Hurricanes and Handcuffs: A Red Hot Cajun Nights Story Read Online Free Page B

possibilities. Just as quick as it appeared, the sensation morphed into one of pure panic.
    How the hell was she going to narrow down her options with this many choices?
    “Can I help you?”
    She pivoted to the smiling sales clerk. “Oh God, I hope so.”
    The woman laughed. “I know. It can be a tad overwhelming. But we’ll get you something fabulous. I promise.” She gestured with her hand, indicating for Gabbi to follow her. “Occasion?”
    “I’m attending a Mardi Gras party.”
    “Ooh, fun! Well, we have quite a few costumes that fit the bill.” The clerk swept her with an appraising look. “I guess my next question is how sexy do you want to go? Some of our outfits are on the racy side.”
    Considering what she had in mind, the more skin the better. Besides, it wasn’t as if she’d be the only female there hoochie mama-ing it up. If she wanted to catch Jax’s attention and not have him fall asleep on her this time around, she’d have to pull out all the stops. “Racy is good.”
    The woman’s gaze sparkled. “This definitely sounds like a fun party.”
    God willing it would be. Because she was counting on creating a memory that would last her a lifetime. 
     
    She made it back to the house with fifteen minutes to spare before Theresa and her ladies bustled inside with their arsenal of cleaning supplies. Leaving the rest of the house in their more than capable hands, Gabbi stationed herself in the kitchen for the remainder of the morning and most of the afternoon. When Jax initially informed her of his plan to throw a Mardi Gras ball she’d adamantly held her ground about not preparing a full course dinner for his seventy plus guests. That was the good news. But it was still no easy feat arranging a tasty appetizer menu for that many people without losing her mind in the process.
    Fortunately she’d been able to make the crawfish gumbo ahead of time, along with the braised short ribs. The assortments of breads were done, as were the pralines and beignets. The servers had her instructions on the Bananas Foster. All she really had to concentrate on now were the mini muffulettas and hot crawfish dip.
    Midway through shredding the shellfish a tickle of awareness crept along her nape, convincing her that she was the subject of someone’s intense scrutiny. Fairly certain she knew the identity of the culprit, she glanced toward the kitchen entry and locked stares with Jax. Judging from the tense set of his gorgeous features, he wasn’t suffering from the ill side effects of too-drunk-to-recall-I-kissed-the-daylights-out-of-you syndrome. Or perhaps he was, depending on how you looked at it— and how recently he remembered said fact.
    Still holding her gaze, he took a step forward. Before he could get any farther than that he was waylaid by one of the many delivery people who’d been coming and going from the house all day. Theresa quickly hustled to Jax’s side. “Go on, Mr. Noble. I can take care of this.”
    Jax’s focus lingered on Gabbi for a second. Finally he peered at his housekeeper and shook his head. “No, it’s all right.” Turning his back on her, he followed the delivery man into the hallway.
    Gabbi released her breath. It was ridiculous to be this nervous about the inevitable confrontation between them, especially considering what she had up her sleeve for tonight. But then again it’d be difficult enough summoning the necessary courage to see her through this without the added complication of whatever he intended to say about last night. What if he insisted it’d been a mistake? Or worse, he had been drunk and didn’t know what he was doing. She wouldn’t be able to bear the pain of that admission, much less follow through with her plan.
    And she had to. It was the only way to break his hold on her heart. Steeling her will with that reminder, she tossed the bits of crawfish into the dip and whisked the creamy ingredients together.
     
    The remainder of the afternoon and early