Remy snorted. “Funny.”
Triana was still laughing at that remark when Kim and her other girlfriends showed up. One look at their freshly applied makeup told Triana they’d disappeared to the ladies’ room to make sure they looked their best for Remy’s friends. Kim claimed the seat beside Zane, while Nora, Whitney, and Deanna gathered around Max and Brooks.
A little while later, a waitress came over to take their drink orders. While her friends flirted with the guys, Triana leaned in close to Remy.
“Last I heard, you were with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office,” she said. “Do you still work there?”
He shook his head, the neon lights from the streets below reflecting off his eyes and making them look like they were almost glowing. “I was at the JPSO for a while after college, but now I’m on the SWAT team in Dallas. The guys and I are in town for some cross-training with the local PD.”
She blinked. The Dallas SWAT team, huh? That would certainly explain why Remy and his friends were all so well-built. Considering how attractive they were, she could only guess the SWAT also went out of their way to hire hunks.
Triana sipped the rum punch she’d ordered. “How long are you going to be in town?”
She hoped it wasn’t only a day or two.
“A week,” he said with a smile that made her think he could read her mind. “We just got here this morning.”
She returned his smile. “As it turns out, I’m in town for the week too.”
He lifted a brow. “You don’t live in New Orleans anymore?”
She shook her head. “I moved to Houston after college.”
She was in the middle of explaining where she worked when Kim scooted her chair over and nudged her shoulder.
“Why don’t the two of you get out of here and go catch up?” her friend said in her ear. “It’s too loud to even think in this place.”
As much as Triana would have liked to be alone with Remy, she didn’t feel right bailing on her friends. “I promised you a girls’ night out. I can’t take off on you.”
Kim laughed. “Don’t be silly. It’s not every day you run into a friend from high school—not one like Remy anyway. Go! And don’t worry. I’m sure Zane can keep my mind off Shawn.”
Shawn was Kim’s ex, the jackass who’d dumped her two weeks ago. Triana leaned over and hugged her friend. “Okay, but call me if you change your mind.”
Kim nodded, then gave Remy a wave and slid her chair closer to Zane and the others. Triana had to admit, her friend looked comfortable with the Dallas SWAT officer. Kim was smiling more than she had since Triana had gotten back into town.
Triana looked at Remy, who’d been waiting patiently during the conversation. “You ready to get out of here?”
He gave her a sexy smile. “Lead the way.”
Chapter 2
Five minutes later, they were walking hand in hand down Bourbon Street, taking in the sights and finally able to talk without having to shout. It felt completely natural holding his hand, like they’d been dating for months.
“You were saying you work in the Houston crime lab?” Remy prompted, bringing her back to the conversation they’d been having in the club before Kim had interrupted them.
Triana nodded. “Technically, it’s called the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, but that’s such a mouthful that everyone calls it the crime lab. I do trace-evidence analysis there.”
It looked like Remy was about to say something, but he had to hesitate as an older couple came dancing down the center of the street wearing nothing but the tiniest of swimsuits. Triana would have liked to say that was uncommon, but it wasn’t. Bourbon Street brought out all kinds.
Remy steered her around the half-naked couple, not even batting an eye. “You went to LSU for chemistry, right? How’d you end up in Houston?”
“They have a great intern program, and I got a chance to go there during my senior year. One semester in the lab and I was hooked. It took a little while to get a job there, though. I had to end up going to Alabama to get my master’s in forensic science first, but I’ve been working there for four years now.” She tucked her hair behind her ear with an embarrassed smile. “You probably think it’s nerdy, but I love it.”
Remy shook his head. “Nah. I’ve worked with the people from the Dallas ME’s office a couple times, so I understand the hard work that’s involved in your job. I think it’s cool. I’m just surprised your mom let you go to Alabama. I would have never in my life imagined that.”
Triana laughed. “Yeah, it was a tough sell convincing her I needed to go there. She finally agreed, but only after I vowed never to attend an Alabama football game. I also had to promise to walk the other way if I ever crossed paths with Nick Saban.”
