The Pepper in the Gumbo (Men of Cane River #1)(88)
The bell tinkled again as another customer stepped through. Alice took one look and knew this woman didn’t come from Natchitoches. If the black leather minidress and the sky-high heels didn’t scream out-of-towner, the sheer number of gold bangles and necklaces would have. Her blond hair was stick straight and impossibly long. She wobbled into the shop, having trouble getting through the door with her large, leather tote and rolling luggage.
“Oh, this is darling!” Her voice was high and breathy. She headed straight for Alice. “I saw the cutest display on Pinterest that had a stack of old books made into a table lamp.”
“A lamp set on a base of books?” Alice asked. That pretty much described her entire decorating theme.
“No, they glued them all together and drilled a hole right down the center for the cord.” The girl stared around. “Ooooh, with all these, I could have a bunch made for my friends.”
Alice tried to keep her voice level. “I don’t think these are the books you’re looking for.”
She pouted. “I suppose. I dunno.” Pulling her suitcase closer, she sighed. “Those guards around Paul’s apartment are so mean. I told them I’m his girlfriend but they just wouldn’t even call him.”
Alice froze. “His girlfriend?”
“Well, it’s complicated.” She tossed her hair over one shoulder. “But he invited me down here for the opening and everything so I just need to reach him.”
“I have a phone if you need―”
“Oh, no, I just called him. He’s on his way.” She stared around the store. “I hope he takes me to stay in a Southern mansion. Did you know they filmed Twelve Years a Slave around here? That black actress--what’s her name? Lupita something--she is so pretty. Too bad about her hair. Maybe she can get extensions like me.” She shook her head so that her hair fell in a curtain around her face.
Alice opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say so she closed it again. She’d never figured Paul for the kind who went for beauty over brains, but Alice obviously wasn’t the best judge of his character.
The door swung open and Mrs. Olivier walked through, her lips set in a thin line. She had on a casual top with nice slacks, but her expression said she was ready for business. Alice eased back toward the counter. She didn’t want to get involved in some weird love triangle. This woman could have Paul. She was welcome to him.
“Holly, how good to see you again,” Mrs. Olivier said. She held out both hands. Holly hesitated to let herself be kissed on the cheek. “It’s been a long time. Two years, right?”
“Hi, Rosie. Time flies when you’re…” Holly paused. She looked confused.
“…having fun.” The way Mrs. Olivier said it made it sound as if Holly had been neglectful in contacting her. “Well, it’s always nice to see Paul’s friends. I’ve got the perfect room reserved for you, down at the Violet Hill Bed and Breakfast.”
“Oh, no, I’m sure Paul has something in mind.” Holly flipped her hair and peered past Mrs. Olivier. “He’ll be right down.”
“He’s pretty busy, dear. He asked me to help you get settled. He wants you to be comfortable so I’ll take you right down the boardwalk to this pretty little place.” Mrs. Olivier was already reaching for Holly’s rolling luggage.
“No!” Holly gripped the handle hard and Alice thought for a moment they were going to tussle over it. “I mean, he said he would be here.”
“He’ll see you in a few hours. Why don’t we get you settled in and then when you’re all freshened up, you two can have some dinner?” Mrs. Olivier managed to wrestle the luggage away from Holly, and headed for the door.
She sighed. “I suppose. I do feel a little grimy from the plane. Business class was just packed. There were people on either side of me. Can you believe it?”
“I can, honey. I can.” Mrs. Olivier waved Holly through the door first. She turned back and nodded to Alice. Her expression wasn’t anything like what Alice expected. In fact, she winked as if they were co-conspirators in a plot. Alice mustered a smile, unsure what exactly had just happened.
When they were gone, she stood up, walked to the door, and peeked at the boardwalk. It was worse than it had been the other day, or even just that morning. The sidewalk was packed with people, most of them focusing on the grass or the pavement. A group of four men walked past, side-by-side, all dressed in green armor, slowly sweeping metal detectors with fierce concentration. A girl followed them on her knees, parting the grass as she made her way toward the end of the block.
Alice shook her head and went back to her desk. It made her slightly sick to see adults reduced to crawling around on their knees to win a contest. Even if it hadn’t been Paul’s idea, it left a bad taste in her mouth to see it right in front of her door. But Charlie said it was all his idea and that made it worse, somehow. He was manipulating people, watching them debase themselves for his games.
Darcy jumped down from the top of a range and stalked over to her. “I wish I could be like you, Darcy.” Alice reached down and tried to pet him, but he dodged her hand and continued to the back of the store. She straightened up and wrapped her arms around herself. If she could just stay out of the fray, happy to be by herself, not needing anyone else, then she would be safe. Even though Alice thought she had been cocooned in her quiet life, she hadn’t been safe at all. Paul had walked right in, with his shy smile, and his poetry, and his smooth Creole words. He’d walked right in and broken her heart. And it was all her own fault.