Page 73 of All I Want For Christmas

Zander laughed. “I can still swig homemade moonshine, and I kick your ass at beer pong every time, so don’t be thinkin’ I’ve changed all that much. I just don’t mind putting on a tie for my girl once in a while, and I don’t break out in hives when presented with more than one fork at a meal.”

More than one fork for a single meal was stupid, but Theo just rolled his eyes rather than say that out loud. Again.

His lack of enthusiasm for things like ties and champagne hadn’t been his problem with Kelsey. It had seemed like it on the surface. It was what they argued about the most. But really,it had simply been that they’d both just been going through the motions. He put on a tie, she put on hip waders. He’d gone to touring Broadway shows, she’d gone fishing. He’d drunk champagne, she’d drunk moonshine. But neither of them had enjoyed the “other side”, or truly understood the appeal. It had been window-dressing on a relationship that was really just great sex.

Thank God they’d figured that out before they’d done something stupid like getting married. Or getting pregnant.

He blew out a breath. That pregnancy scare had been Kelsey’s final straw. She’d seen a future with him flash before her eyes, and she’d realized that was definitely not what she wanted. So she’d gotten out before she’d gotten deeper.

He knew it was a good thing that she’d realized what shedidn’twant, but he still felt a pang of loss when he thought back and realized that moment had been when he’d realized hedidwant a family of his own and roots here on this bayou with a woman who wanted the same. Someday.

“Yeah, yeah, Savannah is not my type. I get it,” Theo said.

“Oh no, sheisyour type. That’s what I’m worried about,” Zander said. “Why can’t you fall for a small-town girl that already likes to fish, can make gumbo in her sleep, and cusses like…a Landry?”

Theo grinned. “Why would Ieverhave another woman make my gumbo when I have your grandma?”

Ellie Landry made the best gumbo in Louisiana. Probably in the south. He wasn’t kidding aboutnotlooking for a replacement.

Theo knew Zander was giving him a hard time. But Zander knew exactly why Theo didn’t fall for those girls.

Theo had grown up here and knew those girls very well. Loved them, trusted them, respected them, understood them, and had a ton in common with them. Which meant, those girlsmade fantastic friends. They were easy and fun to be around, and he loved to hang out with them.

Justhang out with them.

The girls that got his blood pumping were the ones that started out buttoned up, prim and proper, all tucked in and twisted up. Even though he knew it wouldn’t last, he loved the thought of teaching them a few new things, getting them a little dirty, and making them a little wild.

Those fun, laid-back bayou girls were great, but he wanted the don’t-you-dare-wrinkle-my-white-silk-button-down-blouse types. For whatever reason. Some reason he probably needed to delve into in therapy. Or something he should ramble about while getting rip-roaring drunk on an airboat with his buddies.

Or something he should not overthink and worry about, and just enjoy.

That last one was what had been working so far.

Which was why he’d accepted the fact that he was going to have to fuck around with those prim and proper city girls…and then let them go. Catch and release.

Because he wasn’t leaving the bayou, and he wasn’t getting anyone stuck here who didn’t want to be.

As if on cue, Savannah Lee pulled onto the packed dirt area by the dock just then in her white Audi S5 convertible.

Theo felt his gut tighten, but he worked on not reacting, lest Zander think he was right about everything.

When she stepped out, she wasn’t in a white silk button-down blouse.

Nope. It was much, much worse.

She was wearing a white silk tank top.

And red shorts. That were very short.

And white wedge heels.

“Jesus Christ,” Theo muttered.

Zander just laughed.

What the hell did she think she was dressed for? A cruise on a yacht? Brunch and shopping with the girls? It was October, for shit’s sake. Of course, it was Louisiana, so October was still warm. Far warmer than her native New York. So yeah, this probably felt like shorts-and-sandal weather to this gorgeous, long-legged, blond bombshell Yankee.

But still, that outfit wasn’t practical for…anythingin Autre. And definitely not for a boat ride down the bayou to a remote cabin where she was going to be spending the nightby herself.

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