Chapter Twenty #2
“That is interesting, since I got the distinct impression that DeLille does not like or respect Guidry,” Grace remarked.
“You may be right. From what I saw when the two talked, the grocer definitely has little respect for Guidry. That does not stop him from being the majority partner in Guidry’s endeavors to find the Only Love’s treasure.”
“You have a treasure?” She straightened.
“Not in the sense Guidry believes.” He gentled his gaze and drew her back in. She—Grace and Grace alone—was his treasure.
“You mean you don’t have a hoard of jewels and Spanish doubloons,” she said.
“Precisely. However, while he has his own reasons for wanting to search Sweet Dreams, DeLille has convinced Guidry that such a treasure exists. He encourages Guidry to have Sweet Dreams searched—again. I believe he intended to frame Guidry for any criminal activity you reported.”
She rubbed her palm across his knuckles.
“I reported those first two trespassers,” she related.
“DeLille told me I was better off not pressing charges, because one of them might try to sue me since he was injured on my property even though the man was trespassing. I’ve had enough of courtrooms and lawyers to last two lifetimes.
I let DeLille persuade me.” She fidgeted; her silk covered breast sliding against his arm.
Luc bit his lip. Time enough later for love-making distractions.
“I wonder if DeLille knows about your problems in Boston. If so, dreaming up an excuse like liability was clever. Either way, he is clearly a man who plans carefully. In fact, that is why I felt it safe to rest before telling you of the danger. DeLille told his partner to wait before sending anyone to do more at Sweet Dreams, including harm you.”
“Why would anyone harm me?” Grace asked.
Luc kissed her crown, and let his lips linger against the lilac scented strands of hair.
“Guidry suggested getting rid of you but objected to hurting you when there might be witnesses, people who would worry if you disappeared. He specifically mentioned your land manager and crew.” He twined his fingers with hers.
“They probably would be concerned, as I pay them in cash.” She nodded.
“DeLille agreed and told Guidry the land manager would accept better paying work that would leave you alone at Sweet Dreams.”
“Paying more would be excessive. I could do it, though I’d rather not.”
“DeLille would probably find some other inducement. He’s determined to isolate you,” Luc said.
“Then what do you think we should do?” She let his hand go and sat up to look at him.
His arms felt empty.
“We wouldn’t need to take any action, if you would leave now.”.
“I’m not running away. Not again. I let fear and worry chase me out of Boston. I’ve made my home here, and here I shall stay.”
He studied her. Her mouth firm, shoulders square, those luscious breasts heaving slightly as she spoke. The woman was determined. Nothing he could say would convince her to leave.
“Very well.” That Grace would not be moved was no surprise. “How do you plan to defend yourself from DeLille and Guidry?” Afraid that his feelings for her might undermine his efforts, Luc prayed protecting her would be possible.
“That’s difficult to determine, since we don’t know his exact plans,” She remarked. “However, you are right we should make a plan. What assets do I have that would help?”
“The dogs.”
“Yes, and the amulet,” she reminded. “I’ve let that alone because of the mambo’s warning not to overuse it.”
“We have my spectral abilities.”
“Even though you suspect they might be changing?” she asked.
“Since I can’t know that for certain, I have to act as if they remain the same.”
“Since the full moon is at least two weeks away, you’ll be ephemeral, so neither DeLille nor Guidry would see you coming. If you bide your time, we’ll have the advantage of surprise.”
“Always a good idea, as is biding our time. We wait until the manager tells you he and the crew are leaving. DeLille won’t act before then, so we have that much time to plan for any attack.”
“My work crew’s departure will be our signal. You’ll lay in wait. I’ll control the dogs.”
“Promise you’ll use the amulet,” Luc urged pulling her in for a kiss.
Before he could give in to lust, she pushed away.
“I promise the amulet will be used. Do you honestly believe DeLille will condone violence?” Grace frowned.
“I am certain of it.” His voice hardened. He’d give his life to protect this woman.
“Why so sure?”
“He no longer plans to frame Guidry for simple theft and trespassing. DeLille plans to frame someone for murder.”
Her eyes went wide, and her hands knotted together. “DeLille has always been very kind to me, are you certain he wants Guidry to murder me?”
“He might attempt to make you look guilty of Guidry’s murder.”
Her delicate throat shifted as she swallowed against her emotions. “Given my past history, and the fact that my dislike for Guidry is well known, I would be an excellent suspect. If DeLille plots Guidry’s death, surely he did not tell the man.”
