The Pleasure Principle Page 8

  Well, this was bullshit. He couldn’t sit around Damsels all weekend on the off chance she might come back to him. He wouldn’t. There were plenty of people in his employment who could run the place for a short while. He needed to take some time, far away from the Quarter, and get his head clear. Maybe he’d go to the old homestead for a few days, see how the work was going on the family plantation house. He’d spent a lot of money on the restoration and rarely went back there to remember his roots.

  It was settled, then. It didn’t take long to get his staff in place, and he found himself in the courtyard, mounting his bike. His heart pounded at the memory of the way Alicia felt pressed against him, how hot it was between her legs as he drove her harder and faster. Dammit, he had to get her out of his mind somehow!

  He pulled the powerful machine out onto Toulouse and thought he saw her there, walking across the brick sidewalk. He looked twice and shook his head. It was actually some guy in heels and cut-off jeans with a Twisted Sister haircut. He laughed out loud. Shit, he really must want to see her badly.

  It was early enough in the day, and Bourbon Street hadn’t been blocked off for pedestrians yet, so he turned left and headed for Uptown. He had to get in the other lane once or twice to avoid sidewalk cleaners spraying the vomit off the bricks in front of their establishments. Even in the daytime, it was difficult to traverse Bourbon, with the delivery trucks lined up on each side of the road and the occasional staggering drunken tourist who’d never made it home the night before.

  He looked into Johnny White’s as he drove past. “Never closed,” was their motto. It was probably true, too. Even during Hurricane Katrina some places had stayed open, at great risk to their employees’ lives. As long as there was whiskey, somebody in the city would be taking money for it.

  There she was again, sitting next to the small bar in blue jeans and a white T-shirt. She was even sexier dressed down than in her thigh-high dress the first night he’d seen her. God, he had to stop this. He had to quit seeing her everywhere he went. It looked real enough, though. Some guy was hassling her and it seemed like she tried to be polite at first, but he was getting real pushy.

  Wait a minute… Was it really Alicia sitting at the bar this time?

  * * *

  The last thing Alice was going to do was be like all the other women in Dr. Cain’s study. She wasn’t going to cling and cry in an effort to make him feel something about her he didn’t. And when it came time to be honest with herself, what had he really offered her, anyway? The contract. That was it. When all of this started, she’d believed herself lucky to even be considered for his program. He’d given her no reason to expect anything more, and she’d let her feelings run away with her.

  Well, that all stopped now. Alice had to believe in herself, more than ever. It didn’t matter what set her on the path of self-discovery; it just mattered that she was on her way. She knew she didn’t want to stay at home, hiding from the world any longer.

  Alice just wasn’t sure this little stop on Bourbon Street had been the best idea. Damsels was just around the corner, though. In truth, she was drawn there and that was why she’d ended up at this place. But how could she go back to the club? The look on Julian Brax’s face had told her exactly how he felt about her last night.

  “Hey there, lady. Can I buy you a drink?” Alice was so lost in thought she didn’t notice the young man who sat down on the stool next to her and leaned in close. Very close. Was this normal? She didn’t have a lot of experience with this kind of interaction.

  “Thanks, but I already have one.” She indicated her glass of wine and smiled in a way she hoped was neutral. His brow knitted together, and he cocked his head to one side.

  “You only have one drink? That’s terrible! Bartender, we need more down here!” He waved his hand and drew attention to them. Alice was horrified when the blond woman behind the bar rolled her eyes and brought a bottle over. “There, that’s more like it. Give my lady friend here as much as she wants.”

  “Where you from, farm boy?” From the bartender’s tone, she may as well have called him a tourist. And of course he was. She was drinking on Bourbon Street, after all.

  “I’m from Texas, ma’am.” He slurred a little when he spoke. He’d been at it for a while. If he started the pub crawl at Canal Street, he’d had quite a few by now.

