Gabriel saw the shutters fall over her eyes, desire banished. The reporter in him wondered what it was about her former home that she didn’t want him to know. There was a story here; he could smell it. And he’d enjoy uncovering it. As much as he enjoyed the contrast of irritation and attraction he read in Erin’s very wary eyes.

“So you’re definitely not having dinner with me?”

“Absolutely not.”

He thought he heard regret, faint but real. Real enough to keep him rooted in the hallway. “I’m crushed.”

“You’ll survive.”

“But I might starve.”

The quick retort startled a laugh from her. “You don’t give up, do you?”

“Not when fate intervenes. We’ve been in the same city for months, and we run into each other twice in one day. Cher, it must be destiny.”

Too bad she didn’t believe in destiny, Erin thought. And she didn’t believe in coincidence, either. “Mr. Moss, while you are quite charming, your efforts are lost on me.”

Gabriel nodded and turned his head to a burly officer lounging near a coffee machine. “Hey, Jerry? The lady thinks I’m charming.”

“You? She must be from out of town.” Other cops chuckled and called out greetings.

“Ignore them,” he encouraged with a wink. “Drinks?”

“In another lifetime, perhaps.” Turning away, she plowed through the bullpen and banged on the metal door to be released. Officer Rochon buzzed her through and watched bemusedly as she hurried outside the police station. “Interesting woman,” he murmured to himself. “But that’s not so unusual here in New Orleans.”

Chapter 6

On Royal, weekend revelers milled about, unconcerned that it was a weekday. They were entranced by the party that was New Orleans. Vibrant jazz danced in the air. The moist heat gave young women and men a reason to shed clothes and inhibitions. Mardi Gras had been months before, but the festivities had simply shifted focus to summer tourists.

With thick crowds pouring into the Quarter, there was not a vacant cab to be found. Erin cursed beneath her breath. She rummaged in her bag for her phone and quickly dialed her assistant. Noise blared in the background. Erin shouted into the phone, “Jessica? Hi, it’s Erin.”

On the other end, grading papers, Jessica leaned into the phone. “Dr. Abbott? Where in the world are you?”

An engrossed couple, sharing a Hurricane, wove past the station and Erin. She stepped out of their way and sighed. “Down in the Quarter. Is there a chance you can swing by after your office hours and pick me up? I’m not sure I’ll be able to get a cab.”

“Sorry, Dr. Abbott,” Jessica apologized. “I’ve got to cover a class for Dr. Bernard. He called in sick today.”

Hearing the genuine regret, Erin said, “No problem. I’ve got a few more exams I can grade while I wait.”