Cajun Magic 01 - Voodoo on the Bayou (10 page)

She reached up and popped him. The smack of palm to cheek rang loud against the walls.

“
Woof!
” Dawg stalked forward.

Randall pressed a hand to his cheek and backed toward the door. The shocked look on his face was almost comical. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

Elaine stood taller, her lips pressed into a straight line. “No.
You
shouldn’t have kissed me.”

“I’m not through with you, lady.” Randall’s voice promised retribution.

But Elaine held firm. “Leave. Now.”

Before Randall’s heels cleared the door, Elaine slammed it shut.

She glared at the door as if it had committed the offense instead of the man who’d gone through it. “The
nerve
.”

She swung around, almost stepping on Craig, and paced across the room. With an angry yank, she pulled the glasses from her face and waved them in the air. “I can’t stand a pushy creep who thinks he owns the place.” She scrubbed her fingers over her lips. “And he
kissed
me. Yuck!”

Craig hopped out of the way on her next pass. Twin flags of pink flew high on her cheekbones and fire blazed from her moss green eyes, sparking like a forest in flames. Tendrils of dry hair drifted up from the wetter strands and danced around her face.

Damn
, she was hot when she was mad.

He’d risk making her angry just to see her reaction—exciting and enticing as hell. Where had she been hiding all that passion? If she could get this riled over a stolen kiss, imagine her passion in bed. Craig’s little froggy heart couldn’t take much more of this. When the hell was dusk?

Just as quickly as she’d started pacing, she flopped onto the couch and leaned her elbows on her knees. The fire died from her eyes and she stared at the books on the table.

Dawg left Craig’s side and trotted over to her. He nosed the hands clasped in front of her. Her fingers parted and the dog stuck his nose between them.

Craig hopped toward her, wondering what had happened for her to stop ranting so suddenly. Like Dawg, he sensed her sadness even before a tear slid down her cheek to fall on the dog’s nose.

“What’s wrong with me? Am I really that rigid?” She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around the dog’s neck. “Can’t I be kissed without treating it as an assault?”

No, you were right. The guy deserved your slap.
Craig wished he could take her in his arms and hug away her hurt expression.

“
Woof!
” Dawg pulled out of her clinch.

“See, even you don’t think I’m loveable. Hell, maybe you’re right. Who could love someone with frizzy hair, who looks like a frump and hides from life behind her microscope? Brian sure didn’t.”

Who was Brian?
Craig had a mind to pummel the jerk’s face for making Elaine cry.

“How can you date someone for four months and never really see them?” She flipped onto her side on the couch, and tucked a throw pillow in her arms. “It’s no use. I’m afraid of water, I’m afraid of relationships. All I have is science. Which makes for a cold bedfellow.”

“
Woof!
”

“You said it. It’s a rough life.” She rolled back up into a sitting position and punched the cushion into the corner. “But I’m here for a reason and I might as well get started. I can work on my love life later.”

She pushed off the couch and strode to the refrigerator. She pulled a large lump of silver wrapped in plastic from the freezer and took it over to the table.

“At least frozen, it doesn’t smell quite as bad, huh Dawg?”

Dawg sniffed at the fish in her hands and nuzzled the plastic.

“Sorry, fella. You don’t get to eat the evidence yet. Let me take some samples from it first. Although, the thought of eating this should turn your stomach. Oh,” she glanced guiltily toward Craig. “And you might want to let your frog friend outside before I start dissecting his cousin.

Craig’s empty frog belly clenched as he imagined a sharp scalpel slicing through the tender green skin. She was right. He wasn’t up to seeing a fellow frog sliced open for science. She found it necessary, but he found it way too frightening.

He’d leave her to the specimen samples and find something else to do.

Like decide once and for all how to get out of this mess.

As time slipped away, he didn’t feel any closer to resolving his difficulty. If he didn’t move fast, the full moon would seal his fate, and he might end up under Elaine’s microscope, after all, just another cell to analyze or heart muscle to slice a cross-section from.

Could he make Elaine love him and get him out of this mess? Her mention of Brian-whoever indicated the relationship was over. That made her available. And a prime candidate.

The image of the lone tear trickling down her cheek seared a path from his mind straight to his heart. Only a bastard would make her fall in love with him when he had no intention of ever returning her love. He couldn’t do it.

And why the hell did he have this overpowering urge to pummel Brian’s face for making her cry?

