Page 34 of The Lady on Esplanade
“You’re not alone, Beau.I’m here.Always.”
I felt his hand on my head, stroking my hair softly.“I know.”
We stood like that for a while, unable or unwilling to pull apart.
“I was wondering what was taking you so long.”
We dropped our arms and stepped back at the sound of Sam’s voice, the action making us look guilty of whatever it was she thought we were doing.
“I was returning his jacket…” I said.
“We were just talking…” Beau said at the same time.
Sam pressed her lips together, ignoring me and focusing on Beau.“I can see that.The show’s almost over.I’ve got a headache, so I’vecalled an Uber to take me home.Sorry to miss dinner at Arnaud’s.Beau knows it’s my favorite restaurant.”
A white Camry pulled up to the curb.Sam looked at her phone, then at the license plate and driver, before opening the door and sliding into the backseat.
Beau grabbed the door.“Sam, please don’t leave like this….”
Sam leaned toward the front seat and spoke to the driver.“Please go—I’m ready.”
With a quick look of apology, Beau slid in next to Sam in the backseat, then closed the door behind him.The Camry pulled onto Canal Street and drove away, leaving me standing on the sidewalk, where I stayed until I realized how cold I was and went back into the theater.
I returned to my seat and pretended to watch the rest of the performance, clapping when I was supposed to but unaware of anything except for the feel of Beau’s jacket over my shoulders and the memory of the sound of his heartbeat close to my ear.
CHAPTER 11
Cooper was waiting outside the theater as the audience spilled out of the doors at the end of the performance.His hands were shoved into the pockets of a navy blue wool overcoat, and a plaid Burberry scarf hung from his neck.
Seeing him was like drinking a cup of hot coffee on a cold morning, and his smile as I approached definitely did something to my heart rate, but I wasn’t wearing my smart watch, so I couldn’t check to be sure.He held my shoulders as he bent down to kiss my cheek, his lips lingering long enough that I could feel his warm breath on my neck—and that certainly made my blood swish a little faster.
“Nice jacket,” he said, indicating Beau’s jacket, which I’d draped over my arm after I retrieved my coat.
“Beau let me borrow it.He had to leave early—Sam had a migraine.”I decided to go with the same story I’d told the rest of our party.
“Probably for the best.I hear Arnaud’s is very haunted.”
“Really?Anybody in particular?”
“Considering parts of it were once opium dens and houses of illrepute, it shouldn’t come as a surprise if some of the hangers-on are pretty happy where they are.But the original owner, known as the Count, is seen in the main dining room, surveying his domain.All of the spirits are friendly, at least—as far as I’ve read.”
“Oh, you read up on it?”
He smiled down at me, and my heart may have sped up another beat or two.“Of course.I always like to be prepared.”
I stepped closer to him, enjoying his warmth.With the tip of my finger, I brushed the scar on his chin.“You don’t need a roof or walls to be haunted, you know.I’ve come to believe that we create ghosts out of our memories and our grief for things we’ve lost.Or opportunities.Or people.”
His eyes met mine.“Nola…” he began.
“Come on—the Uber’s here,” Camille said from behind us.
“We’re missing some prime drinking time,” Henry said, heading toward a light blue SUV.
“Let’s walk,” I said to Cooper.“It’s only a few blocks.”My toes groaned at the suggestion.As Jolene had put it, I was wearing a pair of her “sittin’ down” shoes, meaning they were for decorative purposes only.But I was eager to speak with Cooper alone, to ask him about the spirit of the woman Beau had seen behind Cooper at Café Degas.There were plenty of Band-Aids and ice at the apartment.
“Come on, Jolene,” Carly called.“We’ll let the boys sit in the back so you and I can talk wedding details.”
Jolene looked at me with an expression of horror.
