Bayou Justice. Robin Caroll

      “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