Be My Baby Read Online Free PDF Page B

shook.”
    Juliet couldn’t believe how deeply she desired to just talk to Roxanne as a friend, to unload the way the insect flying out at her had accessed an almost primal fear that had knocked every rational thought from her mind. Grandmother had raised her to believe that an Astor Lowell held herself aloof from one’s employees, but at the moment her assistant felt a great deal less like a subordinatethan she did a warm, sympathetic woman Juliet would like to know better. She opened her mouth…
    And then closed it again when Edward emerged from the bedroom, a pristine white handkerchief folded around an object in his hand. She didn’t even know what it was she might have said, but she was left with the odd feeling that she’d just let an opportunity pass her by.
    “Is this what you saw?” Edward flipped back a corner of the monogrammed handkerchief and both women drew back as one, making what Juliet suspected were identical faces of horror at the sight of the large, dead insect within its immaculately laundered folds.
    “My God,” Roxanne said in disgust. “What the hell is that? I’ve never seen anything so repulsive—it must be three and a half inches long.”
    “It’s a cockroach.”
    “Oeeuh!” Then, with a reluctant, closer look, she said skeptically, “Get out of here. Cockroaches aren’t that big.”
    “Oh, they come in all sizes down here, from quite small to sometimes even larger than this. Unfortunately, roaches tend to be a real problem in New Orleans, even in some of the finest establishments.”
    “Oh, my God,” Juliet said faintly.
    “We’ve never had them here, however. And if it’s any consolation,” Edward said with a sympathetic smile for the women’s obvious horror, “I could only find the one, so I’m certain this is simply a random incident. I would, however, recommendcalling the exterminator in the morning and having the building inspected to be on the safe side. I’d also strip the bed.”
    “I am not sleeping in that bed,” Juliet stated categorically. She’d never get a wink of sleep in this suite now.
    “I’d still be sure to have the linens properly laundered to ensure there’s no spread of eggs.” He reached out and gave her hand a gentle pat. “I’m so sorry, my dear. This is not how I would have chosen to introduce you to New Orleans.”
    “Thank you, Edward. And I apologize, also. I’m usually a little more composed than this evening’s behavior might lead you to believe.”
    “Nonsense, dear—of course you were upset. Don’t give it another thought.”
    “Come on, Juliet,” Roxanne said gently. “I’ll help you move to another room.”
    It didn’t take long, since Juliet hadn’t yet unpacked. They moved her luggage to the suite across the hall and Roxanne stayed with her while she carefully checked every inch for uninvited wildlife. When she finally climbed into bed a short while later, she was relatively certain that the cockroach had indeed simply been an unfortunate fluke.
    It was nevertheless several hours before she relaxed enough to finally fall asleep.
     
    Juliet searched for Edward the next morning and finally located him in the Blue Room, where he was ensconced in a deep chair, absorbed by a gardening magazine. An empty cup on a plate dusted with crumbs sat on the table at his elbow.
    She tapped on the doorframe and leaned into the room. “Good morning. May I come in?”
    “Of course, my dear!” He removed a pair of dark-rimmed reading glasses and set them aside with the magazine, rising to his feet. “I do hope you don’t mind my making myself at home. This has been my special room for…well, many a year.”
    “No, of course not.” She realized how truly the room reflected the man. It was dapper, warm, and well-appointed, with leather chairs worn to a soft patina, bookshelves full of tomes and magazines, and that spectacularly exotic wall of Mardi Gras masks. “It must be quite difficult having strangers suddenly in charge