Tell Me Something Good (12 page)

“I grew up listening to all the old stories.
I can tell you which of my elderly relatives might help.” Noel
grinned at her with sultry charm.

“So could your grandmother. Maybe I should
have dinner with her”

Noel threw back his handsome head and
laughed. His baritone voice poured over her like creamy milk
chocolate. Lyrissa stared at his mouth. She could almost taste the
sinful sweetness of it on hers. God in heaven! Why did he have to
be so beautiful?

“You could, but she wouldn’t be as much fun.
I’ll treat you to dinner at Commander’s Palace. What do you say?” A
hearty “Yes!” almost spilled from her lips. The man had his finger
on all the buttons. Still, she hadn’t lost her senses completely.
Lyrissa stepped back from the ledge of lust.

“No, sorry,” she rasped, and then cleared her
throat. “I think we should keep our business confined to this
office.” Noel’s face fell at her refusal. He recovered and smiled
gamely. “Okay. I tried.”

Lyrissa coughed to cover a laugh that almost
escaped. Mr. Charisma obviously wasn’t used to hearing “no” from
women.

“I’ll arrange my work before I leave.” She
looked at him.

“Until the next time, then.” Noel rubbed his
hands together.

“Right,” Lyrissa echoed. Once he’d gone, she
let out a long sigh. “Safe,” she mumbled. A little voice replied,
“For now!”

The next week, Noel showed her around the
office. Lyrissa followed him as he described the divisions of Tremé
Corporation and introduced her to employees. Lyrissa nodded as he
talked, but her mind wasn’t on business at all. She needed to set
boundaries between them. The man was a hungry hound and in his mind
she was the main course. Still, she couldn’t afford to be too cold
toward him, either. At least, not before she found the painting.
Once more she reminded herself to practice being demure and
tactful.

“Finally, this is the manager in charge of
our residential properties. I’ll take you back to your office.”
Noel wheeled around and started off.

“Goodness, I didn’t realize y’all took up
this entire floor.” Lyrissa had to walk fast to keep up with his
long- legged stride. “But you seem to have it all synthesized. I
mean the insurance bonds go with the real estate side. You do
property appraisals. Very impressive.”

“Thank you,” Noel said over his shoulder.

“You’re poised to do very well with your
construction arm—when it’s up and running, that is.”

Noel stopped suddenly and Lyrissa bumped into
his back. She caught hold of him around the waist to keep from
stumbling. When he turned around, she jumped back.

“Put on brake lights next time,” she teased.
The rock hard expression on his face said he wasn’t amused.

“How did you know about the plans to expand
into construction?”

Lyrissa felt as though she’d stumbled in more
ways than one. She cast around for a logical explanation. “I read
an article in the newspaper, the New Orleans Chronicle. I think
your uncle said something about it.”

She was grasping at a very flimsy straw. The
New Or-leans Chronicle was an African-American newspaper. Each year
an entire issue was devoted to Black businesses. Surely at least
once in the past five years or so his uncle had bragged. Lyrissa
was sure the pompous guy would hardly resist such a chance. She
gazed back at him steadily, determined not to blink once. Noel St.
Denis had many faults. Being easily fooled was not one of them.
Lyrissa held her breath as she watched his expression, praying he
wouldn’t realize she’d skillfully pumped information from his
secretary.

“Right,” Noel said after a long ten seconds
of staring at her. “This way.” He started off ahead of her
again.

Lyrissa exhaled in relief. Time to smooth
ointment on his bruised ego. “Listen, about your dinner
invitation—”

“No problem.” He waved a large hand in the
air.

“No, wait.” She tugged at his arm to stop
him. “It’s just that I don’t want to compromise my work here or get
distracted.”

“I understand, sort of.”

“I have my reputation to consider.”

“And being seen with me would damage it?”
Noel’s dark brows drew down.

“I meant my professional reputation,” Lyrissa
said. “But you do have your own reputation when it comes to
women.”

Noel folded his arms across his broad chest.
“Tell me what you’ve heard.”

“Well...” Lyrissa saw the impish glint in his
eyes. “I hear a long list of ladies have fallen victim to your
fatal charm.”

“Not that long a list. I do eat, sleep, and
work.”

“Okay, so half,” Lyrissa quipped.

