“That’s what you want to talk about right now? Dinner with me? How did I stand you up?” Maurice snapped his mouth closed and studied my face.
“You said you would have dinner with me, then took it back. Seems like the classic definition of being stood up.”
He laughed and shook his head.
“This would be a date, too. In case you’re wondering.”
“We work together.” He shouted just a little as thunder smashed overhead. We both cringed as lightning forked across the sky.
“I know.”
Maurice stared at me, then rested his forehead against my jaw for a moment. “I have clean gym clothes in my trunk. I won’t look fancy.”
“I have no clean clothes, so you’re a step ahead of me.”
He shook his head and smiled. “You’re on. Let’s eat dinner together.”
I couldn’t help but feel like I’d won a very important prize as he backed away, still smiling, and gestured toward my car.
6
MAURICE
My ass was dragging.
I hadn’t exercised this hard in years, not all at once—those sandbags were no joke—and I had a strange adrenaline-exhaustion combo powering me along. After we stopped at the office to grab my clothing and our laptops, Wick and I rode together to one of three hotels that still had electricity.
The parking lot of the Maison St. Loren was full, and Wick chuckled as I shook my head. I’d never stayed at this hotel; however, I’d eaten in the restaurant and been to the ballroom several times because it was popular for weddings and events. It reminded me of a much bawdier version of Wick’s house because it was painted red. Three stories of rooms each had their own wrought iron balconies, and tasteful crystal lights glowed over them. A patio full of tables stretched out in front of the building, and the beveled glass front doors reflected the people who ambled past with drinks in hand.
“Looks like everyone who can is trying to get somewhere with air-conditioning,” I grumbled. “It’s a regular party.”
He nodded. “I don’t blame them. Once the rain lets up it’s going to be nasty and humid.” We both glanced toward the sky. “We should celebrate.”
“Celebrate?” I asked, blinking at him.
He winked. “You did help save a school today. I would think that deserves a drink or two.”
“I need a shower,” I grumbled, and he snorted, glancing at my ruined clothing as he guided his car into a parking spot far from the building. “Before I do that, I’ll talk to Hyeon Yoon. He owns this place, and he might be able to rustle up some clothes that will fit you.”
“Oh, that would be great. I was worried I’d have to go to dinner in a towel.” Wick grinned at me and the tiny lines around his eyes deepened. Heat hit my face and I couldn’t get over how cute he was right now.
I scratched my chin and grinned at him. “You might get your wish. There’s no guarantee he can help.”
Wick snorted, and I was surprised when he reached into the back seat to grab our laptop bags and my duffel.
“I can take something,” I said, but he only smiled at me.
“No, I have it.”
We got out, and even though I didn’t want to get drenched again, we didn’t rush. We’d been soaked so thoroughly and for so long that it didn’t really matter anymore whether we got wet or not. As we neared the patio at the front of the Maison St. Loren, I noticed a few other power players from around town, who must have decided to skip being at home in the dark. Wick waved and said hello to Torrance Whitaker, our local representative who regularly made the trek to Baton Rouge, and several people who were braving the elements clapped nearby.
“Heard you boys saved that new elementary school! It was a doozie!” Mrs. Johnson called. She worked at the credit union where I had an account. Her husband was a judge, and he sat next to her, nodding. They had a collection of glasses on the table, as if they’d been there for a while.
“Yeah, I can’t wait to hear how the class nerd became the town hero!” Wick stiffened, and I spotted the man who’d spoken farther away from us. He had red hair, a flushed face, and at least a dozen beer bottles surrounding him.
“We would be delighted to tell you all about it as soon as we’re clean and presentable for company,” Wick said, resting his arm across my shoulders.
There was general laughter as he guided me forward, and we went inside through the glass doors. I shivered when the air-conditioning hit me as we entered the lobby. Since my boots were wet and I didn’t want to slip, I stared at the glossy red marble tiles as we crossed them. The walls should’ve been severe since they were stark black, but they were the perfect backdrop for an arrangement of round globes that hung overhead at different heights and created a blazing, chandelier-style centerpiece for the room, reminiscent of stars dotted on the night sky.
