Chapter 3
Simon stared down into Holly’s moss-green irises, her pain evident in the dark circles beneath her eyes.
“You might believe in curses,” he said, “but I think the curse is someone targeting you and your family. I also think you need the protection you’ve rejected. Let me help you find the answers. Let me protect you from whoever is doing this.”
She leaned her forehead against his chest, her arms encircling his waist. “If only that’s all it took.
My grandmother is busy ministering to the entire community.
I’ve been waiting for her to free up some time for me.
Once she does, I’m sure she’ll be able to help.
” She leaned back and looked up into his eyes.
“But thanks for the offer. I think I’ll be okay until then. ”
“Like your folks and your boyfriend? You only had a couple of hours' notice. It’s been what, a week and a half since your last message? Are you sure you can wait for your grandmother?”
“I’ll make do,” she murmured. “Mémère usually knows how to handle situations, curse or no curse.” She gave Simon a weak grin and headed for her table of friends.
Gisele patted the seat beside her. “Sit. Spill. We want all the details while we wait for Mitchell to let Joyce off the dance floor.”
Still standing, Holly glanced over her shoulder at the pair laughing and kicking up their heels to a lively Cotton-eyed Joe. They looked adorable, and she was happy for them.
Her gaze slipped to Simon as he rejoined his buddies at their table. “I’m going to call it a night,” Holly said.
Gisele’s eyes widened. “You can’t do that and leave us hanging.”
“We want to know all about that dance with the handsome Simon,” Ouida Mae insisted.
Holly gave them a twisted smile. “It was nice. He’s a good guy, and his mother made sure he learned how to dance.”
“Props to his mom,” Gisele said. “You two looked like you belonged together.”
Holly frowned. “Oh, please, don’t go there. Save your matchmaking for the nice principal. Until I get to the bottom of the curse, I’m not looking for a relationship.”
Gisele touched Holly’s arm. “Oh, sweetie. Is that it? Are you worried that whoever you love will be affected by the curse?”
Holly sighed. “Precisely. And I’m worried about you, Mémère, my friends—everyone I care about.” She looked from Gisele to Ouida Mae and back. “Please, promise me you’ll be careful. I don’t know who the curse will target next.”
Gisele rose from her seat and hugged her cousin. “You be careful. And consider letting someone provide your protection until we figure this out.”
“I’ll think about it,” Holly said. “Now, I’m headed to the houseboat. I haven’t even had a chance to put sheets on the bed.”
Gisele nodded toward the table of men. “At the very least, let one of the guys follow you there and make sure you get there safely.”
Holly shook her head. “No need. I’ll be okay and extra careful. Thanks for inviting me to your girls’ night out. Maybe I’ll be more in a party mood for the next one.”
“You’ve been on your feet all evening. It’s hard to party when you’re tired,” Ouida Mae said.
“Normally, I’m the one exhausted after teaching all day.
But it’s summer vacay, and I’m free for a few more weeks.
Valentin and I are going to New Orleans next weekend.
We’re taking the kids to the aquarium.” She smiled across at her husband and wiggled her fingers in a little wave.
Holly envied her friends’ happiness and prayed the curse didn’t go after them. They’d gone through a lot to get to their current happy state.
“Everything’s going to be all right, soon enough.” Gisele gave Holly another hug. “I’ll nudge Mémère and see if she can get free up to help you. She’s been super busy lately with sick neighbors.”
“I understand. I’m just worried that the longer we wait, the more likely someone else will be hurt or killed. There’s bad juju. I left Bayou Mambaloa, hoping the curse would leave with me, that all of you would be safe. It seemed to have worked for six months. Why has it returned? Why now?”
“We’ll get to the bottom of it,” Gisele said. “Love you, cuz.”
“Love you, too,” Holly said. “I’ll clean the dress and get it back to you soon.”
“No way,” Gisele said. “It’s yours now. It looks so much better on you, and like Joyce said, it brings out the green in your eyes. Go, now. Get some rest.” She turned Holly toward the exit and gave her a little push.
Her heart full of familial love yet weighed down by the thought of losing any one of them, Holly left the Crawdad Hole and stepped out into the lingering heat and humidity of a bayou summer night.
She drew in a deep breath and walked out to where she’d parked her car. A big truck blocked her view of her little car. When she rounded the tall hood, she came to a halt.
Cody West leaned against the driver’s side of her car, arms folded over his chest, one boot crossed over the other.
Her back stiffened. “Cody, please move. I’m tired and just want to go home.”
He didn’t move. “I didn’t like the way that Simon dude was acting like you belonged to him.” He straightened and waved toward her and back to himself. “You and me...we go way back. We were inseparable as kids and teens.”
