Page 8 of Beauty and the Bayou

Her breasts brushed his stomach as she took a deep breath, and Sawyer felt his body tighten.What had she just said?Something about fighting with him?He honestly had no idea suddenly.He took a big step back.But his hands stayed at his sides.

“I’m also not here to write a check,” Juliet told him.“Chase and I are going to rebuild the dock for you.”

That also made no sense, but Sawyer wasn’t sure if it was because of what she’d said or because of her breasts.

“Youare going to rebuild the dock?”he repeated.Was that what she’d said?

The lilacs and brown eyes and breasts…what the hell was going on?He needed to get his shit together.

“I am.With my brother.”

“As in, with your own two hands?”

“Yes.”

Sawyer’s eyes flickered to the hard hat on the dock behind her.“Are you in construction?”What were the chances that the guy who had trashed his dock actually knew something about construction?Not very damned likely.That just wasn’t how Sawyer’s luck had been working lately.

“No,” Juliet confirmed.

Yeah, he’d figured.He sighed.“Then why wouldyourebuild the dock?”

“Because when you mess something up, you should be the one to try to fix it,” she said.“Chase needs to do this.”

All right, Sawyer could respect that.He agreed with making reparation for the things you did wrong.But he really wanted this dock to be, well, functional.Solid.Usable.“Why would I let you rebuild my dock when you and your brother have no clue how to actually do that?”

“Because you need your dock rebuilt,” she said.“And you shouldn’t have to use your time and money to do it.”

“Yeah, well, that’s all true.”

“So, we’re going to pay for the materials and take care of everything.”

“No offense, Ms.Dawson,” Sawyer said in a tone that he knew conveyed clearly that he didn’t really care if she was offended.“But I’d really like to have a professional rebuild my dock.I’m all for you payin’ for it to assuage your guilt though.”

She frowned.“Chase won’t learn anything from that.”

“It’s not my job to teach Chase things.”

“No, but it’smyjob,” she said.“My little brother willnotturn into an entitled asshole, Mr.Landry.Hewillbe getting his hands dirty, developing some blisters, sweating through his favorite designer T-shirt to rebuild the dock that he helped demolish.He doesn’t get to steal your boat, endanger everyone around him, and destroy your property without any repercussions.”

Damn, this woman was beautiful.Even more so when she was agreeing with him about avoiding snake bites and concussions.But she was downright gorgeous when she was riled up and impassioned about something.And it was clear she was impassioned about this.

It also happened to be something he agreed with.

“I appreciate everything you’re saying, Ms.Dawson,” Sawyer said, wondering how he’d gone from having his hand tucked in her shorts to Mr.and Ms.He really did appreciate what she was saying.He supported the general idea.Just not when it came tohisdock.“But I can’t let a spoiled frat boy rebuild the dock I need to have fully functional and completely sound for my business.”

“I understand that,” she said quickly.“I take safetyveryseriously.Brandon is one of the best, and I’ve done a ton of research and I’ve got some guys lined up from here to help and—”

“You’ve got guys fromherelined up to help?”

“Yes.A Mitch and Leo?I emailed a Kennedy about it and she said she’d find some local guys who could help.”

“Okay, that’s it,” Sawyer said.He needed to yell at someone but even he, who really wasn’t picky about who he yelled at these days, knew that he couldn’t yell at Juliet.She was here with good intentions.Crazy intentions but good.Seriously, though, how the hell did this little woman, who thought she could video chat with someone to figure out “design and materials,” think she was going to rebuild a functional boat dock?That was ridiculous.“Let’s go.”He turned on his heel and started in the direction of his grandmother’s bar.

The main culprits would be there.Owen and Josh, Maddie and Tori, and freaking Kennedy, who had lined up their cousin Mitch—who could actually be helpful—and their grandfather Leo who, while seeming much younger than his seventy years, was a troublemaker and would spend his time telling stories, most of which would be tall tales, drinking sweet tea, and flirting with Juliet rather than actually building anything.

“Wait, go?”Juliet called after him.“Where are we going?”

He turned back.“Well, at least you’re asking questions before going off with some strange guy.”

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