Luc wished she’d return to sit beside him even though not doing so was wiser.
“Correct. I followed DeLille home after he and Guidry parted ways. I heard the grocer discuss the murder with his wife.”
“Mrs. DeLille? That nice little old lady who runs the post office? You’re kidding.” Again, Grace twisted her hands together.
“Not in the least. She is bitter and eaten up with pain from rheumatism. I would wager that DeLille loves her deeply and has developed this plot to try to gain the means to relieve her pain.”
“That’s admirable, but murder?” Her slender shoulders shook, drawing attention to her tempting bare curves.
“Love is powerful. Just look at my mother, who loved my father beyond words, although he never returned her affection.” With each moment Luc understood better how his mother had become entangled. Love was a demanding taskmaster.
“I’ll believe you, not because I understand,” Grace said. “But because I know you have never lied to me. If you say a man’s love for his wife could drive him to murder, it must be true. Still, I have to wonder if I am in as great a danger as you think.” She bit her lower lip.
“Why do you doubt it?”
“You learned all this last night, yet you stopped to take a nap before telling me.” She arched a delicate eyebrow.
He laughed, and reached for her, unable to tolerate a longer separation. “I deserve that. I would not have been able to tell you, had I not napped, as you describe it.”
“As I said earlier, you were sound asleep when I arrived,” Grace insisted.
“I did tell you that DeLille’s order to delay made me believe you safe for a time.” He rubbed circles on one of her arms with his palm.
“Yes. That’s why you decided to rest. You did not decide to sleep.” She lifted her head to press a kiss along his jaw.
“I cannot explain that. Over the past nine decades existing in the spirit world, I was like a spirit. They don’t sleep, nor did I.” Luc shrugged.
“You have no clue why you slept today?” Another kiss pressed closer to his mouth.
Should he let himself give in to her sweet distraction.
“I can only guess that something about my curse is changing. Although I cannot imagine what.”
“Tell me more about the curse and how it affects you,” she said. Instead of another kiss, she stroked the hand that held her waist.
Too bad he thought, at the same time he knew one of them had to be sensible.
“You are certain I cannot persuade you to leave Sweet Dreams for your own safety?” He made one last attempt to change her mind.
Grace nodded. “Beyond certain. Now, please, tell me about your curse.”
“I have powers, like any other specter or phantom.”
“Such as?” Curiosity radiated from her, and even the tilt of her head signaled questions. Luc smiled. “I can move things, including myself, simply by thinking about it—like the night I took you home after our first kiss.”
She soothed her cheek against his chest. “That was a wonderful kiss. What else?”
“There seems to be no limit as to weight or size of the objects I can levitate. I can, with some effort, know what someone else is feeling, thinking, or dreaming. I can create illusions, but only if a person does not already believe in what they are seeing. My sense of smell and hearing are heightened, and I seem to have acquired a personal scent.” He ticked items off on his fingers as he spoke.
“Cinnamon and spent black powder,” she blurted.
He straightened, holding her away from him to see her face. “How did you know that?”
“It isn’t an ordinary scent, and I’ve encountered it frequently since the day I arrived at Sweet Dreams. I was mystified as to the source, until now.”
“I’m delighted I could clear that up for you.” He smirked and dropped his arms.
Her expression shifted from pensive to frowning when the silence stretched into a few minutes. “That’s it? That’s everything?”
“No.” Luc had never told anyone else, although legend had claimed it to be true. DeLille must believe the legend, and given the danger the man represented, Grace should know. “I am attached.”
“Attached?” She tucked her chin.
He nodded. “To the Only Love and the gris-gris Mawu used when she made her curse.”
“The doll she stabbed repeatedly after giving herself a fatal wound.” Grace’s tone was half-sad, half-contemplative.
“Aye. That self-inflicted death blow…using her own blood to seal the curse, increased the power of the curse.”
“What does attachment to this gris-gris mean?” Grace leaned closer, stroking his brow and cheek.
“Supposedly, anyone holding it can control me and my powers. I believe DeLille knows the legend, and wants to find the gris-gris.”
“I’m sorry,” Grace giggled.
Luc waited, enjoying her laughter—even at his expense—while she recovered herself.
“I shouldn’t laugh, she said at last. “However, that description would fit a magic genie. Why would DeLille imagine such a legend was real?”