Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12
Gisele approached the customer with a smile on her face. “Can I help you?”
He turned to her, his brow wrinkled. “I was in this store a few years ago. Wasn’t it a pawn shop or an antique store?”
“Yes, sir,” Gisele said. “It was an antique store before I purchased it a little over three years ago.”
He nodded. “I thought so. It had some interesting antiques in it. I haven’t had a chance to get back here until now and hoped some of the items would still be available. How long have you worked here?”
“I purchased the property a little over three years ago,” Gisele said.
“Do you know where I can contact the former owner? The antique dealer?”
“I’m sorry,” Gisele said. “I was told he died of a stroke. ”
“Do you know what happened to all the antiques?”
“As a matter of fact, I do,” she said. “His family sold the store to me as is, with everything in it. They didn’t want to deal with trying to dispose of or sell what was left. I hired an auction company to come in and sell the contents.”
The man’s face pinched. “Oh, that’s too bad. There was one piece in particular I was interested in. A vintage brass cash register mounted on a wood cabinet. You wouldn’t happen to know where it ended up, would you?”
Gisele smiled. “Actually, I know the piece you’re talking about. It was a beautiful piece in great condition. I kept it, thinking I might use it when I remodeled and made this a gift shop. But I needed something more modern, and the vintage one took up a lot of floor space.”
The front door opened. A gaggle of girls entered. They giggled and pointed at different items on display racks and shelves.
One of them looked toward Gisele and waved a hand. “Excuse me. Could you help us?”
Gisele turned toward the girls. “I’ll be right there.” When she started to walk away, the man laid a hand on her arm.
“What did you do with the old register? Is it still here in the store?” he asked eagerly .
Rafael stepped up beside Gisele and stared down at the shorter man. “Need any help, sweetheart?”
She pulled her arm free of the man’s grasp. “I don’t think so,” she gave the stranger a tight smile and added, “do I?”
The man looked from Gisele to Rafael and moved back a step. “No, ma’am. Just curious what happened to the old register.”
“I gave it away,” she said and walked away with Rafael.
After dealing with the giggling girls, she looked around for the strange man with a thing for vintage cash registers.
“He left,” Rafael said from his position near Johnny’s cage.
“Good.” Gisele crossed to the counter, locked the register, slung her purse over her shoulder and dug out her key. “I need to feed Johnny, lock up and get to the festival before seven.” She hurried to the front door before any more customers wandered in.
“Why the festival?” Rafael asked, following her.
“Madame Gautier is holding court,” she said with a twisted smile.
“The Voodoo queen?” Rafael asked. “Your grand-mère?”
“Yes, sir.” She stepped through and waited for Rafael to follow. Once he was outside, she locked the door, hurried around the side of the building and climbed the stairs to her apartment .
When he followed, she didn’t bother to argue. Once she unlocked her door, she stood to the side and let Rafael enter first.
He performed his sweep and waved her inside.
She headed straight for her bedroom, dropping her purse on the sofa as she passed. “Could you get the remaining half of the mango out of the refrigerator and tear off a leaf from the head of lettuce? I’d like to get a quick shower and change out of the clothes I’ve worn now for two days straight.”
“Go,” he said. “I’ll get Johnny’s beer.”
Gisele peeled off the shirt and skirt as she hurried through the bedroom. She dropped them in the laundry basket along with her bra and panties. Standing naked in her bedroom, heat surged through her, heading south to her core, tempting her to ask Rafael if he wanted to join her in the shower.
After a quick glance at the clock, she ruled that out. Her grand-mère would only stay at the festival until seven o’clock. That didn’t give her much time. She needed the ingredients she’d asked her to bring. Even more, she needed her grand-mère’s advice.
She didn’t wait for the water to warm before she stepped into the shower. The cool spray tamped down the fire burning inside. She quickly washed her hair and body, her hand going to her sex, deliciously sore from making love to Rafael. And just like that, she was on fire again.
She rinsed, stepped out of the shower and dried quickly. After yanking a brush through her hair, she left it down to air-dry. She threw on a sapphire blue peasant blouse that draped off her shoulders. To complement the rich color of the top, she slipped into a long, flowing skirt in a variety of colors that would make a peacock proud.
Gifted with naturally long, thick black eyelashes and light brown skin, she didn’t need much in the way of makeup. A touch of lipstick and a pair of sandals, and she was done in less than ten minutes.
