CHAPTER EIGHT
"Hi," smiled the woman standing at the door. "I saw you on the cameras. They've become quite handy."
"I'm glad you feel safe with them," smiled Sor. "I was just checking on you. Wanted to make sure you didn't need anything."
"No," said Nelly. "Do you, I mean, did you need for me to find somewhere else to live? I mean, I can. It's okay. This is your home."
"No," he said, holding up his hands, shaking his head. "Not at all. I'm living on the property with the security team. I work there now."
"Oh, wow! That's great. They've all been really nice to me." She stared at him, smiling. He really was handsome and rugged. Everything her ex-husband was not. "Would you like something cold to drink? I don't have any alcohol, but I have soda, water, iced tea."
"Iced tea would be great."
"I'll be right back. Have a seat."
He nodded at her, taking a seat on the front porch rockers. He smiled, noticing that she'd placed floral cushions on the chairs. His ex-wife tried that once, and he tossed them in the bayou. What did it say that he found it endearing Nelly had done it.
"Here you go," she smiled, setting the tray between them. "I made some of Mama Irene's lemon bars. I've never been much of a baker, but she's converting me."
"Oh, these are my favorite," he said with a big smile, taking a bite of one. "Mmm, delicious!"
"Thank you." The cool breeze from the bayou blew across the porch, pushing strands of hair across her face. Sor swallowed, staring at the seemingly innocuous event. It was having a profound effect on him.
"I love this cooler weather," she smiled. "I can definitely see why you love this place. It's beautiful and peaceful. Quiet. I've been getting some great work done out here. I recently did the auction magazine for the art show, the one that several of your team were involved with."
"Oh, yes," he nodded. "We've got some very talented people on our team."
"You definitely do," she grinned. "How are you, Sor? I mean, how are you really with everything that happened between our exes?"
"Surprisingly, I'm good with it, Nell. Can I call you Nell?"
"Yes," she laughed. "I don't think anyone ever has, but it sounds nice coming from you. My real name is Helen, but my parents always called me Nelly."
"I like Nell. It seems to suit you. Anyway, as I said, I'm good with it. We were drifting apart anyway. I wanted to have a family, and she didn't. I suspected that she was seeing someone while I was gone on my last deployment. I never suspected it would be your husband."
"Ex. I mean, late. I mean, ex-late husband?" she grinned. "Anyway, I know what you mean. I knew that he was doing something. He'd say he was showing houses but would come home in his golf gear. I wouldn't have thought anything of that except that he wasn't even sweaty. How do you golf in south Louisiana and not get sweaty?"
"I don't know," he grinned. "I'm not a golf guy. I'm more of a baseball, football guy."
"I can see that," she smiled. "You're built for power."
"Thank you. I think."
"Oh, it was definitely a compliment. I mean, I wasn't staring at your physique or anything. I just noticed. I mean, I didn't notice. Oh, hell. I'm screwing this up."
"You're not screwing anything up, Nell," he said, reaching for her hand. "I think you're beautiful and talented, and I'd love to get to know you better. I've just been waiting to give you time to get over everything that happened."
"I'm over it, Sor. Really, I am. I'd like to get to know you as well." He took a big swig of the iced tea and nodded at her.
"Well, we're working on a case right now that might have me gone for a few days. Are you okay with that?" She cocked her head, staring at him. "I guess what I'm asking is, are you okay with a man that might be gone a few days now and then."
"I'm okay with that when I trust the man," she smiled. "I don't know why, Sor, but I trust you more than any man I've ever met in my entire life." He popped the last of the lemon bar in his mouth and stood.
"Well, then. I'll be back in a few days and maybe we could do lunch or dinner?"
"I think that sounds perfect," she said, taking a step toward him. He looked down at her, pushing those stray strands of hair behind her ears. He gently cupped her jaw and touched her sweet lips lightly, softly.
"Perfect. Absolutely perfect."