Page 80 of Beauty and the Bayou

Five nights in a row.

This room was the heart of the Boys of the Bayou.

It was the place that grounded them.Reminded them of the history here and what really mattered beyond the accounting ledgers and merchandise orders and online reviews and tour schedules.This room reminded them that the business was about their roots and the future at the same time.

Stepping into the room with Juliet felt stupidly hopeful to him.Maybe she could make the office feel good again.Like she had so many other things.

Sawyer shook his head as he closed the door behind them.He hadn’t realized what a huge fucking sap he’d become since Tommy’s death.

Juliet looked around, scanning the room as she turned to face him, not saying a word, clearly waiting for him to say or do whatever came next.

He crossed to one of the file cabinets and pulled the third drawer open.He grabbed the white metal box from within, then shut the drawer and opened the one under it.He took the glass jar from that one and pushed it shut.He crossed to the desk, pushed a stack of papers out of the way and said, “Come here.”

“What are you doing?”But she started toward him.

“Showing you that you don’t always have to be the one prepared for anything and everything.”He held up the box.“You don’t always have to be the one with the first aid kit ready to go.”

Her eyes widened slightly, then she smiled.“I’ve got one right outside.”

“I’m sure you do.”That didn’t surprise him a bit.

“It might be better stocked.”She pushed herself up to sit on the desk in the spot he’d cleared.

“Probably is,” he agreed.That was almost a certainty.“But mine comes with something yours doesn’t have.”

“What’s that?”

“Kisses to make it all better.”

A little shiver went through her and he grinned.

“Yours is better,” she agreed and held her hand up.

He took it, turning it so he could see the splinter more easily.It was long and stuck

in at an angle, but the end of it wasn’t embedded under the skin, so it would be easy to remove.“You willing to let me do this the bayou way?”he asked.

She lifted a brow.“There’s a bayou way for removing slivers?”

“There’s a bayou way of doin’ most everything.”

She nodded.“I’m willing.”

He grinned and lifted the jar.“First, disinfectant.”

“Homemade by Cora and Ellie?”she asked.

“Homemade by Mitch with Kenny’s recipe.”

“Who’s Kenny?”

“Maddie and Tommy’s grandpa.One of the founders of the business.He was best known for being the best fishing and hunting guide around here, but secondly for his moonshine.”

“This is moonshine?”she asked, eyes widening.

He chuckled.“Yep.”He opened the jar, then took her hand again, and poured a little of the liquid out over the wound, the excess dribbling to his hand cupped under hers.He lifted his hand and licked the moonshine off.Then he tipped the jar back for a drink, grinning at her look of curiosity.He held it out.“Want a taste?”

“I don’t know.”

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