Untouched by Sara Humphreys

have changed our location for tomorrow. We will be shooting at one of the old houses out on the East Bank near Braithwaite. My friend Joseph owns it and is letting us use it for the next couple of days. It took some doing, but I finally convinced him to allow us to use it.”
    As Jacqueline spoke she continued to stroke Jester, who purred like a car engine and didn’t take his unyielding stare off of Kerry.
    “A mansion? Well, that sounds fine. The boys were trying to scare me earlier with swamps and alligators.”
    Jacqueline’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “Yes. I don’t think you have to worry about the swamps, cher ,” she said, the lilt of her voice painted with just a touch of a Cajun accent.
    Kerry narrowed her eyes and cocked her head warily. “Okay,” she began slowly. “What is it? Why do I feel like there’s more to it than just a mansion?”
    Jacqueline threw her head back and let out a big loud laugh. “Now that is why I chose you.” Her laughter subsided. “You see more than what is on the surface.” She nodded with a knowing smile. “It’s more like the ruins of a mansion in the middle of what resembles a jungle.”
    Kerry leaned into the table as though she didn’t quite hear her correctly. “I’m sorry? Did you say ruins?”
    “Yes, cher . You heard me correctly. Ruins. Once upon a time Breezemont thrived with laughter, love, and life. But now—” Her voice softened, and she placed a kiss on top of Jester’s head. “Now it is a shadow of what it used to be. There is something beautiful about it beneath the surface. Like my lingerie, cher .”
    Kerry cocked her head. “Your lingerie?”
    She nodded. “Women of all shapes and sizes can wear their business suits or their mommy jeans, but underneath they wear my lingerie. It is the beauty that they keep secret. The beauty that lies beneath, you see? There is another reason that I chose you, cher .”
    Kerry arched a dark eyebrow. “Oh really?”
    “I could have had the traditional model, but I wanted a real woman like you. My customers aren’t supermodels, cher . They are the modern day woman who worries about her lumps and bumps. Ah, but put on my lingerie, and she feels sexy, beautiful, and strong.”
    “I think I understand.” Kerry nodded slowly.
    “Well, I don’t! But hey, who cares?” Arthur’s voice broke into their conversation abruptly, and both women looked at him as though they’d forgotten he was even there. “We’re very excited about this shoot. Right, Kerry?”
    “Yes, of course,” Jacqueline said with poorly veiled irritation at Artie’s crass response. “I’m sure Kerry will know what I mean when she sees the house tomorrow.” Jacqueline’s face broke into a broad smile as the waitress arrived with their drinks. “ Merci! Put this on my account, Marie.” The waitress nodded with a wink and cleared away the empty glasses.
    “Thank you for the drinks, my dear,” Arthur said in his usual haughty tone.
    This chick is a little off. Dante’s voice cut into her mind and caused her to jump in her seat. Arthur gave her one of those what-are-you-doing-looks, which had her crossing one leg over the other and adjusting herself in the chair. She brushed her long hair back over her shoulder and smiled as Dante’s smooth voice slipped welcomingly back into her mind. It goes beyond the outfit, the hair, and even that damn cat.
    She shot him a reprimanding look that was actually a poorly veiled smile, but his face remained a mask of stone. Suddenly, Jester hissed loudly, his ears flattened back against his skull. Kerry looked at the hissing feline; its huge yellow eyes were fixed on Dante.
    It hissed louder.
    “Shhh, be nice, Jester.” Jacqueline continued to stroke him until he settled back down. She cast a glance over to Dante and eyed him warily. “I don’t think he likes your bodyguard. You’ll have to excuse Jester,” she said, turning back to Kerry. “He has very poor manners, especially when he’s