Chapter 47

The same crowd was there, calling out greetings. They found a table, got drinks, finished them and ordered more.

Luc was in a reckless mood made worse by the alcohol he was consuming. It was only after his fourth drink, and the fact that this time when the inevitable joint came his way he accepted it, that he felt himself beginning to relax.

Looking at Clarice, he smiled. “Want to dance?” At her quick nod, he led her onto the small, crowded dance space.

The music was something slow and easy to follow. She put her arms around his neck, leaning against him in the same way they used to dance. His hands remembered by themselves, sliding to her hips, holding her tightly against his body, feeling the soft, sensuous movement of her thighs against his. Clarice pressed her cheek against his shoulder and his lips brushed her forehead.

She looked up at him.

Luc blinked. Everything seemed warm and hazy and out of focus, as if he were wrapped in cotton. Old memories came flooding through the whisky-tinged, pot-fog. He bent and kissed her. Her tongue touched his, holding him, sucking out his soul. They stood in the center of the dance floor, not moving.

When the music stopped, Luc raised his head, looking directly into Clarice’s eyes. He jerked away from her, staggering backward as if she’d struck him. For a moment, he felt disoriented, looking around as if he wasn’t certain where he was.

“We’d better go home, Clarice.” His voice was husky and slow, sounding as numb as he felt as he caught her hand.

She let him lead her back to the car.

* * *

He drove home slowly, didn’t want any of the local black-and-whites stopping him. If he’d simply been drinking, he was sure he’d get off with merely a warning since Jean-Luc had enough pull in Metairie. With the pot in full control and all that alcohol, he wasn’t sure. That was all he needed, to be arrested for driving while under the influence of drugs, with his brother’s wife in the car. He glanced at Clarice. From the looks of it, she was out cold, head lolling against the back of the seat.

Turning off the engine, he coasted the ’Vette to a stop in front of the house, got out, and shook Clarice’s shoulder none too gently. “Hey, Sleeping Beauty. We’re home.”

“Don’t I set a wake-up kiss, mon amour?” she murmured, opening her eyes.

“Of course.” He was so open to suggestion, he immediately agreed, leaning over to kiss her hungrily. Lifting her to her feet, he set her outside the car before he let her go.

They went up the steps silently. Once Clarice was inside and the door very quietly shut, he said, “Good night.”

“You can do better than that.” She threw herself into his arms, pressing herself against him.

Luc pushed her away and Clarice staggered. Stepping back, she struck her heel on the bottom step and sprawled on the stairs.

“Mon cher, you’re so masterful.” She giggled drunkenly as she got to her feet, Luc’s attempts to quiet her only making it worse. “Gimme a li’l kiss, an’ I’ll hush up.”

“Anything to get away from you.” Desperately, he brushed his mouth against hers, then jerked away.

“Damn you, Luc.” Clarice turned and ran up the stairs.

He waited until he heard the door to the bedroom close, then made a little side trip into the study to get himself another drink before going to his own room.

As soon as he shut the door and saw Julie lying in the bed, her profile shadowed by the faint light from the veranda, partial sanity returned.

Mon Dieu, that was close. What madness have I been into tonight? I’d better get myself sobered up. Can’t let that happen again. What the Hell did I think I was doing? Thank God neither Michel nor Julie heard.

For several minutes, he sipped the drink, studying his sleeping wife. The way she lay threw her stomach into prominence and his conscience made him believe he could actually see the little mound protruding from her body…the little bump that was becoming the baby.

Luc set the glass on the dresser.

I’ll go into the garden, smoke a cigarette. Tobacco this time. Sober up, get myself into gear. And tomorrow…tomorrow, I’ll settle this business with Clarice, once and for all…and mean it.