Tempt Me Read Online Free Page B

behind her water glass as she noticed the beautiful BD continuing to worry over his bride throughout the meal. Bethany had come to New Orleans to help Michelle and Ben do some research on the last occupants of the mansion... and had won the heart of Bone Daddy. The “Love Doctor of the Big Easy” was well and truly caught, and he didn’t look like he had any interest in getting away.
    Bethany smiled, but even to Angelique, who was only now getting to know her, it looked off. “We aren’t here to talk about me. Not right now. We’re here to welcome Gabriel home, and to celebrate Allegra and Rousseau’s upcoming home birth. Michelle and I are going to be the best midwives you’ve ever seen. I must have read thirty books on the subject so far.”
    “Thank you, Bethany.” Allegra’s eyes grew misty. “I know you’re going to do a great job.”
    “Midwives? You’re having the baby at your house?”
    Angelique nibbled on a piece of corn bread as she watched Allegra lean forward with an excited smile to answer Gabriel’s question. “Actually, we’re doing it right here, at Ben and Michelle’s. I can’t wait.”
    Gabriel paled and glanced down at his plate. “Here?”
    Angelique choked on her corn bread and he glared in her direction. “She didn’t mean in the dining room.” She lifted an eyebrow, unfazed. “Although it’s not a bad idea. This table is certainly big enough.”
    Allegra snorted. “I wasn’t planning on giving birth between courses, Gabriel. Don’t let our new college graduate scare you.”
    Celestin leaned over and tugged on one of Angelique’s curls. “I love hearing that. College graduate. The first in our family. And you made the top of your class, right?”
    She batted his hand away and glanced at Gabriel through her lashes. Since the meal started she’d been planning his seduction. The last thing she wanted was for him to see her as a child. Now her brother was one step away from showing baby pictures. That would make her evening perfect.
    Ben took pity on her. “What was it you got your degree in? I keep thinking it’s sassin’ back, but I don’t know if they offer that major at LSU yet.”
    Angelique stuck out her tongue. “Very funny. You know it was environmental engineering. Besides”—she pointed at him with her fork—“I don’t need a class on sass. I was taught by the master.”
    Gabriel looked up at that, directly at Angelique, with an expression that was insultingly reminiscent of disbelief. “Interesting.”
    Angelique knew what he wasn’t saying. She’d heard it before. Most of the guys she’d dated had said something to the effect of, “An engineer? I wouldn’t have guessed. Teacher, baker, or salsa dancer, maybe. Not engineer.” Why would he be any different?
    She narrowed her gaze warningly. “Katrina hit during my first semester. When the levees failed, I wondered why. The more I learned about the erosion and the design flaws, the more I wanted to know. When I found out about the work that was needed in wetland preservation and coastline restoration, well...” She shared a smile with Celestin. “Being our mother’s child, I wanted to fix it.”
    Bethany looked around her husband, an expression of true interest relaxing her features. “Allegra told me you also minored in Southern folklore. A girl after my own multitasking heart.”
    Angelique nodded. “At first I thought it would be an easy A. Growing up here, I knew it all, right? But there’s more tall tales and folk legends in and around Louisiana than I imagined. It was fascinating.” She laughed. “Although we spent a lot of time focusing on my professor’s personal passion. He knew as much about the Loup Garou, or Rougarou as he called them, as I expect Mambo Toussaint knows about voodoo.”
    Ben shushed her and glanced around the room with a humorous impression of paranoia. “Rousseau, you’d better tell your little sister that there is no one, anywhere , who knows about anything as