Good Woman Blues (26 page)

“Stop fussing over him, Rachel. He’s a grown
man,” Charles retorted. He winked at Gabriel.

“Fussing over my children is on my job
description as a mother.” Rachel ignored her husband. “Come to
lunch with us. We’re going to Enola’s.”

“Thanks, but I’m really busy today.”

“Even more reason to stop for a good meal,”
Rachel insisted. She gave him an appraising glance from head to
toe. “Now wash up. Maybe you should change, too.”“The fact that
Elise has lunch there frequently has nothing to do with it? Nice
try.” Gabriel slapped dust from his hand.

“Give up, Rachel. He’s got you figured out.
Wasn’t my idea,” Charles said to him.

“I’m thinking of your well-being. If you ask
me—” Rachel lifted a finger at Gabriel.

“Hi, babe. Went to the house first. I hope
you haven’t eaten lunch already.” Erikka came through the door. She
grinned up at him while holding a large white paper bag.

Gabriel kissed Erikka’s forehead. He heard
his mother’s soft hiss of reproach. When he faced his parents again
Gabriel smiled. “Mother, Dad, this is Erikka Rochon.”

Erikka blinked hard once, and then seemed to
recover. “Nice meeting you, Mr. and Mrs. Cormier. Just came by with
lunch. A surprise. A big surprise actually.” She glanced at Gabriel
before crossing to shake his mother’s hand first, then his
father’s.

“Hello.” Rachel wore a polite smile.

“Hi there.” Charles studied her with a
sideways glance at his wife.

“If I’d known you’d be here I would have
brought enough for us all,” Erikka said, and held up the bags.

“We were just leaving,” Rachel replied, the
smile fixed on her face.

“Going to Enola’s. Why don’t we all go?”
Charles added.

“Gabriel just told us how busy he is,
Charles. It was nice finally to meet you, Erikka. Good-bye, dear.”
Rachel gave Gabriel a kiss.

Gabriel looked into his mother’s eyes when
she pulled back. He saw the message she intended to send. Rachel
Mouton Cormier would no doubt make her opinion known in due time.
She’d couch her words carefully, though. Gabriel looped an arm
around Erikka’s waist, sending his own message. Rachel glanced down
briefly, and then turned to Charles.

“Come on, Charles. We have errands after
lunch.” Rachel gave her husband an affectionate pat on the cheek as
she walked by.

“Errands. Great,” Charles grumbled, and shook
his head.

“Good-bye, Mama. See you later, old dude.
Don’t work too hard,” Gabriel joked.

“Hey, I just complain to keep Rachel on her
toes. Can’t let her have it too easy you know. Bye, young lady.” He
waved to them before following his wife out of the shop.

Gabriel tugged at Erikka, and they walked
outside with them. They watched his parents drive away in their
silver Lincoln Town Car. Erikka let out a slow breath once the car
turned onto the road.

“Now that was fun.” Erikka looked up at
him.

“What do you mean?” Gabriel laughed when she
snorted. Erikka went back into his shop.

“You know damn well what I mean. I’m not a
good replacement for a brain surgeon. What mother doesn’t want her
son to marry a doctor?” she said, over her shoulder.

Gabriel beat her to the door and opened it.
“We dated for several months. That’s a long way from being
engaged.” “Whatever.” Erikka went to his office without looking
back at him. She set the bags down and opened them.

Gabriel watched her find his stash of paper
plates. She placed the meat in the pita bread and put it in the
microwave. While she set up the rest of the food, Gabriel got two
sodas from his mini refrigerator.

“My parents don’t choose my girlfriends.”
Gabriel said what he hoped didn’t need to be said. Then wondered
why he had anyway.

“If they did, I wouldn’t miss you one bit.
Last thing I need is some guy scared of his mama and daddy.”

Gabriel didn’t hear heat in her tone, but
with women you never knew. One minute a brother was feeling fine,
the next minute he was baked to a crisp. When Erikka laughed he
really got suspicious. This could get bad fast. “Are we going to
have an argument?”

Erikka brought two plates of salad sprinkled
with feta cheese. She waited while Gabriel cleared his desk, and
then set them down. “Of course not.”

When she faced him, Gabriel rested his hands
on both of her shoulders. He took great care in leaning down and
kissing her lips lightly. There was no tension in her body, nothing
held back from his touch. Her vibe told him all he needed to know.
“Good,” he said, referring to more than her verbal answer.

