Page 75 of Beauty and the Bayou

“Yeah?”

“Because you have a big job now,” he told her.He gave her a little tug, making her take a step closer.

“Oh?”she asked, her voice softer.“What’s that?”

“Distracting me.”

“Distracting you from?”

“Whatever they’re all getting into,” he said, inclining his head toward the office.

“You don’t want to stay and hear it yourself?”

“No.I think it’s best if I just trust that they’ve got it covered.”

She smiled.“Remind yourself that they took that safety class and bought all the safety gear for the bike ride.”

He nodded.“Something like that.And hope that they’ll tell me about the fall if there is one.”

Juliet squeezed his hand again.“I think they will.”

“And so while they’re off on their ‘bike ride,’ I need something to preoccupy me.”

She tipped her head.“Huh,” she said softly.

“What?”

“I never really thought about it, but I’ll bet my mom tried to distract herself while I was out on those bike rides, too.”

“I’m sure she did,” he told her.He was absolutely certain.You didn’t just forget that someone you loved was off taking a big risk.

“She started doing stained glass artwork,” Juliet said, looking past his shoulder as if lost in thought for a moment.“Around that same time.I never really thought about why.”Her gaze focused back on him.“I’m happy to help you however I can.”

Sawyer wondered if she had any idea how sexy her smile was just then.He wanted her.The only question left was whatexactlyhe wanted her for.Sex?Abso-fucking-lutely.But there was more.Like her pinky hooked around his.For starters.

“Do you want to meet Gus?”

“The probably-not-rabid but definitely-wild river otter?”

Sawyer grinned.“Yep.”

“I’m good.Also, no on the wolves, too, before you even ask.”

He laughed.“Gus is pretty cute.”

“And he’s well-loved and protected by Tori.He doesn’t need me.”She leaned closer.“Besides,you’repretty cute.I’d rather hang out with you.”

Sawyer gave a little snort of surprise.He’d never been called cute, not even as a kid.Precocious, yes.Cute, no.

And more, maybe Gus didn’t need Juliet.But maybe Sawyer did.

“Then let’s hang out,” he said.He had no intention ofnotbeing around her today.

“Okay.”

They grinned at each other, then turned together and started across the grass toward the building area.

“You don’t have to help me with the dock though,” Juliet said.

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