Page 83 of Sweet Home Louisiana

Maddie dragged in a huge breath and, looking into his eyes, realized that she’d screwed up big time.She’d pulled agunout.Andshot it.

Holy crap.

Her eyes started to burn and she had to swallow hard.“You jerk.You scared the shit out of me.”

He nodded, his expression a little pained.“I know.I really am sorry.I can’t imagine how I’d feel if I thought you were in danger like that.I’d probably kill the thing with my bare hands.”

The intensity in his tone and eyes along with his words made the rest of her fear disappear.She wanted to kiss him.She wanted tofeelhim.His big, strong, hot body that was completely healthy and whole and uninjured.Well, she’d already made an ass of herself.

She went up on tiptoe, gripped his shoulders, and kissed him.And it wasn’t a quick brush of her lips.It was a full-on, I-want-to-consume-you-right-here-and-now kiss with lips and tongues.Yes, plural.Because Owen didn’t act even mildly surprised.He gripped her hips, pressed her against him, and kissed her back.

It took almost a minute, but eventually the wave of desperation and fear faded and she was able to let him go.

He stared down at her as she settled back onto her flat feet, his hands still gripped the denim at her hips.Finally he gave her a little nod.“You okay now?”

“Better, anyway.”

He took a deep breath and let her go, stepping back.

And revealing two airboats full of people gawking at them.Even the kids.

Maddie’s cheeks got hot and she gave everyone a smile.“Sorry, folks.I might have freaked out there a little bit.”

“A little bit?”the guy in her boat asked.

She nodded.“Yeah.Sorry.It’s been a little while since I’ve been out here.”

“Looks like it’s been a while since she did other things, too,” the woman next to him muttered.

Well, she wasn’t wrong.But Maddie felt her cheeks turn redder thinking about how she’d just forgotten everything else and kissed Owen like she was crazy about him and was ready to strip his clothes off right here and now.

Again, the woman wasn’t wrong.

“You don’t even know what you’re doing?”the guy asked.

“I know…” God, she really didn’t know what she was doing.Not out here.Not with the fucking alligators.Not with Owen.“I’m sorry,” she said again.“Truly.”

The guy didn’t look convinced.

“Hey, it’s all good,” Owen said, moving toward the front of the boat.“We’ll get you guys back to the dock.”He jumped from Maddie’s boat to his.The resultant rocking made the kids squeal and laugh.“I’ll tell you what,” he said to them as he got up on his seat.“You had something happen on this trip that doesn’t usually happen.You’ve got a unique story.”

“You can say that again,” Maddie’s tourist muttered.

She sighed.She’d apologized.This was minor compared to some of her freak-outs.She could tell him about the shed, but she wasn’t sure that would really help the situation.

Everyone watched as Owen opened the big blue cooler he had on board and pulled out raw chicken quarters.

“They’re not cute, cuddly pets,” he said as Wilma and Betty started for the boat.“But like any animal, they become a little tamer around humans when they’re fed and when we respect their territory.”

The alligators got closer and he tossed them each a hunk of chicken.

Everyone oohed and awed as the alligators ate.Owen tossed them more and gave everyone a few more fun facts about gators in general.

When the chicken was gone, Owen turned back.“Okay, who’s got questions?”

He answered a few—probably questions he got on every tour—and then he got them all back into their headsets.

When they got back to the dock, Kennedy and Josh were there with complimentary water, soda, and sports drinks for the passengers.There was also no sign of the alligator stickers they usually gave out to the kids after they took a ride.

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