Free More Than He Can Handle by Cheris Hodges

about me. I mean, I don’t want to do anything to Freddie that she doesn’t want me to do. Besides, I’ve never been to New Orleans and I was hoping that she could show me around.”
    â€œShow you around? She’s not going to have time for that being that she’ll be running her business,” Lillian snapped. “Why don’t you get out of here? Freddie is like a sister to me and women are disposable to you. I’m not going to watch you do that to my friend.”
    â€œWhatever, Lillian. I don’t know why you have this negative image of me built up in your head. All I want to do is tell the woman hello, since I’m going to be in her city.”
    Sighing, Lillian shook her head again. “That’s not all you want and I’m not stupid. The two of you didn’t spend my wedding night together just talking.”
    â€œYou make it sound as if we did something wrong. We’re grown-ups and guess what, she doesn’t need your protection. What is she, a child?”
    â€œI’m going to say it again. Freddie is my friend and I wouldn’t want my worst enemy to get involved with a man like you,” Lillian said.
    â€œA man like me?”
    She nodded and pointed her finger at his chest. “Freddie is more than just someone to warm your bed. Just let it go, Cleveland. She has a lot going on and she doesn’t need you to add to it.”
    â€œOkay, Lillian, you think that I’m this evil person and I’m out to hurt every woman I run across. So, that explains why you and I have never gotten along. Maybe you should get to know me, I might surprise you,” he said as he turned and headed out the door.
    Though he left empty-handed, Cleveland wondered if Freddie was as fragile as Lillian was making her out to be. Maybe he should just forget about her. What they shared was a one time thing and there was no need to try and recreate that night.
    Driving home, Cleveland decided that it was best to not even try to find Freddie in New Orleans. He was going to enjoy Mardi Gras and not think about the woman who rocked his world.

Chapter 7
    Mardi Gras begins
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    Cleveland arrived in New Orleans after a turbulent flight. He’d never prayed so much to land on solid ground. Flying didn’t bother him, it was the crashing that got to him. As a firefighter, he’d cleaned up a plane crash at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and there were no survivors. That day soured him on flying, since it was pilot error that caused the plane to skid off the runway and ram into a fuel truck.
    â€œThis is your captain speaking, we’re making our final descent into the Crescent City. Please make sure that your seat and tray tables are in an upright and locked position. The weather here is a pleasant sixty-five degrees and the humidity is low,” the pilot said.
    â€œThank God,” Cleveland muttered as he fastened his seat belt.
    Once everyone had deplaned, Cleveland headed for the baggage claim and looked for the car service that Louis said would be waiting for him. He pulled his reservation confirmation out of his back pocket. The French Garden Inn was in the heart of the French Quarter and Cleveland had always heard that that was where he needed to be to enjoy the festival.
    Cleveland smiled as he saw a man dressed in a black suit with a few dozen strings of Mardi Gras beads around his neck holding a sign with his name on it. This was definitely the greeting he was expecting.
    â€œI’m Mr. Alexander,” he said as he handed the man his garment bag.
    â€œYes, sir,” the driver said, reaching out for Cleveland’s bag. “The car is right this way.”
    Easing into the backseat of the car, Cleveland sank into the soft leather and closed his eyes. He was happy to be in the car and not in the air. Cleveland hadn’t realized that he dozed off until the driver tapped him on the shoulder.
    â€œSir, we’ve