“That’s right. You, me and Paul hung out. As friends.”
“Until Paul moved in on you.” His brow dipped low. “He knew how I felt about you, and still, he moved in first.”
Holly held up a hand. “Cody, you were always my friend. Nothing more.”
“How do you know it’s nothing more?” Before Holly could react, Cody grabbed her and yanked her against his chest. “We’ve never kissed.”
Holly pressed her hands to his chest and pushed hard. “There’s a reason we never kissed,” she said through gritted teeth, turning her head to avoid the man’s mouth descending toward hers. “I’m not interested, Cody.”
His breath hot on her cheek, he said, “You won’t kiss me, someone you’ve known all your life, but you’re panting after a stranger?”
“Let go of me,” Holly said, “or I’ll scream.”
“Go ahead,” he said. “No one will hear over the music.”
Holly stomped on Cody’s foot, her ballet flats making no impression. With her arms trapped to her sides and too close to knee him in the groin, she had to stop him before his lips claimed hers.
Leaning her head back, she snapped it forward. Her forehead slammed into his nose.
“Goddammit, Holly!” Cody yelled and let go of one of her arms to clutch his nose, blood streaming down his chin. “You broke my nose!”
“Be glad she did it, because I would’ve done a lot worse,” a voice said from behind Holly.
She glanced over her shoulder at Simon.
His jaw tight, his eyes narrowed to slits, he glared at Cody. “Get your hand off her.”
Cody swept his hand across his bloody nose. “Get lost,” he said, his other hand squeezing Holly’s arm to the point it would leave bruises. “We were having a private discussion.”
“The hell we were,” Holly said.
Cody sneered. “You barely know her. I’ve known her all my life. What’s it to you anyway?”
“Let go of me, Cody,” Holly said.
“You and I are meant to be together,” Cody said.
Holly shook her head. “The truth is, we’ll never be together because—”
“Because she’s my girl,” Simon said and karate-chopped Cody’s arm, breaking his grip on Holly.
She stepped backward until she leaned into Simon.
“You’ve got to be kidding.” Cody rubbed his arm. “She’s been back for a little more than a week.” He turned to Holly. “You can’t possibly be his girl.”
Tired of the fight and ready to be in her own place with her feet up, Holly lifted her chin, slid her hand into Simon’s and said, “You’re right, it’s only been a short time, and we haven’t made any announcements because it’s all so new between us.
But, yes, we’re...together.” She raised the hand holding his, if a bit awkwardly, and let it fall to her side.
Cody rubbed his arm where Simon had chopped him, his eyes narrow, his gaze going back and forth between Simon and Holly.
“That’s right,” Simon said. “And if you ever try to hurt her again, you’ll answer to me.”
Cody snorted. “I’m not afraid of you.”
“No?” another voice said behind them. “Then you might consider that he comes with backup.”
Holly glanced over her shoulder to find Remy and the rest of Simon’s team forming a semi-circle around them. Her heart swelled at the support.
Simon’s hand squeezed hers gently. He raised it and pressed his lips to her knuckles. “Ready to go home, darlin’?”
Her pulse fluttered at the endearment, even though she knew it was all for show. “I am.”
Simon cocked an eyebrow at Cody. “You can leave now.”
Cody lifted his chin in defiance, then directed a sneer toward Holly. “You were meant for me, not this poser. You’ll be mine.”
“Never,” she said. “You’re delusional. Even if Paul hadn’t been in the picture, I wouldn’t have chosen you if you were the last man on earth.”
The semi-circle of men moved closer.
Cody shook his head. “I’m leaving, but not because of you losers.” He sidestepped Simon, climbed into his truck and revved the engine. When he shifted into gear, he hit the accelerator, spitting up gravel from his back tires. The truck lurched forward, narrowly missing Remy.
Remy stood his ground without flinching.
Cody and his monster truck left the parking lot, tires squealing as they spun on pavement, carrying the man and his attitude away.
Once Cody’s vehicle disappeared out of sight, Holly’s shoulders sagged. She let go of Simon’s hand, shoved her fingers through her hair and looked up into Simon’s blue eyes. “Thanks. I was running out of ways to convince him to let me go.”
His lips quirked on the corners. “You were doing a decent job of it, based on the amount of blood on his shirt.”
She turned to the others. “And thank you all for showing up when you did. I would’ve felt bad if Simon and Cody had gotten into a fist fight.”
“I wouldn’t have felt bad.” Simon clenched his fists. “The guy needs to be taught a lesson on how to respect a woman.”