Night Magic Read Free

over again." He turned away, his voice breaking.
    "I'm sorry too, Poppy. I should have
understood how you felt." She reached out and took his hands in
hers.
    "Well, now you're home." Antoine squeezed her
hand once before letting go. "Guess you wanna just take it easy for
awhile, huh? Get yourself settled."
    "I could use a rest. But it's got to be a
short one, finding a job is next on the list."
    "You don't have to rush into nothin', cher.
You know that. Like I told you before you left, my business is good
and what's mine is yours." Antoine got up to refill his cup.
    "I like earning my own way. And I like being
a lawyer." Savannah was beginning to feel the familiar tightness in
her stomach.
    "All right, all right. Let's not fuss. Do
what you think best." Just then the battered old rotary phone on
his desk rang. Picking it up on the second ring, Antoine began
taking a mail order. He handed Savannah a small color catalogue.
"Look at that, we ship outta state now." He whispered. "Yes sir,
that right. It's five dollars off. A special sale 'til the end of
the month."
    "This is great."Savannah admired the
photography. Her father's wood carvings of animals were set in
reproductions of the natural bayou or forest habitats. She uttered
a tiny delighted cry to see a selection of food items. Apparently,
the years of nagging had paid off. Tante Marie, her father's older
sister, had finally decided to share her wonderful dishes with the
world.
    "Say, what's the matter? Y'all don't want to
make money today? This is no way to treat customers." A male voice
boomed aggressively. The bell over the door jingled in the
background.
    Startled, Savannah dropped the catalogue.
Hurrying through the door, she almost upset a row of ceramic
figures. Holding her breath, she gently rearranged them. After
checking that none were broken, she turned abruptly and collided
into a broad chest. Two large hands cupped her shoulders. Suddenly,
she found herself looking up into a pair of eyes the color of
almonds. For a moment she felt lost in them. Savannah gazed at the
strong, smooth hands that held her. She took in the dark eyebrows
that stood out so wonderfully against his smooth brown
complexion.
    "You okay? I was coming to save them, too."He
smiled down at her, revealing a small space between his two front
teeth.
    "Uh-huh."That was all she
could manage. For some inexplicable reason, that one small flaw in
an otherwise perfect row of even ivory teeth set her heart to
fluttering. She fumbled with the figures a little longer than she
needed to trying to regain her balance. But turning to see the
tall, dashing man still smiling destroyed whatever composure she
had managed to gain. Great, the first
good-looking man you meet and you stumble around like a
dimwit.
     
    *****
     
    Paul stared at the dark hair that brushed his
chest as Savannah turned her back to him suddenly to arrange the
figures on the shelf. The smell of her perfume, a light floral
scent, was so pleasing he leaned toward her as almost a reflex
action. When just as suddenly she turned back to face him, he
stepped back quickly.
    "Just making sure you didn't need any more
rescuing." He smiled his best shy smile.
    "Is that your Jeep?" The beginning smile on
her face froze instantly. She pointed to the dark green vehicle
parked outside. She suddenly found his smile too smug.
    "Sure is, a real beauty I'm sure you
agree."
    "You almost killed me today, fool." Savannah
glared at him.
    "Out on the old highway? That was you? Well,
well. You were driving kind of recklessly you know. But I'll
forgive you for not yielding, this time anyway."
    "Say what?" Savannah's already anger began to
boil. She could not believe this. Did he think his charm would make
almost smashing into her all right?
    "Now I know I should have stopped to examine
you closely for injuries." Paul gave her a sassy grin.
    "You were too busy being an--" Savannah
stopped
    "Hey, Paul. How you doin', man? You done met
my little girl I see." Antoine