  “Is it true what they say, farm boy? Is everything bigger in Texas?” The bartender smiled and crossed her arms. Alice wished she hadn’t said that.

  “I’ll show your friend here, that’s for sure. She can decide for herself.” Texas stood and began unzipping his jeans. Alice jumped up off her stool and moved a few feet away, her cheeks coloring hotly. Even though she told herself she didn’t want to see, she couldn’t stop from watching the train wreck as it unfolded.

  “You know we have laws against that here. You get caught, there’s going to be trouble.” The blond woman leaned her elbows on the polished table top and grinned. Alice got the distinct idea he wasn’t going to get caught.

  Texas dropped his pants, revealing a pair of tight boxer briefs. He was aroused and pressed tightly against the restraining fabric. He slowly began to peel down the waistband as he pivoted his hips from side to side in a little dance. His muscles were well defined; he was in great shape, and Alice’s jaw dropped as he fully exposed himself in the bar.

  “Huh, how about that.” The bartender looked on with interest. “It really is true.”

  A muscular arm slammed down on the bar between Alice and Texas, blocking her view of the sideshow. She looked up into Julian Brax’s face, still in shock from everything she’d just seen.

  “Are you ready to go, baby?” He read her emotional state all too easily. His eyes lit up with a fierce protectiveness, and he moved the full mass of his body between her and the drunken tourist. She nodded, not trusting her voice.

  “Marita.” He turned his head and acknowledged the bartender. “Still stirring things up, I see?”

  “Brax.” She sighed in return, a wistful look on her face. Even with the dance going on next to her, the bartender kept her wistful eyes on Julian.

  He then turned his full attention on the young man. “Put your pants on. Now.”

  The words came out in a threatening tone. Brax towered a full foot above the kid, who stumbled all over himself to gather his clothes from around his ankles.

  “Yes, sir. I’m sorry, sir.” He bolted out the open door, holding his jeans up to his waist, not bothering to snap them. He tripped three times on the sidewalk before he staggered out of sight. No one out on the street even gave him a second look.

  “You didn’t have to scare him like that.” Marita laughed and shook her head. “I guess you’re gonna pay his tab then?”

  “It would be my pleasure.” He put a few bills on the counter, but never moved away from Alice. When they settled up, he put his arm around her and she walked outside with him like it was something they did every day.

  “What are you doing, drinking on Bourbon Street by yourself?” Julian sharply turned on her as soon as they reached his bike. His jaw clenched and he frowned as he waited for her to answer.

  “I just wanted to go somewhere different. Get away from everything I thought I knew for a little while. I guess that sounds crazy.” Did he understand? She could never tell what he was thinking, and he seemed frustrated with her most of the time. So why was he taking care of her?

  “No, cher. That’s not crazy at all. I know exactly what you mean.” His gaze softened and he reached up with two fingers to stroke her cheek. His hands were strong, so large, it seemed impossible they could be this gentle as he caressed her flaming skin.

  “It seems like every time I’m in trouble, I turn around and you’re there.” She didn’t pull away from his touch. She felt safe with him, protected. It gave her an indescribable thrill to have this tall, insanely handsome beast of a man treat her so tenderly.

  “Maybe that’s the way it’s supposed to be.” He tilted he
r chin to look her directly in the eye. He held her there, captive like that, taking in her reaction to his dominating closeness. Her lips parted and she started to breathe unevenly.

  “So, you’re not mad I broke up your little pants party?” The left corner of his mouth turned up in a sexy smile and her heart beat faster.

  “I’ve never been so happy to see anybody in my life.” She meant every word of it. Alice was a little lost back at the bar and realized she wasn’t going to find any answers on Bourbon Street. Julian Brax was developing a habit of showing up just when she needed him most.

  “In that case, I think you should get on the bike and come with me this weekend.” He cupped her chin firmly and lowered his face close to hers. She briefly felt his breath on her skin, and he grazed her cheek with his rough five o’clock shadow before whispering in her ear. “If you want to.”