When Gisele emerged from her bedroom, Rafael let out a long, low whistle. “Wow.”
Heat rushed up her neck and into her cheeks. “Thanks. Grand-mère Gautier likes itwhen I represent the family heritage in something...colorful.”
“Should I change into something more formal?” he asked.
Her gaze swept over him from head to toe, drinking in his fine details. The man would look good in a tuxedo or a gunny sack. With his coal-black hair and brown-black eyes, the black polo shirt and black jeans he wore made him look a little dark and dangerous. “No. You look good in what you have on.”
He held up the mango and lettuce as she’d requested. “Then let’s get Johnny his beer, woman.” His eyes twinkled, making Gisele flush with heat and pleasure. She could get used to having him around.
Don’t go there , she warned herself. It would only cause her heartache .
They locked her apartment and returned to the shop to the sound of Johnny calling out, Get me a beer, woman.
Rafael chuckled and headed straight for Johnny’s cage.
Gisele walked to the back of the shop to the storage room where she retrieved a scoop of bird seed. When she came out, she found Rafael with his hand in Johnny’s cage, feeding him the mango. He laid the fruit on the floor.
She shook her head, “Are you sure you don’t have Cajun magic in your blood?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Here, you can put the feed in his dish.” She handed him the scoop and watched as Johnny stood by and let him fill the bowl.
As Rafael pulled his hand out of the cage, Johnny flapped his wings.
Cheeky bastard.
“I really need to work on his vocabulary,” Gisele said.
“I don’t know,” Rafael secured the door and paused to study the parrot. “It’s colorful like him. I kind of like his phrases.”
Johnny spread his wings as if showing off his flamboyant plumage as he squawked, He’s a keeper.
“That’s right.” Rafael glanced at Gisele. “You heard the bird. He tells it like it is. ”
Gisele smiled. If only he would allow himself to be a keeper.
Johnny was on a roll. You break it, you buy it, asshole.
This phrase struck closer to home. If she allowed her heart to be broken, she owned it. She’d have no one to blame but herself.
She really needed to talk with her grand-mère. Maybe she could steer her in the right direction in matters of the heart.
“It’s getting late,” Gisele said. “I need to get to the festival before she leaves.” And before I do something really stupid like fall for this guy.
“Later, Johnny,” Rafael said to the bird.
Johnny flapped and called out after them, Cheeky bastard.
“I think he likes you,” Gisele said as she locked the front door.
“Because he doesn’t bite me?” Rafael asked.
“That, and he keeps calling you cheeky bastard,” Gisele smiled.
“Doesn’t he call everyone that?”
“Not as often as he does with you. I think it’s his love language.”
He grinned and slipped an arm around her waist. “Like yours is chocolate éclairs?”
She smiled and leaned into him. “Every time.” When Rafael was like this, all playful and sweet, she could forget that he’d warned her he wasn’t into commitment and that, one day soon, he’d move on.
Well, hell. What was the saying?
It was better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
As long as she knew what she was letting herself get into, what would it hurt?
Her heart.
Her NYC douchebag ex-boyfriend had hurt her pride and pissed her off. Losing him hadn’t touched her heart.
How would she feel if she let herself love Rafael and he walked away?
As if someone had kicked her in the gut, ripped her heart out and left her broken and bleeding in a ditch.
She really needed advice.
Her friends had warned her not to get involved.
Maybe her grand-mère would have something better to say…like, go with your heart, even if you know it’ll break .
Rafael led her to his truck parked behind his apartment and handed her up into the passenger seat.
She settled in and buckled her seatbelt.
Rafael climbed into the driver’s seat and drove the short distance to the edge of town where the festival was taking place. He entered the field roped off for parking and followed the ground guides to where they wanted him to stop. He parked, got out and hurried around to help Gisele down.
Though she loved her independence, she also loved that he cared enough to make sure she was safe. It might be his job as a Brotherhood Protector, but he did it with the utmost respect and grace.
Once she was on the ground, he reached for her hand and held it as they entered the festival grounds.
“Where will we find the infamous Madam Gautier?” he asked, craning his neck as she searched the array of tents.
“About that…” Gisele squeezed his hand. “She really knows her Voodoo, natural remedies and magic and helps people every way she can. But during the Zydeco Festival, she reads palms and donates the money to the women’s shelter.”
