Bayou Mardi Gras - Suzanne Jenkins Page 0,1

funny,” Annie said, giggling. “I wish you’d reconsider and just let the guy move in with you.”

“No way. We’ve only been together since the end of summer. It’s too soon.”

“I wish I had your self-control,” Annie replied. “I’ll be into work in a jiffy. I just wanted to tell you about Katrina.”

Annie worked at the animal rescue that Maggie had started on her property, and the ride from town was several miles down a treacherous dirt road that was flooded at the present time, or a quick boat ride with the dockmaster, Gus Hebert, from the village dock to Maggie’s dock. Today, she was boating in, so they said goodbye.

Maggie poured herself a cup of coffee while the final king cake baked in the oven. This one had a sweet filling of cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar. She’d been baking and freezing king cakes for days, and on Monday in time for the party, she’d get them all out to thaw and frost and decorate with white, green and purple frosting and colored sugar. In each cake, as per tradition, she had placed a tiny plastic baby doll—she’d have to make a note to remind people to be careful when eating—and the person who got the doll had to give the next party.

The sound of a diesel engine echoed, getting her German shepherd Brulee’s attention.

“Ah oh, that’s your daddy’s truck,” Maggie said, going out on the porch. “I wonder what he’s doing here in the middle of a workday.”

She watched him get out of his truck, look up at the cottage to see her waiting, wave and open the gate so he could get through. Her heart sped up seeing him, there was no way around it. Justin was gorgeous and built, and seeing him still made her body go a little crazy. He had on his standard work garb: a snug T-shirt that showed off his buff, tattooed arms, and jeans that left little to the imagination.

The engine revved up when he put it in gear again, coming up the dusty path to the cottage. With tail wagging madly, Brulee waited until Maggie opened the porch gate to jump down and greet Justin.

“This is a surprise,” she said, grinning. Something told her the visit was going to be more than a cup of coffee.

“The power went out at the clinic, so we canceled the appointments until the electrician can get out at eleven.”

“And?”

“And I missed my woman,” he said, reaching for her, pulling her body to his. He bent his head down and kissed her, leaving no doubt about his intentions.

“Hurry, let’s get inside before Annie gets here.”

“Ugh,” Justin moaned. “This place is getting too busy.”

“Ha! She won’t stop in if your truck is here and the door is closed. She’ll go right to the rescue.”

“You’ve got her well trained.”

“I had to do that with everyone who comes to help, or I’d lose my privacy. The rule is no stops at the cottage unless invited.”

She took his hand and led him into the cottage and waited for Brulee to walk through before she closed and locked the door.

The oven timer buzzed thirty minutes later.

“Wow, that was good timing,” she said, laughing, getting out of bed.

Picking up drawstring pants from where she’d dropped them, she pulled them on, tucking her T-shirt into the waist.

“You’re saved by the bell,” he said lazily, hands folded under his head while watching her dress.

“I don’t need any saving,” she replied, looking at him sidelong. “I wanted that as much as you did.”

“Ha! You’re not kidding. You let me know who’s boss.”

“Stop,” she said, laughing. Grabbing his hand, she pulled him up to sit. “I hate to end our wonderful afternoon, but my cake is calling, and I have news.”

“Go ahead.” He reluctantly got up to dress. “I could stay here all day.”

“Me too. I’ll meet you downstairs so I can get my cake out of the oven.”

“Okay, don’t forget what you want to say.”

“Believe me, I won’t,” she said. “Come on, Brulee girl.”

They went down the stairs, and Maggie went right to the oven to turn the annoying buzzing timer off. With hot pads, she took the perfectly browned cake out of the oven and set it on a rack to cool.

Picking up the binoculars, she looked out the kitchen window toward the woods and saw Annie and someone else, probably the original rescue owner, Kelly, out in the fenced doggie yard, playing with the animals. All was well.

Justin’s boots on the stairs rang