  A wild shiver flew up her spine when his breath tickled her sensitive lobe. She reached out to brace herself on his forearms. They were like steel under her palms, and he watched her carefully before he continued.

  “There won’t be any bars, or even cell phone service for that matter. But if you really want to get away, you won’t find a better offer than this.”

  “I want to.” Alice knew she had a difficult time controlling her desires when she was with Julian, and he didn’t make it easy for her to do so, either. She believed she was safe with him, there wasn’t any doubt in her mind about that. But she had to wonder…Was she safe from him?

  Alice climbed on the back of the bike. Julian reached back and ran his palm from the top of her thigh, down her calf, and finally over her leather boot so he could make sure she was seated properly. She didn’t know how long the trip would be, but the thrill of the decision filled her with excitement. The future and what it held for her was suddenly the last thing on her mind. She decided to live in the moment, wherever it would take her.

  * * *

  Anderson paced back and forth in his study, hovering over his cell phone. It was getting late; he should call Alicia right now. He didn’t want to seem too eager, though. What were the rules for dating, anyway? He’d been out of the loop for so long, he could easily make a mistake that might scare her off.

  There he went again, over analyzing everything. His heart was leading the way this time. If he allowed his mind to take over, there’d be graphs and charts and all kinds of things that weren’t necessary when you were in love.

  God. There…he’d said it. He was in love with her. He’d read numerous articles on the subject of love at first sight, all of them disproving the idea. Now he knew it was true. As soon as Johnson brought the car back that afternoon, he’d gone over to Frenchmen to buy a copy of the CD for the band they’d listened to the night before. OK, he bought all of their CDs; all the copies they had on the display, anyway. He didn’t want to take any chances. Disks were lost and broken all the time.

  Anderson laughed. He was doing all kinds of illogical things he’d never done before. But it all made sense. He decided there would be no rules this time—no games. He picked up the phone and called Alicia’s number.

  It went straight to voicemail.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  “This is one of the last working plantations in the state of Louisiana.”

  Alice caught a sense of pride in his voice as he helped her off the bike, and she could see why. The house in front of her was amazing to behold. It had a stately air to it, despite the run down conditions the estate had apparently suffered over the years. A full veranda surrounded the outside of the first floor, with the occasional French door open onto the wooden floorboards of the porch. It was obvious work was being done to the exterior, new wood mixed in with old, yet to be painted together.

  “This belongs to your family?” This was a side of Julian she hadn’t anticipated. He had deep roots here, and they meant something to him. Why did he bring her here? It seemed a very personal thing to do and it touched her that he trusted her enough to show her this.

  “It belonged to my great-grandparents, back in the day. It passed down through the family, but none of them really had the means to keep the place up. The bulk of the land got leased over time to cattle farmers. Eventually, no one else wanted the worry of it, so now I have it.” He looked at her openly, his eyes full of memories.

  His guard was lowered, even if it was for a fleeting second. She found it hard to believe there could be a chink in this strong man’s armor, but if there was, had he brought her here to let her get closer to him? He was probably inviting her right on in, but Alice didn’t know what to do except nod and wait for him to continue.

  She forced herself to relax and allow the setting sun to bathe her face with warmth. The fresh air was cleansing, and she felt special to be there with Julian, right at that moment. Alice closed her eyes and listened to the sounds of the countryside. For a minute she forgot herself, all her worries, and everything she’d been through earlier in the day.

  “You are so beautiful, Alicia.” Julian spoke quietly and his voice was tender. She opened her eyes and blushed when she saw the way he was looking at her. Alice let her hair fall across her face and impulsively took his hand in hers. It was a bold move, but she didn’t think she could hold her composure if he continued to stare at her with such powerful emotion.

  “Oh, look who’s here!” A screen door creaked and footsteps clopped on bare floorboards, cutting through their awkward moment. Oh God, there were other people here? Was it his family? She was definitely not ready to meet anyone else on this trip. She’d taken all her “throw caution to the wind” pills when she got on the back of his bike that afternoon and left everything she knew behind in the city.

