Vegas Moon by R. M. Sotera Page B

brought a tinge of a smile to the lips of all parties present.
    “Something like that,” Victoria promised.
    “How about a voodoo doll? Can you show me how to make one of those?” Mia asked.
    Cindi tried to stifle a laugh to no avail. At least her best friend still had her quirky sense of humor. “Dang, girlfriend.”
    It was Victoria’s turn to chuckle. “Sure, I can give you a crash course in doll making, too.” Victoria surveyed the crowd and then added, “Speaking of food, would all of you like to have lunch with us in the Quarter?”
    Jamison kissed Victoria on the cheek. “I love ya both, babe, but I do believe my place is with Jordan. I’ll take a rain check on lunch. I’m going to head to the police station.”
    Tristan didn’t reply, only glanced at Cindi. Past events told her that Tristan expected her to say yes to Victoria’s invite, that way it meant she didn’t have to admit she wanted to spend time alone with Tristan. And he knew how much Mia meant to her. But not this time, this time, she was going to admit what was true. Mia would be fine with Victoria. Not to mention, all of the excitement today make her just want to enjoy her man. Today she wanted to dine on sausage, but it wasn’t the kind she’d find in a restaurant. “If you two don’t mind, I think we’ll pass. I want to spend the day with my boyfriend.”
    Victoria shot a glance at Jamison, before her attention landed on Tristan, and then back to Cindi. A wide smile creased her lips. “Ma cherie, you finally admit what we’ve all known for a long time now. You do care deeply about this young man.”
    The look on Tristan’s face was priceless. Ultimate shock in the form of his mouth flung open and still remaining that way. She hoped her next words didn’t drop him to the floor.
    “Minor correction, Victoria, I love this man.”
    “About time you’ve admitted it, Cindi.” Jamison clapped and pulled Victoria into his embrace. “You’ve had this poor man acting like a crazy lunatic. I was starting to think that love was frying his brain.”
    And Tristan’s face lit up like the sky on the Fourth of July.
    Cindi slipped her hand into his. “We’ll see you four later tonight in the Quarter. As I recall, we’d planned dinner at Monroe’s.”
    “Sounds good,” Jamison promised as he escorted Victoria and Mia down the driveway toward Victoria’s black Cadillac. Once he’d secured them both inside the car, he headed toward the white pickup farther down the driveway.
    As the last of the gang drove away from view, Tristan and Cindi disappeared into the condo.
    Tristan still hadn’t said a word, even as they climbed the stairs to their bedroom. But once they were secure inside the room with the door closed, he swept her into his arms and planted a kiss on her that made her toes curl.
    “Wow…candy man…you’re taking my breath away.”
    “The fact that you admitted that you love me in front of living beings took my breath away. I’m only reciprocating, baby.”
    “I have another surprise for you.” Cindi smiled. “Are you game, lover?”
    “I’m game for whatever you want to dish out.”
    The surprise was sealed with a kiss.
    As they freshened up for the newest excursion, Cindi made sure to keep where they were going a surprise. Tristan did try several times to trip her up, but finally halted his detective tactics when he must have realized she wasn’t going to give in and spill the beans.
    Nope, no way. This was a place extra special.
    And she couldn’t wait to get him there.
    They’d reached the Dessert Erotica house at noon. Cindi pulled the Mustang borrowed from Victoria into the small parking space and shut off the car. Tristan didn’t waste any time in jumping out of the car. When she emerged, he was standing a few feet from the front door of the establishment eyes fixated on the huge fiberglass sundae. In the center of the perfectly shaped and flavor-colored ice-cream scoops was a naked female