Bayou Sunset (Agents of HIS #4)

Chapter Fifteen

DAISY MAE HADN’T expected to spend so much time with Steve’s family, but after they returned with breakfast, Steve made her sit, and they stayed until Wayne’s doctor appeared.

She had a great time with them. They laughed and listened to Steve’s stories about missions gone—what he called “sideways.”

Barbara briefed him on all the gossip in town so that he would know what to say or not to say around some of the town’s citizens. Even Daisy Mae, who thought she knew everything that was happening in the parish, had learned a thing or two, especially about who was involved romantically with whom.

After Wayne was released, Daisy Mae and Steve accompanied the couple on their journey home. While driving to Steve’s parents’ house, Steve reached over and offered his hand to Daisy Mae. Without hesitation, she entwined her hand with his. At that moment, she didn’t care that he would be leaving again. She simply wanted to enjoy his attention.

Since Steve’s father was discharged from the hospital, would this special evening with Steve also mark the end of their romantic beginnings? Despite having no obvious obligation to stay, she longed to become the very reason he chose to remain by her side.

After finishing a light lunch, Daisy Mae’s phone rang. She almost jumped for joy when she answered it.

“I can be at ya bateau in une heure ,” her mechanic Etienne said.

She glanced at her watch and understood there would be ample time for Etienne to repair her boat before their date. However, she had traveled with Steve, so she needed to consult with him.

“Hold on.” She covered the receiver and turned to Steve, who watched her at the kitchen table. “Can ya take me back to me bateau ? The mechanic be on his way.”

Steve nodded. “I can do dat.”

Talking back into the receiver, she said, “I’ll see ya there, Etienne.”

As Daisy Mae and Steve bid farewell to Steve’s parents, they made their way to the pier, the sky painted with the warm hues of the midday sun. Despite her usual composure, Daisy Mae found herself on edge, her usually steady nerves betraying her as she contemplated broaching the topic of their evening plans. It was a rare occurrence for her to experience such unease, yet in the presence of Steve, certain moments seemed to unravel her otherwise unflappable demeanor.

As Steve parked, she said, “ Merci . What time ya be back?”

Chuckling, Steve opened his truck door. “Rocket, I be staying.”

Why was he staying? Was he staying forever? No, that couldn’t be. It seemed more like he was waiting while her boat was repaired. Then again, maybe he’d stay for the night. Was she ready for that? No. Yes. She was. She’d waited a long time to be with Steve. Daisy Mae would never pass up a chance to be his, even if it were just for one night. Her heart could deal with the fallout later. It had once before and could survive again.

Coming around the front of the truck, he smiled at her. “Let’s go.”

Walking down the pier, Steve kept a light touch on her back. Daisy Mae tingled all over from that contact. How on earth could she handle it if he touched her intimately? She’d probably pass out from pleasure.

“Who be fixin’ the bateau ?” Steve asked, pulling her from her musings.

“Uh– Oh, Etienne Hebert. Do ya ’member him from school? I think he be in ya grade.”

Steve stopped and stiffened. “Etienne. The biggest flirt in high school?”

Daisy Mae couldn’t help but notice the tinge of jealousy in his voice. She knew she shouldn’t be pleased by it, but something was intriguing about his reaction that she couldn’t ignore. “Was he?” she asked coyly. “I only ’member him ahead of me grade.” She didn’t want to mention that he was still a huge flirt, but she thought Steve would find out soon.

They began walking again and reached Seas the Day . Etienne waited, leaning against a pylon, all sexy and as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

“ Bonjour, ma chère .” Etienne reached for Daisy Mae’s hand as if to guide it to his lips.

Steve stepped forward, almost pushing her behind him. “ Bonjour , Etienne.” He held out his hand to meet the other man’s. “Remember me?” he nearly growled.

Etienne stiffened. “ Mais oui . Steve Smith. Ya home for good?”

Daisy Mae held her breath, waiting for the answer to the question she had longed to ask.

“ Non ,” was his one-word reply, crushing her heart. She knew he wasn’t, but she’d wanted a different answer. Would that change her wanting to sleep with him? No, she didn’t think so.

Steve grabbed her hand. “We will wait up here while ya repair the engine.”

Daisy Mae’s blood boiled with anger. It was her beloved boat, and she refused to let anyone dictate what happened to it. With a sharp movement, she withdrew her hand from Steve’s. “I be going below with ya, Etienne.”

Steve grabbed her hand again, tugging her toward him. Possessive, much? “ Non , we’ll be up here.” He turned them toward the bow. “Come on. I need to speak wit ya.”

To avoid making a scene, Daisy Mae agreed and nodded to Etienne. “I’ll be up here if ya need me.”

“ Bien .” Etienne strode away.

When the mechanic was out of what Daisy Mae hoped was hearing distance, she pulled her hand away from Steve. “ Merde ! What dat be? Seas the Day is me bateau . Mine.” She pointed at her chest. “Ya not come here directing what happens.”

“ Resser! ”

Daisy Mae became angry when he told her to calm down. He seemed oblivious to women’s feelings. “ Resser ? Resser ? Ya no see anything for me to calm down from—yet.”

He walked too close to her. Daisy Mae caught a whiff of his divine cologne or aftershave.

His fingers gently intertwined with hers as he gazed into her eyes, creating a tender and intimate connection.

Daisy Mae tried to remind herself that she was angry with him and should not have let him touch her, but oh, how good it felt. What was the right word? Oh, yes, sensual.

Leaning his forehead to hers, he said, “I be sorry. I don’t know what I be thinking. Ya be right, of course. This be your bateau . I was just—just jealous.”

Had Steve confessed to feeling jealous? Her heart leaped in her chest. There was hope for them.

Before she could respond, he straightened and pulled her to sit, dropping one of her hands. “I hear there be a crawfish festival ’cross the pond. Want to go?”

“Now?” She couldn’t think straight. What had happened?

Steve’s thumb rubbed her hand in his. Each stroke sent sparks of electricity through her system.

“ Non , Rocket. The bateau needs repair first.”

She envisioned a lively festival as the setting for their first date, unwittingly shattering her hopes for a romantic evening of candlelight and intimacy. “Hey! Why ya call me Rocket? Ya never said.”

Steve chuckled. “Ever since ya were a young girl, ya were calm mais quick to explode.”

Daisy Mae was taken aback. Had he really said that? Feeling a surge of emotions, she swiftly pulled her hand away from his, rose to her feet, and placed both hands firmly on her hips, her mind racing with thoughts. “I do not.”

Steve laughed. Laughed. He stood. “Case in point.”

“I did n—” Okay, so she had gone off fast. That didn’t mean she did it all the time.

“Would ya prefer I call ya something else?”

Yes and no. Yes, because it made Daisy Mae feel like Steve thought she was emotionally unsteady. No, because he’d designed a unique pet name for her.

Surprising her, he pulled her into his arms and leaned down to whisper, “How ’bouts I call ya sweetheart?”