  “You’re supposed to call ahead to let us know when you’re coming, Mr. Brax. I figure you’ll expect me to whip up a nice dinner without any planning, too!” An older woman scolded from the steps as she wiped her hands on her apron, but the tone of her voice didn’t match the countenance on her face. She was happy to see him.

  OK, so she called him Mr. Brax. It couldn’t be his mother, then. Alice tried to pull away, but he grasped her hand tightly and pulled her out in front of him.

  “Emma, this is my good friend, Alicia. And if it wouldn’t be any trouble, she is likely hungry and would really appreciate your magic in the kitchen.”

  “Well, for a friend of yours, I think I can manage something.” She beamed a smile at Alice and nodded. “It’s nice to meet you, dear. I’ll just go around back and let Jacob know you’re here. Once I’ve got the guest room aired out, we’ll see what I can do for dinner.”

  So, she was staying in the guest room. That was one weight off her shoulders. Alice hadn’t really known what to expect from his invitation, but this world was different from the life he lived in the Quarter. It had heart and soul…and that meant Julian Brax did, too.

  * * *

  “Maybe I should go in to the kitchen and offer to help her?” Alice was nervous sitting in the parlor adjacent to the dining room. The furniture surrounding them was beautiful and ancient. Emma’s husband Jacob had even come in and started a fire for them in the marble fireplace. She wasn’t used to being in a fancy house as a visitor; usually she was the one with the dust rag and mop behind the scenes.

  “She won’t have any of that, you know. They’ve been caretakers here since my parents owned the property.” Julian poured her a glass of wine and put it directly into her hands. “You’re my guest, and I’d really like it if you started acting like one.”

  Wow, he wasn’t pulling any punches. But he was right. She was being ridiculous. She’d come so far in such a short time and she had to remind herself to still believe. She wouldn’t be here if he didn’t want it. The real question was, what did he want?

  Alice took a long draught of wine, probably not very ladylike, but it instantly relaxed the muscles in her shoulders and the back of her neck. It was a deep red vintage, heady to breathe in, and she knew the liquid would stain her lips red.


  “Dinner’s ready whenever you are.” Emma appeared in the doorway, a fresh apron wrapped around her bountiful figure. An aroma of roasted meat and vegetables wafted in on the air with her arrival and Alice realized she was very hungry. Julian stood and motioned for her to precede him into the dining room.

  She palmed her wineglass, nearly full, and hoped it was OK to bring it to the table. It turned out she didn’t have to worry. There were three different wine glasses at both settings on the white linen tablecloth. So, it would be just the two of them. Candles garnished with fresh flowers sparkled off the crystal, and the atmosphere was decidedly romantic.

  “Oh, thank you, Emma. It’s just so beautiful.” Alice was feeling emotional again. Her chest was heavy and her eyes watered. This dinner was the grandest thing anyone had ever put together for her, and she didn’t know how to properly express her gratitude.

  “Now, dear, it’s really nothing.” Emma reached out and patted her hand, a quizzical look in her eye. “I was kidding when I said it was a bother earlier.”

  “She knows that. But Alicia is different from other people. She appreciates everything you say and do, so we’ll just have to get used to that.” Julian pulled out her chair as he spoke to the caretaker, and she sat down, murmuring her thanks.

  It was true. Alice did appreciate everything. All of it was a new experience and it was amazing to her. She was truly grateful for any attention or kindness she received. And that would be what gave her away in the end if she wasn’t careful. There had to be some kind of balance between a rube just off the hay wagon and a snooty socialite. Her heart just didn’t know how to be any other way.

  Emma came in with a bottle of white wine and poured it into their glasses while Jacob followed with silver platters of food. She thanked them every time they sat something on the table until she noticed the way Julian was watching her. Maybe she should express her gratitude every other time.