“Not as many as you think. But thanks for the
confidence in my stamina,” he added before she could retort.

Noel’s smile broke through and lit up his
face. He put one hand in his pants pocket. The movement was fluid,
as though he were a jazz dancer. The thick eyebrows lifted
slightly. That smile could melt stone. A flush of warmth seeped
from the light in his eyes and into her body. Her pelvis tingled
right down into the deepest, most tender regions. Despite her best
efforts, her own libido seemed honed in on this guy’s deadly
wavelength. In a panic she blotted out a full-color fantasy that
involved his stamina.

She focused on a distant point past his
shoulder. “At any rate, I do apologize. Maybe I’ve met too many
chumps in the dating scene.” She turned away and wiped tiny beads
of perspiration from her top lip. To cover her reaction to him, she
started walking.

“Ah, so you’ve been busy yourself.” Noel
walked beside her down the hall.

“A few. Guess I’m picky,” Lyrissa said.

“Me, too.” He was silent for a moment. “So
what does Mr. Right have for you?”

The question startled Lyrissa. “What?”

“Your ideal man, what’s he like? I already
know I don’t qualify. Just curious.”

She wasn’t at all comfortable with this talk.
“I’ll know him when I meet him.”

“Cop out. Straight up truth, now,” Noel
persisted. “Well, for a start, he should be sensitive and caring. I
don’t like men with huge egos or who take themselves too seriously.
And Lord! Deliver me from a dude with mood swings.”

“Hmm, sounds like an easy order to fill. I
take it you’ve met him? Of course you have. Fine looking women like
you don’t run around free for long.”

Lyrissa stole a sideways glance at him. He
seemed sincere, but she wasn’t going down that easy again. “Slipped
that one in. Real smart.”

“No line, no He. Or am I making you
uncomfortable again?” He faced her when they reached the double
doors leading to his office.

“If I seemed uncomfortable, it’s only because
I’m allergic to bull.” Lyrissa smiled at him sweetly and batted her
eyelashes.

“Now who’s playing games? I’ve met few
beautiful women who didn’t know their power.” Noel gazed at her
from head to toe.

“I’m not vain, Mr. St. Denis.”

“No, but you’re poised in a natural way. You
move with confidence.” He studied her intently. “And call me Noel,
please.”

Lyrissa shook her head. “Everyone has
insecurities, and I’m no exception. I went to St. Mary’s. I didn’t
pass the Creole acid test—light skin color and ‘good’ hair.”

Noel’s amused expression turned sour. “I hope
you took care of them! I had to myself. My best friend didn’t pass
that test, either.”

Lyrissa was skeptical. “Really? So how many
fights did you have?”

“One too many,” Miss Georgina cut in. She
stood in the open door to Noel’s office. “Ronnie was too willing to
swing his fists and you shouldn’t have jumped in.”

“Ronnie wasn’t the problem.” Noel was
obviously ready to launch a tirade.

Miss Georgina waved a hand. “Yes, yes. Ronnie
turned into a fine young man. Excuse us, Ms. Rideau. I need to talk
to my grandson.”

Lyrissa accepted the dismissal. She was not
one o them. Miss Georgina’s tone reminded her of that one* again
... as if she needed it.

“Of course.” Lyrissa spun around and left
them without looking back.

Noel watched her walk away. Some force, like
a hook inside his gut, pulled at him to follow her. Lyrissa’s
curvaceous hips moved inside the taupe shirtdress in delightful
way. He admired the shapely legs just beneath the knee-length hem
as well.

“Noel,” Miss Georgina said sharply.

He turned to find two sets of eyes boring
into him. Julie stood in the hallway, her facial muscles rigid with
displeasure. After a few moments, she continued on her way.

“I have a lot of calls to make and two
meetings,” Noel said shortly. He nodded for his grandmother to
precede him into his office.

“Don’t patronize me, son. I helped build this
company.” Miss Georgina marched past him.

“Yes, ma’am, you did. And now I have to
rebuild it.” Noel kept his tone respectful, yet firm.

Her eyes narrowed as she regarded him in
stony silence for several seconds. Then she nodded. “This won’t
take long.”

Noel closed the door. He waited until she was
comfort-ably seated before he sat next to her. “What did you want
to talk to me about?”

“Your grandfather would be proud of you,
Noel. You’ve done a fine job.”

