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“It’s not what you want. It goes against everything you believe in.”
“And Mom…”
Felicia smiled. “Oh, she’ll moan and grumble, only because she’s scared of him.” She touched the back of his hand, caressing reassurance into his very being. “He isn’t going to kick us out like Mom thinks he will.”
“What if he does?” His gaze rested on her sweet face.
So sweet, so gentle—so unfair cerebral palsy had attacked her frail body. At only twenty-eight years old, she was confined to a wheelchair, one leg too weak for her to even walk across the room. Would Grandfather kick them out of the house if Luc didn’t abide by his wishes? That could never happen—Felicia needed the stability of their home and the care their grandfather’s money provided.
“Stop worrying so much, you.” She gave his hand a final squeeze before dropping her own back in her lap. “He’s threatened Mom with that for years now, yet he’s never given us the boot. He’s all talk.”
“I wish I could be as sure. This just might be what calls his bluff.”
Felicia flashed her full-tooth smile. “With all his ranting and raving over me and Frank, he still didn’t follow through on his threats. We’ll be fine.” She stared out into the yard. “When did he say he would be here?”
“He told Mom he was on his way when he called about ten minutes ago.”
His cell phone rang, the chords to “Dixie” playing loud and clear. He snapped if off his belt, flipped it open and pressed it to his ear. “Hello.”
“Luc.”
Just his name—that’s all it took for his heart to stutter. Her sultry voice always did make his pulse race. His memory slammed the image of her curly black hair, dark eyes with specks of green dancing around the irises, and tanned face to the forefront of his mind. Her strong French heritage had blessed her appearance, that much was certain.
He swallowed back the emotions clogging his throat. “CoCo.”
“Your grandfather just left here.” Her breathing came across the line as ragged, hitching.
“What was he doing at your place?” Luc shook his head at Felicia’s inquiring stare. What could the old man be up to now?
“Serving us an eviction notice.” His ex-fiancée’s voice quivered. He recognized that trait—she barely had control over her emotions.
“An eviction notice? What’re you talking about?” Luc stood and paced again.
“Just what I said. He hand-delivered an eviction notice to Grandmere today, right before I got home from work.”
His gut clenched. Work. Her work. He gritted his teeth. The memory of yet another reason they broke up slammed into his mind.
“Luc, are you listening?”
“Yeah. I just don’t understand.”
“Neither do I.” Her throaty sigh over the line tightened the knot holding his stomach hostage. “I wanted you to know what he’s up to, and to tell you that I have a meeting with an attorney first thing in the morning.”
Lawyers, already? What exactly had his grandfather done? He ran a hand over his hair. “I’m sure it’s just a misunderstanding.”
“I don’t know what’s gotten into him, but I’m not going to battle him without legal counsel.”
No, CoCo wouldn’t back down from any fight. He knew that all too well. Her personality wouldn’t let her roll over and play dead.
“So, why are you calling me?”
“I don’t really know.” Her voice changed, moving into the confrontational tone he also recognized. “I thought you should be aware. I’m not going to lie down and take your grandfather’s bullying. I intend to fight him with everything I can.”
“Curses, cunjas and hexes, CoCo?” He could have bitten off his tongue for letting that slip out. The pain was still raw, even after two years of not being together.
She snorted. “Some things never change. I made a mistake in calling you, Luc. You’re too much like the old man to see reason.”
Ouch, that stung. “I’m sor—”
“Consider yourself warned. My family will fight you Trahans.”
The disconnecting click cut loud in his ear. He held it a minute longer, not wanting to believe she’d hung up on him. Even when he’d ended their relationship and walked away, he’d never hung up on her.
Lord, why can’t I control my tongue?
“Was that CoCo?”
He placed the phone back on his belt clip and stared at his sister. “Yeah.”
She practically bounced in her chair. “What did she want?” Hope of his and CoCo’s reconciliation glimmered in her eyes.
He hated to disappoint her, but any hope of that had just gone down like the setting sun. Just as it had when his father had died and he’d realized he couldn’t marry CoCo LeBlanc. “To let me know Grandfather served her with an eviction notice.”
Felicia’s eyes, already round, grew as large as Confederate coins. “What? When?”
“Just now, apparently.”
She covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh, no. What’s Grandfather thinking?”
