Page 21 of Bayou Sunset

“Be careful, Daisy Mae. Would ya like me ta go out wit ya? I doubt anyone would mess wit ya if ya had a deputy sheriff aboard.”

Daisy Mae carefully considered the option before ultimately dismissing it. After all, Steve had already stepped up, and she had ungratefully accepted his offer.

She hugged Alice. “It jus’ be a simple fishing charter,maiswe see how things go.”

After their farewell, Daisy Mae waved to Marie as she approached the exit. Steve shook Alice’s hand, expressing his appreciation.Wow. He’d spoken.

She pondered how he came to be known as Romeo if he couldn’t even speak around women. She mentally shook her head and observed that he was polite, allowing Daisy Mae to take the lead. Furthermore, she recalled that he had never shown any interest in Alice during their time in school.

As Steve and she walked to the door, she felt his hand lightly touch her back. A jolt of electricity ran through her. His touch, even so gentle, was enough to send her libido into overdrive.

Merde.She wanted him. Even though she didn't want to, she did. And she wanted him in every way possible.

Once they exited Duke's, his hand dropped, and he walked beside her to the docks. “Was dere something ya needed us ta do on thebateau?”

The audacity! Was he seriously joking with her? After accusing her of being his reason for not returning, he actually believed she wanted to fix her boat. Men really had no idea.

“Non.” Her tone may have been more terse than she'd meant.

“What den?”

Daisy Mae felt her face turn bright red as steam billowed from her ears. She abruptly stopped and whipped around to face Steve. “Mon Dieu! Do ya be kidding me?” she exclaimed, eyes narrowed in disbelief.

Looking confused and a bit uncomfortable, Steve looked at her. “’Bout what?”

She wanted to pace. She wanted to rant. Yet, she stood her ground. “After da bomb ya dropped in dere, ya think me no want to finish dat conversation?”

As he scuffed his feet along the weathered wooden planks of the dock, Steve’s unease manifested in the hesitant rhythm of the movement. When he finally mustered the courage to raise his eyes, the anguish in his gaze shattered her heart into a thousand pieces. “Mais, I didn’t mean it,” he uttered, his voice cracking with remorse.

She was going to kill the man. And she had the boat to dump him so his friends would never know. “Oui, ya did mean it,maisya didn't explain how ya meant it.”

“Let's sit on dabateau,etwe talk.”

The plan worked well for her. They proceeded along the brief dock and then boarded her vessel. She gracefully made her way over to the two captain’s chairs positioned at the front of the boat, knowing that these seats were where her clients would settle in to enjoy a day of fishing. She knew they could swivel,allowing her to effortlessly turn around and get a good look at the person she was speaking to.

Steve cleared his throat as they settled into their seats to indicate he was about to speak. “I meant that ya were why I didn't return.”

Her heart was pounding loudly in her chest, the sound echoing in her ears. She needed to understand the reason behind it. “Why, exactly?” she asked, her voice filled with urgency and determination. Had she kept him away with her antics the night before he left?

Steve closed his eyes momentarily, then bored his gaze into hers. “’Cause I wanted ya,etya be my best friend'ssouer. I couldn't have ya and didn't think I could stop meself from going after ya.”

Daisy Mae was surprised at the turn of events, but she thoroughly enjoyed it. The thought of being with Steve made her stomach somersault with excitement. Despite her previous declaration that they couldn’t be a couple due to their geographical separation—he in Baltimore and she in Bayou Junction—the temptation of spending just one night with him was irresistible. The thought of it was utterly invigorating and tantalizing.

With her words tumbling out before her mind could catch up, she exclaimed, “That be da most stupid thing I ever did hear.”

Chapter Twelve

SURPRISED BY THE remark, Romeo started to say something but stopped himself. He felt his anger welling up inside at being labeled as stupid. He knew that she hadn’t explicitly called him stupid but referred to the bro code as such. The bro code was a revered and solemn agreement among men.

“It no be stupid,” he nearly bellowed, his frustration evident in his tone. “It be our code.”

Daisy Mae rolled her eyes. “Let me guess—guy code or something equally as stupid?”

Now, he felt tiny. “Bro code,” he mumbled.

“Like I said—stupid.”

He pondered the situation. Despite feeling at ease in Daisy Mae’s presence, he was far from being a smooth-talking Romeo. He found himself at a loss for actions when it came to her.

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