Bayou Born (Fleur de Lis Series) by Linda Joyce Page A

least steam coming from both of the waitress’ ears.
    “I considered the pumpkin,” James said. “But I’m dubious about eating that after learning you shape shift into one at midnight.”
    “Cute.” She leaned on the table and motioned James closer. “Do I have food between my teeth or something?”
    “No. Why?”
    “Does my perfume smell repugnant?”
    James shook his head.
    “Does she treat all female customers like that?”
    “Sarah Nell?”
    “Yes.” Exasperated, she restated the obvious. “Sara Nell.”
    “Just ignore her.” James patted her hand. “She and I never had a second—”
    Before James finished his sentence, Sarah Nell appeared again. She plopped down their dessert plates and left in another huff.
    Branna checked her plate to be sure it hadn’t cracked in two. “Guess I don’t want coffee,” she said picking up her fork. “You never had a second what?”
    “Date.”
    That explained everything. “Dr. Brown said you had a lot going for you. For the record, I think I should tell Sara Nell that this is the opposite of a date. This is lunch between two colleagues because you missed the official work one.”
    “I’m sure she’d be happy to hear that. But it won’t make any difference where I’m concerned.”
    Taking a scoop, she spooned pie into her mouth. The smooth texture and rich flavor of the filling combined with the crunch of the nuts made her taste buds dance. She closed her eyes to savor the flavor. It tasted like home. She took another scoop just to be sure her imagination wasn’t playing tricks. She had discovered a slice of heaven...in a slice of pie.
    “I don’t know when I’ve ever seen a woman enjoy her food more.”
    Submerged in a sweet-potato-pecan-pie brain fog, what could she say? She wouldn’t apologize for loving dessert, though she didn’t appreciate the teasing. When their eyes met, admiration shone in his. He wasn’t teasing, but totally serious. He enjoyed watching her eat.
    Embarrassed, she shrugged. “I love this pie. If it wouldn’t make me hungry all the time, I’d have candles that smelled like this in every room in my house. I’d bottle it and wear it as perfume. Pour it into my bubble bath. I always wanted to be the sweet-potato-pecan-pie queen.”
    James raised one eyebrow, then reached across the table and touched the corner of her mouth. A small piece of pecan dropped to the table as Sara Nell marched up. She gave Branna yet another glare and c linked the metal plate with the bill onto the table between them.
    “Call me,” the waitress purred at James before departing.
    Branna glanced at him, then to the spot where the waitress had stood before her departure. “The food’s great. The service—not so much. If I brought Momma in here, she’d have the owner by the ear, then give the entire staff lessons in decorum.”
    “Sara Nell, her nose is a little bent out of shape. She’s not usually this way. Besides, if you say something, you’ll get the woman fired.”
    Branna shrugged. “I won’t say anything, but she won’t ever wait on me again.” She didn’t blame Sara Nell for trying. She’d been a fool for a man once, too, but once in a lifetime was enough for any woman. Besides, she wanted a man who was the strong faithful type. She wanted the “and two shall be come one” in a relationship. Nothing smothering, but a man with whom life would have balance and would feel complete.
    “Shall we take our tour?” James asked, rising from the booth.
    Her radar blipped. She blinked. There was a smoldering tension between them. She recognized it now.
    James would be a problem. No handsome, southern charmer for her. She wanted a man-free life. Her brain reaffirmed that concept, but her heart waffled when James placed his hand in the small of her back and guided her toward the front door.
    “That went well, don’t ya think,” James said. “How about if we try this again...soon. We haven’t covered everything about the job, mostly