Susan shook her head, a look of dismay on her face. She stared at Lauren, and Lauren knew that her own expression must have shown the woman that she was already feeling silly and skeptical, as if she had been the target of a trickor a joke.
You have to leave.
Oh, please, Deanna said impatiently.
Ill pay you for the damages, Heidi said, starting to sound irritated.
You came for readings. Youve had them, and now you have to leave, Susan said.
Heidi pulled out her wallet and tried to give Susan money, but the woman only backed away. Heidi set the money on the table, shaking her head. Then she linked arms with Lauren, pulling her away. You do not get to pick the fortune-teller anymore, she said, dragging her along.
As they put some distance between themselves and the Square, Deanna burst into laughter. Didnt you feel as if we had just walked into an old horror flick?
Im sure she was going to tell us to beware the bite of a werewolf any second, Heidi agreed, and then she, too, burst into laughter.
And you! You fell for all her tricks, Heidi told Lauren.
I did not, Lauren protested, but silently she was thinking, Yes, I did. It was creepy as hell in there.
She felt like an idiot now, though, as they passed Royal Street, nearly at Bourbon. Bands were playing loudly from several corners, the sound of jazz mixing with rock.
We need a drink, Heidi said. Name your poison.
Meow, Deanna said.
What?
The Cats Meow. Karaoke, Deanna said.
You must be joking. We suck, Heidi said.
And thats why were perfect for karaoke, Deanna said happily.
I need a lot more to drink for this, Lauren said. The two of them had her laughing, buit karaoke was no more her style than mystical readings. Wait! she said, stopping in her tracks and forcing the others to stop, too.
What? Deanna asked.
Im only Heidis slave. Heidi, you dont really want to sing karaoke, do you?
You bet I do! Heidi said.
Groaning, Lauren found herself dragged into the bar.
It wasnt that bad. The host was a handsome, well-built black man with an exceptional voice. His choice of music was great; the place was hopping. The entire room actually seemed to enjoy the rendition of Summer Nights that Heidi and Deanna laughed their way through.
But when the two of them left the stage, Lauren was glad to see that they were feeling the effects of the noise and the crush of humanity, and were ready to go before she had to make a fool of herself in public. They left the club and headed for a darker place with soft jazz that was just down the street.
Order me another one of those fizzy things I was drinking, Lauren said to Deanna when they had found a table. Im off to find the restroom.
She left her friends and made her way through the tables. When she reached the hallway that led to the facilities, she was startled when she ran straight into a man. She hadnt even realized shed been walking with her head down, deep in thought. Still, she wasnt sure where hed come from as she plowed straight into him.
Apologizing, looking up at last, she backed away.
He was tall, two or three inches over six feet, and definitely well builtshe had almost bounced off the muscles of his chest. His hair was dark, a moderate length, and even in the shadowy hallway, it was apparent that his eyes were a deep and striking blue. She thought he was somewhere around thirty, with ruggedly striking chiseled features: high cheekbones, a long, straight nose, determined jawline and a high forehead. His mouth was generous, the kind that could harden into a thin line or curve into a quick smile.
He wasnt model-pretty. He had the look of a man who lived, and lived by his own rules, heedless of others opinions.
Im sorry, she said, realizing that she was staring at him.
But then again, he was also staring at her.
Kate, he murmured.
Pardon?
He took a step back, deep eyes almost burning into her. No, Im sorry, he said. You reminded me of someone. My mistake. Sorry, he said again. But he didnt move, and he was still staring at her.
As if he really did know her.
But he couldnt possibly. She would have remembered if she had ever crossed paths with him before.
Iuh, need to get by, she said softly.
Of course, he said.
But he was still staring, and she felt a blush rising to her cheeks.
She didnt know him, she was certain.
But she would like to.
She could introduce herself, of course. They were in a bar. People did things like that in bars. Some of them even went to bars specifically for the purpose of meeting people.
Some people did things like that, but she didnt. She hadnt dated inwell, only once since Ken had died. She hadnt been able to work up any interest in the print shop owner Deanna had decided she had to meet. She just hadnt been attracted to him. Maybe her feelings had still been too raw, the sense of loss too new. She had been completely in love with her finance. He had made her smile, made her laugh. And she had been attracted to him from the start. There had been nothing wrong with the print shop owner. He just hadnt been Ken. She just hadnt been attracted to him.
