her upswept hair and her three strands of pearls, she made chewing seem so classy and intriguing. In fact, she could just sit there and hold the bread, and Lucas would buy it. In spite of the air-conditioning and his lightweight suit, he was beginning to sweat.
“I might not be a fashion plate, but I do have things to get done,” he countered, hoping to take his mind off her beautiful lips. “I have all these side businesses—it’s like spinning plates. Can’t let any of them fall by the wayside.”
Willa finished her bread, leaned forward to prop her elbows on the table, then cupped her chin on her clasped hands, her food obviously forgotten. “What kind of side businesses?”
“Oh, a little of dis and dat,” he replied in an exaggerated Cajun voice. He snagged a fat, buttery shrimp with his fork and ate it with a long sigh of pleasure. “Crawfishing in the spring, fishing all summer long, shrimping, traps to mend, boats to repair and pamper. Moss gathering.”
“Moss gathering?” She twirled flat, creamy noodles onto her fork. “Is that anything like woolgathering?”
He nodded. “Kinda. Only better. We harvest the Spanish moss that grows on the cypress trees and sell it to craft shops and florists—for decorating.”
“I never would have thought—” She stopped, dropped her fork on her plate. “There is just so much about you. You continue to surprise me.”
“Well, I’m about out of surprises,” he replied with a wink and a nod. “I’m just plain ol’ Lucas Dorsette, a simple man with very simple needs.”
He saw the flicker of wonder in her vivid blue eyes. Heard the husky inflection of her tone. But he didn’t miss the confusion in her question. “What do you need, Lucas?”
He leaned forward, his hands clasped in his lap to keep from touching her. “Another kiss from you would surely be nice.”
She immediately pushed herself back in her chair. “We can’t do that again.”
“And why not?”
“I…we…”
“I’m listening.”
“No, that’s the problem.” She threw her hands in the air, then let them drop to her lap. “You haven’t been listening at all. I can’t get involved with you, Lucas.”
He figured she was arguing more with herself than with him. He could see the battle in her defiant eyes.
“Give me one good reason why not?”
She took a sip of iced tea, then sat the goblet down, one long finger moving over the condensation on the side of the tall glass. “Well, I’ll be leaving soon, probably sooner than soon. And I have no idea where I’ll be going from here.”
Leaning back in his chair, Lucas crossed his arms and lifted his brows. “I can fly a plane. I can drive a boat. I even have a horse. I’ll find you.”
He saw the effect that statement had on her. Panic. Plain and simple.
Keeping her eyes on her tea glass, she said, “Sometimes we don’t want to be found.”
“Yeah, I know all about that.”
“Then you need to understand that I have to—”
“I’ll go with you, you know.”
That brought her head up. “Go with me where?”
“To find your birth mother. I’ll go with you, help you get through the rough spots.”
She lowered her gaze again, then pushed her plate away. Staring at her hands in her lap, she said, “I haven’t decided if I want to go see her. I’m still debating.”
“Well, whatever you decide, I just want you to know I’m willing to help you through this.”
Emily came out of the kitchen to bring them their bread pudding. She sat the rich cream-colored dessert down. “Coffee, Lucas?”
Lucas lifted a brow toward Willa. When she shook her head, he took the time to give Emily a patient smile. “Non. But thanks, suga’. We’re good.”
Willa glanced at the teenager, apparently glad for the interruption. “How did the dress turn out?”
Emily giggled, then bobbed her head. “It was perfect. You were right—the pink one looked better than the red one.”
“I’m so glad. And I’m sure your mother is much more pleased about you going to the dance now that you’ve decided to wear a more demure design.”
Emily rolled her eyes. “Non, it’s my papa who’s happy. He didn’t want me wearing the red—pas de tout.”
“I have to agree with him,” Willa replied. “The red was gorgeous, but a bit too old-looking for a sixteen-year-old. You’ll be the hit of the school dance, I’m sure.” Then she added in a conspiring whisper, “Especially since hot pink is the really big color on all the runways this summer.”
“I’ll start a new trend,” Emily said, her expression full of pride. “Merci, Willa.”
“You’re welcome,” Willa responded. “Let me know if I can help with your hair and makeup. And remember, Emily, less is more.”
The awestruck teen gave Willa a shy smile, then backed away. “And you let me know if you need anything else.”
Lucas gazed at the woman sitting across from him. “Apparently, you’ve been busy coaching our young Em on her wardrobe.”
Willa watched as Emily headed into the kitchen. “Just steered her in the right direction. The pink dress is a bit more tame, and it looks great on her.”
“You’re amazing,” Lucas said. “Emily will never forget you for giving her such good advice.”
“And I’ll never forget her.”
Lucas didn’t want to think about forgetting or remembering right now. He wanted to get back to the subject they’d been discussing. “Well, about your birth mother.” After making sure they were alone again, he spoke softly. “I mean it, Willa. I’ll go with you, if you’re afraid.”
She looked into his eyes. “Why would you want to do that?”
He reached out to her. He put a hand on her arm, just a brush of fingers over skin. And watched as she closed her eyes. “Because I want to take that pain out of your eyes, love. I want to see that smile. The one that’s so famous the world over.”
“That smile is strictly for the cameras,” she said, her voice raw and low. “It’s not the real me.”
He tugged her forward, his hand gentle on her arm. “Then let me see the real you, Willa. Let me…let me show you how to find the real you again, through God’s grace, through what we feel for each other.”
“I don’t know anything about God’s grace. It’s too late for me to ask Him for help.”
And
