Read Online Sandra Hill - [Creole] by Sweeter Savage Love - Free Book Online Page A

Etienne, I think you’ve finally met your match. Perhaps this woman is heaven-sent—a miracle sent to revive your dead…uh, spirit.”
    “God would not be so cruel.”
    Why was Etienne so disdainful of her? She knew better than anyone how to interpret hidden sexual signals, and this guy was sending zippo her way. He’d been telling the truth when he said he wasn’t interested in her anymore. “Let’s backtrack here a bit, guys. Start from the beginning. What’s this tongue and buttermilk business? Can I get in on the joke?”
    “No,” Etienne stated flatly.
    “Oh, it’s a man thing, huh?” she snipped. “Even in a dream, men have to play sexist games.”
    “Why does she keep talking about dreams?” Cain asked.
    “What sex games?” Etienne wanted to know.
    “I said ‘sexist’ games, not sex games, you jerk.”
    “Huh?” Cain put a hand to his head as if disoriented. “All I did was ask why she keeps talking about dreams.”
    “Because this is a dream,” Harriet asserted.
    “Because she’s a lunatic,” Etienne said at the same time, “or a bad actress.”
    “Give me a break!”
    “I’d love to break you. In two. Maybe later, sweetheart.” He smiled grimly.
    She made a face at the back of Etienne’ s head, which Cain caught. He grinned at her.
    In the meantime, Etienne had put on a clean, blue, collarless shirt and a black suit jacket, which he buttoned up priggishly in Pee-Wee Herman fashion. He left the same black trousers on, rolled up at the ankle, but he put his scruffy boots, along with his other clothing and one of the guns, into the satchel. He slipped the second gun into the back waistband of his trousers.
    “Be careful that gun doesn’t go off accidentally and shoot you in the butt,” she advised.
    A low growl emerged from deep in his throat. The glare he cast her way could have melted concrete.
    “Now, Etienne, hold your temper,” Cain admonished. “There’s no time to kill her now. Wait till New Orleans.”
    Well, that’s comforting .
    Etienne inhaled deeply, obviously forcing himself to relax, then bent to stuff his big feet into a pair of new, black leather shoes, which were apparently too tight. “I’m gonna have blisters by the time we get to New Orleans.”
    “Oh, goodie! They’ll match the ones on your behind if that gun goes off.”
    “The only thing going off around here is your mouth,” he said with distaste. Meanwhile, he raked his newly cut hair behind his ears, which called attention to the silly part down the center.
    “Do you know why dumb men part their hair down the middle?”
    Etienne’s shoulders slumped and he closed his eyes as if praying.
    “Why?” Cain asked.
    Etienne’s eyes shot open and he scowled at Cain for encouraging her.
    “Because their heads aren’t well balanced.”
    “Notice that I’m not amused,” Etienne said.
    “I’m not either, Etienne,’ Cain added ingratiatingly, and spoiled the effect by biting his lip to stifle its upward turn.
    “Do you know that dumb men are proof that reincarnation exists?”
    “Really?” Cain said playfully in perfect straight-man style.
    “Oh, God!” Etienne moaned. “Please spare us.”
    “No one could get that stupid in one lifetime.”
    Cain hooted with laughter.
    Etienne moaned louder. Then, disgusted with them both, he proceeded to smooth his jacket front. Bending his knees, he hunkered down so he was eye-level with the mirror propped on the upper window ledge and gave himself one last check.
    “Be careful you don’t split your pants,” she remarked acidly, staring at the fabric of his trousers pulled taut over his behind. But what she thought was, Man, oh, man!
    At first, his face reddened with affront. But then he flashed her a knowing wink, and asked Cain, “Is this enough of a disguise? How do I look?”
    “Like a nerd,” Harriet observed before Cain could answer. A handsome nerd, though , she added to herself.
    “Fine,” Cain disagreed.
    They both ignored her opinion.