Read Online In Her Wildest Dreams by Farrah Rochon - Free Book Online

hadn’t just made a complete mess of things.
    “So, this mock date night,” he started in an effort to change course. “Let me see if I understand. Your biggest concern is that you don’t know anything about these people, and one of the hallmarks of a Your Wildest Dreams experience is that it is tailored to a client’s specific likes, correct?”
    Erica looked across the table at him, as if she still wasn’t sure she should stay. Gavin made a ‘come on’ gesture with his hand, urging her to join in the conversation.
    “Correct,” she answered after several long, hesitative moments passed. “That’s the gist of it. I have no idea whether they enjoy history, or music, or quiet nights. I do have typical things that seem to be a part of every experience, such as dinner at one of the higher-end restaurants. I usually book Delmonico’s, Commander’s Palace, or one of John Besh’s, depending on the type of cuisine the client prefers. I also do a lot of French Quarter carriage rides,” she said. “Tourists and locals alike seem to love those.”
    “That’s a given,” Gavin said around a mouthful of sushi. “No trip to New Orleans would be complete without seeing the French Quarter while being pulled around in a horse-drawn carriage.”
    “I’ve never taken one,” Erica remarked.
    “You’re kidding?” Gavin shook his head. “We’re going down to Jackson Square after we’re done with dinner. How can you send your clients on carriage rides if you’ve never experienced it for yourself?”
    She shrugged. “I guess you’re right.”
    “Wait a minute.” Gavin pointed his chopsticks at her. “You said the people from The Hawthorn Group are coming down for a convention. Do you know whether they’ve ever visited the city?”
    “They haven’t. Hilton Banks mentioned it in our phone conversation.”
    “That’s your answer, Erica. You should create a First-Time-in-New Orleans-themed experience. Give them the very best of the city,” Gavin said. “Even better, you can focus on the not-so-well-known tourist destinations. Everyone who comes here wants to see Bourbon Street and the rest of the Quarter, not realizing there’s so many other great things to experience all over this city.”
    For the first time since they’d sat at the table, the smile on Erica’s face seemed genuine and not forced. “That sounds like something I could work with,” she said. “New Orleans’s little-known treasures. I can arrange dinner at one of the new restaurants in Mid-City, followed by a romantic dessert picnic for two on Bayou St. John.”
    “What about a helicopter ride over the city?”
    “You know, I’ve never included that in one of my experiences. I’ll bet it looks spectacular at night.”
    “It does,” Gavin said. “I took Whitney on one during Mardi Gras a few years ago. We flew over several parades. It was phenomenal.”
    “I’ll bet,” Erica said. She pushed the yellow tail tuna around on her plate. “She was a fool, you know?” She glanced up at him for a moment before quickly averting her eyes. “To have a man who was willing to give her everything under the sun and who knows how to create magic with chocolate? Whitney Parker was a fool to have lost you.”
    “I think so, too,” Gavin said.
    She cast another quick glance his way, a self-deprecating smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “I guess the same could be said about me, huh?”
    “Not necessarily.” Gavin took a sip of his beer. “You still have time to do the smart thing.”
    She lifted her eyes to his. In a small voice, she asked, “How much time?”
    He stared at her for a moment. “Some,” he finally answered, then added, “But I won’t wait forever, Erica. We’ve been skirting around this issue long enough. We’ve both known that this was inevitable.”
    “Did we?” she asked. She tossed her chopsticks aside and cradled her face in her hands. With a groan, she said, “This is all so confusing. One minute,