Free More Than He Can Handle by Cheris Hodges Page B

problem?”
    â€œNo, Jewel, I’m sorry I bothered you. I’ll be down there in a little bit,” Freddie said.
    â€œAll right,” she replied, her voice filled with confusion. Freddie hung up the phone and groaned. How did this happen? Why hadn’t she gone into the computer to see what room he’d been assigned when she saw that he had a reservation at her place? Sitting up, Freddie ran her hand over her face and decided that she couldn’t put it off any longer, she had to go downstairs and help her staff. Besides, Cleveland was probably out enjoying the revelry of Mardi Gras. What man wouldn’t be out roaming the streets and enjoying the sights and highlights of the festival? It had been years since Freddie had a chance to enjoy Mardi Gras. She would kill for a King Cake right about now and some pralines. With her stomach growling, Freddie left her room and headed downstairs. As the elevator opened, she ran, chest first, into Cleveland.
    â€œWhoa,” he said, “are you all right?” Instinctively, he wrapped his arms around Freddie’s waist.
    â€œI’m fine,” she said as she pushed away from him. “Just a little distracted, it’s busy here.”
    â€œI can see that. I had no idea you owned this place,” he said.
    â€œUh-huh,” she said. “Well, if you’ll excuse me.”
    â€œWait, do you think we can grab some dinner sometime this week?”
    She stepped into the elevator as he stepped off. “I don’t think so. I’m going to be so swamped that I’ll barely have time to sleep.”
    Before Cleveland could say another word, Freddie pressed the button and the elevator doors closed.
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    Standing in the hallway, Cleveland shook his head. Freddie was acting as if nothing had happened between them and he knew that she’d enjoyed their night together just as much as he had. He knew that before the week was over, they would have an instant replay of the night of Lillian’s wedding and when he was done with her this time, she wouldn’t forget or be able to get enough of what they were going to share. However, he wasn’t going to sit in his hotel room and pine away for her. He was going to check out the scene on Bourbon Street and hope that when he returned Freddie would still be in the hotel. He headed downstairs and when he reached the front desk, where Freddie and her clerk were, he winked at Freddie, but didn’t say a word.
    Once on Bourbon Street, Cleveland was swept up in the big party. Big brass bands played in the middle of the street, restaurants seemed more like clubs, and there were people everywhere. The smell of Po-Boys and sweet King Cakes wafted in the air. He found it hard to believe that this was the same city devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Cleveland decided that like New Orleans, he was going to go after Freddie with a renewed spirit. Though she tried to act as if she wasn’t affected by seeing him, he knew that she was. The heat between them was the same as it had been the night of Louis and Lillian’s wedding. Now that he knew he’d be seeing her, since she worked in the hotel, Cleveland started formulating a plan for the seduction of Freddie Barker. Seduction was a skill that he was well versed in and Winfred Barker was going to find out that he didn’t take no for an answer. Hungry and excited about the prospect of tasting Freddie again, he stopped a man passing by.
    â€œHey, excuse me, where can I get a great Po-Boy?” Cleveland asked.
    The man smiled, then tugged at his beatnik beard. “Whatcha wanna do is take the street car to St. Charles and head on down Robert Street and hang a right on Ammunition Street. You gonna see Domilise’s Po-Boys. That place is amazing, but don’cha ask for extra gravy, you’ll never get it out of your shirt.”
    Cleveland shook hands with the strange-looking man, thanked him and headed for the street