Gisele brought Rafael to a halt in front of a tent made of dark purple velvet with a fanciful sign proclaiming Madam Gautier—Palm Reader and Fortune Teller.
Rafael grinned. “I love it. And it’s for a good cause.”
Gisele sighed. “I want you to meet the woman who raised me. My grand-mère.” She leaned close to the tent door and called out softly. “Are you in there and alone?”
A voice with a heavy Cajun accent answered in a tone meant to give the listener chills. “Enter only if you dare. See into da future. Oui, Gisele, I’m in here and alone. What took you so long?”
With her hand on the velvet curtain hanging over the door, she lifted her chin and spoke a little louder, giving an introduction worthy of her grand-mère. “Enter the realm of the amazing, the myth, the legend, Bayou Mambaloa’s own Voodoo Queen, Madam Gautier.” She flung back the curtain and waved Rafael through with a flourish.
He ducked his head and stepped into the small tent big enough really for only the fortune teller and one customer.
Gisele squeezed in behind Rafael.
“Sit!” Madam Gautier commanded.
When Rafael moved to let Gisele sit in the only chair positioned directly across from her, grand-mère, Madam Gautier, glared. “No, no, no!” She pointed a gnarled finger at Rafael. “You will sit.”
Rafael shot a glance toward Gisele.
She nodded.
“You need not permission when Madam Gautier commands.” She waved her hand.
Rafael dropped into the seat.
“Your hand,” she demanded. “Give me your hand.”
He held out his hand as if he would shake hers. “Rafael Romero, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Always a pleasure.” Instead of shaking his hand, she yanked it toward her, positioning it beneath the light hanging over the table. She turned it palm upward and stared at the lines.
Any other person would have laughed at the woman’s crazed expression and intensity.
Not Gisele. She’d learned long ago that her grand-mère was special. Magical. She couldn’t explain how her grand-mère knew the things she knew or conjured spells and potions much more complicated than what Gisele experimented with. She just knew to trust that what she did was real.
Rafael had the decency not to laugh. He gave the woman his hand and his attention.
“You have faced danger and survived. Not once, but many times.”
Rafael nodded.
“Love has eluded you when you in da past, giving you da chance to mature and know what you truly want and to allow you to recognize when it comes to you.” She leaned closer, her eyes narrowing, a crease forming across her forehead. “You will face another challenge dat will test your beliefs, test your strength and heart and da depth of your commitment. Do not hesitate, or you will lose all.”
She shoved his hand back across the table and leaned her head back. Drawing in a deep breath, she let it out slowly. She inhaled again and let out quickly, her head coming down, her gaze meeting Rafael’s. “You are sleeping with my granddaughter?”
Rafael leaned back, his eyes wide. “Madam? ”
She waved her hand, dismissing his questioning glance. “Of course you are.” She flung her hand toward the curtained door. “Leave. I wish to speak with Gisele.”
Rafael rose to his feet, his gaze going to Gisele.
“It’s okay. I’ll only be a few minutes,” she said and stepped aside so he could exit.
Once Rafael was outside the tent and the curtain dropped, Gisele sank into the chair he’d vacated, the warmth of his body seeping into hers.
“You came for da ingredients?” her grand-mère asked.
“Yes, grand-mère,” she responded.
Madam Gautier reached beneath the table, pulled out a canvas tote and handed it across the table. “I will see you Sunday night for dinner?”
Gisele nodded. “Yes, grand-mère.”
The older woman lifted her chin toward the door. “Bring your man.”
Gisele shook her head and lowered her voice to a whisper. “He’s not my man. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I need your advice.”
“Give me your hand,” her grand-mère demanded.
Gisele complied, laying her hand in her grand-mère’s. “I don’t want a palm reading. I want to know what to do. I think I’m in love with him. I’ve only known him for a coupleof days. It’s happened so fast. Can what I’m feeling be real?”
“Shh. Stop talking.” Her grand-mère stared at her palm, studying it for a long time before speaking. “Like your man, you have faced hardships and survived, becoming stronger and more certain of your course. You give so much to others yet hesitate to take what you want and need. Soon, a challenge will present itself.”
