Page 34 of Bayou Sunset

“I shiver at da thought of encountering ghosts,” she admitted with a nervous laugh.

Romeo offered a comforting smile in response to her comment.

She inquired, “Are ya Ash or Rob?”

The men looked at Romeo as if to say, “What the fuck?”

They turned back. “I'm Ash, ma'am.”

Daisy Mae nodded. “Then I'll call you Ash. And, ya be Rob?”

Nodding in acknowledgment, Grits extended his hand and firmly clasped hers, holding on longer than Romeo found agreeable. A low, audible growl escaped from Romeo, clearly revealing his displeasure, while the boys around them merely grinned. The smug fuckers.

“Did ya get checked into a hotel?”

Grits replied, “We discovered a B&B in town. We hoped to have breakfast elsewhere but weren’t sure what would be open.”

“Duke’s be the spot,” Daisy Mae declared with a smile. “Just let me fetch my purse.” With that, she headed down below deck.

Grits turned on him. “What the fuck, Romeo? She's our client.”

“No, she's not. I be. I hired ya to help me find out who is screwing with her. So get over it. And, Grits, try that shit again, and I'll punch ya in the face.” He intentionally held Daisy Mae’s hand for an extended period, aiming to provoke a reaction from Romeo. Despite being the leader of Bravo team, Romeo refused to tolerate it.

Grits put his hands up, palms out. “Okay. I was testing the waters between you two. Now I know. She seems nice. Don't break her fucking heart.”

“I don't plan to. She be coming with me?”

“Oh? I be?”

Merde.Romeo spun. “Yeah, ya be riding with me. The boys have transportation.”

Doubt colored Daisy Mae’s expression as she narrowed her eyes at him, her skepticism evident. She was going to see right through him—he could feel it.

Daisy Mae shrugged. “Oui,” she ultimately said.

Merde.He knew he had to be careful. While he mightmention to the others that she was joining him in Baltimore, Daisy Mae wasn’t quite prepared to hear that yet. He realized that he still needed to persuade her further.

During the journey to Duke’s, Daisy Mae inquired, “Why we no ride together? There be plenty of room wit the backseat of da truck.”

Why? Why? Why? Think faster, brain.“Because dey plan to start their investigation now. Didn't ya say ya brothers wanted to return to the island today?”

Daisy Mae nodded. “Oui, but I thought ya friends were going too.”

“They be, but you and I must prepare thebateau. I think we ate what was left of the food and drank all the water, trying to rehydrate.” He turned and winked at her.

“Mais, I see where ya be going with dis.” She turned to him, putting her knee on the seat. He glanced at her from the driver's seat.

“What?”

“Well, ya be enjoying it all again. Being here around thebateauand water, ya be visiting ya parents more often.”

He got an “and me” but let it go. “That soundsbien.”

Even though he watched the road, he felt her eyes boring into his as if trying to mind-meld. “What, Rocket?”

“Do ya think I be in some danger? Or do ya think someone be just fucking wit me?”

Romeo pulled into a spot at Duke's and parked the truck. He turned to her. “Ya be in some coil, that be for sure. The question be whether it be your coil or one yafrèresbrought ya way.”

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