Chapter 20
Mari
Gabby Boudreaux handed me a cup of coffee, gesturing to the small tray in the center of the round table in her office. “There’s cream and sugar right there. Help yourself. Just a word of warning, I do tend to make my coffee on the strong side.”
She offered me a warm smile before she turned to fill her own cup of coffee from a coffee maker on a small table against the wall by her desk. I added a splash of cream and nothing else.
“Fortunately, I like my coffee strong. Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today.” I took a sip of coffee, appreciating its rich, dark flavor as it slipped across my tongue.
“I’m happy to meet with you, Mari. You are giving me free press, after all.” She sat down across from me. “Are you hungry? I didn’t even think to ask you that. I do apologize,” she said in her soft southern accent. “I can certainly see if we’ve got anything left over from breakfast this morning. I’ve got the best chef. I’m just crossing my fingers she doesn’t leave.”
“Oh, no, thank you. I had breakfast before I came out here.”
“Excellent then. Now, before we get into what you might need for your story, tell me how you’re doing.”
I paused, recalling my earlier conversation with Nash. He’d suggested it was fine for me to let Gabby know what the situation was with Brett—if only to provide a level of protection for Gabby and her family. After all, she’d need to be alert in case Brett tried to stay at Inn Boudreaux again.
I was still embarrassed about this entire mess. Yet, I could use someone other than my brother and Nash to shed some light on the situation.
“Well, I’m okay. It’s been an interesting week,” I offered.
Gabby angled her head to the side. “I’m sorry about what happened with your boyfriend. Is everything all right now?”
“You know how life is. Sometimes circumstances show you a person’s true colors. Even if it’s miserable at the time, it’s all for the best in the long run. That’s how I would describe what’s happening with Brett.”
Over coffee, I spilled the tale of what had transpired. I left out the details of what happened between Nash and me. I was still trying to adjust and absorb it.
“I’m beyond glad Nash is helping you, and of course, your brother. Between the two of them, it sounds like it will be all right,” Gabby commented.
“If my brother has his way, he’ll take care of it as soon as possible. I just hate this whole situation. I can’t believe Brett got tangled up with a loan shark. Dear God. I would’ve thought it was common sense that was a bad choice.”
Gabby clucked and shook her head slowly. “When it comes to money, people make dumb decisions sometimes. I sure hope you’re not beating yourself up over Brett.”
“I feel like such an idiot,” I said with a sigh.
“Oh, hon, don’t do that. Not everybody has our best interests at heart. I felt foolish once as well. I have absolutely no doubt you’ll come out of this stronger and better off than before. Overbearing brothers aren’t exactly helpful even when they mean well. I don’t know about you, but it makes me want to show them the opposite. Nothing’s worse than when they’re right.”
I laughed softly. “Definitely not. Thanks for listening. Nash suggested you might need to know the details if for some reason Brett thought to stay here again. I can’t imagine it after he left me hanging with the bill, but this is a place he’s familiar with.”
Gabby didn’t seem rattled. “I dare him. Don’t worry about it. We’re a busy place, so that should deter him. Plus, no need to worry because Rhys is home for two weeks since he injured his shoulder. He’s resting and rehabbing with a trainer in New Orleans.”
As if Gabby conjured him, there was a light knock at the door, and it opened immediately. Rhys O’Shaughnessy, Gabby’s husband and baseball star, stepped through. “Just popping in to let you know I’m gonna head out to take care of a few errands. You need anything at the grocery store?”
Gabby looked over, and in a mere second, I felt as if I were interrupting a very private moment. All they did was look at each other, but the love and heat between them was evident at a glance.
“Can’t think of anything, but don’t you dare get Sam any more of that ridiculously sugary cereal. I’m sure he’s already pestered you for it.”
Rhys grinned. “What if I like it?”
“It’s not healthy enough for you, and your trainer would kill you,” she teased as he leaned over to dust a kiss on her cheek. “By the way, this is Mari Channing. She’s doing an online spread for inns around New Orleans. We’re going to be in it.”
Rhys glanced my way, casting me an easy smile. “Nice to meet you. I’m sure Gabby appreciates what you’re doing.”
“Considering she’s giving me a list of recommendations, she did a lot of my work for me. Rest assured, Inn Boudreaux will get top billing in the story.”
After Rhys departed, Gabby shook her head. “He’s too much, isn’t he?”
“He obviously adores you.”
“I’d like to play it cool, but I adore him too,” she said with a sheepish smile. “Have faith, you’ll move on from Brett, and some man will sweep you off your feet.”
Have faith, you’ll move on from Brett, and some man will sweep you off your feet.
Gabby’s words echoed in my thoughts as I drove away from the third inn she’d recommended for me. Every place she’d sent me had been warm and friendly. I guessed Gabby had called every single one of them personally to smooth the welcome for me. Considering all the other stressors I was dealing with right now, I would take the help. I needed a break somewhere. If that meant a dash of kindness as I handled this one story, I’d take it.
After I drove away from my last appointment, I pulled over in a small viewing spot along the side of a country highway. It offered a view of a marshy area with cypress trees standing in the edges of the water and Spanish moss swaying lazily from the branches of trees in the early evening breeze. The sun was starting to set in the distance, casting the sky in a wash of orange and yellow mingling in the fading gold of the sun’s rays.
The view was soothing, and I leaned my head against the car seat. A mere three weeks ago, I’d had no idea what was in store for me here in Louisiana. I felt as if my life had been turned upside down. I had no apartment left to move into in San Francisco, and the boyfriend I thought was trying to rekindle our relationship was now permanently gone. Somehow, I wasn’t panicking about my living situation. Maybe I was acting impulsive, but—wow!—it felt good to be with Nash. Just thinking about last night sent goosebumps prickling over the surface of my skin.
Nash was unsettlingly good in bed. I kept trying to think clearly, but my brain was having a hard time getting past the haze of last night. And he was so geniune. He was going above and beyond to help me, and I didn’t know what to think.
Fishing my phone out of my purse, I glanced down at the screen.
Nash: Call me when you get this. I know you’re probably working, so get to it when you can. I’d like to have your stuff taken over this evening. I’ve got a security team set up at the house, but I don’t want to make assumptions.