“Thank you. Somehow I sense that a ‘but’ is
coming,” Noel said with a slight smile.

“Not when it comes to running the business.”
Miss Georgina looked at him steadily. “Be careful with Lyrissa
Rideau.”

“How did we go from my performance as CEO to
Lyrissa?” Noel’s amusement started to fade.

“You have the entire family on your
shoulders.” She held up one hand to stop him from speaking. “I know
it’s not fair, but there it is.”

“I know what the company means to us all,”
Noel said.

“You’re not just the head of this company.
You must realize that. There are our family and business
relationships to consider.” Miss Georgina brushed a wrinkle from
her royal blue dress.

“And?” Noel had a nasty suspicion where she
was headed.

“Julie deserves some consideration. She’s a
fine woman from a good family. At least have the decency not to
flirt right in front of her.”

“I’m not going there again, Grandmother,”
Noel warned.

Miss Georgina pressed anyway. “I know your
father’: weakness in that department. I’d hoped you had more
restraint. But at least be discreet. Julie won’t wait forever. And
her father won’t appreciate having his daughter humiliated’ “I will
choose my female companions, and one day I’ll choose my own bride.
Frankly, Julie didn’t make the short list,” Noel said curtly.

“Don’t be crude.” Miss Georgina replied.

“I have my priorities on straight, but thanks
for your concern.” Noel put a note of finality in his voice.

“In other words, butt out of your personal
life?” Miss Georgina frowned at him. “Fine, the subject is closed.”
Noel started to retort that he doubted it, but didn’t “Don’t worry.
This family taught me to be a realist when it comes to
marriage.”

“Marriage is more than some romantic trip
down Lover’s Lane. It’s a partnership,” Miss Georgina said, shaking
a finger at him.

“Fine, fine.” Noel did not want to hear that
lecture again. “Carlton is the other reason I wanted to talk to
you. He’s criticizing you to the board. He’s doing it on the sly of
course.”

“What else is new?”

“They might listen if you show poor
judgment.” She pressed her lips together.

Noel’s anger spiked again. They were back to
Lyrissa. “Not as long as the profits increase. With the money
they’ve made, I’m sure they like my judgments just fine. Or you can
let Uncle Willie and Carlton run this damn place.”

“Don’t fight with me. I don’t want anything
or anyone to stand in the way of your future.” Miss Georgina gazed
at him.

He got the message and smiled. “Don’t worry
about me. I’ve got my eye on the future and Carlton.”

She gave a satisfied nod. “Good. I’ll let you
get back to work, then.”

“Goodbye, Grandmother.” He accepted her
maternal peck on the cheek.

Much as he loved her, Georgina St. Denis
could drive him up the wall. He sighed with relief once the door
dosed behind her. Noel thought about Lyrissa being only a few feet
down the hall. His grandmother considered tier a dangerous
temptation, and she might be right. The last thing he needed was to
lose his head over a woman. His father had taught him the perils of
choosing the wrong woman. Noel did indeed have priorities. Being
distracted by a lovely set of... everything was not on the
agenda.

Three days of searching, and Lyrissa found
it. She strained to read the faded ink of a letter dated 1888.
Phillip Jean St. Denis had written to his lawyer about a large
painting by a passable local artist called J. Joubert.”

“Yes!” Lyrissa made notes with a big smile on
her face.

Noel walked in. “You look excited. Found the
lost treasure of Jean Lafitte?”

“Ah, no. I’ve finally made some headway
through most of the papers. I should be through soon.” She shuffled
the letter in with a stack of other sheets.

“Then we can celebrate over lunch. To discuss
the appraisal, of course,” he added quickly.

In a good mood, Lyrissa could see no harm in
one quick lunch. “I suppose so.” She carefully put the documents
back in their protective folders.

“What?” He blinked in surprise. “So
easy?”

“No, but I can tell you a bit more. Might as
well be today.” Lyrissa picked up her purse. “I’m ready.”

“Great! I’ll just let Eddie know.” Noel held
the door for: her, and they went toward his office.

Julie appeared around a corner. “Noel, I need
to talk to you.” She glanced at Lyrissa but didn’t greet her.

“I’m on my way out to lunch. Unless it’s an
emergency I’ll call you when I get back,” Noel said.