Page 24 of Landry (Bayou Brotherhood Protectors #7)

Landry pulled out his cell phone and keyed something into a text message. “While he’s looking for anything on Billy Ray, I’ll have Swede see if he can find anything on this guy as well. Do you know if there are any surveillance cameras in the area around the front entrance of your shop?”

Camille frowned. “Surveillance cameras? You think he might be dangerous?”

“We don’t know. We could run his face through facial recognition databases to see if we get a match. Better safe than sorry.”

“Seems like a lot of trouble to go through for a date cancellation.” She nodded. “But yes, there is a surveillance camera on the Acadian Art Gallery next door. The corner camera catches my front entrance. The owner let me know when she had it installed.”

“Good. Swede might be able to tap into her system and pull up the images from yesterday afternoon.”

A shiver snaked its way down the back of Camille’s neck. “Seems so creepy and clandestine. I hope nothing comes of all of this. I hate to think we have even more criminals roaming the streets of Bayou Mambaloa.”

“Me, too.”

Ava pushed through the door with a sheet of paper in her hand. “Mama, look what I drew for you.”

Camille took the paper from her daughter and studied the drawing.

Ava had drawn four stick figures. Two were obviously female, with long black hair.

One was small, the other much taller. The other two were male with shorter hair.

One smaller, with brown crayon hair, and the other appeared to be an adult with yellow hair.

The smaller male had what appeared to be a teddy bear in his hand.

“Who are these people in your picture?” Camille asked.

Ava pointed at what appeared to be an adult female with black hair.

“That’s you, Mama.” Her finger moved to the smaller female with black hair.

“That’s me.” Ava glanced up at Landry. “The one with yellow hair is Mr. Landry, and the little boy is Billy Ray. He has Fuzzy Bear in his hand. Mr. Landry said his friends are looking for Billy Ray. I hope they find him soon.”

“Me too, baby.” Camille stared at the picture her daughter had drawn, a lump forming in her throat. All the stick figures had happy smiles.

“This is a very nice picture,” Camille observed. “They all look so happy.”

Ava wrapped her arms around herself and grinned. “Because they’re a happy family.”

Camille’s heart pinched hard in her chest. Was she already too late to keep Ava from including Landry in her childish dreams of having one big happy family?

“It’s a beautiful drawing. Let’s hang it on the refrigerator. Then we need to pack an overnight bag for you and get you over to Auntie Gisele and Uncle Rafael’s place.”

“Do you think they’ll make hot dogs for me?” Ava asked.

“If that’s what you want, I’m sure they will.” Camille ruffled her daughter’s hair and led the way to the kitchen, where she positioned the drawing on the refrigerator with a magnet to hold it in place. “There. Now, we can get you packed.”

Camille entered Ava’s room and stopped short. The room was clean, and the toys were put away. “Wow. How did this happen?”

“Me and Mr. Landry played the cleanup game. I won because I picked up the most toys. He couldn’t get the ones under the bed.”

Landry chuckled. “Ava is much closer to the ground.”

“Well, this is a nice surprise. I don’t think I’ve seen your room look this clean. Good job, you two.” She gave Ava a high-five.

“Do Mr. Landry,” Ava urged.

Camille raised a hand.

Landry’s lips twitched as he tapped his palm against hers.

That electric shock ripped through Camille again. Based on the flare of Landry’s eyes, he’d felt it, too.

She jerked her hand away and rubbed it on her jeans. “Let’s find your backpack,” she said, her voice shaky.

“It’s right here,” Ava held up her pink unicorn backpack.

Camille quickly packed Ava’s pajamas, underpants and a set of clean clothes, along with a toothbrush and princess hairbrush.

Once Ava was ready, Camille dove into her bedroom, changed into a light blue sundress with a pale, yellow rose pattern sprinkled across the fabric.

She slipped her feet into flat white sandals, ran a brush through her hair and reapplied mascara and lipstick.

For a full day at work, she didn’t look too bad.

At five minutes to six, she stepped out of the house.

Landry waited with Ava on the porch. When she appeared, Ava bounced up and down. “We get to ride in Mr. Landry’s truck.” She grabbed Camille’s hand and practically dragged her down the steps.

“We could take my car,” Camille offered, though she already knew what his answer would be.

“I promised Ava we’d go in the truck. But if you want to take your car, we can.”

“Mama, let’s go in Mr. Landry’s truck. Please.”

She couldn’t say no when her daughter looked at her with those light blue eyes so much like her own. “We’ll go in Mr. Landry’s truck.”