Her grand-mère’s hand tightened around hers. “A life-and-death challenge. If you successfully overcome the challenge, you will know da path to take to find love. You must believe in yourself and believe in da magic of love.” The older woman raised a hand to cup Gisele’s cheek. “My Gisele, you’re beautiful, inside and out. I’ve always loved you. Never lose sight of your worth and draw on your strength within.”
Gisele laid her hand over her grand-mère’s and leaned into it, pressing a kiss to the older woman’s palm. “And I love you.”
“Now, go,” her grand-mère said. “Your man is waiting.”
Gisele wanted her grand-mère to give her advice as her grand-mère. She needed to know what to do in plain language she could easily understand. Instead, she got the fortuneteller version in shadowy vagueness that rarely revealed its meaning until it slapped one in the face.
Having grown up with her grand-mère, she knew when she’d been dismissed. No amount of pleading would net her the straightforward guidance she so desperately craved. She wanted to make the right decision about Rafael.
But what was it? And what did her grand-mère’s message mean? She’d sat in on numerous readings in the past with her grand-mère. What she’d just witnessed wasn’t like the advice she’d given to any of the others. There was no discussion about the lines crisscrossing her palm, what each individual one represented and how it pertained to her particular path in life.
What life-or-death challenge would she face? Did it have to do with the break-ins? Would she recognize it in time to save herself or the ones she loved?
She slowly stood and turned toward the exit.
“Gisele,” her grand-mère said softly.
She turned, hoping her grand-mère would have more definitive words.
Her grand-mère nodded toward the table. “Don’t forget your bag.”
Gisele almost laughed. Well, the words had been more definitive than the palm reading. She took the bag and left the tent.
Rafael stood right outside the door, his gaze meeting hers. “Are you okay?”
Gisele nodded.
Rafael held out his hand.
She slipped hers into his.
They walked away from the tent, each lost in their own thoughts .
“Gisele!” a voice called out several times before Gisele realized it was her name. She turned to find YaYa hurrying toward her.
“Hey, YaYa.” Gisele pulled her hand free of Rafael’s. “What’s up?”
“Did those men find you?”
Gisele frowned. “What men?”
YaYa’s brow creased. “I stopped to drop off supplies at the studio. Two men were standing outside your shop. I told them you closed at five, and that you’d be open again tomorrow ’round ten.”
“Did they say what they wanted?” Rafael asked.
“They asked who owned the building. They might be interested in purchasing it. They sent one of their brokers ahead to scout and hadn’t heard from him. They were worried about him and came to see if anyone had seen him.”
Gisele shook her head. “No one’s contacted me about purchasing my shop. It’s not for sale.”
YaYa nodded. “I told them you probably wouldn’t be interested. They still wanted to find their agent.”
“Did they give you a name or description of the guy?” Rafael asked.
“They did.” YaYa squinted. “Ronald something… Roland Caney. One of the men described him as short and about so high.” The yoga studio owner held her hand several inches over Gisele’s head. “Dark, shaggy hair. Might have been wearing a gray jacket. Wh ich is crazy in this heat.” She shook her head. “Ring any bells?”
“You say they were interested in my building?” Gisele asked.
YaYa nodded. “That’s what they said.”
“Gisele!” Another feminine voice called out, drawing Gisele’s attention from YaYa.
She turned to find Amelia Aubert heading their way. “Oh, I’m glad I caught you. Did those men find you?”
“What men?” Gisele asked.
“Two big guys came into the bakery this afternoon right before I closed and asked if I knew who owned the Mamba Wamba Gift Shop.” She glanced at YaYa. “Hey, YaYa. Heard you had a record enrollment for your early morning yoga session. My sales increased as well. Your clients meet at the bakery after your session.”
Gisele frowned. “What guys, and what did you tell them?”
Amelia turned back to Gisele. “Sorry. Two big guys. They said they were with the state Historical Society and wanted to ask questions about your building. They said they sent a representative ahead but hadn’t heard from him, so they came themselves to check it out.”
“Did they tell you his name?” Gisele asked.
“Yes, they did,” Amelia said .
YaYa crossed her arms over her chest. “Would it happen to be Roland Caney?”
Amelia’s eyes widened. “As a matter of fact, it was.” Her eyebrows descended. “You know him?”
“No,” YaYa said. “I think those same two guys showed up in front of the Mamba Wamba a little while ago, saying they were interested in purchasing Gisele’s place and that they’d sent a broker ahead but hadn’t heard back from him.” She paused and gave Amelia a pointed look. “They were looking for Roland Caney.”