But this stranger staring at her, this man she didnt know from Adam?. She was attracted to him.
She flushed at her own thoughts. Some people picked up strangers in bars. She didnt, not at this stage of her life. She was here for Heidi.
She smiled. Honestly, I didnt mean to ram you. And I do need to get by.
Right. Sorry He stepped aside.
She walked past him, heading for the door marked Madames. She couldnt help but turn back.
He was still watching her.
Great. She was heading into a ladies room in a dimly lit corridor and a good looking but possibly very weird guy was watching her.
She entered, closed the door and leaned against it. There was no lock on the door, only on the three individual stalls.
I should go back, make Heidi or Deanna come with me, she thought. Im going to be attacked in a restroom on Bourbon Street.
She was being ridiculous, she told herself. It was just the uneasiness left over from her experience in the fortune tellers tent. The woman was probably still laughing at the three of them. She probably ought to report Susan to the tourist board. Imagine! Trying to scare them, telling them to leave town. That was hardly good for business.
She opened the door a crack and peered out.
The man was gone. She was relieved.
And also disappointed.
She let out a sigh, irritated with herself for still feeling nervous.
She was so nervous, in fact, that she took her time, unwilling to go back out into the club right away. She splashed her face with water after she washed her hands, reminding herself that she was being ridiculous. When she finally left the restroom behind, there was no one in the hallway.
The bar had grown more crowded while she was gone. As she wended her way through the crowd, she could see that Heidi was alone at their table. Frowning, she noticed Deanna was at the bar, chatting with a tall dark man. For a moment her heart thudded. Was it the same man?
No, not unless he had changed his shirt. The man she had met had been wearing a tailored shirt; this man was dressed more casually.
She started toward the bar and her friend. Deanna had definitely imbibed more than she had Tonight, and she wasnt sure she wanted to let her friend get too close to a stranger in that condition.
On the other hand, Deanna wasnt the one getting married. She was free to flirt if she chose.
Apparently she was simply worried in general tonight, Lauren thought. She headed for the bar, but as she did, the man turned and headed out to the street.
Hey There, Deanna said as Lauren reached her. Her majesty wanted more cherries for her drink, she said with a grin.
Lauren forced a smile in return. Deanna didnt seem all that drunk, she thought. In fact, she seemed more pleasantly tipsy than anything else. Cool, Lauren responded, then asked, Who was that?
Who? Deanna frowned and flipped back a length of her long dark hair.
The guy who was just there.
Oh. Just a guy.
Cute?
Yeah, kind of.
And?
I told him I was with friends tonight, Deanna said. And she laughed. Im a big girl, so dont worry about me.
I wasnt worried, Lauren lied.
Yes, you were. And you still are. Youre still tense. Deanna looked at her and sighed. We shouldnt have made you go to that fortune teller.
Dont be silly.
She was weird.
She was striking, dont you think? Lauren said.
A great face to sketch, yes, but weird. Come on. Lets get back to the table. Heidi is going to want her fruit.
The band was playing exceptional jazz; it sounded as if they had been together forever. As she sat, Lauren let the music engulf her, and she smiled. She came from this state, after all. Shed been in New Orleans hundreds of times. She knew the city well. Why she was letting the antics of a Jackson Square fortune teller disturb her, she didnt know.
So are you ever going to tell us where the honeymoon is going to be? Deanna asked Heidi.
Heidi shrugged. Ill tell you guys, but not Barrys friends. A few of them are crazy enough to show up.
Okay, where? Lauren asked.
Heidi leaned forward, and her love for her soon-to-be husband was apparent in her gamine smile and powder blue eyes. Fiji, she said.
Fiji. Wow, Lauren said.
You really think Barrys friends might show up in Fiji? Deanna asked.
You never know, Heidi said. I can guarantee you right now that well all probably end up in the pool at the reception, and that theyll tie cans to the car and do anything else ridiculous that guys can do. Most of those guys actually graduated from college, and some of them are even lawyers, like Barry, but honestly, theyre still like a bunch of kids.
