Chapter 1
CHAPTER 1
Rafael Romero elbowed Valentin Vachon in the side, nearly spilling the man’s beer. “Don’t drink so much you can’t help me move tomorrow.”
Valentin held the stadium cup full of the frothy liquid away from his shirt until the liquid quit sloshing. “Man, don’t be poking a guy in the ribs when he’s holding a full beverage. What are you worried about, anyway?” He tipped the cup back and drank it down to a more manageable level. “It’s not like you have a lot of shit.”
“No, I don’t,” Rafael agreed. “I just need help getting my bed out of the boarding house and up the stairs into my new place.”
“Then why worry about how much I’m drinking?” Valentin asked.
Rafael lifted his chin toward the cup Valentin raised to his lips. “Can’t have you still half-looped tomorrow morning and falling down the stairs. I haven’t looked into rental insurance yet, especially the liability portion of it.”
Valentin snorted. “Lighten up. This is my first beer of the evening and likely won’t be my last.” He tapped his toe to the beat of the music played by the band on the makeshift stage set up near the banks of the bayou. “What do they call this kind of music?”
“Zydeco.” Their regional boss, Remy Montagne, pointed to the banner stretched across the street. “Like the sign.”
“Oh, yeah,” Valentin grimaced. “I knew that.”
Remy’s brow twisted. “How long have you been away from Louisiana?”
“Too long,” Valentin said. “But then, I didn’t live this close to the bayou or New Orleans. We didn’t have Zydeco festivals in Monroe. Too far north. The people there are more like folks in southern Arkansas. Not as Cajun.”
Gerard Guidry kicked an empty beer can. “Where’d you score an apartment?”
“Over the yoga studio.” Rafael braced himself for the ribbing.
Landry Laurent snorted. “Next door to the Mamba Wamba Art and Gifts shop and the pretty shop owner he’s been drooling over since we arrived in Bayou Mambaloa.”
“Is she still giving you the cold shoulder?” Valentin asked .
Rafael cracked his knuckles. “It’s only a matter of time until she succumbs to the Romero charm.”
“And then what?” Gerard asked. “Never known you to go out with a woman more than twice before you leave her crying in her beer.”
“The old hit-n-run routine, huh?” Valentin returned Rafael’s elbow to the gut.
“This is a small town,” Remy warned Rafael. “Folks don’t take kindly to guys who do their women wrong.”
Rafael’s brow knitted. “I’m upfront with the ladies. I let them know I’m not into commitment. If that’s what they’re looking for, they might as well move on.”
Remy’s lips twisted. “I’m sure that goes over well.”
“Every woman thinks she can change a man,” Rafael said with a shrug.
“And your proof that they can’t?” Valentin shook his head. “Are you sure you want to move in next door to her? What happens when you get her to fall for you, and then you bail on her?”
Rafael shrugged his shoulders. “I’ll still have a great apartment over the Yoga studio.”
Gerard frowned. “Next to the woman you wronged?”
Valentin raised a hand. “I call dibs on the apartment.” He chuckled. “And the gift shop owner, for that matter.”
“I think you’re playing with fire,” Lucas said .
Rafael cocked his head to one side. “How so?”
“You do realize Gisele is the granddaughter of Bayou Mambaloa’s infamous voodoo queen,” Beau reminded him. “If you’re not careful, they’ll put a spell on you and turn you into a poodle or a frog.”
Rafael grinned. “You don’t believe in that stuff, do you?”
“Damn right I do,” Beau said. “Better to believe and keep my distance than not believe and eat flies with my tongue.”
“Good point,” Rafael said with a frown.
“Why don’t you go for someone not connected with the local Voodoo queen?”
“Yeah,” Lucas seconded. “Like the woman we saw you with at the Crawdad Hole the other night.”
Rafael’s brow furrowed. “Who?”
“The blonde you were all over.” Gerard laughed. “Do you date so many you can’t remember?”
“No. I don’t date so many.” Rafael shook his head. “You must be talking about Bianca. I wasn’t all over her. She was all over me like an octopus. I bought her one drink, and she hasn’t stopped bothering me since.” He glanced over Remy’s shoulder and swore.
Remy frowned. “What?” He started to turn.
“Don’t move,” Rafael said. “We have incoming.” He stepped sideways, using Remy as a shield between him and the advancing blonde of their previous discussion .
