Free Cajun Magic 01 - Voodoo on the Bayou by Elle James Page A

him. She stared at everything but him…shadows in the corners, light fixtures on the ceilings, packages of fake worms. Oh, geez .
    She compelled her gaze to his face.
    His lip turned upward on one side as if he was daring her to say anything more about his lack of clothing.
    “Do you want me to wait outside? I don’t mind in the least. In fact, I’ll do just that.” She backed down the aisle, but her bucket bumped against a shelf behind her, clipping the backs of her knees. Her legs buckled and she toppled to the floor in a heap of bucket, nets, and notebooks.
    He leapt forward, tossing the worms aside and reaching out to grab her hand. “Are you all right?” He hauled her to her feet so fast she pitched forward and crashed against his chest.
    Her fingers laced through his curly chest hairs and her breath caught in her throat. “I’m fine,” she said, her voice a husky whisper. Then she noted something hard and stiff pressing into her belly. And it wasn’t a package of fake worms.
    What would it feel like to reach down and touch—
    Elaine looked up into his face. Eyes as blue as a summer sky were hooded in shadow, but his lips curved in a knowing smile.
    Embarrassment kept her close. If she backed away, he’d be on full display. But if she stayed where she was, no telling what her crazed senses would do. The scientific method escaped her when she most needed it. She should be reviewing alternatives and examining all angles before coming to the most logical solution to her rising problem.
    And rising it was.
    Perhaps a closer examination—
    A loud click split the air, and the fluorescent lights above hummed to life.
    “Craig? You in here?” Joe Thibodeaux’s voice called out.
    Elaine jumped back guiltily at the sound. What would Joe think if he saw her in a compromising embrace with his unclothed nephew?
    Her face burned and she shoved away from Craig’s chest, ducking behind a cardboard display of sunglasses. “I’ll just wait outside,” she whispered. And with one last look at the gorgeous hunk of naked male standing before her, she ran for her life.
    Once outside the bait shop, she collapsed onto a weathered bench, pressing her hands to her fiery cheeks. She closed her eyes, but Craig’s image burned in her memory. The muscled plains of his chest and shoulders, the narrow hips, tight abdomen and…and… Oh. My. God. All bathed in shimmering moonlight and nothing else.
    How could she ever face the man again, when her body responded to him even when he wasn’t standing beside her?
    She really had to rein in her galloping pulse. She opened her eyes and looked around, realizing all her gear lay scattered across the floor inside the bait shop. Hopefully, Craig would bring it out. She couldn’t go back in there. No way, no how.
    Two very short minutes later, Craig banged through the screen door. Blessedly dressed in jeans, a denim shirt, and deck shoes, sure enough, he was carrying all her equipment.
    She couldn’t look at him without heat suffusing her cheeks. Thank goodness for the darkness of night and dim porch lights. She stood and held out her hands, looking at her stuff instead of his face.
    “What is all this stuff?” he asked.
    “I’ll be collecting water samples, fish and frogs to study.” She held out her hands. “I’ll take those.”
    “No need.”
    “No, I insist. It’s my gear, and I can carry it.” She couldn’t decide whether to smack her palm over her mouth or her forehead. Why couldn’t she just shut up and let the man do his job?
    “Suit yourself.” He set the bucket, satchel, and bright yellow flashlight on the porch.
    While he bent to accomplish the task, she couldn’t help but notice how his hair glowed blue-black, reflecting the light above his head. She had to resist reaching out to touch the ebony waves.
    He straightened and his gaze met hers. Briefly.
    Her heart leapt to her throat and she dived down to gather her things. With her bucket looped over her arm,