Cajun Magic 02 - Voodoo for Two Read Online Free PDF Page B

ingredients. “These spells have to be mixed with the appropriate words as well as ingredients, and if someone else talks, I might get things confused.”
    “We’ll be quiet, right Calliope?” Alex shot a warning glare across at the redhead.
    “My lips are sealed.” Calliope drew an imaginary zipper across her lips and grinned, spoiling the effect.
    Lucie ignored her friends and concentrated on the recipe book, her stomach knotting automatically. She recalled the last few times she’d tried Mamère LeBieu’s magic, only to goof up every spell. She couldn’t help it if she’d mistaken the Voodoo queen’s canister of whole-wheat flour for ground cypress knees. So what if Mo’s alligator was in love with Granny Saulnier’s poodle? Worse things could happen.
    But not today. She was determined to make good her escape from ruin, Bayou Miste, and Benjamin Franklin Boyette.
    Ah hell, had she really added Ben on to the end of that thought? What did she have to worry about with Ben? Their relationship was no longer an issue—hadn’t been for seven long years. A lump rose in her throat and she swallowed determinedly.
    Eric was her ticket out of all her troubles and the swamp—not Ben. Besides, Alex had mentioned that Ben was home for good. If that was the case, Lucie had no intention of staying in the bayous. What for?
    Because Ben was home , a niggling voice taunted her.
    With a vicious twist, Lucie wrapped her thick hair high on the back of her head and clamped it in place to keep it out of the way while she cooked up her future.
    “I feel like there should be a drum roll or something.” Calliope gave a little giggle. “Well? Isn’t every Voodoo spell supposed to be accompanied by drums?”
    Alex and Lucie glared at Calliope until she flushed and raised her hands in surrender. “Okay, okay. I won’t say another word.”
    “Good, because I want everything to be perfect for this spell. My future with B— Eric depends on it.” Her face warmed and she leaned over the potion book, hoping Alex hadn’t heard her slip up.
    Alex’s eyes widened. “Are you sure Eric’s the guy for you, sweetie?”
    Lucie arched her brows at her dark-haired friend. “Let me see…Eric’s the son of the richest man in the parish, not to mention he’s a United States congressional candidate and the acclaimed golden boy of Louisiana politics. And from what I remember, he was always nice and might have been sweet on me at one time.” She tapped a finger to her chin and stared at the ceiling before adding, “Yup, I think he’s the right man to get us out of financial ruin and get me out of the swamps.” Her attention returned to the book. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to cook up a love spell, and you’re interrupting.”
    “Okay. Whatever.” Alex shook her head. “Although I didn’t hear anything about love in there. Kind of an important ingredient in a marriage, if you ask me.”
    After a deep breath drawn in through her clenched teeth, Lucie said, “In case you missed it, I did say ‘love.’ That’s why I’m here. Hel- lo ? Love spell? Voodoo? Jeez. I’m surrounded by amateurs.”
    “You don’t have to be so grumpy,” Alex grumbled.
    Her face warmed again. Alex was right. She’d been a flaming bitch since she’d run into Ben at the Raccoon Saloon. And she wasn’t normally like this. Only where Ben was concerned. With a weak smile at her friend, she muttered a not-so-very-contrite, “Sorry.”
    “Apology accepted.”
    Her heart welled with a flood of emotion for her two friends. But she didn’t have time for group hugs and a round of “Kumbaya.” She had some fancy cooking to do. She turned back to the cookbook. “Start with stump water, dark as night. Two cups of the stuff will be just right.”
    From the floor, she lifted the brown glass jug marked “Stump Water” and poured it into a measuring cup until the liquid line met the two-cup mark.
    “Jeez, that stuff smells like—” Calliope