“There’s no one,” Dallas answered, taking Remi’s hand. They rode the rest of the way to Dallas’s home in silence. When they had to stop a block from her door because of the nightly barricades the police put up so Bourbon Street could become a pedestrian street, Simon got out and walked ahead of them.
“Does Simon always go everywhere with you?”
“Because of our business it’s necessary, I’m afraid.” Remi had about a hundred feet to come up with an explanation that wouldn’t send Dallas screaming away from her. Dallas had to realize the risks involved with entering a relationship with her, if they decided that’s what they both wanted.
Simon interrupted her thoughts. “I’ll wait at the car. Call when you’re ready.”
Dallas unlocked the door and led Remi into the house. “Would you like anything?” She opened one of the kitchen cabinets and took out a vase. “If you don’t want to tell me anything, it’s okay. Just forget I asked.”
“If you want to know something, I want you to ask. I’m having a hard time because I’ve never bothered to explain my situation to anyone.” She watched Dallas’s hands as she trimmed the tips off the stems and placed the flowers in the vase.
When she finished, Remi accepted the hand Dallas held up and followed her into her living room. The house contained a mixture of antique and comfortable pieces with tasteful artwork, but very few pictures. The style fit the little bit of Dallas she’d come to know.
“Are you sure you don’t want anything?” Dallas asked as Remi took a seat next to her on the sofa.
“Just a few minutes to talk would be good.” Remi studied their hands pressed together. Compared to hers, Dallas’s hands were small and delicate, but her grip was strong. “I like spending time with you, but you need to know what you’re getting into. Once I’m finished, if you feel like you can’t or don’t want to continue, you’ll still have a future with the studio. You have my word. The woman who disrupted dinner tonight is with the FBI.”
Remi gave her a tame but clear explanation as to why she and her business associates would bear federal scrutiny, or at least why the federal authorities thought they did. Dallas could have gathered these facts from reading the newspaper stories about them. Fair warning was one thing, but blatantly confessing to someone she didn’t know much about was pure insanity.
In the middle of her account, Dallas turned away, then reclined against her and pulled Remi’s arm around her. Remi was surprised but kept talking until Dallas had a clearer picture why she’d never heard of her and Cain, and why they fought so hard to keep it that way.
When she finally stopped, Dallas asked, “Are you done?”
“That’s enough for one night.”
“I have a question.” She moved so they could face each other. “Did you tell me all that because you don’t want to be here anymore?”
“I told you because I wanted to give you an out, if you want one.”
“Truthfully, I’m looking for an in.” Dallas had started to return to the spot at Remi’s side when she sat back up. “You haven’t been accused of selling drugs, have you? You didn’t mention that.”
“No, we’ve never been under scrutiny for that. If you work for my father, it’s actually the quickest way to get fired. That’s also true for the people we deal with, like Cain.”
“I only have one more question,” Dallas said, turning within the circle of Remi’s arms to get comfortable again. “Am I just another notch on the famous bedpost of Remi Jatibon? I might not have known you, but I’ve heard a little gossip in the last few months.”
“No, you aren’t, unless you want to be. I won’t deny my reputation. I do have one that I truly deserve.”
Dallas faced her again and ran her hands up Remi’s arms. Reaching her collar she slipped the fingers of one hand into the curls at the base of Remi’s neck and pulled her down, stopping before their lips met. She ran her index finger lightly over Remi’s bottom lip, waiting to see if she would object. When she didn’t, Dallas let herself do what she’d wanted to since they met. She kissed Remi and slid her fingers through Remi’s hair.
The kiss lasted until Remi’s hands landed on her back. Then she pulled back and wiped her lipstick off Remi’s lips. “Don’t get mad, but I want to take this slow. I think it’d be prudent since we just met, and I don’t want you to get the wrong impression.”
“I gave you flowers, doesn’t that count?”
“That was sweet, but it doesn’t mean I’m going to sleep with you.” Dallas moved to the buttons on Remi’s shirt, plucking at them nervously.
“We could just have sex. No sleeping has to be involved,” Remi whispered in her ear.
Dallas tapped the end of Remi’s nose with her finger and laughed. “We could, but we’re not.”
“That restroom break must have been very informative,” Remi teased. “But we’ll go as slow as you want. Kiss me good night then.”
“It’s still early.” Dallas kissed her chin. “And I have a few more questions.”
“I’m sure you do, but I’m trying to impress you with how good I am. How about we get together tomorrow?” Remi stood up, taking Dallas with her. Without her heels their height difference was more noticeable.
Before leaving, Remi pulled Dallas close enough that almost the full lengths of their bodies were touching and she kissed her. “Good night.”
“Sure you won’t stay a little longer?” When Remi shook her head, Dallas sighed and kissed her one more time before letting go. “Good night.”
“I’ll see you in the morning,” Remi said as she opened the door.
Dallas locked it behind her, confident Remi could make her way out, and got ready for bed. She thought about Bob, knowing he wouldn’t be thrilled with this development, and realized he was the reason Remi had asked earlier about cutting in on anyone.
It shocked her that Remi hadn’t asked outright about him, but it was just a matter of time. Lying in bed she tried to relax enough to get to sleep, figuring it would be a waste of time to start worrying now. She didn’t want to piss Bob off, but she didn’t want to miss out on getting to know Remi.
At 4:01 her eyes were still open. “I’m going to look like hell in the morning.” The ringing phone on the nightstand scared her out of her musings. Dallas picked it up, thinking it was a wrong number, and tentatively said “Hello.”
“Hey,” Remi’s voice rumbled from the other end. “I didn’t wake you, did I?”
“It’s four in the morning,” she said, dragging out the word morning.
“I couldn’t sleep and figured you might be in the same boat.”
“Actually I was lying here watching the time tick away.”
“How about that drink you offered me?”
Dallas sat up and laughed. “You want a drink right now?”
“You did offer, but if you’re tired, I’ll understand.”
She put her robe on. In the kitchen she began to brew some espresso. “Where exactly are you?”
“Across the street. The idea of picking your lock crossed my mind, but I didn’t want to freak you out.”
She laughed, then realized Remi probably could do it. “If you want coffee, I suggest you get to it.” As she poured, she heard the lock on the back door give way to whatever Remi had done, and she smiled as she put Remi’s cup down. “You could come in handy if I ever lock myself out.”
“You’re an interesting woman,” Remi said as she picked up her cup.
“I’m actually a woman who gets a little upset if I make coffee and don’t get a kiss in return.” She took her cup and headed for the sofa.
They sat together on Dallas’s sofa until the sun came up, finally finding sleep. Right before Dallas gave way to her dreams, she thought of what Emma had told her earlier. Give in right away and you’ll be what she knows. If you want a future, then set yourself apart by respecting yourself and demanding the same of her. After she had discovered how wonderful it felt to be in Remi’s arms, she wanted a future with her.