The Billionaire Matchmaker Test (Billionaire Online Dating Service #5) - Elle James Page 0,64
"Oh God, what now?"
Calliope fished in her pocket and dug out a small red velvet drawstring bag.
When Alex peered inside, she almost gagged. It smelled like something the cat dragged in from the swamp. "What is this stuff?"
"She didn't say. I bet five bucks it's some Voodoo remedy."
"Egad!" She dropped the bag on the end table. "You remember the last time she dabbled in Voodoo she almost had the entire town of Bayou Miste under her wacky love spell.”
“But it all worked out in the end. Lucie married Ben, Maurice and DeeDee scheduled a Christmas wedding and Elaine and Craig eloped. The whole magic thing couldn’t have turned out better. And, she's been taking lessons from her grandmother.”
“Maybe that spell worked out all right, after a considerable amount of bad luck and a few murder attempts. But the one she put on Mo's pet alligator gave the poor beast a bad case of puppy love for Granny Saulnier's poodle. T-Rex still hasn’t gotten over it.”
"I don't know what it is. She asked me to give it to you the next time I saw you. I did and now my duty is done." Calliope blinked, all innocence. "Maybe it's a sachet you're supposed to put in your drawer to make your clothes smell good."
She wrinkled her nose "Not this stuff. It could make a grown man weep. I swear it has that rank odor of stump water.” She shoved the bag toward her friend. “Take it back to her. I don't want to risk getting caught up in one of her crazy spells.”
"Oh, no.” Calliope held up her hands. “I'm not carrying that thing around. It might give me hair in places I have no business growing hair. Or worse, maybe it’ll make me lose hair that I shouldn't. No, if you want her to have it back, you'll have to give it back yourself."
"Fine, I will. Next time I’m in Baton Rouge.” She frowned at the sachet bag. “In the meantime, I have to put up with it. I hope it isn’t anything dangerous.”
The phone sang again and she flopped down on the couch pulling the pillow back over her head. "Why couldn't I have had Lisa and Lucie's mother, who stays gone for twenty years at a time?"
Calliope stood at the sound of the third ring. "Because your mother loves you, and you should be nicer to her." She reached for the phone.
"Don't do it, Calliope,” She warned. “If you value our friendship, you won’t touch that phone.”
Calliope cocked an eyebrow and punched the talk button. "Hello?" She listened. "Yes, Mrs. Boyette, Alex is right next to me. Sure. I'd be happy to relay the message. Seven o'clock? I'm sure that would be fine. Me, too? That would be nice. Good to talk to you, too, Mrs. Boyette. Bye, now."
"What did she want?"
"You and I are invited to dinner at her house at seven tomorrow night. Oh, and put on that slinky red dress you wore to Lucie's bachelorette party."
"My mother said that?"
"Well, most of it.” Calliope grinned. “I added the part about the dress."
"Thanks, Calliope. Don't know what I'd do without you.” She dripped sarcasm. “But I'm willing to try it."
Her friend dropped into the chair and tucked her legs underneath her. "I heard Lucie’s Grand-mère LeBieu has been coaching her on Voodoo, again."
She punched her pillow and set it against the arm of the couch. "Should we consider moving to another state?"
The redhead tipped her head to the side as if considering her jest. "Possibly."
"Geesh. I just got the gym operating in the black, I hate to sell and start somewhere else."
Calliope's eyes lit up. "We could move to Biloxi."
With a very unladylike “Ha!” Alex stood and paced around the room. "That's the last place you need to move."
"Why?"
“Don’t play dumb with me.” She stopped in front of Calliope, planting her hands on her hips. "Biloxi would be entirely too much temptation for you. What, with a casino on every corner, it would be like navigating a minefield."
"I’m not that hooked on gambling. Besides, I could get a job in one of the casinos.” Calliope’s eyes twinkled and an excited grin spread across her face. “The pay and tips would beat what I get at the Raccoon Saloon."
"You should be happy you landed Lucie's old job. She got great tips."
"I guess moving is out of the question." Calliope's smile turned downward and she heaved a sigh. “I miss Lucie.”