Free Mischief in Mudbug by Jana DeLeon

to the café opened and Sabine glanced over, then froze as she saw who was standing there.
    “What’s wrong?” Maryse asked. “It’s not Helena, is it?”
    “No,” Sabine whispered. “He’s early.”
    “Who’s early?”
    “The detective. I was supposed to meet him here in a half hour. He’s early.”
    “Great! Now I can see what all the fuss is about.”
    “Don’t you dare.”
    Maryse grinned and turned all the way around in her seat. She held for a couple of seconds, then spun back around to face Sabine, her eyes wide. “Holy shit! You are in big trouble.”
    The instant he walked into the restaurant, Beau zoned in on Sabine like he had preset radar. She was sitting in a corner booth with another woman, who had turned around when he walked in and given him a comprehensive up and down before turning back to Sabine. He briefly wondered if he’d passed the friend’s test, then got agitated at himself for caring…or wondering…or whatever he was doing.
    No strings, Villeneuve.
    His entire adult existence centered on keeping things simple, uncomplicated. He’d learned that one the hard way. He carried his own baggage, and he wasn’t interested in carrying anyone else’s. It had always been his experience that women were the most complicated people on earth. And their baggage usually came in matched sets. Hell, if the line he had on locating Sabine’s family turned out to be accurate, shewould soon be faced with more baggage than a freight train.
    Unless you can talk her out of wanting to know.
    Sabine waved at him and he smiled. Quickly catching himself, he put on his game face and crossed the restaurant, resolved to talk Sabine out of this quest of hers. It couldn’t possibly bring her anything but misery. And if there was any way at all, he intended to spare her the disappointment he’d suffered.
    As he stepped up to the table, the other woman sitting with Sabine rose and extended her hand. “I’m Maryse Robicheaux, Sabine’s best friend. It’s nice to meet you.” She looked over at Sabine and grinned. “Sabine has been telling me everything about you.”
    A light blush crept up Sabine’s face and she glared at Maryse. Beau shook Maryse’s hand. “Beau Villeneuve.”
    “Well, this has been fun,” Maryse said, “but I have to run.”
    “Oh, no you don’t,” Sabine argued. “You said you had another thirty minutes.”
    Maryse smiled. “But that was before you made plans for us tonight. Now, I need to see my attorney and remove you from my will.” She winked at Beau and hurried out of the restaurant.
    Beau slid into the booth across from Sabine, wondering how in the world she made jeans and a plain blue polo shirt look so elegant. Maybe it was her hair, twisted in a complicated knot, with shiny black locks framing her face. Or maybe it was the silver earrings shaped like a teardrop.
    Maybe you should get your head out of the clouds and focus on business.
    “Should I even ask what your plans are for tonight?” Beau asked.
    “No. I was trying to play a joke on Maryse, but apparently it backfired. She always gets the last word. I don’t know why I bother.”
    “I like her,” Beau said, trying to block out the sweet smell of Sabine’s perfume. “She doesn’t dance around things, does she?”
    “No. Finesse was never Maryse’s strong point. I think she sees it as a waste of good creative energy and time.”
    Beau nodded. “She’s probably right.”
    “Really? Then maybe you should try taking her shopping with you. We’ve been officially banned from two boutiques and a pet store.”
    “A pet store?”
    Sabine waved a hand in dismissal, at least twenty bracelets jangling on her arm. “It’s a long story and doesn’t end so well for the turtle.” She pulled a manila folder from a bright pink shoulder bag and slid it across the table. “This is the file I mentioned when I called.”
    “The file your friend ‘appropriated’?” Beau scanned the police records