Page 89 of Beauty and the Bayou

That was crazy, but true.The thing that had been Sawyer’s biggest headache just a little over a week ago had turned into the best thing to happen to him.

Grinning, Sawyer slid his phone back into his pocket and watched as Juliet wiped her mouth and then scooted her chair back and excused herself to the restroom.Chase stretched.

“I think I’m headin’ to bed,” he said.

Sawyer nodded.He assumed this was Chase’s way of giving him and Juliet some time alone.Not that anyone was ever reallyalonein Ellie’s.“Big day.”

“Yeah.Seriously.”Chase gave him a grin.“Your grandparents are the best.”

Sawyer couldn’t disagree.“I’m a lucky son of a bitch.”

“Leo wants to teach me to shoot tomorrow.”

Sawyer had figured that was coming.Leo was going to take Chase out to the woods and line up tin cans on the tree stumps, just as he’d done when the boys were small.“He likes you.”

Chase’s face brightened.“Yeah?I mean, it’s kind of pathetic that I’m twenty-two and don’t know a lot of this stuff, isn’t it?”

Sawyer shrugged.“How would you know this stuff?Someone has to teach you.And I promise you, Leo doesn’t know anything about yachts and Bentleys and fancy food and wine and shit.”Truth was, Sawyer didn’t really know what stuff Chase knew about.

Chase snorted.“Guessing what Leo knows could translate to all of that.He could take apart a boat engine no matter what kind of boat.Same with the car.And the food down here is way more interesting than anything I’ve ever eaten.And the wine?It’s like grape juice compared to the stuff Leo drinks.”

“Maybe,” Sawyer agreed.“But Leo would be as out of place in your world as you first felt down here.”

Chase sobered slightly and shook his head.“Honestly, I only felt out of place for about five minutes,” he said.“Your family is awesome.”

Sawyer nodded.

“And Leo wouldn’t feel out of place,” Chase said, his voice getting a little deeper.“Because he wouldn’t care what those people thought of him.He only cares what people who matter think of him.”

Sawyer smiled.That was very true.Leo knew who he was and he didn’t apologize for it.He seemed like a crochety old guy who didn’t care who he offended, but he loved people.He’d never judge someone for having money or not having money, or for not knowing how to bait a hook or shoot a gun or repair an engine.But he’d definitely judge someone for being an asshole.Cruel, thoughtless, selfish, hateful—those things Leo Dawson would judge and call out.But if you were just a rich dumbass who didn’t know any better?He’d take you under his wing and teach you to be a rich good guy.Who could bait a hook and shoot a gun and repair an engine.

“And that’s why I’m not giving you a lecture about being good to my sister,” Chase said, pushing back from the table.

Sawyer lifted a brow, waiting for the younger guy to go on.

“You know about people who matter.You know about what’s important,” Chase said, stretching to his feet.“You’ve been taught that all your life.”

Sawyer felt like there was a tight band around his chest.He did know about those things.He’d been trying to protect those things with everything in him.Holding on tight to them.And nearly squeezing the life out of them.

But no more.He was going to let them live, and he was going to be there to help when things went wrong and be grateful when they went right.

“Which means that you already know that Juliet is a person who matters and that making someone like her happy is definitely something that could be very important.”

Sawyer cleared his throat.Damn, this was suddenly really serious.From the dumbass frat boy who’d stolen his boat and smashed his dock.

“I’m glad you realize that your sister matters,” Sawyer said.

“Juliet is special,” Chase said with a nod.“And you all are exactly the type of people to see that and make sure it doesn’t get lost.”

“You sure about that?”They were.They would not only see what made her special, but they’d draw it out of her and help her make it even bigger.Tori and Maddie had both blossomed here.Even Bennett, in his short, sporadic visits to Autre, had become more comfortable in being a part of things here and how he fit in.

But Sawyer wanted to see what Chase really saw about his family.He felt his heart try to pound against that tight band around his ribs.

“I am.Because you gavemea second chance to be who I can be, and I’m nothing compared to Juliet,” Chase said.He reached for his tea glass, took one last swallow and set it back down.Then he gave Sawyer a grin.“And if you fuck it up, Leo will make you feel way worse about it than I ever could.”

Then he sauntered toward the front door, stopping to talk and laugh with nearly everyone on his way out as if he’d been a part of this town and this family for years rather than a week.

Sawyer shook his head.That was…something.

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