“How interesting. What branch of The Orleans Conglomerate is that?”
“It isn’t. My grandmothers were chefs their whole lives. After retiring, they decided to open the shop.”
“That’s ambitious!” Wow, the whole family was a bunch of overachievers.
He nodded. “They assured me they can take turns being at the shop, but I don’t want to do that to them. I know how muchthey enjoy their life and their shop. It’s Fragrant Delights on Dumaine.”
“Oh, I know the store. I’ve been inside it a million times.” Then it hit me. “Celine Broussard and Isabeau LeBlanc! I don’t know why I didn’t put two and two together. They’re very good at what they do. I love their perfumes. I’ve got three already. They each smell different, but they all fit me perfectly,” I said.
“My grandmothers are perfectionists. So is Mom.”
“What does your mother do?”
“She runs a gallery in the French Quarter.”
“Also not part of the conglomerate?”
“No, Mom’s a rebel. She never wanted anything to do with the family business. Just did her own thing.” His words dripped with pride. Clearly he held his family very dear.
“Right. So, everyone is busy.”
“Not my grandfathers or my dad. But at the risk of sounding like an ass, babies are not their area of expertise.”
I chuckled. “My dad is like that too.”
“So, that’s why I’d prefer a nanny who can work full-time or part-time. I haven’t made up my mind yet. For now, I do need full-time assistance until I get my bearings. My family is welcome to spend time with Charlotte whenever they want. I just don’t want them to feel obligated.”
He handed me a coffee, and I took a sip. “Oh, this is great.”
He grinned. “Thank you. I’m quite proud of my coffee-making abilities.”
I took another sip. “I didn’t even know coffee could taste this good. You might have converted me.”
He tilted his head to one side, pressing his lips together. I’d give a pretty penny for his thoughts.
“I think my parents would be all over me if I had a baby right now,” I mused.
“So, you’re close with them?” he inquired as we both enjoyed our drinks. I was loving having a newborn baby in my arms.Charlotte had my full attention; this little girl was tiny and so, so perfect.
“Mom is my best friend,” I said without hesitation. “Dad is basically our chaperone because we’re always up to no good.”
“They live in New Orleans?”
“Yes. I’ve been here my whole life. I had one brief stint in college out of state—country, actually—and I couldn’t wait to come back home.”
“Where?”
“Canada. University of Toronto.”
Beckett folded his arms over his chest. It only made his muscles more apparent.Hot damn.“No place quite like New Orleans, is there?”
“Exactly.”
After finishing my coffee, I asked, “Want to look over the pitch together?”
He nodded. “Yeah, sure. Sorry, I didn’t have any time to look at it myself like I’d hoped. I just glanced over it and saw you put in a new example.”
“Yes! Very observant of you,” I teased. I liked that he noticed I went the extra mile.