Jesus
. He needed to find someone less vulnerable. Someone who wouldn’t look at him with genuine tears in her eyes when he told her it was over.

Was there such a woman?

Lisa
. But Lisa couldn’t love anyone but herself. And she knew about the spell.

No, he had to find someone to love him, and it had to be real. He didn’t relish eating flies the rest of his life.

Chapter Ten

“Uncle Joe!” Craig strode into the bait shop from the back room just after dusk. He’d made good his escape from Elaine’s cottage when Dawg whined to get out. Once again, transformation caught him on the back step of the shop. This time, Miz Mozelle hadn’t been anywhere in sight. Thank God. “Uncle Joe!”

“You don’t have to yell, for Pete’s sake. I ain’t deaf, you know.” Uncle Joe squinted one eye and touched his hand to his head with a groan. “Did you get the number of the truck that hit me?”

“Ha ha.” Craig smirked at his uncle’s scruffy clothes and bed hair. “Try Mad Dog twenty-twenty.”

“Oh, yeah.” Uncle Joe turned toward the commercial refrigerator and yanked out a bottle of water. “Dang. I need a couple dozen pain killers.”

“Prevention is much more effective than the cure. You should avoid the Raccoon Saloon on Saturday nights.”

Uncle Joe lifted three fingers, Boy Scout style. “I’m swearing off, I promise.”

Craig grinned. “I’ve heard that before.”

“Right now, just the thought of booze turns my stomach.”

“Good, keep it that way.” Craig walked to the window, his gaze gravitating to his uncle’s rental house. He wondered when Elaine would arrive at the bait shop. “Heard anything from Littington?”

“Yup. Got a meetin’ set up for tonight at eight at the Lake View Restaurant in Morgan City.”

“Good.” Although he would be glad to finish his business with Littington, Craig would rather be with Elaine out on the swamp.

Uncle Joe ran a hand through his hair, making the long white tufts stand on end. “Bad news is, I also got a call from your father.”

Craig shot a sharp glance at his uncle, familiar tension settling in his neck and shoulders. His father was already pushing to acquire this deal. His life was all about the business—no time to enjoy family and friends. Craig inhaled and held his breath. “Is he coming down here?”

Uncle Joe looked up, his bloodshot eyes feigning horror. “God forbid, no.”

Whew
. All he needed was his father’s interference at this point to make the situation a complete nightmare. As if a Voodoo hex, pollution, and funny feelings about a scientist weren’t enough. “I thought you said it was bad news.”

Joe scratched his chest. “Just hearing from your father gives me the hives. He can be such a pushy son-of-a-bitch, acting like he’s got a corncob shoved up his—”

“Yeah, well…” Craig interrupted his uncle’s colorful language. With his back against the wall and one foot crossed over the other, Craig struck a casual pose, his gaze never leaving his uncle’s face. “I take it, he’s still trying to get you to clean up and come back to work for the firm.”

“Never a call goes by without him pluggin’ for me to come back.”

“Why don’t you?”

Uncle Joe lifted his palms upward. “And give up all this?”

Craig looked around at the shop’s interior. “What? A beat up old bait shop and marina?”

“You may see it as nothing but a rundown bait shop. But I look at it as my salvation.” He winced and dug around under the counter until he came up with a bottle of ibuprofen. “Ahhh.”

“Why did you give up law?” Craig asked.

“Had my reasons.” Uncle Joe uncapped the bottle and shook four tablets into his hand.

“Name one.”

“I don’t want you gettin’ no ideas about quittin’ the firm. Your father would skin me alive. It’s bad enough one of the family dropped out. Can’t have another Thibodeaux desert the ship.”

“Come on, Uncle Joe. You can tell me anything. I’m not walking out on the firm. I’m aiming for partner within the next two years.”

Uncle Joe tossed the pills into his mouth and swallowed a swig of bottled water before he replied. “Let’s just say, I had a change of heart.”

Craig’s curiosity wouldn’t let his uncle alone. “It was a woman, wasn’t it?”

“Now don’t go puttin’ words in my mouth.” Joe walked a few steps away. “I never said it was a woman.”

“It was a woman.” Craig smacked the wall next to his hip. “Exactly the reason why I haven’t shackled myself with one to this day. They’re trouble.”

“You’ll sing a different tune when you find the right one, boy,” his uncle said. “And, if you’re anywhere near as smart as you profess, you’ll fight for her, no matter what.”

