Big Easy Temptation (The Perfect Gentlemen #3)(55)

The Carlyle woman was a key witness. Somewhere in her drug-addled mind likely lay the secrets to what happened with his father. It was a gut instinct and he intended to follow it. But after seeing how going to the prison had affected Holland, he couldn’t ask her to go back. When he had all the reports and information, he would show them to her so they could discuss the next steps.

Until then, he would concentrate on his proposal.

“How do you intend to ask her, Dax?” His mother settled into her big rocker on the front porch with a smile. He hadn’t seen her look so happy in what seemed like forever.

“I’ve got a plane taking us to Vegas. I know it may not sound romantic, but she’s never been and we’ve only got a few days off. So I’ve got something special planned. Mad keeps a crazy lush penthouse there complete with a butler and private chef. I want to treat her right. On the last night, I’m going to ask her to marry me.”

And she would say yes. Another gut instinct he was going to go with.

His mother sent him a sharp stare. “Don’t you tell me you’re getting married there.”

“No. No eloping allowed. I’m only going to do this once so I intend to do it right. You and Gus and Holland can go big. I want a white wedding shebang, everything Holland has ever wanted.”

“I’m so happy for you, son. I’m happy for all of us. It’s past time we had good news in this family. Augustine is starting her new job. You’re getting married.” She squeezed his hand. “It really is time to move on.”

“Mom, do you miss him?”

She sighed and sat back, resting in the big rocker. “Often. I miss the man I thought he was, but I’m going to move on now, too. I’m going to get out more often, resume my charity work. I’ve certainly missed that. I was asked to head the planning committee for the annual charity ball.”

Those nasty bitches had turned their backs on his mother when the scandal broke, but he knew she missed her place in society. The gossip seemed to have cooled enough to allow her to live something close to normally again.

Guilt made his stomach turn at the thought that he could undo her social progress. He might not care, but being included in the community was something his mother lived for. It would kill her to go through it all again.

Was she right? Should he concentrate on the future? Holland could get dragged into the scandal. Gus as well.

No. He took a deep breath. He had to do this. He would have to be careful so he didn’t upset her new status quo. He would keep his investigation quiet until he’d proven his father was innocent. Once he had, she’d never have to worry about her place in society again. And they could all truly put the past behind them.

His cell trilled as a text came through. He smiled. Gabe.


Just heard the news. Congrats and good luck! I’ll give you an early wedding present by keeping Mad away from Vegas while you’re there.

He smiled. Perfect. He texted back his thanks and glanced at the time. He needed to head out. Holland’s shift would be over and she had no idea he’d arranged for her to take some time off. He’d contacted her superior the day before, requesting some of her vacation time as a surprise. Her boss had been happy to give it to him. Dax was fairly certain the man had thought he was calling to rail about his father’s case again. He’d been obviously relieved.

“I love you, Mom. I’ll call you when we get to Vegas tonight. I’ve got to get back to the apartment so I can whisk her away. Mad is sending the plane as we speak. We’ll leave late, but it’s Vegas, so everything will still be open when we get there.” And he would enjoy a night flight with his almost fiancée. He intended to show her just how depraved he could be at thirty thousand feet.

“You’re a nice boy when you want to be but I know you’ve got a very bad side.” His mother winked his way, then rose as a black sedan pulled up. “There’s my car. Gus sent it, along with that fine young driver.”

Dear god. The man was in a suit, but he looked like he was built to strip. Yeah, that was exactly what Gus would look for in a driver for their widowed, sixty-something mother.

He helped get her into the car and waved as she drove off for what looked like a fun trip.

His mother finally seemed ready to move on. For months he’d been worried about her and now it was as if the clouds were shifting and the sun was shining in his mother’s life again.

Was he doing the right thing by poking into his father’s death? Or just dredging everything painful back up?

He would talk to Sue Carlyle’s cellmates and decide from there. If it really was a dead end, he would put the past behind him and concentrate on the present, on marrying Holland and starting a new chapter of his life.

He pocketed the ring and started toward the streetcar station. He had a week’s worth of leave and he wasn’t about to waste a minute of it.

His cell trilled again. Roman this time. He swiped his finger across the screen to accept what would likely be some hearty congratulations. “It’s a good day, my man.”

“Hey, Dax.”

Dax stopped because that didn’t sound like a congratulatory voice. The last time he’d heard that gritty tone to Roman’s voice, his friend had been calling to tell him what had happened to his father. So he got right to the point now. “What’s happened?”

“I need to talk to you about a story that the Times-Picayune was going to run tomorrow morning.”