Erikka pressed a palm to his cheek. “Your
parents know what line to cross with you.”

“You see right into me.” Gabriel pulled her
against his body. He was aroused by her understanding of him. He
rocked back and forth, enjoying the friction between them.

“Nothing supernatural,” Erikka said softly,
and kissed his neck.

Her warm, sweet breath on his skin heightened
the ache in his pelvis. “Let’s lock the door and—”

“Oh no.” Erikka extricated herself from his
firm hold. “You have a habit of making me skip meals. Not this
time. You heard Mrs. Cormier. You need to eat right.” Gabriel
reached for her, but Erikka danced out of range. “It’s not all on
me. As I recall, you didn’t mind the way we replaced food with
lovemaking.”

“That’s right; throw it in a girl’s
face.”

Gabriel wanted to play the game. “You melted
beneath me like sweet butter, all warm and rich.”

Erikka watched him approach, and then took a
step back. Still, her lips parted as she stared into his eyes. “You
always get horny before meals?”

“Only with you.”

When Erikka was up against the wall, Gabriel
rested a palm on either side of her head and leaned in. “You’re in
every breath I take, Erikka Rochon,” he whispered, dazed by the
smell of her.

The heat from her skin seeped inside him like
spiced honey. Gabriel traced a line of kisses along her jaw, down
her neck to the space of skin exposed just above her breasts. He
opened one button of her cotton knit blouse and kept going.
Undeterred by the lace boundary that was the top of her bra, he
pressed his mouth against the fabric. His reward was her gasp of
excitement. Thrilled by her response, he cupped the other breast
with his hand.

“Maybe we shouldn’t,” Erikka panted as she
guided his hands to the front hook. “Someone could walk in any
second.”

“Then let’s not waste time.” Gabriel pushed
against her so she could feel his urgency.

Erikka let out a tiny whimper. She went to
her purse, got a condom, and then shed her stretch blue jeans.
“Baby,” she said, and turned around.

“You came prepared to interrupt my workday.”
Gabriel felt sweat bead on his forehead.

Without speaking, she leaned against the
wall. The sight of her wearing an open blouse, pink bra unhooked,
and a pink lace thong knocked him out. In seconds Gabriel
undressed. He took off her thong only, unable to wait any longer.
Fast and hard is what he wanted. Erikka moaned when he lifted her,
both hands holding her buttocks. She wrapped both legs around him,
and he carried her to the sofa nearby.

“Sit,” she moaned, and he obeyed.

With quick deep thrusts, she rode him until
he saw shooting stars. Never before had he so enjoyed giving up
control. Erikka gripped his shoulders. Head back, she shivered all
over as she came. Gabriel followed soon after, never taking his
eyes from her face. She was his radiant wild lover, and he wanted
to experience every second. Slowly, the world came back into focus.
Erikka breathed hard as she finally settled against him. After a
few moments she gently lifted her hips. Without looking at him,
Erikka padded to the office door and locked it.

“Just in case.” She sat on his lap and
cuddled in his arms. “Let’s enjoy being naughty a while longer,”
she whispered.

“I’ll never look at this office the same
way.” Gabriel sighed happily, his head resting on her breast.

“Sorry I messed up your nice orderly life.”
Erikka rubbed her face in his hair.

Gabriel knew she was kidding, but he
considered her words seriously. “No you’re not, and neither am I.
Being distant from everyone is safe, but lonely.” “Gabriel, I—”

“You’re a gift, Erikka.” Gabriel hugged her
tightly.

“Thank you,” she said, in a tiny voice that
quivered ever so slightly.

“You’re not such a tough big-city lady.”
Gabriel savored that fact as well. Erikka had the sweetest soft
center of any candy he’d tasted.

“Speaking of the city.” Erikka started to get
up.

He would not let go. “Stay right here a few
minutes more.”

“One of us is going to get a bad cramp,” she
teased. Erikka shifted in his arms. “And I’d better be careful how
I move up here.”

Gabriel laughed loudly and released her. “You
win.”

They took a quick wash-up in the small
restroom in his office. Gabriel watched Erikka’s every move. He
enjoyed the fluid movement of her honey brown limbs as she dressed.
In a few minutes they were both fully clothed and gazing at their
lunch.

