Page 28 of Beauty and the Bayou

“Uh, no.”Chase finished off the cookie and looked his sister over.“I don’t have any of that, either.”He grinned.“But I’m guessing there’s a bag with my name on it in your rental car.”

Juliet nodded.“There is.Behind the driver’s seat.Hope the vest fits.”

Chase laughed.“I’m not wearing a safety vest.”

She frowned.“You should.They’re not used to having us around down here.It doesn’t hurt to be sure they see you.”

Chase rolled his eyes.“Jules, these guysallsee you.Trust me.And I’m not wearing a bright green safety vest.”

Sawyer glanced around.Were there other guys gawking at Juliet?

“You’d prefer yellow?”she asked dryly.

“I’m not wearing a vest,” Chase said again.

Juliet sighed.“Okay, if you get run over, don’t complain to me.”She shrugged out of her safety vest and pulled on the life jacket that had been hanging on the end of the sawhorse.Then she pulled the safety vest on over the life jacket.

Overkill.For sure.

Sawyer grinned.

“If that happens, I’ll only expect the small balloon bouquet, not the large,” Chase said with a nod.

Sawyer almost chuckled.Chase had a sense of humor.That was going to be handy down here.

Juliet reached for an accordion folder on top of the closest stack of wood planks.She flipped it open and pulled out a sheet of paper.“Here are the plans.I figure we’ll cut and weather treat the boards here, get enough for the first section, and then do the framing closer to the shore.”

Sawyer looked from her to the paper she spread out on top of the wood.She knew about the weather treating and framing, huh?Okay that was good.He squinted at the paper.That actually looked like true plans for a boat dock.With specific measurements and everything to scale.He leaned in.“Did you do this?”

She cleared her throat and Sawyer realized he was essentially leaningoverher.He straightened but didn’t step back.He didn’t mind being in her personal space and she smelled good.If she wanted more room, she could ask for it.

“I did,” she said, looking back at the plans.“I based it off of what was here before.But if you want it shorter or longer or wider or whatever, just say so.”

“You had the measurements of the original dock?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“Owen.”

Right.Sawyer had to quit forgetting that everyone was in on this but him.He let out a breath and focused on her plans.“Looks good,” he said, surprised to find he actually meant it.

She gave him a dazzling smile, and Sawyer realized in a flash that a smile like that could get him to agree with her on pretty much anything.He needed to tread very carefully around Juliet Dawson and her smiles.And her safety vest.

She leaned and grabbed the tool belt that had been draped over the woodpile.She strapped it around her waist, settling it on her hips.Then she plucked a pair of safety goggles from the front pocket and put them on.

She smiled up at him behind the plastic lenses.

Dammit.

He turned to Chase.“You need to get suited up?”

Chase grinned.“I think I’m good.”

“At least wear work gloves,” Juliet protested.

“Jules, I’m good,” Chase insisted.He gave her a little frown.“Sawyer’s not wearing work gloves.”

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