Craig stared back into intense blue eyes, so similar to his own. “Is that the problem? You didn’t fight for her?” he asked softly.

The older man turned his back to him. “Go away, boy, I got work to do.”

“Okay, Uncle, but we’re not through talking.”

“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll let this sleepin’ dog lie.” Uncle Joe grabbed a broom and, with short, sharp strokes, swept his way toward the front of the store.

“One other favor, Uncle Joe.”

“Ain’t you had more than your share for the day?” Joe muttered.

“I need you to stall Dr. Smith until I get back from my meeting with Littington.”

“No need. I could take her out myself, if I have to.”

“I thought you didn’t do night tours?”

Uncle Joe’s face reddened. “I just told her that ‘cause I had a card game with the boys that night. I’ll take her.”

“No.” A jolt of unexpected panic seized Craig. He’d told Elaine Uncle Joe could take her out, but the thought of her and the older man out on the water without his protection chilled him to the bone. No telling what would happen if whoever was dumping the toxins found them snooping around. “I want to take her out myself. Frankly, I’m concerned about the entire situation.”

“Afraid she’ll take more than her limit of frogs?”

He snorted. “I believe there’s enough frogs in that swamp to supply a whole slew of universities.”

Uncle Joe scratched his chin. “Although, more and more of ‘em seem to be going belly up lately. Bernie came by again yesterday with news of more dead fish around that same lagoon.”

“It’s not so much the frog supply I’m worried about. I’m more worried about who else is out there on the swamps at night.”

“You’re getting punchy, boy.” Joe crossed his arms over the tip of his broom. “People fish at all hours on the swamps. No crime in that. Done it myself for the past thirty years.”

“Maybe so.” Craig rolled his shoulders to ease the tension. “Times are changing, and not everyone out there has fish on his mind.”

Uncle Joe regarded Craig. “There something you’re not telling me?”

“Let’s just say I’m looking into it. Leave the scientist to me.” He turned back toward his uncle. “Stall her, tell her I’ll be late, but don’t take her out there without me.”

A smile curled at the edges of the older man’s lips. “Sounds like you got a hankerin’ for the gal.”

Craig stopped in mid-stride, turned, and looked out the window, again. “Call it whatever you like, just don’t let her go out,” he responded in low, clipped words.

“Okay, okay, you don’t have to bite my head off.”

Craig glanced at his watch. “Damn. I better get moving if I plan to meet with Littington.”

“Yeah, that’s another thing.”

“What?” Craig asked without turning away from the window.

“Your father asked about the Littington deal.”

Craig shot a glance at Uncle Joe. “What did you tell him?”

The old man grinned. “You’re workin’ it.”

“Good.” With a nod, Craig looked out the window one last time, then headed for the door. “All I need is for him to race down here and find out what a mess I’m in.”

“Spare me. I’d make a deal with the devil himself to keep your father from comin’ down.”

“Be careful what you wish for. That Voodoo queen just might be the devil incarnate. Don’t give her any more ideas.”

…

Just as Elaine gathered her gear for another night on the swamp, the phone rang. Having only left the number with the dean’s secretary, she wondered what was wrong at the university. Her heart skipped a beat. Why else would the university call? “Hello?”

“Elaine?” A familiar male voice crackled over the line.

“Brian?” Elaine’s apprehension diminished, replaced quickly by annoyance. “Are you on a cell phone? I can barely hear you.”

“Yeah, it’s me,” he answered cheerfully, as if their last words had been nothing out of the ordinary.

“How did you get this number?” she asked curtly.

“The dean’s secretary gave it to me. I told her it was a family emergency.”

“So you lied to Annette.” Why should that surprise her?

“I consider you family. Pretty romantic, huh? I had to talk to you. I don’t like the way we ended our last conversation. I’m sorry, I miss you, and want you to come back.”

Elaine held the phone away from her ear and rolled her eyes. When she brought it back, she spoke in slow, deliberate syllables. “Brian, we not only ended the conversation that day, we ended our relationship.”

“I wanted you to know I was wrong about Cynthia and she means nothing to me and—”

“She dumped you.”

“Actually, she didn’t tell me she was married.”

Elaine emitted an unladylike snort. “So you called second stringer Elaine to fill in while you find another secretary to bounce?” Wow, she had been naïve.

