Gerard by Elle James

Author:Elle James [James, Elle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Twisted Page Inc

Chapter 8

At Tante Mimi’s Diner, Mimi herself escorted Bernie and Gerard to a table. “I heard what happened to Howey,” she said. “Sit down. I’ll bring you some water, coffee, orange juice and cook anything you want, on the menu or not. On the house.”

Bernie hugged Mimi. “You don’t have to go to all that trouble. I doubt I could eat a bite.”

Mimi held Bernie at arm’s length. “You have to believe Howey will be all right. Think positive.”

Bernie nodded. “You’re right. He could use all the positivity he can get.”

“Right.” Mimi smoothed her hands over her apron. “What can I get you two to eat?”

Bernie shrugged. “Anything. Surprise me.”

Mimi turned to Gerard. “And you?”

“Make it two,” he said.

“Gotcha. I’ll be right back.” The woman spun, and her long black hair, encased in a hairnet, bobbed as she hurried toward a coffee pot behind the counter.

Gerard had been to the diner on several occasions and had seen Mimi each time, usually through the order window, as she did most of the cooking and left waiting tables to others.

She couldn’t be any older than Gerard and was pretty, even when wearing one of those weird chef’s hats and a hairnet. He’d heard she’d been a high-powered chef in New Orleans at one point and had given it all up to move to Bayou Mambaloa and take over her aunt’s diner, her aunt being the original Tante Mimi.

Rumor had it that the second iteration of Mimi’s had suffered a big breakup with a restaurant owner and had tucked her tail and run.

As far as Gerard was concerned, it was New Orleans’ loss and Bayou Mambaloa’s gain. Everything Mimi prepared was amazing, even simple scrambled eggs and toast.

The diner door opened. Deputy Taylor and Sheriff Bergeron entered and came straight to their table.

Mimi showed up a moment later, carrying a tray with a pot of coffee and four mugs. She set the mugs in front of each of her guests, poured the coffee and left them to talk.

Sheriff Bergeron leaned forward. “Deputy Taylor said you needed to talk to me. Something about your dog?”

Bernie opened her mouth, but her eyes filled with tears, and she turned to Gerard. “Tell him,”

Gerard filled the sheriff in on all that had transpired through the night and what they’d found that morning. He left out the part about making love to his client. That was strictly on a need-to-know basis. Nobody but him and Bernie needed to know about that.

“I’ll get out there after this meeting and look around,” Deputy Taylor said.

“Have you had any more contact with the resort broker?” the sheriff asked.

Bernie shook her head. “Not over the last week. I’ve had a few real estate agents leave messages, wanting to know if I was willing to sell the property. I don’t respond.”

“Can you send me the numbers for them?” Sheriff Bergeron asked.

“Sorry,” Bernie grimaced. “I deleted them.”

Gerard pushed back from the table. “I’ll be right back. I need to report to my boss. He’ll want to know what’s going on.

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