“Oh, Remy, there you are,” a feminine voice sounded behind Rafael. “Thanks for waiting for us.”
Rafael spun to find Remy’s fiancée, Shelby, advancing toward them, along with a gaggle of his teammates’ womenfolk.
Shelby hooked Remy’s arm. “Ready? We have to hurry if we want good seats for the show.”
Remy gave Rafael a twisted grin. “Sorry, dude. You’re on your own.”
In less than two seconds, his teammates bailed on him, including the ones without women.
Completely exposed and unprotected, Rafael muttered, “So much for having my six.”
Bianca Brolin rushed in for the kill. “Romeo, darlin’, I just knew you’d come to the festival.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a loud kiss on his unresponsive lips. “We’ll have so much fun spending the night together.”
Already shaking his head, Rafael reached behind his neck to disengage her arms. “Excuse me, Bianca, but I’m with friends tonight. I’d better hurry if I want to catch up.”
Before Rafael could step free of her tentacles, Bianca grinned, hooked one hand through his arm and covered it with the other, firmly locking them in place. “Perfect,” Bianca said. “I’d love to spend more time with your friends and get to know them better.”
“Uh, no.” Rafael tried to pull his arm free. “My plans didn’t involve a plus-one. ”
She smiled up at him. “See how things just fall into place? It’s like magic. Me. You. The festival. It was meant to be.” She looked around. “What do you want to do first? Eat mudbugs? Wrestle alligators or listen to the concert?”
He shook his head. “Don’t you have some girlfriends to hang with? I’d planned on being with my team tonight.”
She blinked up at him. “But they’re gone. Now, it’s just you and me. Don’t you want to be with me? I mean, after the other night at the Crawdad Hole I thought we made a connection.”
Rafael tugged again at the grip she had on his arm. Her fingers tightened, refusing to release their hold. “Look, Bianca, I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression.”
“Not the wrong impression at all. Not after that kiss...” She drew in a deep breath and let it out with a sigh. “I could tell it meant more than just a one-time event. It's like love at first sight, or first kiss, in this case.” She leaned into him. “I know you felt it, just like I did. I haven’t stopped thinking about it. You must’ve had a busy week since you didn’t call me.”
Obviously, gentle and subtle wasn’t working on the woman. Rafael peeled her fingers free of his arm and quickly stepped back. “Miss Brolin, I had a little too much beer that night. I never should’ve kissed you. I promise you I didn’t feel anything.”
“What?” Bianca’s eyes widened. “But you had to have felt something. No one kisses like that and doesn’t mean it.” She stepped toward him.
Rafael took another step backward. “Seriously, I felt nothing.”
“Perhaps we should kiss again,” she said, smiling tremulously. “Just so you know for sure. Your lips could’ve been numb from the beer. I’m sure a second kiss will prove that you really do have feelings for me. That you quite possibly love me as much as I love you.”
“You just kissed me. Again,” he stressed, “I felt nothing.” Rafael glanced around. Where the hell was his backup? Why had they ducked out on him in his time of need?
Rafael gripped Bianca’s arms before she could take one more step closer. “Miss Brolin, I don’t love you. Never have and never will. Don’t waste your time thinking there could be anything between us. There isn’t. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I want to rejoin my friends.”
Her face fell, and tears welled in the young woman’s blue eyes.
Rafael dropped his hold on her arms. “Oh, no, really?” he muttered. “We barely know each other. How could you possibly think we could fall in love over one dance, one kiss and one night in a bar?”
Bianca sniffed. “I knew as soon as I saw you that you were the one.”
“I’m not the one for you, Miss Brolin,” he said softly. “I’m not the one for anyone. I’m not ever going to marry or fall in love.”
Tears slipped down the blonde’s cheeks. “I can change your mind. I just know it.”
He shook his head. “You’re not going to change my mind. No one is going to change my mind.”
She stood with her arms at her sides, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Rafael felt like a heel, having made the woman cry. His natural inclination was to soothe her, to make her feel better. He also knew it would be a mistake and only encourage her to keep trying.
“Oh, Romeo,” she cried.
Before he could stop her, she flung her arms around his neck and crashed her mouth over his.
“Bianca?” a woman’s voice called out.
Rafael barely heard the sound as he fought off the woman with clinging arms like that of an octopus. The more he tried to disengage, the faster her hands moved to another part of his anatomy.