“No, that’s not it at all.” He sighed. “I guess I was pretty harsh and I understand if you’re still mad, but I did call to apologize.”

“No need to apologize.” Elaine almost felt sorry for the man. He really did sound sincere. Although, she questioned what she’d ever seen in him in the first place. “I think you did me a favor.”

“Really? How?”

“You opened my eyes to my appalling lack of a life outside my work.”

“I did that? Glad I could help,” he said, sounding hopeful. “So, when are you coming home?”

“Not until I’ve completed my research.” The thought of going home didn’t hold nearly as much appeal as it had the first day. Could one tall, drool-worthy Cajun have anything to do with her current feelings?

“How much longer will your research take?” Brian persisted.

“At least a couple more weeks.” Fourteen more nights with Craig in the dark, just the two of them. Too bad it had to be in a boat.

“Two weeks?” Brian’s voice rose slightly. “That long? What if I come down next weekend? We could spend some quality time together. You know, sit on the porch, and sip mint juleps or whatever the locals do on their day off.”

“Brian, we’re through.” That idea didn’t bother her nearly as much as it had two days ago, either.

“Come on, Elaine. I made a mistake. Since the argument, I’ve had time to think.” He actually whined. “I really miss you. How about it if I come down there next weekend?”

“Look, I’m busy with my research. I’ll be working through the weekends.” With the distance between them, it was easy to put him off. But when she went home, would she take up where they’d left off? Did she really want Brian back in her life?

Sure they’d had some nice evenings watching his favorite shows in her living room. They had quiet, comfortable sex on occasion. Brian had been everything she thought she’d wanted in a relationship. He had been comfortable—and generally predictable.

But with understanding gleaned from meeting a man who totally knocked her socks off, she realized she’d only been attracted to Brian because he’d paid attention to her. She deserved better. She knew that now.

One fiery kiss from a black-haired Cajun in the Louisiana bayous changed her entire perspective. She’d tasted the excitement. He made her blood burn through her veins, igniting her senses. She had never, ever felt that way with Brian.

“You’re still angry.” Brian broke into her erotic musings.

A couple days ago, she’d been mad and very disappointed. Now, she actually felt relief.

“Think about it.” Brian went on. “I don’t mind making the trip. It could be fun.”

“Look, Brian…” How did she tell him it was over and they had no future?

A pair of light blue eyes swam into her thoughts. She wasn’t sure of her feelings for Craig. But, with fourteen more days of research left, she might have more of a clue by then. Not that it mattered. He wasn’t interested in her. But just the fact that she could entertain these thoughts told her she had no business being with Brian.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Brian said. “I’ll talk to you later in the week. Take care and watch out for snakes.”

“Wait. No. Brian—”

But the line was dead.

Great
. Now she had to convince him she really didn’t want him there. Annoyed, she called him right back, but it went straight to voicemail.
Damn
. She set the phone in its cradle and tapped her fingernails against the counter. She’d call him tomorrow and tell him not to come. Her relationship with Brian was truly finished, and she suffered no disappointment over that. Only a minor bit of regret for not having seen the truth earlier.

How liberating! She deserved more than comfortable, and she meant to get it.

She thought of Craig, and her surge of energizing euphoria slipped a notch. Was a ladies’ man any better for her than comfortable? With his striking looks, he could have any woman in the parish. Why would he be interested in a frizzy-haired scientist for anything more than a fling? For that matter, why would she willingly entertain a relationship knowing it wasn’t going anywhere?

Okay, one revelation at a time, one hurdle to cross at a time. She had work to do, a swamp to save. She gathered her buckets, nets, satchel, and flashlight.

Night cloaked the land as she clunked along the road to the marina. Would Craig be waiting impatiently? Or had he gotten his uncle to fill in for him, after all?

The back door to the marina opened and a tall, dark figure emerged in a tailored suit. He marched to a shiny black sports car, climbed in, and spun out of the parking lot. Something about the way he moved seemed familiar. But who did she know in Bayou Miste who’d wear a suit or drive an expensive sports car?

Her heart kicked into overdrive when her hand touched the door handle to the bait shop. Would Craig be waiting in the shop? Would he be naked again? She found herself silently wishing a “yes” to both questions. The man was way too attractive for her own good.

Her mouth watering, she entered the building. Lights lit the aisles and shelves. No deep shadows to hide naked men. Darn.