“Beignets!” Benny said, greeting them both. “I saw all the commotion at Katie’s place and all the police and forensic vehicles that pulled up in front of Monty’s. I figured something had happened and that...” He paused and shrugged. “That you might need beignets. And café au lait.” He frowned. “I got plenty of beignets. I, uh, didn’t know you’d be here, too, Mr. Oliver, so I’m short a café au lait. I can run back over—”

“Benny, we can share, thank you,” Katie told him. “That was so sweet of you.”

Benny grinned. “Beignets, yeah, they’re sweet.”

“Nice, kind, thoughtful,” Katie said.

“Dan can have my café au lait—” Lorna began.

“Katie and I can share just fine,” Dan assured her, agreeing with Katie. Did she really want to share with him? Swap DNA through a paper cup?

He kind of liked the idea.

“Please!” Benny said, passing the box of the powdery doughnutlike creations that were the specialty of Café du Monde.

Dan accepted the box just as Lorna enthusiastically grabbed a pastry, throwing a dusting of powdered sugar over the four of them.

“Oh, Lord! I’m so sorry!” Lorna said, appearing horrified.

“It’s powdered sugar.” Dan assured her. “It will all blow off soon enough.”

Katie was looking at him. She reached out and touched his face, wiping away at the substance that must have gotten all over his nose and cheeks.

He liked her touch. The way her eyes touched his, even the amusement she was allowing herself to feel.

“Well,” Benny said, “I, um, well... I mean, wow. At least...at least people aren’t leaving the city in droves. I mean, I’m making out okay, moneywise. And it seems you guys are still doing okay on the carriage tours.”

“So far,” Lorna said. “But...well, I at least am leaving it to Matt to do the night shift. Hey, speaking of which, Benny, do you want a ride later? Your house is right by the stables. Let’s go back together. Katie has Dan. Want to come with me?”

“Sure. I’ll be ready when you are. Well, guess I’m off to be Old Hickory for a while.”

They all called out a thank-you to him for the beignets, and Benny headed to the corner and the little stump he used for his podium.

Katie finished off a beignet and sipped the café au lait, then handed the cup to him.

“Thanks. You don’t mind?”

She shook her head. He sipped. He tried to tell himself there was nothing all that intimate about sharing a café au lait.

A large group of tourists was headed their way. One woman stepped toward them and said they were part of a convention and obviously they wouldn’t fit in one carriage.

Katie and Lorna assured her they could divide up however they chose, and the carriages would follow one another.