“Well, I think we can salvage the sandwiches.
The salad isn’t cold anymore.” Erikka shook her head slowly.

“Warm salad is a small price to pay,” Gabriel
said with a smile. He tugged a curl of her thick shoulder-length
hair.

“Shouldn’t take long for these to warm up.
Thirty seconds tops.” Erikka turned on the microwave again. Moments
later she took out two chicken pita sandwiches.

“How was your trip into the city?” Gabriel
got them each a can of soda and sat down.

“I was going to tell you when we got
sidetracked.” Erikka sat down across from him.

“Oh yeah?” Something in her tone made him
pause. “No trouble I hope.”

“No. Actually I got some pretty good news. At
least I hope you think so. My boss wants me back.”

Gabriel felt a sting of disappointment
without quite knowing why, or wanting to just yet. He popped open a
can to do something with his hands. For a few seconds he didn’t
speak. “Long commute, but you’re not going to drive it every day.
Right?”

“I’ll need to move, yes. With the long hours
and meetings, it makes sense.” Erikka put a hand on his knee. “Hey,
I’m still going to work at the Senior Center. And you go to New
Orleans on business.”

“Sure. I’m happy for you, baby. I mean, after
all you went through.” Gabriel placed his hand over hers. He meant
every word. Her smile sent a glow of happiness into chest.

Erikka sighed and shook her head slowly. “You
amaze me, Gabriel Cormier. You really do.”

“You’ve got a chance to rebuild your career.
I know how much working at that firm meant to you.” Gabriel watched
her face light up.

“Nadine is demanding, a little over the top
at times, but she’s sharp. I learned so much from her.” Erikka
seemed to regain her appetite. She ate a comer of her sandwich, and
then patted her mouth with a napkin.

“Sounds like a smart woman for sure if she
knows your value.”

Erikka gazed at him with affection. “You’re a
keeper. Anyway, Nadine wants me to start in two weeks. Hope, one of
my best friends, is going to let me camp at her place for a while
at least. I don’t know if our friendship will survive anything
long-term though.” She laughed.

“Your parents don’t live that far, maybe you
could—” Gabriel broke off at the look she gave him. “Problem?”
“Visit, yes. Live with Roz? No. She’s got issues.” Gabriel laughed.
“You just met my mother.”

“One day we’ll swap mama drama stories. I’ve
found a place to live, a cool apartment in the warehouse district.”
Erikka grinned briefly, then was serious again. “I’m going to have
a hectic schedule for a while.”

“Yeah, I’ll bet.” Gabriel pushed lettuce
around on his paper plate. “Think you can fit me in between work
and everything else?”

Erikka blinked hard when she gazed at him.
“I’ll always have time for you, Gabriel. Believe that.”

Gabriel touched Erikka’s hair, then her face
lightly with the tips of his fingers. “Guess I better get a copy of
a New Orleans city map.”

“You sure better, man. I’ll be back for my
community service.” Erikka grabbed his hand and kissed each
finger-tip. “And then there’s you.”

“Hope I’m not complicating things for
you.”

“Hmm.” She flicked her tongue along his
skin.

Gabriel gazed at her succulent mouth. He
couldn’t stand just watching any longer. In one motion he stood and
pulled her into his arms. He kissed her hard and long, drinking in
her fiery flavor. When they finally parted, Gabriel rested his
forehead against hers.

“I’m falling fast. Catch me.” Gabriel felt a
prick of fear at the deep truth of his words. Still, he needed to
put his feelings out there.

Erikka caressed his face with both hands.
“Gotcha.”

An hour later Erikka was gone, and Gabriel
tossed away the remains of their meal. He held on to her words and
the way she’d touched him all over. Still Gabriel thought about the
way her eyes sparkled with joy at the thought of moving to New
Orleans again. Away from you, a voice said. The small, dark
insecure place that he’d never really shaken pulsed back to life.
He returned to his workshop. Pounding on wood would be healing.

***

Two days later Erikka drove up to her
parents’ suburban home. She’d told Roz about her job. When Roz
started in about living with her, Erikka told her about the
apartment. Roz had taken on her wounded mother act. Erikka agreed
to a short visit to appease her. Although she still pouted, Roz had
agreed with, “I guess I’ll have to settle for that much.” Not
knowing what to expect, Erikka took a deep breath. She tried to
prepare herself for anything. To her relief, Roz opened the door
with a wide grin.