Page 34 of Training Rain
Another breath. “How about some food?”
In the streetlight her eyes sparkled. “I thought you’d never ask. A girl could starve to death traveling with you.”
“There’ll be no starving tonight. I know just the place to get you fed up. Then I’ll show you my town.” They’d started walking down Bourbon Street hand in hand.
“And after that?” There was that low silky voice again.
He stepped in front of her and used the fingers of his other hand to tip her chin up. “After that… I consider that kiss a moment ago a promise that I’m going to expect you to keep.”
There was a little hitch in her breath. He wouldn’t mind hearing that sound for the rest of his life. It was something he’d never grow tired of.
“I always keep my promises, Jess.”
If they didn’t need to be seen around town he would have scooped her up and dragged her back to his apartment. He’d keep her safe and satisfied for hours—forever. He shook himself back to reality. They had an assignment. Her training wasn’t over, but he’d have to get used to the idea that danger would follow them wherever they went.
Managing a slight grin, he squeezed her hand and they continued walking past Toulouse Street and he turned into BeBe’s Kitchen. The red neon sign blinked to passersby. As soon as they neared the door the scents of his past assaulted him. The idea of a life he’d never had the chance to live nearly overcame him.
“Are you okay?” Rain asked.
Jess took in the worn wooden floors and glass window to the kitchen at the back. The bar took up the entire right side of the long narrow restaurant. Dim lighting and low jazz music plus the buzz of closely spaced tables with lively conversation made BeBe’s Kitchen a hopping stop for food and drink in the French Quarter. “It’s been awhile since I’ve been here. I’ve a lot of memories of this place.”
Her head cocked to one side. “Good memories?”
Before he had the chance to answer a booming voice filled the silence. “Boy, as I live and breathe, I don’t believe what it is I’m seein’. Jessé McMean walkin’ in my restaurant as if he’s not been gone for years. May bees that my eyes is playin’ tricks on me.”
He almost expected to be thrown out on his ass. Bebe was a tall thin man with gray hair and the same eyes as his mother—Jess’s eyes too. The sight of his uncle filled his chest with joy and he couldn’t help smiling. “Hey there, Uncle Bebe. It’s good to see you.”
Jess put his hand out to shake, but Bebe ignored the gesture and grabbed him into a tight hug. “Boy, it’s good to see you. You look fine. Did you go see your momma?”
Jess had dropped Rain’s hand to hug his uncle, but he reached for her again. She didn’t say anything, but he could practically hear her peppering him with questions. He answered his uncle. “Not yet.”
Bebe’s face was a bit more lined than the last time Jess had seen him. The skin sagged a bit more around his mouth and jaw and a deep frown creased it even more. “Don’t you go leavin’ to do what you do without you go see your momma first.”
“Yes sir.”
“Good. Now introduce me to your pretty lady.”
He tightened his grip on her hand and she took a half-step forward.
She smiled at his uncle.
“Beauregard Boudreaux, I’d like you to meet Rain Silver.Cher,this is my uncle, Bebe.”
“I’m pleased to meet you, Mr. Boudreaux.” Rain let go of Jess’s hand to shake his uncle’s.
He pulled her in for a quick hug. “You just call me Bebe or Uncle Bebe. We’re all family here. No need to stand on ceremony.”
She blushed the most beautiful shade of dark peach. “Thank you.”
“Do you think you have room in here to feed us, Uncle Bebe?” Jess asked.
He was already nodding before Jess even had a chance to finish asking the question. The restaurant was crowded with people, many of whom were avidly watching the family reunion. “Always room, always room. You go sit down at the table in the back and I’ll get ya’ll sometin’ to eat. Don’t you worry now.”
Jess nodded at some of the people he vaguely recognized. He heard a lady off to the left say, “Dats Amalee’s boy.”
Mostly locals and a few tourists made up the diners. Jess did as Bebe had commanded and led Rain to a small table in the back of the restaurant.
She didn’t waste any time. “Your uncle owns this restaurant and you didn’t think you might mention that before we walked in?”