Finally, he grabbed her wrists and held them down. “This is crazy,” he said. “What’s it going to take to get through to you? I’m. Not. Interested. In. You.”
“But I love you,” she cried, twisting her arms in an attempt to free her wrists. “I know you love me.”
“I don’t love you,” he said in aclear, precise way as if speaking to a child. “I never have loved you, and I never will.”
A dark-haired woman rushed up to him and beat at his arm with her fists. “Let go of my cousin. Do it now , or I’ll call the sheriff.”
Rafael immediately released Bianca’s wrists and stepped back to find Gisele Gautier, the beautiful owner of the voodoo gift shop, glaring at him while pulling Bianca into a protective embrace. She was as dark as Bianca was light. How could the two women even be related?
Gisele’s eyes flashed in their dark depths. “You’re a beast to manhandle a woman like that.”
“Manhandle…?” He stared at Gisele, grasping for a response to her outrageous accusation. “ She wouldn’t leave me alone,” he protested.
“You expect me to believe that?” Gisele snorted. “You’re twice her size.”
“She’s like an octo—” Rafael shook his head. “Never mind. Just keep her away from me.”
“I loved him.” Bianca burst into tears, sobbing loudly.
Passing people stopped, stared and frowned at Rafael.
“Oh, for crying out loud.” No matter what he said, no one would believe him over a crying woman. He turned to the people standing around. “I didn’t hurt her. I don’t hurt women.”
Several men crossed their arms over their chests and glared.
“I don’t,” Rafael insisted to no avail. “Fine. I’m leaving. Show’s over.” He stalked away, at first heading toward the boarding house he’d vacate the next morning. He’d be moving to the apartment next door to Bianca’s cousin. The one woman in town he was even marginally interested in.
Oh, well. That ship had sailed.
At least he’d have an apartment of his own where he might get some peace and quiet so he could decide whether he would stay in Bayou Mambaloa with the Bayou Brotherhood Protectors or move on to someplace where the residents weren’t crazy.
The thought of going back to the boarding house lost its appeal. The entire team was at the festival. He’d be damned if he let Bianca and Gisele shame him into leaving early. Hadn’t he told Bianca he was spending the evening with his team? If he left now, it would appear to be an admission of guilt. Guilt over what?
He’d done nothing wrong.
Sometimes, his good looks were more of a curse than a blessing.
Instead of going back to the boarding house, Rafael marched through the crowd to the stands where his friends had found seats and were enjoying the music. He’d enjoy the music as well, even if it killed him.
Gisele set her cousin at arm’s length. “Did he hurt you? Did he break anything? ”
Bianca sniffed loudly and rubbed her wrists. “He broke my heart,” she said and started sobbing all over again. “I—” sniff “loved him.”
Gisele pulled her close again, hugged her briefly and pushed her away again. “Well, he doesn’t love you. Nor does he deserve you. You can find better.”
“But I love him,” Bianca sobbed. “I know if he’d just give me a chance, he’d see that he loves me, too.”
“Honey.” Gisele tipped her cousin’s chin up, wondering how such a lovely girl could be so gullible and blind. “If he doesn’t love you now, he won’t love you even if he gives you the chance to make him fall in love with you. He’s a heartless beast who needs to be taught a lesson in love.”
Bianca blinked her pretty blue eyes. “Lesson?”
Gisele nodded. “A man shouldn’t play with the emotions of a woman. What if he had the tables turned on them?”
“What do you mean?”
“What if a woman managed to make him fall in love with her and then dumped him like he dumped you?”
Bianca’s brow knitted. “I don’t want to make him fall in love with me so that I can dump him. I want him to love me like I love him.”
Gisele sighed. “He’s already told you he isn’t interested. You’d be wasting your time. He shouldn’t make a sweet young thing like you fall for him only to take advantage of you and then walk away when he’s bored. What he needs is a little taste of his own medicine.” Gisele’s eyes narrowed. “I’ve a mind to give him a heaping dose of comeuppance.”
Bianca touched her arm. “Gisele, that’s not necessary. I wouldn’t want him hurt or anything.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t hurt him physically. I’d just give him a taste of humility.” Gisele tapped a finger to her chin.
Bianca’s eyes widened. “Would you use a love potion on him? Because if you could get him to fall for you with a potion, why not let me have the option to use it on him?”