Amelia’s eyebrows rose up her forehead. “But my guys said they were from the historical society. Come to think of it, they didn’t look like they were all that interested in history.”
“More like bouncers at a strip club,” YaYa said.
“Yeah,” Amelia said, nodding.
“Gisele!” another feminine voice called out behind Gisele.
YaYa laughed. “Aren’t you the popular one tonight?”
The three women and Rafael turned to find Deputy Shelby Taylor headed their way in her maternity uniform.
“What are you doing working so late?” Gisele asked as Shelby came to stand in front of her.
“I’m filling in for one of the deputies who was supposed to assist with the festival. His kid fell out of a tree this afternoon and broke his arm. He’s getting it set now. Anyway, I wanted to tell you something interesting I learned today at the sheriff’s office about that guy we saw at the Crawdad Hole last night.”
Gisele shook her head. Was she living in an alternate universe or a really weird dream? “The guy in the light gray jacket with the dark, shaggy hair?”
Amelia and YaYa’s eyes widened.
“Yeah, that guy,” Shelby looked from Gisele to YaYa and Amelia, her brow furrowing. “Something about his face seemed familiar. When I went to work this morning, I realized why.” She pulled a sheet of paper from her pocket and unfolded it. On it was the mug shot of a man with shaggy dark hair and stubble on his face. His mug shot indicated he was five feet seven inches. The name on the mug shot was...
Gisele turned to Rafael. “Roland Caney. The guy who came into the shop this afternoon asking about antiques.”
“He came into your shop?” Shelby asked.
“Yeah.” A creepy feeling of déjà vu slithered across the back of Gisele’s neck, making the hairs stand up. She moved closer to Rafael and slipped her hand into his. “He said he’d been in the building a few years back when it was an antique store.”
“It would have to have been a few years ago,” Shelby said. “He was in jail for the past three and a half years for robbing a convenience store. He made parole three days ago and immediately ghosted his parole officer. Thus, the picture that floated through with a BOLO alert.”
“BOLO?” Amelia asked.
“Be on the lookout,” Shelby said. “And he was in your shop, looking for antiques?” She shook her head. “That doesn’t make sense. You’d think he’d be laying low to keep from getting caught and sent straight back to jail.”
“Why would he ask about antiques if he was on the run?” Gisele shook her head. “You’re right. It doesn’t make sense.”
“If you see him, call 911. He got out on good behavior and a few pulled strings, but he was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon.” Shelby held Gisele’s gaze. “Consider him dangerous.”
Gisele’s gut clenched.
Shelby turned to Rafael. “I wasn’t too keen on you hanging out with our girl, Gisele, given your reputation with women.”
Rafael nodded. “I get that.”
Shelby’s lips pressed together in a formidable line for a pregnant woman. “But I’m willing to grant you grace as long as you keep her safe until this Caney dude is back behind bars.”
“What about the other two guys?” YaYa asked.
Shelby frowned. “What other two guys?”
YaYa filled the deputy on hers and Amelia’s encounter with the men interested in the Mamba Wamba building and the missing Roland Caney.
Shelby got on her radio and reported the two suspicious men also looking for Caney. When she’d completed the call, she turned back to Gisele. “I’m worried about you.”
Gisele snorted softly. “Frankly, I’m a little worried about myself, as well.”
“You can’t stay at your apartment while Caney is at large,” Shelby said. “If you want, you can come stay with me.”
Gisele shook her head. “If I’m in any kind of danger, and someone comes looking for me, that danger could impact whoever I’m with. Thanks, Shelby, but no. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you or your baby.”
“You could stay with me,” YaYa said. “Lord knows, I’m not pregnant. I’m not a candidate for immaculate conception. It’s been a long time since I got laid.”
“You could stay with me,” Amelia said. “I’m not pregnant and don’t have kids.”
Rafael squeezed Gisele’s hand gently. “She’s staying with me.”
Gisele drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly.
Rafael glanced down at her and amended, “If that’s all right with you.”
She’d conducted a conversation with a man who’d been convicted of aggravated assault. Not only was it all right that Rafael insisted she stay with him, butbeing with the Navy SEAL was the only place she felt marginally safe.
She met his gaze and nodded. “Yes, please.