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“You should have a piece. It’s very good.” Mitch’s aunt nudged the tray with the traditional Mardi Gras treat toward her. The sweet mix of sugar and yeasty dough drifted from the slit in the cellophane wrapping. “Jack already got the baby so you’re safe.”
The one finding the plastic baby was supposed to buy the next cake. Jack probably thought the whole tradition downright irritating. He didn’t like kittens, and he wouldn’t like babies. Alive or plastic.
“I don’t mind buying the next cake.” Cath cut a sliver sprinkled with gold sugar. “If I’m still here.” Maybe she’d get lucky by then and be living her regularly scheduled life. Away from the sexual attraction pulling her closer and closer to one hunky bounty hunter. Their mutual kiss—and how long it had lasted—proved how hard that would be. She had to resist for her own peace of mind, and she could. She’d been raised to be tough.
The back door flew open. Mitch barreled into the kitchen on a blast of cold fresh air.
Talk about making a grand entrance. She searched his flushed face. “What happened?”
“I’ll tell you in the truck. Get your coat on.” He kissed his aunt on the cheek. “We need to hit the road.”
He hustled her outside before she could button up and opened the passenger door.
Don’t get in yet. Make him tell you where you’re going.
Mitch hesitated beside her. “You need help?”
“No.” Cath crossed her arms. “I don’t know why I wasted my breath talking about teamwork.”
“We don’t have time for discussion. He told me he’d meet us in forty minutes.”
“Ned Landry?”
Mitch frowned. “Don’t worry about him. I’m talking about Justin.”
“Who’s Justin?”
“Claims to be a friend of your brother’s.” Mitch climbed behind the wheel of his pickup.
She needed more. “You just happened to meet him at the cemetery?”
“He called.” Mitch gestured to her through the open passenger door. “Said Sarah gave him my number.”
Cath clenched her jaw. Sarah had her number, too, or was this an example of male solidarity?
Mitch turned the ignition. The truck roared to life, and Cath climbed in. “Thank you for explaining.”
He patted the edge of her seat, his fingers brushing against her hip. “I told you things would work out.”
“If Justin actually tells us something useful.”
* * *
Mitch scanned the car lot beside the old Jax bottling plant, now converted into shops and restaurants. Naturally Justin wanted to meet in the French Quarter and had disconnected before Mitch could suggest someplace quieter. Naturally Mardi Gras had drawn a huge crowd of out-of-towners. Naturally they were stuck in chockablock traffic searching for parking.
“I guess I can delete Ned Landry from the list.” Cath unfolded what looked like a paper napkin. “I can’t imagine him hiring someone to abduct me. It’s not like I have a fortune.”
Red lights flashed on the cars ahead. Mitch braked and blotted the sweat on his lip. “What list?”
“I wrote down all my competitors while I was waiting for you.”
“I already told you to forget Ned Landry.”
Her chin rose. “I need to know what you’re basing your opinion on. If you don’t mind telling me, of course.”
“He was hustling for my business. Hard. He was leading that tour himself, so he’s running a lean operation. When I wanted to know about ghost tours, he recommended your business. Said you were the best in town.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Did he know I’d closed temporarily?”