Page 75 of Sweet Home Louisiana

“This tour should be pretty low-key for Sawyer,” Josh said.“You don’t need to—”

“Let her do it,” Owen interrupted, looking at her as he said it.He looked almost proud of her.

That was weird.

“It’ll keep her from firing anyone else.For today, at least,” he added.

Josh look from Owen to Maddie.“Firing anyone else?What—”

“Never mind,” Owen told him.“Let her be a part of this.”

Apartof this.Yeah, she didn’t need these guys starting to think that she was getting into this.Or that she didn’t hate the bayou.Because she really did.

“I just—”

“You need to go change your clothes,” Owen told her, cutting off her protest.

She looked down at her dress.“I do?”

“The wind is gonna blow that skirt up for sure,” Owen said with a nod.“And I’d like to limit the audience you’re flashing your panties to.”

“Well, you’re always takin’ your shirt off,” she said.“Making sure the female tourists remember the ride.Maybe I can help out with that, too.”

Dammit.Her voice had just gotten flirtatious.And had she just said “takin’” instead of “taking”?She had also just admitted to noticing him having his shirt off.

But he really did take his shirt offa lot.Sometimes he left with one on and came back without it.Twice, one of the girls on the boat—one of the very pretty, just-about-his-age girls—had returned to the dock in his shirt.Twice.In one week.Seriously, they needed cheaper Boys of the Bayou T-shirts just to keep up with Owen’s apparent need to strip them off all the time.

“There’s no fucking way you’re ‘helping out’ with that.”

His firm response snapped her back to the moment.

“I’m just sayin’ that the girls on your tours seem to really appreciate the scenery.I don’t see why—”

“No.Go put some clothes on,” he said with a frown.

Maddie felt a little smile tugging her lips.Which sobered her quickly.She was poking him.She was trying to get him all gruff and possessive.And it was working far too easily.She did this without even thinking and she had to stop.She needed to behave.Owen reacted instinctively to her teasing.She needed to control herself.“Fine.I’ll change.”

“Jeans would be good,” he told her.

She shook her head.“No way.I’ll die of heat stroke.”

“You won’t die of heat stroke,” he said with a little eye roll.“The wind when you’re driving the boat will keep you cool, and once we stop I’ll…”

She lifted a brow, waiting.

“I’ll be sure we’re in the shade.”

She laughed.“Don’t be ridiculous.You can’t keep the tour in the shade.”

They both knew that was true and he finally sighed.“Fine.”

“What are we going to tell Sawyer?”Josh asked as Maddie came around the counter.

“Tell him…” Owen looked at her.

Really looked.As in up and down her body.And possibly picturing the whole blown-up-skirt-panty-flashing thing.

Maddie felt her nipples pebbling and she crossed her arms.Good grief.Maybe she already had heat stroke and it was making her react stupidly.

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