Lucky Charm (Lucky 1)

She rolled her eyes. “I can handle him.” She’d already opened the car door and scrambled out.

Derek drew a deep breath and joined her.

They reached the front door and he rang the bell.

“Red dust,” she murmured, kneeling down to run her fingers over the dust at the entrance of the house.

“That I can’t explain.”

“I can,” Gabrielle said. “New Orleans tradition holds that if you clean the front steps with red brick dust, it protects the entrance and keeps bad energy and negative people away.”

“Figures.” He rang the doorbell once more.

The door opened no more than half an inch. “Who’s there?”

“It’s your nephew, Derek.” He shot Gabrielle an “I told you so” look.

Edward opened the door the rest of the way. “You aren’t alone.”

Derek shook his head. “No. Do you remember Gabrielle Donovan? I went to high school with her.”

“The one who’s writing about the curse that’s destroyed our family?”

Derek tipped his head toward her.

Gabrielle stepped forward. “Mr. Corwin, I’d love to talk to you if you’d let me in. I have nothing but the utmost respect for what you and your family have been through.”

“Nope. Not talking. Anything I say can and will be used against me.” He slammed the door closed.

“They don’t call him a recluse for nothing.” With a shrug, Derek grabbed her hand and started back down the walk. He hadn’t come to see his uncle, anyway.

“This trip has already revealed a lot,” Gabrielle said.

“Such as?” He couldn’t imagine what she’d discovered.

They walked across her uncle’s driveway and headed to the place next door.

“The jujus, the hermit lifestyle. I’ve been taking m

ental notes on what they looked like so I can do some research into exactly what evil your uncle hopes to ward off, how he thinks they’ll work, things like that.” Gabrielle’s voice sounded more animated with each word she spoke. “Since I’m planning to write about the effects of a curse on a real family, I can use everything I saw today firsthand.”

“I’d rather you didn’t write about the insanity that runs in my family,” Derek muttered.

She yanked on his hand, pulling him to a stop.

Turning, he met her gaze.

“There is no insanity in your family.” Her eyes flashed with sincerity, which surprised him.

She didn’t think his uncle was nuts?

“Look, I was a psychology major and I understand that people react to events in different ways. Your uncle retreated into himself. That’s not unusual. People also look for ways to protect themselves. Cut him a break. I promise you I will.”

He raised an eyebrow. “I appreciate that.”

“I’m glad. What I write will be factual, not derogatory in any way.”

“I appreciate that, too.” Derek squeezed her hand tighter. “Ready to move on to Harry Winters?”