Free Bayou Betrayal by Robin Caroll Page B

burden. A final look at the determination in both Hattie’s and Felicia’s faces told her resistance would be futile. She’d have to find a place to buy soon.
    Â 
    â€œDo you really want to go?” Gary took his eyes off the road for a moment to glance at the woman in the passenger seat.
    Hattie Trahan had all but ordered him to take Monique back to the motel immediately to gather her things, while she and Felicia went to her house to ready the guest wing.
    Monique had been tucked inside his car and they’d been rushed off so quickly, he hadn’t gotten a chance to see if this was what she wanted.
    â€œI know Hattie can be a bit pushy. So if you really don’t want to stay with her, now’s the time to say something. I can run interference for you if you’d like.”
    She smiled and his world tilted, in spite of himself. He shouldn’t even have gotten this involved. She was a subject. He was a deputy. End of connection.
    Except that little things she did kept running through his mind. Like how she tossed that copper hair of hers over her shoulder. Or how she blew her bangs when she was exasperated. Or chewed her bottom lip when she was nervous.
    He shouldn’t notice these things, much less think about them.
    â€œI think it’s nice of her to ask me to stay with her.”
    Gary laughed. “Ask? If I know Hattie Trahan, and I do, I think the more appropriate word would be insist. ”
    She chuckled, as well, the sound of it warm and throaty, sure to haunt his dreams. “Well…seriously, I think it’ll be fine. I can ask her about properties for sale, townspeople, all that local stuff.”
    â€œOh, Hattie knows everything. That woman gets the gossip before my mother does.”
    â€œYour mother’s a very sweet lady.”
    â€œYes, she is.” And he couldn’t wait to pamper her as she so sorely deserved. He caught Monique smiling at him. “What?”
    â€œNothing.”
    â€œNo. What’s so amusing?”
    â€œI think it’s really nice how close you and your mom are. It’s rare to see that type of bond these days.”
    Heat crept up the back of his neck, and his cheeks burned. He focused on the road. “Well, my mom gave up everything for me. Not many mothers are willing to make so many sacrifices for their kids nowadays.”
    â€œThat’s true.” Monique was quiet for a moment, as if caught in the past. “My mom was like that. She raised me on her own, going without so I didn’t have to.”
    â€œThen you understand.”
    â€œI do. You’re lucky to still have your mom.” Her voice was thick with emotion.
    â€œAnd I cherish her.”
    Monique twisted to face him. “You’re a good man, Deputy Gary Anderson. I’m glad that I got to meet you. And your mother.”
    Now heat really scorched his cheeks. “I’m glad I got to meet you, too.” He pulled the cruiser into the parking lot of the motel. “If you’ll get your stuff together, I’ll load it into the back of your vehicle.”
    â€œI’d appreciate that. I’ll settle up with the front desk and then follow you. I’m assuming you know where Hattie lives?”
    They got out of the car, and he looked at her over the hood.
    â€œEverybody knows where everybody lives in Lagniappe, Monique.” He loved saying her name. How it felt on his tongue.
    â€œI’m learning that. I mean, Monroe isn’t all that big, but you don’t know every person in the city.”
    â€œCity?” He chuckled. “Lagniappe barely qualifies as a town. Most people around these parts call it a community.”
    â€œBut it’s nice.” She unlocked the door to her motel room.
    â€œI guess. It’s home.”
    She turned and glanced around, smiling almost to herself. “It is home, isn’t it?”

EIGHT
    M onday mornings were normally the pits all around. But not this