His touch was surprisingly comfortable. Yet, she had to wonder why he wanted to touch her. A touch, even one so casual as holding hands, usually indicated some depth of feeling greater than a polite acquaintance.
She put it out of her mind, and concentrated on telling him how she’d met Mambo Ayezan.
“You did not want dogs, but you accepted two from an old woman you’d never met?” He arched a dark eyebrow.
“She made refusing anything quite difficult.” Grace had rarely met an old woman as stubborn as the mambo.
“She gave you something other than the dogs?” Luc cocked his head to one side, daring her. What was he fishing for?
Grace shook her head and eased her hand from his. “Nothing terribly important. Some advice and an amulet.”
“Amulet?”
“She said it was the symbol of a Voodoo Loa called Eshu. It is supposed to protect me from harm, but I mustn’t over use it. Evidently Eshu does not like to be bothered with minor problems.”
Luc grinned. “And you are supposed to offer a sweet of some sort when you do call on him for help.”
“How did you know that?”
“It’s a common enough practice for believers to give the Loa sweets, which I understand these mystical beings like very much. But you already knew that.” Again, there was a dare in his blue eyes.
Did he challenge her because he thought her weak? Why would he think that? She’d been at pains to hide her personal doubts and fears.
“Well, Mambo Ayezan told me to do so. However, when I lived and worked in Boston, I had one or two clients interested in Voodoo artifacts.”
“Those must have been interesting appraisals.” Luc’s tone was even, interested, but there was something he wasn’t saying.
Halfway down the dock, she paused and turned to him. “The work was fascinating. Sadly, I had to tell one of them that the gris gris he’d hoped was a century old and made in New Orleans was a Chinese fake.”
“A century old gris-gris? That is surprising. Most of those dolls are made from organic materials which should disintegrate with time, especially in a climate like that of southern Louisiana,” Luc remarked.
“Are you here tonight for any particular reason?” Grace changed the subject, even though she preferred he did not think she missed him. Knowledge was power, and he knew too much about her already.
He captured her gaze, staring into her eyes for a very long time. “Yes. I need to warn you that you are in great danger.”
She jerked her head back, and tucked her chin. “I beg your pardon? Why would you try to frighten me like that?”
“Whoa.” Luc held his palms up. “I am not trying to frighten you, although you should be scared. Scared enough to take precautions.”
“Precautions like wearing that amulet? Like ordering my dogs to attack strangers on sight? Perhaps I should shoot before asking questions the next time someone invades my property?” She needed to remind him that she did not see him as completely safe. His appearance from nowhere at their first encounter had frightened her. That fear lingered despite the earlier comfort of her hand in his. “I haven’t even said what sort of danger yet. Don’t you think that accusing me of a wish to terrorize you is a bit extreme?” A deep frown marred the Irishman’s handsome face.
Now she stared. She bit her bottom lip to keep it from wobbling—Luc didn’t need to see that, either. “N…no, yes, I don’t know. I haven’t known you for very long. For all I know, you are the person sending intruders toSweet Dreamsin some twisted attempt to get me to trust you.”
His mouth thinned. “Why is trust so difficult for you?”
Grace shifted to look out at the bayou.What to say?
He was very direct. Could she admit she liked spending time with him? What hazard would there be in his knowing that? Such knowledge wouldn’t give him much sway, since she’d be perfectly happy without his company. It wasn’t as if he were seeking her fortune or to use her for nefarious ends.
“You’re frowning.” Luc took her hand in his again. “I would not cause you a moment’s grief or anxiety. Shall I leave?”
“No,” she said, meeting his gaze once more. “I was simply thinking how to reply.”
“It isn’t a complex question.”
“Perhaps not for you. I, on the other hand, have good reason to think carefully about whose company I keep,” she said.
“Reasonable, given the events of your life in Boston.” Under the light of the full moon, empathy shone in his blue eyes.
