Pretty Face by Sable Hunter Page A

worrying about the other.
    After an hour of frustration, he’d given up and gone for a drive, anything to take his mind off of his problems. First, he meandered around New Roads, taking in the scenery. Everywhere people were gearing up for Mardi Gras. There were decorations on every corner, evidence of floats being decorated caught his eye. He didn’t know much about it, but he did know the celebrations were already starting. The next time he talked to Sage, he’d have to ask her about them. After he left town, Hunter had driven by Parlange Plantation, gazing wistfully at the French Colonial architecture. Now, this was what he’d wanted to see. When he’d envisioned visiting Sage, he’d imagined her sharing her life with him, taking him to places that meant a lot to her, things that she’d told him about in their conversations.
    As he had many times before, Hunter tried to imagine why Sage didn’t want to see him. There had to be a good reason. For the life of him, he couldn’t imagine what it was.
    Over at Mama Mia’s, the TRO girls were deep in marinara sauce and wine coolers. “So, how did Hunter find out about The Right One?” Trinity asked as she chased a bit of Italian sausage around her plate with her fork.
    “When Hunter and I would talk, I always talked about the real me when I could. So, he knew that I and a couple of my friends had formed TRO. He’d seen the website and knew all the details, not our names, thank goodness.”
    “So, you two really shared your lives, didn’t you?” Marnie could see Cody was suffering.
    “As much as possible, yes. That’s what makes all of this so hard.” She sniffed, staring down the neck of the near empty bottle of wine cooler. “So, earlier he went to use my phone in the living room and found one of our welcome folders, and instead of connecting the dots that I was Sage, the owner of TRO, he assumed Cody was hunting a man.”
    “So?” Trinity couldn’t see the problem.
    “I got all nuts and told him I didn’t date because of the scar. We were having that conversation when you arrived.”
    Trying to lighten the mood, Marnie winked at Cody. “Is Hunter good with his hands?”
    “Well, he does good carpenter work, if that’s what you mean. Other than that, I only know what he’s told me he’d like to do with his hands.” She held the cool bottle next to her warm forehead. “I want to do something for him. Something big to make up for what I’ve done—a grand gesture, you know?”
    “Other than sex?” Trinity questioned, her mind never far from the more erotic side of life. (A polite way to say ‘never far from the gutter’ – ha!)
    “Yea, other than sex,” Cody mused.
    “What else does he want?” Trinity kept pushing.
    Cody thought. “Well, he loves to restore old homes. He expressed a desire to work on a plantation. He said that would make him a happy man.”
    Marnie sat up straighter, a smile coming over her face. “Why don’t we get him a job? My friends, the Pevetos, just bought Starlight, the old plantation at the north of False River. They’re planning on a major restoration. Is he any good?”
    Cody had no qualms about supporting him. “He’s the best. I’ve seen photographs of the work he’s done in Denver.”
    “Okay, consider it done. They’ve been looking for a good carpenter. I’ll make the phone call tomorrow and you can tell him when you’re ready.” Marnie looked pleased with herself.
    “As long as the Pevetos understand that this isn’t a sure thing. He might not want to stay, especially after he finds out Sage is a fake and I’m all that’s left. I’m just hoping we can be friends when all of this is over, although I doubt that’s possible.”
    “Quit being such a damn pessimist.” Trinity whacked Cody with the end of her napkin. “Just look who you are, what you’ve accomplished. You’re the youngest department head in the South. You literally bend matter to your will in that freakish laboratory of