Youre not marrying them, youre marrying Barry, Deanna reminded her.
Because hes wonderful, Heidi said, finishing the statement by biting the cherry at the end of her swizzle stick.
He is a good guy, Lauren agreed.
And he has some very attractive friendssilly, but attractive, Deanna added.
I can set you up any time, Heidi promised.
I like setting myself up. Well see what happens at the wedding, Deanna said.
Lauren let out a yawn, then quickly apologized. Sorry.
Its late, isnt it? Heidi said.
Not for New Orleans. And this is your party, Lauren assured her.
I know, but I think Id like to take my party back to our nice cushy cottage, she said.
Cool. Im your slave, Lauren said.
They both looked at Deanna, wondering if she intended to protest.
She laughed. Okay, I admitit. Im beat, too. But were pathetic. I guarantee you theyll go all night at Barrys bachelor party.
Right, but his bachelor party is only one night. We have a whole weekend. We have days left to party, Heidi said. And shop.
For Fiji, Lauren said.
Yep, for Fiji, Heidi agreed. She lifted her glass, and Deanna and Lauren followed suit, clinking their glasses in a toast. Heres to the worlds best friends.
Heres to you, too, Lauren said.
Lets not get maudlin, Deanna said.
If she wants to be maudlin, well be maudlin, Lauren reminded Deanna.
Deanna groaned. Okay, but lets walk in a maudlin manner and get back to the B and B.
Sounds good, Lauren agreed.
As they headed for their cottage, they talked about the shops Heidi wanted to hit in the morning.
Along Bourbon Street, everything felt fine to Lauren. It was quieter than it had been earlier, but the bars were still open, and people were moving about. Groups still spilled out of the doorways of the clubs. Hawkers were handing out flyers for the strip joints. A group that appeared to be m ade up of retirees was moving along at a good clip. Most of the members seemed to be couples who had spent many years together, and who still enjoyed walking hand in hand. She had to smile. It didnt seem quite the right place, but then again, who was she to say? They were definitely young at heart.
It was when they turned off Bourbon that Lauren first felt the strange stirring of unease.
The street wasnt so well lit anymore.
And it wasnt filled with people.
The sound of Heidis and Deannas voices seemed to fade. She wasnt hearing them. Instead, she was watching. Watching the shadows.
They seemed to be moving too much. Houses and buildings, flush against one another, a few feet away, should have been still. Instead, their shadows stretched, became too long, seemed to loom.
Then there was the breeze. She hadnt felt it on Bourbon Street, but it was eerily noticeable now
She quickened her pace.
Hey! Heidis protest broke through her sense of isolation.
What? Lauren asked.
Do we really have to run back?
I think we should hurry, yes, Lauren said.
You told me this was a safe area, Heidi protested.
It is. Butits late, Lauren said.
Look. Up ahead, Deanna said.
What? Lauren said, her heart quickening.
Mounted police officer, Deanna said dryly.
Oh. Lauren slowed her pace a bit, as they passed the officer, who touched his helmet and wished them goodnight, then rode on toward Bourbon Street. As soon as he was gone, she started hurrying again. She couldnt help herself.
Lauren, slow down, Deanna begged. My legs arent working too well.
Thats because they want to be stretched out in bed, Lauren said.
You two are tallIm not, Heidi reminded her.
Gritting her teeth, Lauren forced herself to slow down. She was frightened, and she didnt know why. And she was angry. Shed never been frightened here before in her life.
It was all because of that damn fortune teller.
She made herself keep to a slower pace, but she couldnt stop herself from watching the shadows. And no matter how hard she tried to tell herself she was being ridiculous, she was certain the shadows were doing things shadows werent supposed to do. She couldnt help but feel they were watching her.
The bed and breakfast, with its lovely courtyard and cottages, was straight ahead. She had to forcibly stop herself from breaking into a run.
But then they were there and she let out a sigh, praying that it wasnt audible. The cast iron gates, dating back to the eighteen-forties, were opened to the main manor and the old cottages surrounding it.