Page 94 of Sweet Home Louisiana

“You know how people put socks on their doors to show everyone they’ve got a girl inside and don’t want to be interrupted?”he asked.

“Yeah.”

“Thought this might be even more obvious.”

“Is that what you usually do?”

He shook his head and stepped right in front of her.“I never have women over here.”He dated exclusively in New Orleans and always went back to the girl’s place, be it an apartment or a hotel room for the weekend.

Maddie gave him a smile.“You could just lock the door.”

“With our family?”he asked.“If they didn’t know what was going on in here, they’d either just beat on it until we can’t stand it or one of them would pick the lock.”

She didn’t even correct him about theour familything.They were her family as much as they were his and they both knew it.

“Someone can pick locks?”she asked.

“Three someones, actually.”He gave her a look.“Are you really surprised?”

She thought about it for about one second and then said, “Not even a little.”

He bent and lifted her into his arms.“And now, that’s enough talking.”

“Good afternoon, ladies.”

The deep voice brought Maddie’s head up from the spreadsheet she was reviewing.And she nearly slipped off her stool.She pulled her glasses from her face and stood quickly.“Oh my God.Hi.What are you doing here?”

The tall man pulled his sunglasses from his face in a much smoother motion, tucking them into the inner pocket of his suit jacket.“I wanted to come down after hearing about the typhoid outbreak, but staying away from that seemed wiser.But the near-death experience of a paying customer did catch my attention and I thought maybe it was time for an in-person visit.”

Shit.That asshole who’d wanted to have her arrested had alsopostedabout it?“You Travel?”she asked dryly.

“And Travel Time,” he confirmed.Then he gave her a slow smile.“I’ve been trying to picture this but I just can’t.I’m guessing you don’t have need to be armed in the art gallery?”His eyes scanned her from head to toe.“Then again, seeing you dressed like this, makes it a little easier to imagine.I assume this isn’t Armani?”

She was wearing cutoff denim shorts and a Boys of the Bayou T-shirt today, actually.She’d taken three shirts home the morning after she and Owen had first slept together.Slowly her style here was changing.The heat and humidity had driven her out of her regular work clothes within two days, but she’d stuck to sundresses after that, feeling those were close to her style, while still keeping her from heat stroke.But she felt very comfortable in denim and a shirt with a cartoon alligator on the front.It was something else she was choosing not to overthink.She was sure it was something about feeling a part of things and like she belonged.It could also be about wanting souvenirs once her time was up.But yeah, she wasn’t analyzing it.

“Easier to wash bayou out of these,” she said.

“Yeah, gator blood might be tough to get out of silk.”

“Very true.”

Maddie heard Kennedy clear her throat next to her.She glanced over.Kennedy was sitting up straighter, eyeing the man with interest.

Right.They hadn’t met.Or at least, Kennedy didn’t know they had.

“Sorry.Kennedy Landry, this is Bennett Baxter.Bennett, Kennedy.”

Kennedy spit out her mouthful of sweet tea.All over Bennett’s silk tie.That probablywasArmani.

Bennett did nothing more than look down at his tie and then brush a hand over the spray of iced tea.“Hello, Kennedy.”

Kennedy was staring at him.“Shit,” she muttered.Then she shook her head.“Fuck.”

Maddie smirked at the very Kennedy-like greeting.Which was probablynothow Bennett Baxter was used to being greeted.Especially by women.

He was very handsome.He had that classic chiseled jawline, dark eyes and hair, broad shoulders, and, even more than how he filled out his suit, he had a confident, I’m-in-charge air that made people pay attention.It was clear he was used to commanding whatever room he was in.

Which was exactly why Maddie got such a kick out of his little-boy-excitement about the bayou and the airboats.

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