Gisele shook her head. “Potions only work where there’s real potential for two people to fall in love. It helps them get out of their own way and be open to the other person. Too often, people come to me for love potions and then complain when they don’t work. There has to be something there to begin with. Voodoo spells and charms aren’t completely foolproof or magic. They just help enhance the magic inherent in each person to blossom and shine through.”
“Have you ever had a potion fail to make someone fall in love?”
“Sadly, more often than you’d think,” Gisele said. “And usually, it’s because the person the purchaser is targeting isn’t the least bit interested. They have no common ground on which to build a lasting relationship. ”
Bianca’s pretty brow furrowed. “Then what good is a potion?”
“Exactly,” Gisele said with a grin. “But don’t tell my customers. That’s where I make most of my money at the shop. People come in all the time for elixirs to improve their sex lives or make a boyfriend confess his love. I tell them that the potions don’t always work, and there are no money-back guarantees.”
Bianca brushed away her tears. “Without a potion, how can I get Romeo to fall in love with me?”
“You don’t,” Gisele said. “He was clear that he’s not interested.”
Her cousin cocked a brow. “Then how will you make him fall in love with you so you can dump him?”
“I’m not sure, but leave it to me. The man shouldn’t get away with trampling on your or any other woman’s feelings. He’ll think twice before he treats a woman so cavalierly.”
“I almost feel like I should warn him,” Bianca said.
“If you do, how will I teach him that lesson?”
“It just doesn’t feel right setting him up for a big fall.”
“Isn’t that what he did to you?” Gisele asked.
Bianca chewed on her bottom lip. “Well, yes...sort of.”
Gisele gave her cousin a brief hug, “Then he deserves the same.” She slipped an arm around Bianca. “Do you need me to drive you home?”
Bianca shook her head. “No. I came with some of my girlfriends. I’ll catch a ride with them.”
“Then let me help you find them,” Gisele hooked her cousin’s arm. “I’d like to know you’re safe before I leave.”
“You’re too good to me.” Bianca leaned into Gisele. “I know you’ll always look out for me.”
“Yes, I will.” Ever since Bianca’s mother had committed suicide, Gisele had looked out for her younger cousin when her father had been unable to provide the feminine support the girl needed.
Bianca had an overwhelming need to be loved to the point of obsession. Gisele recognized it even if Bianca didn’t. She’d tried to shield her from making huge mistakes with the wrong men.
Perhaps she’d done too good of a job at shielding to the detriment of Bianca’s growth and maturity. Maybe it was time to just let the girl fall for the wrong guy and suffer the pain of rejection to its full extent.
Gisele couldn’t. She was afraid her cousin would follow the same path as her mother and commit suicide rather than work through the pain.
She walked her younger cousin over to where her friends stood in a small group, talking and drinking beer while swaying to the zydeco music. After ensuring they would look out for Bianca, Gisele left the festival, walked back to her little shop on Main Street and started to climb the stairs up to the apartment over the shop only to stop, her brow furrowing.
The light over the back door wasn’t shining as usual. She relied on that light to shed just enough light for her tosee the steps up to her apartment. Had it burned out?
Gisele reached into her purse for the little can of mace she carried. Just because she lived in a small town didn’t mean she was completely safe. Not a single woman alone at night. And the bayou was a great place to hide bad guys and bodies.
She shook her head at how quickly her thoughts turned morbid.
Holding the mace can out in front of her, her other hand went to the tiny ornamental gris-gris she wore around her neck. Her grand-mère, Bayou Mambaloa’s resident Voodoo Queen, Madam Gautier, had fashioned the amulet of soft, colorful cloth and filled it with bits and pieces of items intended to protect her granddaughter. Gisele hoped it did the job.
As she inched toward the back door, she noticed it was slightly ajar.
The hairs on the back of her neck spiked. She started to back away when she heard a voice squawk, Reach for the sky!
A loud crash sounded inside the shop, immediately followed by the same squawking voice, You break it, you buy it, asshole.
Gisele gasped. “Johnny.” She ran toward the slightly open door. As she reached out to push it open, a figure dressed all in black from the top of his head to his toes burst through it.
Before she could push the button on her mace, the man shoved her hard.
Gisele fell and landed on her back, the air knocked from her lungs.