Going Down Easy (Boys of the Big Easy #1)(5)

It could only be a fling, with the miles and time between them. They couldn’t get more serious than that. Because with his business and his son, he couldn’t make regular trips to New York, and he wouldn’t introduce Cooper to a woman he’d see only every thirty days at most. Addison didn’t even know he had a son. Because that part of Gabe’s life wasn’t a part of whatever he and Addison were doing. Hell, nothing about his life was really a part of whatever he and Addison were doing.

Besides, Cooper was only five. If he got attached to Addison but didn’t have her in his life on a regular basis, it would be confusing.

And frankly, if Addison was only in town for a little more than forty-eight hours each time, Gabe wasn’t sure how much of that time he wanted to share with anyone else. Even Cooper. Which probably made Gabe a bad father and an asshole. So it was better not to go there.

“Reagan didn’t answer,” Logan said a moment later. “So you might need to start putting together a list, after all.”

Gabe nodded. That was good. He needed something to do. Something other than thinking about Addison and how she might react to seeing him at the architecture offices and how he wanted her to react to seeing him.

“Did you leave Reagan a message?” Gabe asked.

Logan ducked his head. “Yeah.” He looked almost . . . embarrassed.

Gabe grinned. “What did you say?” He knew Logan had put his foot in his mouth.

“Doesn’t matter.”

Oh, yes, it did. But Gabe would just ask Reagan. She really didn’t understand why Logan acted like a dipshit around her. She thought he was like that with all women. Which was hilarious, considering Logan was a well-known charmer and ladies’ man.

“Okay, I’ll get the list done,” he said, pushing away from the counter and heading for the back office. He’d get right on it.

As soon as he sent Addison some flowers. Without analyzing why he was sending them. And he was only writing, See you soon, Gabe on the card. Nothing frilly, nothing romantic, and nothing about blow jobs.



Gabe had sent her flowers.

Addison stood staring at the gigantic bouquet of white flowers sitting on the desk she was using for the day.

“These are magnolias, right?” she asked Elena. Elena was one of the partners at Monroe & LeBlanc and had been a classmate of Addison’s in college. She’d been the one to call and ask for Addison’s help on the project they had finished two weeks ago. The project that had been, unbeknownst to Addison, her application for a job with the prestigious restoration architectural firm. The job she’d started today.

“They are. The state flower of Louisiana.” Elena stroked the petal of one of the gorgeous flowers. “Someone knows your weakness for all things New Orleans.”

He definitely did. Addison hadn’t even needed to read the card to know who the flowers were from. Gabe knew she was a sucker for anything that was traditionally associated with the city. Beignets, bourbon, masks, beads, gas lanterns, and balconies with looping wrought iron railings. For six months he’d been taking her out on the Sunday she was in town and letting her soak up the city. And now she’d gone from associating those things with New Orleans and the unique spirit of the city to associating them with him. And the hottest, most decadent, most satisfying-yet-never-get-enough sex of her life. She could simply hear a jazz trumpet and her panties got wet.

But why was he sending her flowers? That was new. So far, their routine was she showed up at the bar on Saturday night, they spent the weekend together, she left on Monday morning, and then thirty days later, they repeated it all over again. There was no contact in between times. No texts or calls—they didn’t have each other’s number. No letters or gifts—he didn’t have her address. And definitely no flowers.

“See you soon, Gabe,” Elena read from the card. She lifted her eyes, meeting Addison’s. “Gabe? Who’s Gabe?” Then her eyes widened. “Wait. These aren’t from Gabe Trahan, are they?”

Oh, crap. Addison took a deep breath, thought briefly about lying, and then realized there was no real reason to not tell her friend the truth. “Yes.”

Elena’s eyes widened, almost as if she hadn’t expected that answer. “Really? You’ve seen him since that first night?”

Addison rounded the desk and set the folder she was carrying on top of the nearest stack, straightening the pile of already straight files. “Yes,” she said simply. The fewer details she offered, the better, probably.

“When?” Elena asked. “I had no idea you’d seen him again.”

And then it hit Addison . . . Elena wasn’t just her friend anymore. She was Addison’s boss.. Was this going to reflect badly on her? Was a just-when-she-was-in-town affair something Elena would frown upon?

“I didn’t think it was important to mention. We just . . . went out a couple of times.” They had. They’d gone out to Preservation Hall for jazz. They’d gone to Café du Monde for coffee and beignets. They’d gone to the French Market. They’d gone to Gabe’s bedroom. And his shower. And his kitchen table. And his balcony . . .

“You’re dating Gabe Trahan?” Elena asked, planting her hands on her hips.

“No,” Addison said quickly. “Not dating. We’ve had . . . drinks when I’ve been in town.” And many, many orgasms. And laughs. And fun.