Bayou Sunset (Agents of HIS #4)

Chapter Seven

STEVE GRINNED AT the transformation of a spitting-mad Daisy Mae to a pleasant boat captain. He liked her being nice to him, but she looked sexy when angry as she put her hands on her hips or pulled her ballcap down low and mumbled to herself.

Why had he not spoken with her about his desire when he came home from college? Maybe because he knew he wouldn't stay. Of course, he could have asked. Perhaps she'd have still cared for him. Couyon .

The breeze off the water felt unique and refreshing on his face. The old times came back to him. When he and the twins would take out a boat to fish and drink, they weren't old enough to drink and had stolen it from their parents, but hey, it'd been fun. Steve mentally shook his head. They'd never fooled their parents, especially when he or a twin would come home and throw up the evidence.

Pierre looked at Steve. “What did ya do to piss her off?”

Shrugging, Steve pulled his ballcap off and reset it on his head. He sure wished to hell he knew. “Couldn't tell ya.”

“Well,” Pierre said, “fix it, mais she be taking it out on us.”

The twins walked away from him to their sister. Steve watched the three look over a piece of what appeared to be parchment—presumably the map, which he doubted was the real thing. There was this unknown island, and there was a treasure. Steve kept his mouth shut about it all.

Giving up being alone on the boat, he walked to the others. The twins quickly grabbed the map—like he wouldn't know where they were going. And Daisy Mae glanced at him, then away.

It was hard to believe what Pierre had told him about Daisy Mae loving him. She'd always been there, but he’d taken her jumping at him before he left as her chance to go, not really be with him.

The hair on the back of Steve's neck prickled, and he looked around. The water appeared clear in all directions, and no other boats were in sight. Mais …. “Hand me the binoculars,” he said, wanting to look at a glint he'd briefly seen.

Daisy Mae only raised her brows at him as if he'd asked for control of her boat.

Instinct had Steve grab the binoculars and search the area behind them. Yes, he'd felt the presence of another boat.

Behind him, Daisy Mae asked, “What it be?”

Without turning, Steve answered, “Another bateau .”

Pierre snatched the binoculars from Steve. “Let me see.” After a moment, he said, “ Merde , we be followed.”

“ Merde ,” Daisy Mae said and shook her head. “This be a big pond, and we not the only bateau to float it, so don't get all paranoid on me. It just be another bateau out for a tour or fishing.”

Pierre grumbled. “I know not. Maybe we go a different route.”

Steve watched Daisy Mae close her eyes, and her lips moved as if counting to ten. Something inside him flared to life as he remembered teaching her that the twins would tease her when she was young.

An young, crying Daisy Mae stood in the backyard, breaking Steve's teenage heart. “It's okay,” he'd said, “you must ignore ya brothers when dey be behaving like dat. It be giving dem da power ta do it more often.”

“ Mais, mais ,” she repeated, “dey made fun of me hair.”

Steve didn't have the heart to tell her it looked pretty interesting with pink stripes, but it was still Daisy Mae. “Try dis when dey makes fun of ya.”

She stopped crying and sniffed. “ Que ?” She looked wide-eyed like he was about to tell her a secret.

“Here's what I want ya to do. I want ya to close ya eyes.”

“Okay.” She tightly closed her eyes.

“Relax,” he encouraged.

She did. “Dis not work.”

“We not be done. Okay, silently count to dix and focus on your breathing. Don't think ’bout ya brothers. Think ’bout being on da water,” he'd added, knowing that was her favorite spot.

She did as he asked and opened her eyes. Then, she surprised him by throwing her arms around him. “ Merci , Steve. Merci beaucoup . I feels much better.”

Steve had to push her away before she felt his pants tighten on him. He was a teenager, and control still didn't exist. “Okay,” he said at arm's length, “try dat whenever ya need to control ya temper or deal wit da twins.”

Daisy Mae swung her hand to her right hip and narrowed her eyes at him. “I no have a temper,” she said.

“We not be taking a different route.” Daisy Mae's words brought him from his memories. He agreed with her since he didn't believe there was a treasure. However, his gut was telling him to be wary of other travelers near them. He knew the mention of a treasure sent people into stupid mode.

“They follow us,” Pierre insisted.

“ Mais non! ” Daisy Mae argued.

JP, the peacemaker, said, “Since it be our dime, will ya at least humor us and take an indirect route?”

After a moment, Daisy Mae turned the boat. “Okay, but ’member, ya said it was ya dime.”

Steve wanted to laugh when Pierre punched JP on the shoulder. “What da fuck?” Pierre asked his brother.

“ Mais , it will be,” JP said, “when we finds da treasure.”

Steve was glad Daisy Mae hadn't heard that.

He went below to explore. Grabbing water from the fridge, he familiarized himself with the below deck before returning to the stairs. Daisy Mae had done well for herself. He knew this had been one of the fleet boats from her family, but she'd kept it up well.

Back on deck, he went to Daisy Mae and stood behind her.

Without looking back, she said, “Did ya need something, Steve?”

Before he spoke and stuck his foot in his mouth, Steve took a long drink of cool water. How should he word it? He knew whatever he said wouldn't come out right, but there was no help but to ask. “Why ya be so pissed at me?”

Daisy Mae did turn then and swept him from head to foot and back. He'd say he felt like a piece of meat, but he didn't know what to think since she didn't show emotion.

She turned back to the ship's wheel without a word.

So, he had asked wrong. It sounded right to him. He cleared his throat and tried again, more formally, “What have I done to make ya so mad at me?”

There, that sounded right. At least it had her turning back to him.

Steve could have killed JP because just as Daisy Mae opened her mouth to answer, JP yelled, “Land ho.”