"Sure you are, because you have the freedom to be your smart, cute self," Emma said. "What call, Muriel?"

"T-Boy called and the Luis family is back in town. I would imagine that the recent blows to their business here, and the wrench you threw into their operations to the east, needed a hands-on approach."

"Merrick,don't lose sight of Emma, and pa.s.s the word to Mook that I need more guys on the kids."

"You got it, boss." Merrick stood and nodded. "See you in the morning."

Muriel said good night as well and headed up to her suite.

"I want you to swear you'll tell me if that a.s.shole comes within twenty feet of you," Cain said once they were alone.

"I think he got the message I wasn't interested, honey."

Cain shook her head. "Guys like Juan never get that message until two seconds before death takes them from the severe beating that kills them. If he comes near you, I want you to call me no matter what. I'm serious. I'm not taking any chances with you."

"I'll tell you, but I think Merrick's going to beat me to it. If Lou's with me, I'll call you from the bank while I'm drawing out his bail for shooting the little b.a.s.t.a.r.d."

"Just remember that Juan isn't someone I want to second-guess."

"I was being serious too. You've built a fortress around us, so I'm sure we'll be fine."

"I'll make that true no matter what."

Chapter Seventeen.

The car stopped in front of Galatoire's, but Remi studied the street in both directions before she opened the back door for Dallas. A few tourists were still walking around and the ever-present van was parked a block away, but otherwise, it was quiet.

"Ready?" Dallas asked from behind her.

"Sorry, old habit." Remi took her hand to help her in. On the seat lay a bouquet of Chinese orchids.

Dallas picked up the flowers and closed her eyes as she smelled them appreciatively. "How did you know these are my favorite?"

"Icruised the Internet this afternoon and found your official Web site. All it took was a call to the president of your fan club. She told me your favorite color, food, and s.e.xual position, as well as your favorite flowers. I'm not going to press you as to how she came by her information." Remi smiled.

"If I have an official Web site,it's news to me, and if I did, I sure as h.e.l.l wouldn't share that much."

"The woman did sound like someone with way too much time on her hands. To reward her, I did tell her that since I'm a fan too I'd do some research and get back to her if anything was off base."

"I hope you're not the kind to kiss and tell." Dallas laid the orchids across her lap and smiled. "Thank you for these. It's been awhile since anyone's given me flowers."

"Is it all right that I did?"

"Why wouldn't it be?"

"If you were with me, I'd mind if someone else went to the trouble.

I don't want to do that to someone else. Despite my reputation, that isn't my style." Remi thought of Bob and what part he played in Dallas's life.

"There's no one," Dallas answered, taking Remi's hand. They rode the rest of the way to Dallas's home in silence. When they had to stop a block from her door because of the nightly barricades the police put up so Bourbon Street could become a pedestrian street, Simon got out and walked ahead of them.

"Does Simon always go everywhere with you?"

"Because of our business it's necessary, I'm afraid." Remi had about a hundred feet to come up with an explanation that wouldn't send Dallas screaming away from her. Dallas had to realize the risks involved with entering a relationship with her, if they decided that's what they both wanted.

Simon interrupted her thoughts. "I'll wait at the car. Call when you're ready."

Dallas unlocked the door and led Remi into the house. "Would you like anything?" She opened one of the kitchen cabinets and took out a vase. "If you don't want to tell me anything, it's okay. Just forget I asked."

"If you want to know something, I want you to ask. I'm having a hard time because I've never bothered to explain my situation to anyone." She watched Dallas's hands as she trimmed the tips off the stems and placed the flowers in the vase.

When she finished, Remi accepted the hand Dallas held up and followed her into her living room. The house contained a mixture of antique and comfortable pieces with tasteful artwork, but very few pictures. The style fit the little bit of Dallas she'd come to know.

"Are you sure you don't want anything?" Dallas asked as Remi took a seat next to her on the sofa.

"Just a few minutes to talk would be good." Remi studied their hands pressed together. Compared to hers, Dallas's hands were small and delicate, but her grip was strong. "I like spending time with you, but you need to know what you're getting into. Once I'm finished, if you feel like you can't or don't want to continue, you'll still have a future with the studio. You have my word. The woman who disrupted dinner tonight is with the FBI."

Remi gave her a tame but clear explanation as to why she and her business a.s.sociates would bear federal scrutiny, or at least why the federal authorities thought they did. Dallas could have gathered these facts from reading the newspaper stories about them. Fair warning was one thing, but blatantly confessing to someone she didn't know much about was pure insanity.

In the middle of her account, Dallas turned away, then reclined against her and pulled Remi's arm around her. Remi was surprised but kept talking until Dallas had a clearer picture why she'd never heard of her and Cain, and why they fought so hard to keep it that way.

When she finally stopped, Dallas asked, "Are you done?"

"That's enough for one night."

"I have a question." She moved so they could face each other. "Did you tell me all that because you don't want to be here anymore?"

"I told you because I wanted to give you an out, if you want one."

"Truthfully, I'm looking for an in." Dallas had started to return to the spot at Remi's side when she sat back up. "You haven't been accused of selling drugs, have you? You didn't mention that."

"No, we've never been under scrutiny for that. If you work for my father, it's actually the quickest way to get fired. That's also true for the people we deal with, like Cain."

"I only have one more question," Dallas said, turning within the circle of Remi's arms to get comfortable again. "Am I just another notch on the famous bedpost of Remi Jatibon? I might not have known you, but I've heard a little gossip in the last few months."

"No, you aren't, unless you want to be. I won't deny my reputation.

I do have one that I truly deserve."

Dallas faced her again and ran her hands up Remi's arms.

