It had been a week since Zelda had seen Boone. He had canceled Wednesday's class, and she had skipped Friday's. She couldn't bring herself to see him. The thought of what might have been was much more heartbreaking than reality.

Zelda had promised to help her brother with a business dinner meeting for a few out of town businessmen who were looking for local investors in a hotel and real estate venture. Lucy, Zebadiah's future wife, didn't like to spend time with strangers, so Zelda was called on occasion to help entertain or even out the numbers. Sometimes Zebadiah would use his assistant Summer to help as well.

Zelda had put on a black mid-length spaghetti strap cocktail dress and her high heels, pulling her hair back into a sleek ponytail. She opted against jewelry and took a deep purple wrap for a pop of color. She hadn't dressed up in a long time, and while she detested every minute of it, Eden loved it.

Thank God for Eden, she thought as she looked down to say goodnight to her little girl, warning her that she had better be in bed and asleep by the time she got back home. She knew her mommy was sad, but she didn't understand why. Eden had saved her from falling into a depression because the child was smart and kept Zelda mindful of her moods.

Eden promised that she would go to bed when instructed while crossing her fingers behind her back, which Zelda could see in the mirror behind her. Zelda shook her head, gave her kiss, and walked towards the waiting car that her brother had sent.

It was a short ride to the restaurant where she was greeted by the hostess as she walked through the door. Zebadiah was already at the table with two businessmen, Summer, and to Zelda's shock, Gianna. She quickly masked her surprise as she did a polite round of social kisses and shook the two businessmens' hands before taking her seat.

"What is Gianna doing here?" Zelda asked Summer as she made a production of settling into her seat.

"Her father was the one who set this meeting up; he recommended the deal to Zebadiah." Summer filled her in quickly.

When Zelda looked across the table, it was to find the younger of the two men, the blond one, watching her with limpid blue eyes as he sipped his drink. His look was predatory and it made Zelda uncomfortable.

Dinner moved along as it normally did. The group talked of New Orleans, the weather, traveling, and eventually touched lightly on business. The food was good and the service impeccable, but then it would be since it was Zebadiah's restaurant.

As dinner was wrapping up, it was suggested that they go to a local bar or club and taste some of the local nightlife. Zelda wasn't overly keen on the idea, and she looked to her brother for direction. He nodded and said he knew just the place to go. Zelda's heart dropped, she'd bet a million to one that the place Zebadiah was taking them was Boone's bar.

They decided to walk there and soak up some of New Orleans's atmosphere, and somehow, Zelda ended up in the back of the party with the blond businessman walking beside her.

"You were married to Collin Strauss, the author, weren't you?" he asked, looking at her from the corner of his eye.

"I was," Zelda confirmed.

"I read about the car accident and his death, that must have been hard for you?" The man placed his hand in the small of Zelda's back as they crossed a street. Zelda was uncomfortable with his touch.

"It was," she agreed. Maybe if she kept it all to one syllable then he would get the hint and drop the subject.

"I bet you've been lonely since he died, you're still single, correct?" His hand didn't move off of her back once they were across the street.

Zelda stopped, pretending to adjust her shoe which caused him to drop his hand, but at the next street crossing, it was right back to the small of her back. The polite southerner in her wouldn't allow herself to object to his touch outright.

"I am." She gave a forced smile as she attempted to change the subject, asking him how he liked New Orleans so far.

He laughed and insisted that talking about her was much more interesting. "Perhaps we could go out while I'm in town, get to know each other a little better?" he asked.

"I'm afraid that would be difficult. I have other commitments."

"What other commitments could you possibly have?" he whispered in her ear.

Thankfully she didn't have to respond since they had arrived at the bar, and Zelda had been correct; it was Boone's bar.

The music was loud as they entered, and there was a reserved table for them off to one side. Zebadiah must have warned Boone that they were coming. The six of them all took seats with the blond man sitting a little too close for comfort.

"I've never been here," Gianna said, looking around.

