beer spilled the night before and now baking in the sun, and that little something extra that she could never put her finger on. History. It smelled like history. And home.

By the time she reached Adrian’s house, the swagger was back in her step and she felt better than she had in months. When Devon opened the door, she was grinning.

“Thank you, Devon. How are you today?”

“I’m well, Mistress.”

The large man’s deep, quiet voice was always a shock to Chance, more so because he spoke so little. “I’m glad to hear it. I want to apologize again for last night. Family drama, but I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”

He bowed in response. “Thank you.”

“Is he in?”

“His office, Mistress. He’s expecting you.”

She smiled at him, then headed toward the stairs that would take her to Adrian’s office. Not for the first time, she wondered what Devon’s story was—he’d shown up before she left for Michigan, just suddenly there one day. Adrian had found him, like he’d found all of them, but the quiet giant of a man had more of an air of mystery about him than anyone else in their circle. Adrian hadn’t chosen to share the sub’s story, and Chance had never found a good time to ask.

Whatever his history, though, his devotion to Adrian—and therefore all of the Maître’s immediate circle—was absolute. Frankly, Chance couldn’t fault him for that. She’d do just about anything for Adrian as well.

Speaking of…

The man himself looked up with a crooked grin as she walked in his office. “Well, ma chère dame Chance?”

“They all know. Mom probably won’t speak to me until I give up my sinful ways, and Dad says as long as I’m happy, so is he. Bels…we talked. Surprisingly. Got some things out in the open. I think whatever she knows, it’s fine. All in all, it’s been an exciting morning.”

Adrian’s lips twitched. “Surely that must feel better than constantly having to conceal it from them, non?”

“Fine, yes, I’m thrilled it’s all out in the open. Happy?”

He grinned. “Always. And what about our Sergeant Boudreaux, hmm?”

Chance sighed. “He’s on duty, so I can’t talk to him yet.”

“Hmm. Setting that aside, tell me about how things have been going with him.”

“I really can’t believe you let him go so long without introducing him to the lifestyle. That boy was made to be a sub. He’s a ridiculously fast study too. Tell him something once, and he’s got it down cold. He’s amazing.”

Adrian propped his head on one hand and cocked an eyebrow.

“What?”

He chuckled. “Do I really have to ask, ma chère dame?”

Chance glared at him. “Ask what?”

“Mon petit pauvre. There’s a reason Tamara suggested you train him, and a reason I agreed. As did our dear friend Cassandra. So are you going to ask him?”

“Ask him what? I don’t even know if he still wants anything to do with me, after last night.”

Adrian gave her a patient look.

Chance stared. “You damned devil. You set this whole thing up, didn’t you? You knew I’d want him.”

Adrian tipped his head and waved his hand in a mock bow. “For true. Guilty as charged.”

She shook her head at him, still grinning. “Are you ever not plotting something? God. Why did you wait so long, then? He’s been coming to see you for years, and I’m pretty sure I’m the only Domme who hadn’t worked him over.”

He only smirked in answer.

Chance’s grin faded as she realized. “You son of a bitch. The
whole
thing?”

“I might have nudged your sister in the right direction.”

“I don’t… Why, dammit? Why the fuck would you do that to me?”

Adrian gave her a pitying look. “Chance, no one should hide who they are. You were never going to be happy until they knew, and you were never going to tell them.”

“Dammit, Adrian, you had no right—”

He waved her off. “You are one of my Dommes, Chance. And while I could have ordered you to tell them, you would have fought me at every step. It’s who you are, who you’ve always been. Once you told me they were coming, did you think I didn’t expect the first thing you’d do would be to ask Landry to cover for you? You so hate to disappoint them, but you chafe against their expectations even worse.”

Standing, Adrian walked around to the front of his desk and sat against the edge. “I have watched you grow from a headstrong college student willing to strip for her tuition, to one of the most respected Pro-Dommes in Vieux Carré. And I have watched you yearn quietly for what your friend Cassandra has with her Ellie, what Toussaint has with his Marcelle. I have known Boudreaux almost as long as I have you, and I have known for some time he would be perfect for you. But I also knew you would never find what it was you wanted until you stopped lying to yourself and your family.”

“Myself? How—”

“Ma chère dame, how did your father react when you told him what you are?”

Chance cocked her head at him. “He asked if I was happy. And then said that was all he cared about. Not what I do, but if what I do makes me happy.”

