Page 3 of Crazy Rich Cajuns

Bennett pulled up his email.He had some people he could contact about this.People who would call Bailey off.But he hesitated.He wasn’t so sure that the Landrys actually needed his intervention.

“Well, Mr.Baxter,” Bailey said.“There’s really no need to involve you.I’m not here to arrest anyone.”

“You’re not?”Kennedy asked.“You said that it’s illegal for me to keep my dog.”

“That’s not a dog,” Bailey said.“It’s a gray wolf.Gray wolves are threatened species and it’s illegal to have them as pets.”

“But I didn’t know it was a wolf,” Kennedy told her.

Bennett rolled his eyes.That was bullshit.They all knew it was a wolf.

“I told you it was a wolf the last time I was here,” Bailey said.

Bennett could sense her exasperation.The feeling happened to a lot of people who hung around with the Landrys.

“I don’t remember that,” Kennedy said, “I thought it was a dog.”

“You meanIthought it was a dog,” Leo said.“Had a friend back when I was growing up who had a dog that looked just like that.”

“Me, too,” Tori piped up.“I’ve seen lots of dogs like that in my veterinary practice.”

Bennett didn’t even need to see the woman to know that her expression clearly said, “Bullshit.”

“Then I am here to inform you,again, that it is a gray wolf and it’s illegal to keep them in captivity,” Bailey said.

“So youarehere to give us trouble,” Kennedy told Bailey.“Do the people who work for the great state of Louisiana not have anything better to do than to harass good, hardworking, animal-loving people who—”

“Ms.Wilcox,” Bennett cut in smoothly before Kennedy could complete that thought out loud.“What do you need from us?”

“I’m just following up from last time.”She sounded tired.“Just making sure that the wolf has been released as instructed.”

He was ninety percent certain that Bailey Wilcox had actually wanted to stop by last time to see Chase Dawson again.Chase had spent a couple of weeks in Autre with the Landrys, especially Mitch Landry, learning about airboats, fishing…and Louisiana girls.

Bennett wasn’t sure how they’d met, but Bailey had asked about Chase when she’d come to check on Gus and had seemed disappointed to find out that he was now back home and in medical school.Bennett thought maybe he was the only one to notice Bailey’s preoccupation with Chase, however.She’d come across as a nerdy scientist who was all about rules and regulations, and the rest of the family had regarded her as the enemy out to get Gus.Bennett thought maybe she was just a girl with a crush looking for a good excuse to hang out along this part of the bayou.But Bennett knew better than to judge a book by its cover, so to speak.

After all, Kennedy Landry seemed like a sassy spitfire who thought she had no use for a guy in a suit.But Bennett thought she’d had some dirty thoughts about his neckties in actuality.

And one of these days, he was going to make her admit it.

“You’re referring to the dog that looks like a wolf?”Bennett asked.He was going to cover for the Landrys.In part because he really liked them and knew they weren’t doing anything wrong.They hadn’t captured the wolf and they weren’t keeping it captive.They were caring for it, for now.But also, because this meant he was about to enter into a contract to serve as Kennedy Landry’s legal counsel.Which meant she would owe him.

He already knew how she was going to pay her bill.

“Mr.Baxter,” Bailey said, with some obvious exasperation.“You know it’s not a dog.”

“Actually, I don’t.I’ve never seen the animal.”That was true.He’d seen Gus, but he’d only heard about the wolf and the eagle.“And even if I had, I’m certainly no expert in dog and wolf breeds,” he said.Also true.“Furthermore, I would, in any case, defer to the expertise of Dr.Victoria Kramer who is, after all, a doctor of veterinary medicine.She’s far more qualified than I am or, I would guess, you are, to make a judgement about this, wouldn’t you agree?”

There was a long pause.

Finally Bailey said, “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Are you going to charge anyone with anything?”Bennett asked.

“I’m…”

He could practically hear Bailey taking a deep breath.

“I’m issuing a warning.Again.But a formal one this time.In writing.Gray wolves cannot be kept as pets.Anyone who does is subject to fines, community service, and yes, even jail time.”

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