Page 20 of Beauty and the Bayou

Sawyer had seemed fine with the games though.Like maybe he could even hold his own against her.He intrigued her.She couldn’t deny it.

The people in her life were one of two extremes—either they hovered, or they quickly grew frustrated and left her alone completely.Her parents and a couple of girlfriends fell into the first category.Her brothers fell into the second.

Except for Chase.He was right in the middle.He was always willing to help her and sometimes sensed that she needed an extra hand or extra time.But then he just held his hand out or slowed down.He never sighed, or rolled his eyes, or stepped in to do something for her because it would be easier or faster.He just…went along.

“So, you’re single and have your own hard hat and you’re here to make sure your little brother doesn’t turn into an asshole,” Ellie said, leaning onto her forearms on the bar top.Once more she nudged the cup of coffee forward.

Juliet nodded.“Yes.”

“I approve of all of those things.”

Juliet smiled.“You care that I’m single?”

“Well, that way no one here will tell me that I should feel guilty about pushing you toward my grandson.”

Juliet choked slightly on her last bite of toast.She frowned at her plate.How had that all disappeared so quickly?And could she ask for more?

“Need a drink of coffee?”Ellie asked.

Juliet shook her head and swallowed hard.“No, thanks.I don’t drink coffee.”

Everyone nearby paused and looked at her, obviously shocked.And obviously eavesdropping.

She swallowed again.“I like tea,” she said, almost hesitantly.

A second later, a glass of iced tea appeared in front of her.She’d meant hot tea, but this would do.She picked it up and took a drink.And nearly spit it back out.

Sweet tea.She should have known.You had to be careful ordering iced tea in the South if you didn’t like it sweet.Since she preferred hot tea, she didn’t usually have that problem and hadn’t thought of it.

Everyone was watching her, and after her coffee comment, Juliet knew better than to say she didn’t like sweet tea, either.That might be an even bigger sin.She swallowed, gave them a big smile, and decided that she’d rather turn the conversation back to something they all liked.

Sawyer.

“If I had a boyfriend, youwouldn’tpush me toward Saw—your grandson?”she asked.Okay, so Ellie hadn’t said she’d push Juliet toward Sawyer.That had just been where Juliet’s mind had gone.

Besides, she didn’t want to be pushed toward anyone.That would be ridiculous.She was only here for two weeks.

But on the heels of that thought was another--Vacation flings are a thing for a reason.

You were far from home, where no one really knew you, and it was all temporary.Just fun.No big expectations.And the guy didn’t even have to know about your penchant for safety plans and traveling with things like ankle braces and bungee cords.Oh, and duct tape.Duct tape was magical.

On second thought, Sawyer Landry very likely knew a lot about duct tape and might just appreciate her appreciation for it.

But the guy didn’t have to know aboutallof her…idiosyncrasies.A fling could mean simply having sex with a guy with big hands and a half grin and an interesting scar who seemed to think her life jacket was kind of awesome.

“Oh, I’d still push,” Ellie said.“I’dhave no loyalty to your boyfriend back home.But this way I don’t have to listen to anyone tell me I should feel bad about it.”

“You’d do it even though it would make you feel bad?”

“It wouldn’t make me feel bad,” Ellie said.“It would make me feelannoyedto listen to them tell me itshouldmake me feel bad.But that’s no problem because you don’t have a boyfriend.”

Juliet liked Ellie.“So do I get to pick which grandson?”she asked, suddenly feeling a little sassy.

Maybe it was the sweet tea or maybe it was the attitudes of the people around her—also sassy, and seemingly very accepting—or maybe it was the look in Sawyer’s eyes when he’d looked her up and down a little bit ago.

Ellie chuckled.“Well, there’s Mitch and Sawyer.Mitch is the handsome one who’s always grinning like he’s up to something.Because he is.”

Juliet glanced over her shoulder.Mitch had to be the one who was leaning back in his chair, his ball cap on backward, grinning at one of the other guys with a grin exactly as Ellie had just described.

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