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“Just this week, actually.” She smiled, glancing at Bennett. “I met Mr. Broussard when he came into the bank, and he happened to mention in passing that he was looking for a bookkeeper. And since I have experience from working the accounts at the café Drunk Pelican, he offered me a job.” A burst of laughter left her chest. “Can you believe the coincidence?”
“Wow, I sure can’t.” I smiled back, glancing at Bennett, knowing this wasn’t a coincidence. At all. “Well, it was good to see you.”
I turned for the door, Bennett beside me.
“Bye, now. Goodnight, Mr. Broussard,” she called before returning to the computer.
“Goodnight, Mary.”
Bennett stepped up beside me, and we walked out like this was an everyday occurrence. Of course, it was the second time he’d walked me to my car from his store. Well, this time, Finn’s car.
“You gave her a job without knowing if she was qualified?”
“I gave her a job because she needed one and had some experience, and I needed a bookkeeper. If she doesn’t work out, I can always find another.”
I stared at this man who’d caught me off guard again. Doing something extremely kind for someone who needed it. He’d done it out of kindness. My heart clenched at the truth of it. There were hidden layers to this man. Kind, compassionate ones that I’d ignored, holding on tight to my prejudice toward him.
“You won’t find another,” I predicted aloud. “And I’ll bet she has a salaried wage complete with benefits so that she could quit her other jobs.”
“I need a full-time bookkeeper, so yes, of course.” His demeanor was formal and guarded, very different than his normal charming self.
He most certainly was not the stuck-up rich boy I’d judged him as back when I didn’t know him. It shamed me now. “You’re a good man, Broussard.”
He didn’t reply to that, but I saw a flicker of emotion I couldn’t identify cross his face. Then he stopped halfway through the parking lot. “Are we still on for tomorrow night?”
“Of course,” I replied instantly. “You thought I’d back out or something?”
Those hazel eyes—intelligent, knowing, watchful—held me captive. His expression was completely unreadable.
All the same, we stood there, staring at each other, the magnetic tension ratcheting higher. I’d thought if I spent more time with Bennett that my attraction for him would lessen. Make it wear off. But it had the opposite effect. The more time I spent with him, the more I wanted and craved him.
He gave me a stiff nod, his hands tucked in his pockets. “Guess I’ll see you tomorrow night then.”
“Yep. Six o’clock.”
Another tight nod as he clenched his jaw. Then he turned quickly, hands still in pockets, and strode back toward the store.
“Goodnight,” I said, enjoying the view of watching him go.
Heading to the car in a daze, I ignored Finn’s ridiculous grin and wondered how much longer I could keep my hands off Bennett Broussard. First, I needed to get brave enough to ask if he wanted to move beyond frenemies. Tomorrow night.
Chapter Eleven
~BETTY~
Windingpast the park where towering live oak trees shaded the walking paths, I turned right onto Myrtle Oak. Signs dotted a few lawns, advertising the upcoming Gumbo Cookoff, where local businesses competed for the title ofBest Gumboin town. My mouth watered at the thought, and I hoped it would be cool for this year’s event. Our weather was a moody bitch, constantly changing on a whim this time of year. October in Louisiana could either be pleasantly fall-like or still hot as hell.
Emma’s car was in the driveway when I pulled up at Mom’s house, the little home I’d been born and raised in.
“Dammit,” I mumbled as I parked and headed inside.
I was hoping she’d be gallivanting around Lafayette so I could raid her closet in secrecy. And peace.
Now she’d hound me to death to find out why I wanted to dress up.
It served me right. Every time I needed to look better than business casual, I shopped in Emma’s closet rather than an actual department store.
I was just one of those people who hated shopping. For one, I hated spending money on what I considered frivolous things like clothes. And two, shopping was so annoying. It was aggravating when I couldn’t find exactly what I wanted in less than ten minutes. My sister happened to be one of those people who spent every free moment scouring the shops in Lafayette to find agood deal, as she would say.
