She shook her head. How could she be mad? A horse-drawn carriage ride was definitely not a typical Zander Landry activity. But he was willing to do that for her. In a suit.
“Okay, let’s go in.”
He gave her a bright, pleased, and slightly relieved smile and settled his hand on her lower back to escort her inside.
Trahan’s was a quintessential French Quarter establishment with floor to ceiling windows along both front walls, huge French doors, jazz music playing, and lots of laughter. It also smelled amazing and everyone walking out had huge smiles on their faces.
Zander led her toward the back of the restaurant where a group of four men were sitting with glasses of varying cocktails and several copies of the same paperback book on the table in front of them.
“Zander!”
“Hey, man!”
“Good to see you.”
“Welcome.”
The men greeted Zander with big smiles and handshakes. And very curious looks and smiles for Caroline.
“Caroline, this is Logan. He owns the place with his brother, Gabe. Who is over there behind the bar.” Caroline looked toward the bar and a very good-looking man with dark hair lifted a hand in a quick wave.
“Hey, Caroline, welcome.” Logan was equally good looking, with a smile that had a mischievous glint to it.
“Nice to meet you.”
“And this is Caleb Moreau and James Reynaud,” Zander said.
A big guy with a full beard and a more intense look offered his hand. “Hi, Caroline. I’m Caleb.”
His hand was huge around hers and Caroline nodded. “Hi.”
James was leaning back in his chair and gave her a big grin and a little two-finger wave. “It's really nice to meet you.”
She lifted a brow. “Is it? Why is that?”
James’s gaze slid to Zander and his smirk grew. “Oh, just that Zander’s gotten real cozy with my girl. I'm very happy to have a chance to get to know his.”
“Behave yourself.” Zander’s tone was firm.
“I'm a taken man,” James assured him. “But I haven't forgotten all the times you flirted with Harper and made her all swoony over your deep analysis of romantic archetypes and plot devices.”
Caroline looked at Zander with even more interest. “Character archetypes and plot devices?”
“Oh, Zander is quite the literary scholar,” James said. “He cozied right up to my beautiful brainiac and took great pleasure in impressing her with his huge vocabulary.”
“Yeah, it was my huge…vocabulary that Harper first noticed.” Zander shot Caroline a look and immediately grimaced. “Shit. Sorry. Habit to give him shit about Harper. I have to remind him she’s too good for him.”
Caroline gave a soft snort. “Well, I just met James, but judging by the uniform he has on, he’s a firefighter? I'm guessing that Harper's plenty impressed by his…vocabulary.”
Zander pretended to be shocked but it only lasted for a second before he grinned. “That's my girl.”
James laughed. “Wow, thanks. I didn't even have to mention the fact that I'm a jazz musician too.”
Caroline nodded. “Yeah, you’re fine.”
“Oh, and I'm amazing with dogs, babies, bearded dragons, and trees.”
Caroline tipped her head. “Sounds like you have some good stories.”
“Please sit. We have all evening.” James indicated the chair right next to him and Caroline moved in that direction, but Zander caught her by the hips, pulled her back, and planted her in the seat next to Caleb. “This is the firefighter you should sit next to.”
Caroline wasn’t so sure. Caleb was very good-looking as well and, as she’d learned since she’d met Zander, she liked them a little intense and broody.
“And this is Matt LaSalle,” Zander finished, indicating the man on her other side.
“Are you a cop? Because I'm a little surprised Zander is making babysitters out of two bartenders and two firefighters. He's a little more…”
“Wound up.”
“Uptight.”
“Tense.”
Three of the men all spoke at once.
Caroline nodded. “Very.” She looked up at Zander. “The cops in New Orleans don’t like you?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Matt is home after several deployments overseas. Special forces.”
Caroline's eyes widened and she looked at Matt. “Wow. Thank you for your service.”
He gave her a single nod. “I’ve got your back.”
Caroline leaned closer to him. “I feel very cared for suddenly.”
Zander made a little growling noise, put both big hands on her shoulders, and leaned her away from Matt. “How are Lindsey and the kids, Matt?” he asked pointedly.
Both Caroline and Matt laughed. “Great. The boys are wonderful and our baby girl is the light of our lives,” Matt said.
“Maybe I should tell you to behave,” Zander told Caroline.
She met his eyes directly and wet her lips. “Well, only until…later.”
It was clear he got her message. She didn't quite hear his growl this time, but she sensed it. And it was a whole different kind of growl.
“I'll be back soon.”
She watched him stride across the bar and it wasn't until he disappeared through the door that she thought she should be more upset about being left behind. But honestly, what did she have to offer at Octavia’s? And looking around the table she realized that she was going to be fine. Obviously well protected and in the company of some great men.
An arm reached over her shoulder and set a mug full of what appeared to be all whipped cream with a long straw down in front of her. She looked up to find Gabe grinning at her.
“Whiskey praline milkshake. Basically the reason my wife fell in love with me.”
Caroline looked at it again, then back up at him. “I can see why.”
He chuckled. “Glad to have you here tonight. Nice to meet you, and let me know if you need anything.”
Okay, she was surrounded by handsome men and books and now had a decadent looking drink. She was going to make the best of the evening. After all, it was still going to end with her in this sexy black dress, Zander in his suit, and them alone in a bedroom.
“So what book are we discussing tonight?”
“Just happens to be a romance set here in New Orleans,” Logan said.
“Are you a romance reader?” James asked.
“I am. Among other things,” Caroline said.
“Great. This one’s third in a series, but can be read as a stand alone. Though it’s kind of fun to have read the first two. She was a teen in book one, where her dad was the hero. Now this is her book. She’s a lower leg amputee. The heroine in book one was her PT,” James said.
“Who’s the hero?” Caroline asked, reaching for her glass.
“Works for her dad. Accompanies her to New Orleans when she comes for a bachelorette party.”
“Is it sexy?” Caroline took a long pull of her milkshake. And holy hell was it good. “Because I only read books with open door sexy times.”
Logan grinned at her. “You will fit right in around here.”