“I disagree, cher. I tink dere are levels to you dat you keep to yourself for some reason. What made you decide to become a bartender?”
“Honestly? I needed a job and that was the only thing available. It was kept off the record, though, for the first two years because I wasn’t twenty-one yet. I think my boss was happy to do it because it meant less taxes to be paid out on his end.”
“How long did you work dere?”
“Three years.”
Remy cocked a brow at her. “Only tree? What have you been doin’ since den?”
Kylie sighed. “I’d…rather not talk about that tonight, Remy.”
“All right, Kitten. No pressure.” Whatever caused her to quit her job, it clearly made her uncomfortable. He would get to the bottom of it, eventually.
“My turn to ask you some questions.” Kylie grinned at him. “I know you stepped in as temporary bouncer at the club, but I also know about Delacroix Carpentry and Architectural Design. What is it you do when not saving damsels in distress?”
Remy chuckled. “You’re no damsel in distress, Kylie. I know you could have handled dat asshole on your own if you’d wanted to. I’m an architect,” he admitted, pride evident in his voice. “I went to Tulane University and got my master’s in architecture.”
“Oh, architect. That can be a pretty lucrative field if you’re good at it.” She gave him a mischievous smile. “Are you any good?”
He snorted. “As if dere is any doubt? Da reason I had to find a replacement for me at da club is because Delacroix Carpentry and Architectural Design has been hired to design, and build, a luxury resort near Lake Pontchartrain.”
“Holy shit, Remy, that’s… Congratulations. I mean it. That’s big. Really big.”
“It’s someting Gage and I have worked our asses off to get. As soon as we found out da owner was lookin’ to build and opened it up for bids, I put someting together and sent it off to dem. Dey liked what dey saw.”
“That really is great, Remy.”
“Da only downside to da contract is not getting to watch you work five nights a week.” He winked at her and chuckled when she blushed.
Kylie
When they’d finally reached their destination, she’d been completely blown away. She knew Remy was a charmer but she’d had no idea he was also a romantic. The twinkling lights that were wrapped around the gazebo reminded her a bit of starlight even though it was only early evening. They gave off just enough glow to soften the lighting when the sun began to sink low on the horizon.
“It’s so beautiful here.” Her voice was soft as she looked out over the field. “This place would be perfect for outdoor weddings. With a little work, this gazebo could be the central point in an amazing garden. I can almost picture it, if I close my eyes.”
Remy tipped his head and studied her. “What kind of garden do you see here, Kitten?”
“Exotic flowers mingling with roses of varying shades. Maybe some orchids. Midnight orchids are absolutely gorgeous. They’re this really dark blue. So breathtaking.” She absently touched her side.
“Is dat what da ink is I saw on you at da cookout? I caught a few glimpses of it,” he told her when she gave him a questioning look.
“Yeah. I got it not too long ago.”
“What made you get a tattoo?”
“I don’t know. I guess, in a way, I was proving a point to myself.”
“What point was dat, cher?”
She glanced at him a moment. “That my life was my own and I could do whatever I wanted with it.” She was initially nervous about answering Remy’s questions about her past but with each passing minute she became more relaxed. There was such sincerity in his voice when he said he just wanted to get to know her that she couldn’t help but believe him.
Kylie was beginning to realize that both Emelise and Lily were right; Remy was nothing like Ezra. Ezra had always been a charmer, but if she really thought about it, there was also always an air of insincerity about him. She’d been so young and naive that she’d attributed it to him being cocky and self-assured. Looking back, she realized now that what she’d thought was him being self-assured was really a mask for his innate controlling and abusive tendencies.
“I’m going to miss seeing you at the club.” She hadn’t intended for those words to come out but now that they were, she couldn’t, wouldn’t, take them back.
“Oh, don’t worry about dat, Kitten. I’ll still be dere, just not all night long. Dere’s no’ting in dis world dat could keep me away.”
Remy reached for her hand and she hesitantly let him hold it. She closed her eyes a moment and before she realized what she was saying, her past came pouring out. “You asked me not too long ago what I was afraid of, why I was so scared to let anyone in. I spent the last five years with a man who was controlling, possessive, and abusive. Not just physically, either.” Her voice broke as a shudder made it’s way down her spine. She couldn’t look him in the eye as she continued. “I wasn’t allowed to say no. To anything. Whatever he wanted, when he wanted it, I had no say. My body no longer belonged to me, as far as he was concerned. The thought of letting anyone close enough to hurt me like that again scares the hell out of me. It makes me want to run and hide from the world, but I know I can’t. I don’t know if I will ever…want to be touched again, by anyone. It’s not fair to you. You should try to find someone else, Remy. Someone who isn’t afraid to let you in.” She didn’t even realize tears were spilling down her cheeks to drip onto her chest. Her leopard whimpered at the thought of losing her mate but she pushed it down and tried her best to ignore it.
