Page 40 of Lulu’s Recipe for Cajun Sass

“Am I supposed to be pleased at that backward explanation?”

“You know what I mean.” He waited for her to say something then, and when she didn’t, he nipped her chin with his teeth and prodded, “Well?”

Truth to tell, she knew she was in love, but she wasn’t about to be the first one to say it. She was basking in the glow, though. Ever since she’d learned that Justin was offered an opportunity to practice medicine right here on the bayou, the doors of her heart had flown open. Any reservations she’d had about him were gone. It was a dream come true, a life she could only hope for before. Now, despite her best intentions, she found herself fantasizing about the life they could have together. Him a doctor, her a folk healer, a combination that would succeed because of its very uniqueness. In fact, they complemented each other professionally. She had a vision of herself with Justin, Adèle, and maybe one or two other children. Maybe they would even be living in Dr. Clovis’s mansion once he retired, as the old guy had hinted. Or they could put an addition onto her cottage.

Hope was a wonderful thing.

But for now, she knew Justin was waiting for her response to his declaration. “I think I’m in love with you, too,” she said, leaning up to give him a quick kiss.

“Ouch! I see how that sounds.” He rolled her over so that she lay on top of him, bare skin to bare skin. “I have an idea for what we can do today.”

She laughed. “You and your ideas.”

He pinched her buttock and said, “Not that kind of idea, although now that you mention it…”

A half hour later, he was on his back, and she was on her side, tucked under his arm, both of them sated. Turned out it was a really good idea.

“What I was going to suggest, Miss Know-It-All, before you so rudely diverted my attention is—”

“Me? You’re the one who’s insatiable.”

“Thank you,” he said, as if that was a compliment. “Anyway, let’s spend the day at the beach. We can pick up Adèle and go to Grand Isle. What do you say?”

“That sounds wonderful.” She was especially touched that he picked an activity that would include Adèle. “But don’t you have to study?”

“I can bring my books with me.”

By noon, they crossed the causeway which connected the mainland to the narrow barrier island, which was a mere eight miles long and at most a mile and a half wide in spots. Another hour later, and the three of them were settled on the beach at Grand Isle. Louise was sitting on a heavy woven blanket watching Justin as he held Adèle’s hand, running along the edge of the water, laughing as she shrieked every time she got wet from all the splashing, inching farther and farther out until finally Justin quickly dunked them both. Instead of being frightened, Adèle came up with a big smile on her little face. She was a beginning swimmer, at the dog paddling stage, but a little water didn’t bother her.

Louise smiled and leaned back on her elbows. She was filled with such a feeling of utter peace. Hope did that to a person, she supposed.

Suddenly, for the first time in weeks, that voice spoke in her head. St. Jude. Well, thou art partly right. Actually, it is faith, hope, and love, according to the Bible.

Picky, picky!

Be careful what you wish for, child.

Child? I’m hardly a child.

We’ve noticed.

Was he referring to the sex? Uh-oh.

Thou can sayeth that again!

The inner voice quieted when Justin called out to her, Adèle sitting on his shoulders as they approached, both of them waving wildly. “Tante Lulu! Tante Lulu! Look at me. Ahm a giant.” Adèle called out.

“And I’m a giant’s stepstool,” Justin said with a grin.

The good thing about being on a beach, she decided then, was that you could ogle a man’s body, head to toe and everywhere in between, without appearing to be a pervert. And Justin’s body was a work of art in his low-riding swimming trunks, and nothing more, to be admired…and, yes, ogled. He wasn’t overly muscular, like some athletes or body builders, but he did have muscles in all the right places, including his wide shoulders, his rippled abdomen, and, well, lots of places.

Even his big, narrow feet were kind of sexy.

And his belly button? Well, it gave her ideas that would make a strip tease artist like Gypsy Rose Lee blush.

Truly, this man…her lover…was hotter than a jalapeno’s coochie.

Justin grinned at her, noticing her perusal, and gave back an equal full-body survey to her body in her red and white striped, one-piece, halter bathing suit in that new, stretchy material that clung to a lady’s curves like a girdle, or made it appear there were curves when there were not. Suddenly, the modest suit felt transparent. The blush which still heated her cheeks probably matched her cherry-red toenails which matched her lipstick and the red stripe in her suit.