A rumble on the road caused them both to stare down the driveway. Sure enough, their grandfather’s Caddy sped along the dirt road.
“I don’t know. I’m guessing we’re about to find out.”
Grandfather slammed the door of his precious car, ran a hand over his thinning hair and then strode up the stairs. A smile danced on his face, a rare sight. “Luc, Felicia.” He gave them a brief nod, not breaking stride as he headed for the door.
Lord, I don’t know what to say. I can’t antagonize him, yet I can’t help him either without knowing what’s going on.
“Grandfather,” Luc began, staring down at the porch. His grandfather’s shoes didn’t even have a coat of dust covering them. Dirt ran in fear from Beau Trahan.
“Yes?” His grandfather glanced over his shoulder. “What is it, boy?”
“I just got a call from CoCo LeBlanc. Want to tell me what’s going on?”
Chuckling, Grandfather let his hand fall from the door handle and then moved to sit on the porch swing. “Little lady already called you, huh? Trying to sweet-talk you into getting me to change my mind, I guess.” He laughed and slapped his thigh. “Hope you told her you weren’t buying into her feminine wiles again.”
Luc shifted his weight from one foot to the other, despising himself for feeling like a disobedient teenager. “What’re you doing?”
“Demanding what’s mine, of course.” His grandfather’s eyes set hard in his chiseled face.
“An eviction notice on the LeBlanc’s property?” Luc shook his head. “What’s up with that?”
“Marcel LeBlanc signed that deed over to me years ago to cover a gambling debt to the casino. I’ve been really nice, not making them move. Now that I’m retiring, letting you step into my shoes, I have to move out of the penthouse. Since I don’t want to make your momma and sister here move out, I’m claiming my property.”
Guilt nudged against Luc’s chest, but he picked his battles one at a time. “You can’t just evict them, Grandfather. Where will they go? Their family’s lived in that house since before the Civil War.”
“Not my problem, son.” His grandfather studied him. “You aren’t still sweet on that little swamp witch, are you?”
“I just don’t think it’s right to evict them.”
His grandfather shook his head as he pushed to his feet. “You’re too soft, Luc. You’ll have to toughen up to be manager at the casino.”
Luc leaned against the porch rail. Maybe he appeared casual, even though his insides had turned as mushy as quicksand. Dear God, help me make him understand.
Felicia gave a slight tilt of her head. “I need to get inside. It’s too hot out here.” She pushed the control on the automatic wheelchair. Luc moved and opened the door for her. She gave him an encouraging smile as she rolled into the house. He let the screen door bang behind her.
His grandfather hit him with a hard glare, his hazel eyes not dimmed by the years. “You got something else to say to me?”
“About being too soft to be casino manager…”
Grandfather let out a loud laugh. “Don’t you worry, son. I’ll help thicken up your skin.”
He took a deep breath. “It’s not that I don’t think I can do it. I just don’t want the job.”
“What?” His grandfather’s eyes bugged bigger than a bullfrog’s.
“I don’t believe in gambling, Grandfather. You know that. I never said I wanted to follow in your footsteps.” Luc let out a slow breath. “I love being a consultant, and don’t want to change jobs.”
His grandfather jumped to his feet. “I’m not believing this. After all my hard work, the years I put in there to get you in position to take over, I can’t—”
“I never said I wanted you to do any of that. You just assumed. I’m perfectly content where I am.”
The shout Grandfather emitted made Luc jump. “I don’t care what you want. You’ll take over at the casino. And that’s final.”
Luc drew up to his full six-foot-three, towering a good four inches over his grandfather, and stared into the old man’s eyes. “No, I won’t. I’m staying as a freelance consultant.”
“You will or else.” Grandfather stood toe-to-toe with him.
“Or else what?”
“Or else I’ll not only kick you all out in the street, but I’ll publicly disown you. You’ll be dead in this town.”
TWO
The morning sun split the blue skies, nearly blinding CoCo with its brightness. She cut her gaze through the Jeep’s windshield, over to the front door of the law office of Dwayne Williams for about the fortieth time in the past ten minutes. No sign of activity. She checked her watch again—8:01, still too early to show up for her nine o’clock appointment.
