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 there to get you in position to take over, I can’t—”
“I never said I wanted you to do any of that. You just assumed. I’m perfectly content where I am.”
The shout Grandfather emitted made Luc jump. “I don’t care what you want. You’ll take over at the casino. And that’s final.”
Luc drew up to his full six-foot-three, towering a good four inches over his grandfather, and stared into the old man’s eyes. “No, I won’t. I’m staying as a freelance consultant.”
“You will or else.” Grandfather stood toe-to-toe with him.
“Or else what?”
“Or else I’ll not only kick you all out in the street, but I’ll publicly disown you. You’ll be dead in this town.”
TWO
The morning sun split the blue skies, nearly blinding CoCo with its brightness. She cut her gaze through the Jeep’s windshield, over to the front door of the law office of Dwayne Williams for about the fortieth time in the past ten minutes. No sign of activity. She checked her watch again—8:01, still too early to show up for her nine o’clock appointment.
“I don’t understand why I had to come.” Grandmere hadn’t stopped complaining since they left the house. “I told you, I can take care of Beau Trahan.”
God, can I get a little help here? CoCo clenched the steering wheel and leaned into the blast of air conditioning. As if that could cool the frustration burning in her. “Because we’re going to do this legally.”
“My way is legal.”
“No, it isn’t,” CoCo said. “I don’t want to hear anymore about the traditions of old. Just this once, let me handle things. Okay, Grandmere?”
Her grandmother huffed and rolled her aged eyes but remained silent. She turned her attention out the window.
Hauling in a deep breath, CoCo closed her eyes and rested her forehead against the steering wheel. Fatigue weighed down her very soul, and keeping up the long-standing argument with Grandmere wore her out even more. Sleep had flickered just out of reach last night. And it was all Luc Trahan’s fault.
She’d managed to keep the wall she’d erected around her heart intact for two years. Two years! And with one measly phone conversation, it had begun to crumble. CoCo stared into the blazing sun. She wouldn’t allow Luc to worm his way back into her heart. Not after he’d left her dangling in the wind the way he had—right after he’d proposed. He’d broken her heart once…she wouldn’t let him close enough to crush it for good.
“It’s about nine. What’re we waiting for?”
CoCo snapped out of her reprieve and glanced over at the door to the law office. The blinds were now opening. “Guess we can go.” She killed the engine and slipped out of the car, rushing around to the passenger side to assist her grandmother.
“I’m not old and decrepit,” Grandmere snapped as she shrugged off CoCo’s hand. “Despite what Beau Trahan thinks.”
Ignoring the challenge in her grandmother’s tone, she led the way to the lawyer’s office. She’d grown tired of arguing with Grandmere over the past two years—to the point she’d avoid any further confrontation if at all possible. Opening the door, she smiled as the blast of frigid air hit her face. Just the walk across the parking lot had made her hot and sticky. She knew her face had to be beet-red, despite her tan.
“Good morning. Ms. LeBlanc?” the perky receptionist sitting behind the front desk asked.
CoCo nodded. “Yes. I have an appointment with Mr. Williams.”
“Yes, ma’am. He’s ready for you now.” She stood and walked around the desk. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to the conference room.”
Their footfalls thumped softly on the deeply padded carpet as they followed the receptionist down the hall. Light paneling shone beneath the overhead track lighting. She swung open a door, revealing a long mahogany table and large windows overlooking the grassy area behind the building.
“Can I get you a cup of coffee or a glass of water?” She waved them into the room while she hovered at the doorway.
“We’re fine, merci.” CoCo pulled out a plush chair on rollers for her grandmother.
“Mr. Williams will be with you shortly.” The receptionist pulled
