Page 61 of Beauty and the Bayou

“Yeah.There’s a lot of that.”

“But why now?In this moment in particular?”

“Because…” He cleared his throat.“You’re the first person to make me actually believe that things will be okay.”

Juliet shook her head.“I didn’t say that.”She’d never say that.Okayreally depended on the person and their definition.“Things will always be different now.”

“You didn’t have to say it,” he told her.“Youshowedme.”His voice softened.“Because you’re okay.Different than you were before the stroke, yes.But definitely okay.Amazing even.”

Amazing.Huh.She wasn’t sure she’d ever been called that.She smiled.“Well, when you put it that way…”

He chuckled lightly but quickly sobered.“Really, though, you might be the first person to truly get it.To get that if the bad stuff still has to happen, I really want to be part of the bandaging.They’re…taking turns distracting me while the others cover up the torn pantlegs and bloody knees.”

“Because you haven’t had that moment—the one where things went terribly wrong but it all turned out okay, even without you.”

“But… I have.”He said it slowly as if it was just fully occurring to him, too.“I have.Maddie and that alligator.That was the moment.Everything was out of control, but they handled it.Without me.And then…” His eyes narrowed slightly.“Your brother.Taking that boat, crashing it into the dock—that was another moment.Owen and Maddie jumped on an airboat, chased your brother down, and got everyone off the boat before it smashed up the dock so no one was hurt.All without me.”

Juliet stared at him.Well, wow.Her brother had been a reason for one of Sawyer’s moments.The moments that were going to help him heal.

“That’s great, Sawyer,” she said sincerely.

“And you helped me realize it.”

She nodded.Bandaging other people’s knees was really nice sometimes.“You should definitely kiss me for that.”

He looked surprised but only for a second.“Come here, Juliet.”

6

Standing,stepping toward Sawyer, and sliding into his lap, straddling his thighs, took absolutely not one single extra thought.Juliet rested her hands on his shoulders as his big hands settled on her hips.The heat of his palms quickly spread warmth everywhere—up to her belly, down her legs,betweenher legs.She shifted on his lap.The worn denim of his jeans was soft against her bare skin but made her even more aware that her skin wasbare.

“I’m a little dirty,” he said huskily, running his hand up and down the outside of one of her thighs.“I washed up but should have showered.Didn’t expect this.”

“You probably should have expected this.”Her voice sounded a little breathless.

“Yeah,” he agreed, his eyes darkening.“I probably should have.”

“It’s okay,” she told him.“I’m washable.”Images of showers and soap bubbles tripped through her mind and she hoped through his as well.

He gave her a little grin.“Good to know.Means I can get youreallydirty.”

Juliet felt her breathing quicken.She put her hand against his face, over his scar.“Ireallywant that.”

Sawyer slid a hand up her back and into her hair.He urged her closer until her lips were nearly against his.“Me, too.”

Then he kissed her.It was slow, lips only.He just tasted her.Lingering with a long press, then a brief retreat, then another long press.

Juliet wiggled on his lap, arching closer, thrilled to feel the hard length of his erection against the middle seam of her shorts and his fingers digging into her hip in reaction.

She tipped her head to the side slightly, hoping he’d deepen the kiss.She heard his quiet groan, but he kept kissing her softly.She ran her hands up under his shirt, her fingertips bumping over the hard contours of his abs.His groan was a little louder and deeper now.That was better.

She sat back and pushed his shirt up to his chest, exposing a lot of hot, tanned skin and hard muscles.She ran her flat palms over his pecs, feelinghisnipples harden under her touch.

“Juliet,” he said gruffly.

She met his gaze and pushed the shirt up farther, clearly indicating she wanted it off.He lifted his arms and let her strip his shirt over his head and toss it to the side.He was a gorgeous sight, and she ran her hands over his shoulders and down his arms, relishing the feel of his biceps and triceps bunching.She didn’t have time to fully explore before he brought her in for another kiss, this time opening slightly and deepening it a bit.But still no tongue.

She sighed when he retreated a little longer the next time.It was nice.Sweet.Not what she’d been anticipating.

---