Read Online Cajun Magic 01 - Voodoo on the Bayou by Elle James - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Elle James
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you’d better stick close to home. No telling what could eat you by the water. Don’t worry, it’s not much longer ‘til the sun sets.”
Thank God. Although, somehow the anticipated transformation didn’t hold as much appeal.
Not much of anything, huh?
He found a quiet spot beneath the step to wait and contemplate his choices. For the most part, he forced down the natural instincts to snatch the flies off boards, but a fat, juicy cricket managed to find its way past the shadows that hid him. The unsuspecting insect was toast with jam to his pallet, and why not? People ate cockroaches in some countries.
As soon as he turned back into a man, he’d make some calls, set up a couple dates, test the feminine waters of Bayou Miste. Like Mo said, he didn’t have much time and he couldn’t afford to be picky.
Perhaps he really should ask Cassandra to come down from New Orleans. He could tell her it was some kind of emergency or other. She’d do it.
And with the pickings so slim in this part of the country, that choice looked more and more like the winner. But even if Cassandra said she loved him, would it be true? Craig didn’t think Cassandra loved anyone but Cassandra. Could he afford to waste time on her?
Unfortunately, he couldn’t afford not to.
If she didn’t work out, he’d be stuck with the local lineup. He shouldn’t care whether or not they had teeth or their butts were as broad as the bottom of a pirogue. But he’d prefer to find a woman who could pretty well stand on her own in the looks department. His conscience couldn’t handle dumping the lovelorn if she had no hope of ever landing another fish in the sea.
If he remembered correctly, Josie wasn’t bad looking as a teen. If Larry had no objections, he’d check out Josie.
With the decision made, Craig felt a little more in control. He’d start a campaign to woo Josie.
As the last wisps of sun sank over the horizon, washing the lush green swamps into gray, Craig hopped onto the steps. No sooner was he settled on the planks, the metamorphosis began. His skin pulled and stretched, the bones and muscles extending, flexing, and growing. His body unfolded, straightening, pushing upward. He closed his eyes against the pain shooting through his nerve endings. Just when he thought he would explode out of his epidermis, the pressure subsided.
He opened his eyes and his vision cleared. He towered above the steps he’d had difficulty climbing just moments earlier.
Steps?
Oh, crap .
Craig glanced down at his naked body parts and darted a quick glance toward the neighboring houses closest to the bait shop. Miz Mozelle stepped out onto her porch. As she turned toward the bait shop, he ducked in the side door.
“Whew. That was close.” He’d have to plan his morphing location better next time. Apparently, there’d be a few more next times. But not many, if he could help it.
Time to find his lady love.
Chapter Six
Elaine made her way to the dock with a large plastic bucket banging against her knees, a satchel containing her journal slung over her shoulder, and a large, yellow flashlight clutched in one hand. She’d chosen to walk the short distance from the rental house to the pier thinking to stretch the kinks out of her legs. But if she were honest with herself, she’d admit she was procrastinating. The thought of spending a dark night in a boat on the water with a handsome man paralyzed her.
She didn’t know which made her more uneasy—the man or the water. Either way, she’d plunged in way over her head. She had research to do and the source of the pollutants to discover. Wasn’t that enough to worry about?
The thought of being surrounded by water made her stomach churn. Whatever happened, she couldn’t lose her cool to a panic attack. This water was no different than what ran from her tap at home. Just a little more of it. But she would be safe in the boat, out of the wet stuff.
In the absence of street lights, the roadside
Thank God. Although, somehow the anticipated transformation didn’t hold as much appeal.
Not much of anything, huh?
He found a quiet spot beneath the step to wait and contemplate his choices. For the most part, he forced down the natural instincts to snatch the flies off boards, but a fat, juicy cricket managed to find its way past the shadows that hid him. The unsuspecting insect was toast with jam to his pallet, and why not? People ate cockroaches in some countries.
As soon as he turned back into a man, he’d make some calls, set up a couple dates, test the feminine waters of Bayou Miste. Like Mo said, he didn’t have much time and he couldn’t afford to be picky.
Perhaps he really should ask Cassandra to come down from New Orleans. He could tell her it was some kind of emergency or other. She’d do it.
And with the pickings so slim in this part of the country, that choice looked more and more like the winner. But even if Cassandra said she loved him, would it be true? Craig didn’t think Cassandra loved anyone but Cassandra. Could he afford to waste time on her?
Unfortunately, he couldn’t afford not to.
If she didn’t work out, he’d be stuck with the local lineup. He shouldn’t care whether or not they had teeth or their butts were as broad as the bottom of a pirogue. But he’d prefer to find a woman who could pretty well stand on her own in the looks department. His conscience couldn’t handle dumping the lovelorn if she had no hope of ever landing another fish in the sea.
If he remembered correctly, Josie wasn’t bad looking as a teen. If Larry had no objections, he’d check out Josie.
With the decision made, Craig felt a little more in control. He’d start a campaign to woo Josie.
As the last wisps of sun sank over the horizon, washing the lush green swamps into gray, Craig hopped onto the steps. No sooner was he settled on the planks, the metamorphosis began. His skin pulled and stretched, the bones and muscles extending, flexing, and growing. His body unfolded, straightening, pushing upward. He closed his eyes against the pain shooting through his nerve endings. Just when he thought he would explode out of his epidermis, the pressure subsided.
He opened his eyes and his vision cleared. He towered above the steps he’d had difficulty climbing just moments earlier.
Steps?
Oh, crap .
Craig glanced down at his naked body parts and darted a quick glance toward the neighboring houses closest to the bait shop. Miz Mozelle stepped out onto her porch. As she turned toward the bait shop, he ducked in the side door.
“Whew. That was close.” He’d have to plan his morphing location better next time. Apparently, there’d be a few more next times. But not many, if he could help it.
Time to find his lady love.
Chapter Six
Elaine made her way to the dock with a large plastic bucket banging against her knees, a satchel containing her journal slung over her shoulder, and a large, yellow flashlight clutched in one hand. She’d chosen to walk the short distance from the rental house to the pier thinking to stretch the kinks out of her legs. But if she were honest with herself, she’d admit she was procrastinating. The thought of spending a dark night in a boat on the water with a handsome man paralyzed her.
She didn’t know which made her more uneasy—the man or the water. Either way, she’d plunged in way over her head. She had research to do and the source of the pollutants to discover. Wasn’t that enough to worry about?
The thought of being surrounded by water made her stomach churn. Whatever happened, she couldn’t lose her cool to a panic attack. This water was no different than what ran from her tap at home. Just a little more of it. But she would be safe in the boat, out of the wet stuff.
In the absence of street lights, the roadside
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