“I don’t understand why I had to come.” Grandmere hadn’t stopped complaining since they left the house. “I told you, I can take care of Beau Trahan.”
God, can I get a little help here? CoCo clenched the steering wheel and leaned into the blast of air conditioning. As if that could cool the frustration burning in her. “Because we’re going to do this legally.”
“My way is legal.”
“No, it isn’t,” CoCo said. “I don’t want to hear anymore about the traditions of old. Just this once, let me handle things. Okay, Grandmere?”
Her grandmother huffed and rolled her aged eyes but remained silent. She turned her attention out the window.
Hauling in a deep breath, CoCo closed her eyes and rested her forehead against the steering wheel. Fatigue weighed down her very soul, and keeping up the long-standing argument with Grandmere wore her out even more. Sleep had flickered just out of reach last night. And it was all Luc Trahan’s fault.
She’d managed to keep the wall she’d erected around her heart intact for two years. Two years! And with one measly phone conversation, it had begun to crumble. CoCo stared into the blazing sun. She wouldn’t allow Luc to worm his way back into her heart. Not after he’d left her dangling in the wind the way he had—right after he’d proposed. He’d broken her heart once…she wouldn’t let him close enough to crush it for good.
“It’s about nine. What’re we waiting for?”
CoCo snapped out of her reprieve and glanced over at the door to the law office. The blinds were now opening. “Guess we can go.” She killed the engine and slipped out of the car, rushing around to the passenger side to assist her grandmother.
“I’m not old and decrepit,” Grandmere snapped as she shrugged off CoCo’s hand. “Despite what Beau Trahan thinks.”
Ignoring the challenge in her grandmother’s tone, she led the way to the lawyer’s office. She’d grown tired of arguing with Grandmere over the past two years—to the point she’d avoid any further confrontation if at all possible. Opening the door, she smiled as the blast of frigid air hit her face. Just the walk across the parking lot had made her hot and sticky. She knew her face had to be beet-red, despite her tan.
“Good morning. Ms. LeBlanc?” the perky receptionist sitting behind the front desk asked.
CoCo nodded. “Yes. I have an appointment with Mr. Williams.”
“Yes, ma’am. He’s ready for you now.” She stood and walked around the desk. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to the conference room.”
Their footfalls thumped softly on the deeply padded carpet as they followed the receptionist down the hall. Light paneling shone beneath the overhead track lighting. She swung open a door, revealing a long mahogany table and large windows overlooking the grassy area behind the building.
“Can I get you a cup of coffee or a glass of water?” She waved them into the room while she hovered at the doorway.
“We’re fine, merci.” CoCo pulled out a plush chair on rollers for her grandmother.
“Mr. Williams will be with you shortly.” The receptionist pulled the door behind her when she left.
Grandmere sat and glanced around the room. “This lawyer looks pricey, ma chère. It’d be easier if you’d just let me take care of Beau in my way.”
The door swung open, saving CoCo from having to think of a response. A tall man in a business suit strode inside. His hair, black as the bayou bottom, contrasted against the chocolate color of his skin. “You must be CoCo LeBlanc. I’m Dwayne Williams.”
He gave her a solid handshake. Her spirits soared—Grandpere had always said you could trust a man with a firm grip. “This is my grandmother, Marie LeBlanc.”
Grandmere stood quickly and extended her hand. “Mr. Williams.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. LeBlanc.” He straightened and waved them both to the chairs. “Please, sit.” He moved to the chair across the table from them and sat.
“Now, tell me what Mr. Trahan served you,” Mr. Williams said, steepling his fingers over the legal pad and pen sitting on the glossy table.
Digging the paper out of her purse, CoCo’s hands trembled slightly. She set her jaw and slid the eviction notice across the table to him. “This is what he hand-delivered to us yesterday.” Why were her palms sweating? As casually as possible, she wiped her hands on her jeans.
He scanned the paper and then lifted his pen over his legal pad. “Mrs. LeBlanc, is it possible that what Mr. Trahan states is true?” He tapped the pen against the paper. “Could your husband have signed over the deed to your property?”
“Beau Trahan is a lying, two-bit scum. Marcel never signed over any property deed—not willingly. Beau did something underhanded—I just know it. Probably told my Marcel he was signing something totally different.” Grandmere’s eyes hardened around the edges.
