Page 59 of Sweet Home Louisiana

Ellie and Cora would make a lot more money if they didn’t feed all of their relations for free, but Maddie didn’t comment on that.“I haven’t.”

Ellie’s eyes lit up and Maddie smiled.These women loved nothing more than to feed the people they loved.And ply them with liquor, of course.

“What do you want?”she said.“Catfish?Gumbo?”

“Actually—” Maddie glanced at Kennedy.“Could I have a salad?”She almost winced as she said it.

Ellie sighed.“Salad is such a waste of your grandma’s talents.”

Maddie had to agree with that.“How about asmallbowl of red beans and rice with it?”

Ellie nodded.“That’s better, I guess.And there’s always pie later.”

Maddie groaned.Her grandma’s pie was a definite weakness.

Ellie heard the groan and gave Maddie a wink.“I just like havin’ you in here.”

Maddie felt her heart warm as Ellie turned for the kitchen.That was nice.She wasn’t sure when she’d beenwantedlike she was in Autre.

And that, of course, made her think of Owen as well.Because that guy wanted her.He’d pulled back the other day in the office, but he’dwantedher.Hell, he’d pulled backbecausehe wanted her.

She understood it.She knew that if they slept together, leaving would be even harder.She knew that it would complicate things.She knew that it would mean an even bigger chunk of her heart would be staying behind in Autre.All of those things should make her want to stay far away from Owen and his magic tongue.

But it wasn’t working that way.

The guy had always made her think “what the hell?”She had a very bad habit of not being rational when it came to him.

His magic tongue wasnotmaking her want to be any more sensible.

“Hey.”Kennedy snapped her fingers in front of Maddie’s nose.“You okay?”

She blinked.“Sorry.Tired, I guess.”

And frustrated.By her painting.By her thoughts of “what if I stayed in Autre?”By her horniness and the fact that this town sucked away her common sense.

“Oh, good, you’re not feeling sick then?”Kennedy asked.

Tori leaned in.“You’re feeling sick?”

Maddie shook her head.“No.I’m fine.”

Josh leaned in.“You’re sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure.”Maddie frowned at them all.“Do Ilooksick?”Maybe she was sick.Maybe that would explain her lack of concentration and motivation for her painting.It didn’t, of course, explain the fact that she seemed to have plenty of motivation at the tour company.Or that she could concentrate just fine on all things Owen.

“You look beautiful,” Tori told her.

Tori was sweet.Very sweet.She and Kennedy together were a funny combination, actually.It was like the angel and devil people sometimes pictured sitting on their shoulders.Tori was a veterinarian and almost any animal could win her affection and attention over most humans.Except Josh.Tori was pretty and kind and funny and had a tendency to overreact when she was showing affection.But that just made it so she fit in with the Landrys perfectly.It was definitely how much she loved Josh that made Maddie like her so much, though.Tori adored him.And vice versa.

“Thank you.”

Kennedy was studying Maddie with one eye narrowed.Maddie gave her a questioning look.“Yes?”

“You do look beautiful,” Kennedy agreed.“You look a lot more relaxed than when you got here.”

“Do I?”That actually surprised her.She didn’t feel more relaxed.She felt…frustrated.Except that feeling had really just started two days ago.Since Owen had wound her up and then walked away.

“You do.”Josh reached for his beer.“I’m glad Owen didn’t give you whatever he’s got.”

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