“Yay!” Ava ran ahead to the truck.

Landry hooked Camille’s elbow and led her down the steps. “Sorry about that. I don’t mean to railroad you by making promises to your daughter. But I can’t say no to those big blue eyes of hers.”

A rush of desire raced through Camille as she recalled what that hand on her arm had done to other parts of her body the night before.

“I know what you mean. She has me wrapped around her little finger as well.” Was that really her voice?

The can’t-quite-catch-my-breath sound that was so unlike her new, improved, independent self.

Landry leaned close and whispered, “By the way, you look amazing in the dress.”

Warmth spread up her neck into her cheeks. “Thank you.”

They grabbed Ava’s booster seat from Camille’s car. Landry secured it in the truck’s backseat. Then he lifted Ava and settled her in the booster and adjusted the seatbelt across her lap. When he was done, Ava captured his face in her hands and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you, Mr. Landry.”

“You’re quite welcome, little princess,” he said and straightened.

If Gisele’s information about Landry was right, and he didn’t like or want children, he sure wasn’t showing it. The man appeared to like Ava, and she liked him in return.

And so do I.

Too much.

“Are you okay?” Landry asked Camille.

The passenger door stood open. Landry waited for her to climb in.

“Sorry,” she said and scrambled up into the truck, regretting the dress, sure she was showing far too much of her backside. As she settled in her seat, she tugged at the hem of her dress.

Landry chuckled. “It’s okay. You’re covered.”

Her cheeks flamed.

He rounded the front of the truck, slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine. With a wicked tilt of his lips, he asked, “Do you always match your underwear with your outerwear?”

Camille swatted his arm. “You said I was covered.”

“And you were, after you settled into the truck. It was the climb in where you were exposed to the bayou.”

She snorted. “And you.”

“Nothing I haven’t seen,” he said, still smiling.

Her cheeks were still burning by the time they pulled up to the Mamba Wamba Gift Shop.

Camille carefully slipped out of the truck before Landry could come around and open her door. She had her dress in its proper place by then.

Landry helped Ava out and swung her, backpack and all, to the ground.

Ava laughed and reached for his hand and Camille’s and walked between them to the stairs leading up to the apartment above the store.

Camille walked Ava up to the door with Landry following. Before she could raise her hand to knock, Gisele opened the door. “There you are, my little Ava-Ava, Bo-Bava. Get in here so we can whip up some Voodoo magic and make a frog grow hair.”

Ava’s eyes widened. “Really, can we make a frog grow hair?”

Camille shook her head. “No, of course you can’t. Gisele is teasing you.” Her brow dipped. “You can’t, can you?”

“No,” Gisele said. “Sadly. But wouldn’t a frog look funny with hair? Come in here, my sweet Ava. We’re going to have pizza and ice cream and stay up late watching movies.”

“Yay!” Ava clapped her hands.

“Did I hear my favorite little nugget?” Rafael came out of the bedroom, his hair damp. “Oh, good. I’ve been waiting all day to have pizza with my Ava.”

Ava darted into the apartment and flung herself into Rafael’s arms.

Camille smiled at her daughter’s exuberance. “I’m glad she feels comfortable with you two.”

“I don’t know,” Landry said. “I’m a little jealous.”

Rafael hugged Ava and then straightened and held out his hand to Landry. “Hey brother, on duty tonight?” he tipped his head toward Camille.

Landry nodded. “Taking my client to the fair.”

Gisele elbowed Rafael. “She has a date.”

Rafael raised an eyebrow toward Landry. “With you?”

“No, she has a date with a stranger.” Gisele tipped her head. “How’s that going to work with another man lurking nearby?”

“It’s going to be fine,” Camille said. “I’m going to break my date with the other guy, grab a hot dog for dinner and go back home. Thanks again for taking care of Ava for me.”

“Always my pleasure,” Gisele said. “She’s an angel. And while you’re at the fair, why not enjoy the carnival rides, funnel cakes and zydeco music? Life is short, my friend. Live a little.”

“We’ll see.” Heat filled Camille’s cheeks. She wasn’t sure Landry would want to stay and enjoy the fair activities. “First, I have to break the date.”

“Go easy on the guy. I’m sure he’ll be disappointed,” Gisele said. “But remember, it’s just a date. Breaking it won’t kill him.”

“Right.” Camille’s lips pressed together. She didn’t like breaking promises. Although this wasn’t really a promise, was it?

Landry turned away from Rafael and smiled. “Ready?”

With a short nod, Camille hiked the strap of her purse up on her shoulder. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”