Page 27 of Bayou Sunset

Chuckling, Steve opened his truck door. “Rocket, I be staying.”

Why was he staying? Was he staying forever? No, that couldn’t be. It seemed more like he was waiting while her boat was repaired. Then again, maybe he’d stay for the night. Was she ready for that? No. Yes. She was. She’d waited a long time to be with Steve. Daisy Mae would never pass up a chance to be his, even if it were just for one night. Her heart could deal with the fallout later. It had once before and could survive again.

Coming around the front of the truck, he smiled at her. “Let’s go.”

Walking down the pier, Steve kept a light touch on her back. Daisy Mae tingled all over from that contact. How on earth could she handle it if he touched her intimately? She’d probably pass out from pleasure.

“Who be fixin’ thebateau?” Steve asked, pulling her from her musings.

“Uh– Oh, Etienne Hebert. Do ya ’member him from school? I think he be in ya grade.”

Steve stopped and stiffened. “Etienne. The biggest flirt in high school?”

Daisy Mae couldn’t help but notice the tinge of jealousy in his voice. She knew she shouldn’t be pleased by it, but something was intriguing about his reaction that she couldn’t ignore. “Was he?” she asked coyly. “I only ’member him ahead of me grade.” She didn’t want to mention that he was still a huge flirt, but she thought Steve would find out soon.

They began walking again and reachedSeas the Day. Etienne waited, leaning against a pylon, all sexy and as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

“Bonjour, ma chère.” Etienne reached for Daisy Mae’s hand as if to guide it to his lips.

Steve stepped forward, almost pushing her behind him. “Bonjour, Etienne.” He held out his hand to meet the other man’s. “Remember me?” he nearly growled.

Etienne stiffened. “Mais oui. Steve Smith. Ya home for good?”

Daisy Mae held her breath, waiting for the answer to the question she had longed to ask.

“Non,” was his one-word reply, crushing her heart. She knew he wasn’t, but she’d wanted a different answer. Would that change her wanting to sleep with him? No, she didn’t think so.

Steve grabbed her hand. “We will wait up here while ya repair the engine.”

Daisy Mae’s blood boiled with anger. It was her beloved boat, and she refused to let anyone dictate what happened to it. With a sharp movement, she withdrew her hand from Steve’s. “I be going below with ya, Etienne.”

Steve grabbed her hand again, tugging her toward him. Possessive, much? “Non, we’ll be up here.” He turned them toward the bow. “Come on. I need to speak wit ya.”

To avoid making a scene, Daisy Mae agreed and nodded toEtienne. “I’ll be up here if ya need me.”

“Bien.” Etienne strode away.

When the mechanic was out of what Daisy Mae hoped was hearing distance, she pulled her hand away from Steve. “Merde! What dat be?Seas the Dayis mebateau. Mine.” She pointed at her chest. “Ya not come here directing what happens.”

“Resser!”

Daisy Mae became angry when he told her to calm down. He seemed oblivious to women’s feelings. “Resser?Resser? Ya no see anything for me to calm down from—yet.”

He walked too close to her. Daisy Mae caught a whiff of his divine cologne or aftershave.

His fingers gently intertwined with hers as he gazed into her eyes, creating a tender and intimate connection.

Daisy Mae tried to remind herself that she was angry with him and should not have let him touch her, but oh, how good it felt. What was the right word? Oh, yes, sensual.

Leaning his forehead to hers, he said, “I be sorry. I don’t know what I be thinking. Ya be right, of course. This be yourbateau. I was just—just jealous.”

Had Steve confessed to feeling jealous? Her heart leaped in her chest. There was hope for them.

Before she could respond, he straightened and pulled her to sit, dropping one of her hands. “I hear there be a crawfish festival ’cross the pond. Want to go?”

“Now?” She couldn’t think straight. What had happened?

Steve’s thumb rubbed her hand in his. Each stroke sent sparks of electricity through her system.

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