He nodded. “Indeed. And were you surprised?”

“Of course I was!”

Adrian raised an eyebrow. “How many times have you told yourself how much your family would hate and revile you if they found out about the lifestyle? It is impossible to know exactly how another person will react to anything. We can guess, and often be right, but every time you swore you knew how they would respond, that was a lie. Every time you convinced yourself it was better they didn’t know, that was a lie. Every time you told yourself it was for their own good, or to protect them, you lied. To yourself, to them.”

“All right, fine, I get it.” She huffed and glared at him. “I don’t like that you did it. But I get it.”

Adrian reached out and tapped her chin lightly. “I know. But I also know what’s best, and as le premier Maître, it’s my job to look out for you. Now don’t make a bahbin. When are you seeing our newest sub? You’ll need to talk to him about the membership tattoo, he’ll need time to clear it with his superiors.”

Chance sucked in a quick breath. “Ooh, I hadn’t thought about that. Thanks. And I’m not over this, Lacroix. Making sure Bels found out was underhanded.” She shot him another glare, then brushed it off. “But you can make it up to me by getting me a reservation to Antoine’s for Sunday. Dad wants dinner with Landry and me, and probably my brother-in-law. Anyway, I won’t see Landry until tomorrow. Tonight’s his mamere’s night. You know she’s a voodoo priestess?”

Adrian chuckled. “I’m well aware of who our young sergeant’s mamere is. She’s one of the most well-respected mambos in Vieux Carré. Not one to cross, Virgine Baure.”

Chance gave him an irritated look. “Of course you know her. I forget how you know everyone in New Orleans.”

He winked at her. “Everyone worth knowing. You’ll have to let me know if you get an invite to supper.”

She raised her eyebrows, waiting for him to elaborate, but Adrian simply grinned and waved her off, turning back to whatever work sat on his desk. “Yeah, right. That’s assuming he even still wants to talk to me.”

Adrian’s mouth quirked up in a sly grin. “I suspect he will. Considering he’s waiting for you in the study.”

“Wait, what?”

“And so you know, you have a client in…” he glanced at his watch, “…three hours. So I would suggest not keeping our sergeant waiting.”

“Back up. Landry’s here?”

Adrian nodded.

“To see me?”

“To see me, but he stayed to see you. I told him you were coming.”

“Fuck.” Chance stood slowly, not sure she was really ready for this. “Okay then. Wait, who’s the client later?”

“Your favorite councilman.”

Chance groaned. “I was hoping you’d pawn him off on the new girl.”

“I did. He’s actually taken quite a shine to mon ange Moira. However, as she is out of the country…” Adrian shrugged. “If it makes you feel better, I’ve allowed her to break skin with him.”

“Finally!” The man had been begging for it for a year.

“Indeed. Now I believe you have business to take care of.”

Chance nodded and turned for the door. “Thanks.” Walking toward the study, she put a hand to her stomach, feeling equal parts dread and anticipation. A few weeks with Landry had turned her world upside down, and she didn’t particularly want to give that up. But the look of disappointment and betrayal in his eyes the night before had spoken volumes.

Outside the study, she took a deep, steadying breath.
You’re a fucking Domme, woman. You can do this. Own it.

Inside, Landry sat on his knees, facing away from the door. Chance stepped in quietly, admiring the silent strength he bore. He was a beautiful man, inside and out. “You know, I haven’t said this, but I was damn lucky to be the one Adrian asked to train you.”

If her voice startled him, he didn’t show it. He remained still, with only the slightest inclination of his head to indicate he heard her at all.

God, he’s such a perfect sub.
“I owe you an apology, Landry. I should never have dragged you into my family drama. I put you at risk, and that’s something I never wanted. A Dominant’s duty is to protect and care for submissives, and I failed that when I let Belinda threaten you.” She hesitated, needing to see his face before saying anything else, needing some insight into what he was feeling. She walked past him, taking a seat on the couch opposite where he knelt and staring at his face. It held no anger, no resentment, none of the disappointment from the night before, so she continued. “More than that, I’ve grown to care for you. Beyond any D/s protocol, the last thing I want is to have hurt you. Also, what you said about all this making me not look like the Domme you need… You were right. I’ve been playing the reluctant submissive to my family’s expectations—or what I perceived as their expectations—and resenting the hell out of it my entire life. Which doesn’t really track well for a Domme, does it?”