Gianna did whatever was popular with the high society set, so that must mean that the rich kids didn't know about the bar or that it was Boone's. If that were the case, then he would have been able to hide in plain sight all these years. It amazed her how sometimes people couldn't see what was right in front of their faces.

The thought made Zelda grow pale as she remembered that Boone had been right there in front of her all those years ago, and she had missed it. She had missed her chance with him. The audience started clapping and cheering, and Zelda looked up to see Boone taking the stage.

"Is that Boone Norris?" Gianna asked, watching with surprise as he reached for a guitar at the back of the stage.

Boone said something to the piano player who laughed before he turned to face the audience, letting his gaze bounce off the people watching him. When he landed at their table, he looked at Zelda for a moment, his face inscrutable, before he nodded to Zebadiah, who lifted his drink in a brief salute. 

Boone played a long guitar solo, and Zelda looked her fill as he played. The band stayed silent as he began to sing, just him and his guitar. The crowd fell quiet, tapping their feet and swaying to the music as his gruff almost tortured voice filled the bar. Eventually, the band joined him, and the music took on a new urgency.

"This is great!" Gianna said in Zelda's ear.

Zelda knew that it would soon be all over the city that Boone played, and the rich folks would come slumming out of curiosity. She glanced around the bar and caught Simone and a few of her friends in the corner on the opposite side of the dance floor.

Simone was watching her not Boone, so Zelda nodded and smiled before she leaned over to Zebadiah. "I have to leave soon," she said over the music.

He nodded as he looked down at his phone.

Zelda turned her attention back towards Boone and listened as he finished the song. He set his guitar aside and left the stage as the band launched into another song, but he didn't get very far across the bar before Simone caught him, yelling something in his ear that made him nod. He then pointed towards their table and gave her an obvious brush off before heading their way.

Gianna jumped up and ran to meet him, doing the exact thing that Simone did. As he leaned down to hear what Gianna was saying, his eyes met Zelda's before letting them skim over her from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. Zelda felt as if he had reached out and touched her.

"Yowsers, when did that happen?" Summer loudly said in Zelda's ear.

Zelda could only shake her head as she tried to comprehend why her knees were shaking from a single look. His eyes looked past hers and met Zebadiah's. Boone nodded once to him in silent communication, and then propelled both himself and Gianna towards the table.

Zelda couldn't take her eyes off him. His look was much more predatory than the blond businessman's had been, but Zelda didn't mind the look coming from Boone because his look said that everything between the two of them was different and much more exciting. It thrilled and scared Zelda to death.

Zebadiah stood and shook Boone's hand then introduced him to everyone. The blond man threw his arm across the back of Zelda's chair, and she did her best to sit as far from him as she could. She missed Boone's eyes narrowing at his action.

"What company are you with?" Boone asked, shooting the blond man a glacial look. It screamed danger. He was moving in for the kill.

"We're with Stella Corp," he confirmed something that Zelda had a feeling Boone already knew.

"Sure, I've heard of it. You all tried a hotel and real estate plan in the midwest and on the west coast. Both went belly up in the first year. That's not a very good track record. Why are you here?"Boone asked, probably knowing exactly why.

Zelda snuck a look at her brother, who was wearing his usual stoic expression, but she got the feeling that he was amused.

"Boone, would you mind walking Zelda home. She just mentioned that she needed to leave, and as you can see, I'm unable to get away right now." If Zebadiah was angry at his friend, his voice gave nothing away as he ended the conversation before feelings were hurt. Zelda had no doubt that the feelings that were hurt would be the men from Stella Corp.

"I would be happy to, if that's what Zelda wants," Boone looked at her and then at the arm around her shoulders. Zelda didn't want there to be any misunderstanding, so she slowly stood and reached for her wrap and purse.

"That's fine," she agreed in a calm voice that surprised her because she felt anything but calm.

Lord help her; she couldn't help but wonder where this walk would lead them.