In Shining Whatever (Three Magic Words Trilogy #2)(37)

"Good morning, Kate," Hart said.

She almost said good morning back to him, but she kept working without looking up. She'd heard his voice more than a dozen times a day in the past weeks and turned, way too often, to find that he wasn't standing in the doorway, sitting beside her on the bayou, or even right behind the shower curtain.

"You not even speaking to me?" he asked.

She did look up then. Her eyes widened and all the air left her lungs.

"I thought . . ." she stammered.

"You thought what? That I was in Texas?"

She was on her feet instantly. "Don't put words in my mouth. What are you doing here?"

Of all the scenarios he'd envisioned, her tone and the look on her face weren't among them. He had hoped she would rush into his arms.

Of all the scenarios Kate had envisioned, him finding her on her knees in a vegetable garden wasn't among them.

"I told you I was coming down here if you didn't answer my messages," he said.

"Oh," she said flatly.

"Mail, y'all goin' to stand out there in the hot sun all afternoon?" Maw Maw yelled from the back porch. "Come on in the house and have some cafe au lait and beignets. They're hot out of the grease and I just shook powdered sugar on them."

"We've been summoned," Kate said.

Hart followed her into the house, wondering the whole time what he was doing there. It had seemed like such a good idea the night before. He'd called the foreman of his ranch and told him he was taking a trip. He had given him his cell phone number in case of emergencies, packed a bag, and booked a flight from Dallas to New Orleans. When he arrived at noon, he rented a car and drove to Jeanerette, asked the proprietor of LeJeune's bakery for directions to the Miller place, and there he was, wishing he'd never come to Louisiana.

Maw Maw issued orders when they opened the back door. "Wash your hands and set up the table. I've already met your young man, so you don't have to be introducing us, Kate. I reckon the weeding will wait until tomorrow morning. You'll be needing a shower after you have some beignets"

"Obey," Kate said, with a glance over her shoulder at Hart.

He joined her at the kitchen sink and soaped up his hands. Their fingers got entangled as they rinsed them under the faucet, and the jolt they both got rendered them speechless.

Hart watched Kate pick up one of the square-looking donuts covered with white powder and bite into it. He followed her lead and almost swooned. Krispy Kremes would have taken a backseat to them in any connoisseur's taste buds. The coffee was strong, hot, and sweet-not necessarily his normal choice, but delicious with the beignets.

"So tell me what brings you off to the bayou and sugar plantation world?" Maw Maw joined them.

Hart was glad he had a mouth full of food so that he could collect his thoughts.

"Other than my granddaughter," Maw Maw added.

"That's about it," Hart said, once he'd swallowed.

"Then I'll hang up the sheet," she said.

Hart looked at her so funny that Kate started giggling. It turned into a full-fledged roar that brought tears to her eyes. When she wiped at them, she smeared powdered sugar across her face. She reminded Hart of a reverse-painted Indian from the old Saturday morning Western reruns.

"You know the rules," Maw Maw said seriously, but a grin tickled the corners of her mouth.

"Yes, I do" Kate nodded, still chuckling under her breath. "And I'll help you hang up the sheets. Bring in your bags, Hart. I guess you've passed the test enough to be invited to stay right here."

"I can stay in a hotel," he offered.

"You want to know my Kate?" Maw Maw cut her eyes around at him.

"Yes, ma'am, I sure do."

"You can't do that in a hotel. I'll get the sheets. You can help Kate hang them," she said. "But eat your beignets first. Man shouldn't be rushed through his afternoon lagniappe."

Hart looked at Kate.

"It means something extra. This is something extra over and above regular food."

"I like it. When you come back to Texas, can you start making these?"

"Who says she's going back to Texas, young man?"

Kate laughed again. "We'll hang the sheets and then I'm doing some fishing this afternoon. You can help me with both. How long can you stay?"

Maw Maw clucked her tongue. "That's rude, Kate Miller. You don't ask him how long he can stay. That's up to him. Our home is open for him to stay here as long as he likes. While you two fish in the bayou, I'll call up Minnette. We'll have a party in the backyard tomorrow night. Vincent can bring the hog in the morning."

"Don't go to any trouble, ma'am. I can take you both out to dinner," Hart said.

"Mais, later, maybe yes. But not until you've had a taste of our hospitality. I've got shopping to do in town. LeJeune's for bread to go with gumbo for supper. You catch anything, we'll have that for dinner tomorrow. Vincent loves fish chowder." Maw Maw made plans as she removed her apron and slipped her bare feet into rubber flip-flops.

"Want me to drive you?" Kate asked.

"I might be old but I can still drive. Me and the old truck have an agreement. It don't stop on me, and I won't shove it off into the bayou," she said.