Shep simply wagged that tail of his.
Sera had a better idea, an idea that did not involve her being seen with Harry anywhere close to his aunt’s house. She had no illusions that the staff wouldn’t report to Celeste that Sera had been in the truck when Harry dropped Shep off. “My place is closer. It’s on the way out of town. My mom wouldn’t mind having a friend for the day, and I know Luc would love it. He’s good around dogs. He won’t try to climb him or anything. He’s been around Lila’s dog.”
The softest expression came over his face. “You want me to meet your kid?”
“Well, I don’t know that we’ll have a lot of time to meet anyone.” She was right back to shy again. Maybe it wasn’t such a great idea. Her mom would take it all wrong. Her mom would tell Remy, who would likely be all big brother about it when there wasn’t anything to really protect her from since they were only friends.
Of course, she had a baby with her last male friend, so there was that.
“Maybe we should think about this.”
He shook his head. “You think way too much. It’s my place or your place. We need to hit the road or it’ll be late before we get back.”
“There’s a storm coming in,” Jerry warned.
“It’s only rain, Daddy,” LaTonya argued. “The weatherman said there was only a fifty-fifty chance.”
“It’s coming.” Jerry rubbed his right elbow. “I feel it in my bones and they’re far more reliable than some degree from a university. Like I said, you kids these days depend far too much on technology.”
He walked away grumbling about how computers were taking over the world.
LaTonya shook her head. “Don’t listen to him. Although he might be right about the weather. That elbow of his should be granted a degree in meteorology. Keep an eye on the forecast. The bridge into town floods this time of year. You two be safe.”
Sera had to make a decision. What was more important? Getting the flooring or having to explain to her family that she wasn’t dating Harry Jefferys?
The lunches they’d had while they were working were not dates. Talking to him on the phone late at night because she had a question about the best tile to order wasn’t a date, even though it ended up with her talking to him until two in the morning about everything from his favorite movies to why she was genuinely afraid of birds. They were rats with wings, and they attacked from above.
Not dates. Not at all.
“We’ll stop by my place.” They were friends. Nothing more. Her mother would understand that.
“Good.” Harry was back to smiling. “And we can grab dinner in town. I haven’t been in the French Quarter in years. I’ll call and make us reservations someplace nice.”
She hurried after him and swore she was going to keep the whole day platonic.* * ****
Harry knocked on the door to their motel room as the rain poured down, beating against the roof. He huddled under the awning and hoped Sera would let him in. After all, he was the reason they were stuck outside Papillon. If he hadn’t insisted on dinner in the Quarter, they wouldn’t have gotten stuck in traffic. If they hadn’t gotten stuck in traffic, they would have been safely home before the road into town flooded.
They wouldn’t be here in a cheap motel where there was only one room left and he was going to end up spending the night sleeping on the floor.
If she let him in at all.
He knocked again. He’d run over to the convenience store across the street and procured toothbrushes, some snacks, and a bottle of wine as an apology.
The door came open and she stood there, her eyes rimmed red.
“I can’t get a cell phone signal.” There was a panicked look in her eyes.
“Okay. I’ll see if I can get one.” He walked inside and made a beeline for the bathroom. He was soaked through.
“There’s two bars, but the call won’t go through,” she insisted. “It’s got plenty of charge. I always make sure it’s charged. I wouldn’t leave my mom without a way to get hold of me if something were to happen to Luc.”
He put his hands on her shoulders. He knew the start of a panic attack, had had a few himself. “Sera, it’s all right. Everything is going to be okay. Take a deep breath with me.” He stroked his hands down her arms. She’d relaxed a bit the minute he’d touched her.
She took a long breath. “I’m sorry. I’m acting crazy.”
He shook his head and smoothed her hair back, not missing the way her eyes closed at the contact. Zep had told him she hadn’t dated in a long time. She’d been deprived of much-needed affection. “You’re not. You’re acting like a mom. There’s a landline here. Your mom has a landline at her place, right?”