Reaching her collar she slipped the fingers of one hand into the curls at the base of Remi's neck and pulled her down, stopping before their lips met. She ran her index finger lightly over Remi's bottom lip, waiting to see if she would object. When she didn't, Dallas let herself do what she'd wanted to since they met. She kissed Remi and slid her fingers through Remi's hair.

The kiss lasted until Remi's hands landed on her back. Then she pulled back and wiped her lipstick off Remi's lips. "Don't get mad, but I want to take this slow. I think it'd be prudent since we just met, and I don't want you to get the wrong impression."

"I gave you flowers, doesn't that count?"

"That was sweet, but it doesn't mean I'm going to sleep with you."

Dallas moved to the b.u.t.tons on Remi's shirt, plucking at them nervously.

"We could just have s.e.x. No sleeping has to be involved," Remi whispered in her ear.

Dallas tapped the end of Remi's nose with her finger and laughed.

"We could, but we're not."

"That restroom break must have been very informative," Remi teased. "But we'll go as slow as you want. Kiss me good night then."

"It's still early." Dallas kissed her chin. "And I have a few more questions."

"I'm sure you do, but I'm trying to impress you with how good I am. How about we get together tomorrow?" Remi stood up, taking Dallas with her. Without her heels their height difference was more noticeable.

Before leaving, Remi pulled Dallas close enough that almost the full lengths of their bodies were touching and she kissed her. "Good night."

"Sure you won't stay a little longer?" When Remi shook her head, Dallas sighed and kissed her one more time before letting go. "Good night."

"I'll see you in the morning," Remi said as she opened the door.

Dallas locked it behindher, confident Remi could make her way out, and got ready for bed. She thought about Bob, knowing he wouldn't be thrilled with this development, and realized he was the reason Remi had asked earlier about cutting in on anyone.

It shocked her that Remi hadn't asked outright about him, but it was just a matter of time. Lying in bed she tried to relax enough to get to sleep, figuring it would be a waste of time to start worrying now. She didn't want to p.i.s.s Bob off, but she didn't want to miss out on getting to know Remi.

At 4:01 her eyes were still open. "I'm going to look like h.e.l.l in the morning." The ringing phone on the nightstand scared her out of her musings. Dallas picked it up, thinking it was a wrong number, and tentatively said "h.e.l.lo."

"Hey," Remi's voice rumbled from the other end. "I didn't wake you, did I?"

"It's four in the morning," she said, dragging out the word morning.

"I couldn't sleep and figured you might be in the same boat."

"Actually I was lying here watching the time tick away."

"How about that drink you offered me?"

Dallas sat up and laughed. "You want a drink right now?"

"You did offer, but if you're tired, I'll understand."

She put her robe on. In the kitchen she began to brew some espresso. "Where exactly are you?"

"Across the street.The idea of picking your lock crossed my mind, but I didn't want to freak you out."

She laughed,then realized Remi probably could do it. "If you want coffee, I suggest you get to it." As she poured, she heard the lock on the back door give way to whatever Remi had done, and she smiled as she put Remi's cup down. "You could come in handy if I ever lock myself out."

"You're an interesting woman," Remi said as she picked up her cup.

"I'm actually a woman who gets a little upset if I make coffee and don't get a kiss in return." She took her cup and headed for the sofa.

They sat together on Dallas's sofa until the sun came up, finally finding sleep. Right before Dallas gave way to her dreams, she thought of what Emma had told her earlier.Give in right away and you'll be what she knows. If you want a future, then set yourself apart by respecting yourself and demanding the same of her. After she had discovered how wonderful it felt to be in Remi's arms, she wanted a future with her.

She'd worry later about everything that could spoil things for them.

And at the top of that list was something that could break her quicker than Bob could.

Would Remi accept her once she knew the whole truth?

Chapter Eighteen.

Richard drove from Biloxi to Cain's offices on the riverfront, drumming his fingers on his steering wheel and trying to center himself and rev up his bravado. Nunzio had impressed on him what he needed to do, and his palms were sweating as he thought about what he'd pay if this meeting didn't go well.

"h.e.l.lo, sweets, you want to tell your boss I'm here," he told the receptionist. "The name's Richard."

The attractive brunette rolled her eyes, looked down to see where Richard's eyes were glued, then rolled them again at the frank way he was staring at her cleavage. When she got instructions from someone, she merely pointed. "b.i.t.c.h," Richard thought, and strolled down the mahogany-paneled walls into the office, located almost in the center of the building for Cain's protection.

"What can we do for you, Richard?" Cain asked, not rising from her seat, and neither did Remi, Mano, Ramon, or Muriel.

"Thanks for agreeing to see me," Richard said softly.

"After thirty phone calls, we thought we'd agree just to get some quiet around here," Cain said, sounding like she wasn't kidding.

"What's on your mind?"

"Wanted to chat and maybe do a little business. About our last meetingI may've been a little adamant in my views. You all were right on the personnel issue. Once I sell, the place is yours to do whatever you want, so I'll go along with the contract as is." Richard folded his hands over the girth of his stomach. "If you have the papers ready, I'll sign. I could provide the best security for you, but if you want to do your own, then have at it."

"If that's why you wanted to meet, you should've mentioned that in all your messages and saved yourself a trip," Cain said. "We're looking into another property with a less colorful past, one that wouldn't require the kind of pest control your place needs."

"Don't be too quick. I'm sure we can work something out."

Richard sat up, thinking his life wasn't worth much without a deal.

"It's too late to work something out. Besides, the location we're looking at is newer and connected to other sites we could get an option on after we're up and running. You did us a favor turning us down. In the long run this location makes more sense for us," Remi said, and everyone nodded.