Bayou Sunset (Agents of HIS #4)

Chapter Nineteen

ROMEO WAS UNCERTAIN, wondering if he would fully recover from his intense night with Daisy Mae. It had been a truly magnificent and highly charged experience, filled with sensual and unforgettable moments. Yet, as he reflected on the encounter, one burning question lingered: Would he dare to embark on such an exhilarating journey again? Mais oui ! He planned to be with Daisy Mae before he departed, hoping that she might decide to accompany him to Maryland.

Standing on the wooden deck with a cup of steaming coffee in hand, Romeo gazed intently at the tranquil sight of the dock, its weathered planks bathed in the warm glow of the morning sun. The boys were expected to arrive soon, and he desired to ensure that Daisy Mae was already dressed before their arrival. He dreaded the thought of her unintentionally encountering them while minimally clothed, under the impression that they were alone.

It would have been idyllic for them to have some alone time until he had to depart. His departure was held up by the urgent need to unravel the mystery of what Daisy Mae had become entangled in, which had caused her distress.

Before she even spoke, Romeo was suddenly aware of her presence behind him. It wasn’t a feeling of danger that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, but rather a zinging desire that went straight to his heart and dick.

He cautiously blew on the steaming coffee, savoring the rich aroma before taking a careful sip. As he swallowed the hot brew, he turned to face the love of his life. “Good morning, Rocket,” he greeted affectionately. It still stung that she didn’t respond well to “sweetheart,” but he was determined to find the right words to express his feelings.

She blushed, her eyes averted as she softly murmured, “Good morning.”

Merde. Her demeanor exuded preciousness, yet her nervousness left him wondering if it was simply due to her nerves or a manifestation of regret. He desperately hoped that it was not the latter.

“Thank ya for making dis coffee,” she appreciatively expressed as she brought the cup to her lips and took a delicate sip.

“Let's sit. I be watching for the guys.”

“Do ya think they be showing up dis early?” She settled in the commanding captain’s chair, creating distance between them. It was an unsettling prospect.

“I be surprised they not be on the deck waiting for us.” He positioned himself close to her instead of taking a seat, determined not to let any distance come between them. They had crossed a significant threshold the previous night and officially became a couple. It wouldn’t be long before she recognized this as well.

“What be their names again?”

“Grits and Casper.”

“Funny names. Is it like ya Romeo name?” She hadn't called him that again after he'd asked her to call him Steve. “What be their real names?”

Romeo paused for a moment, carefully contemplating the situation. He was still determining how Rob Grimes and Ash McNabb would react if she were to refer to them by their actual names. Specific agents, particularly those with a background in special operations like Grits and Casper, were particular about using their names. Ultimately, he caved, “Rob Grimes and Ash McNabb.”

Last night, Romeo and Daisy Mae’s conversation left an unresolved issue hanging in the air. They had expressed being everything the other had ever envisioned in a partner. Romeo pondered how to broach the topic without overwhelming Daisy Mae and pressuring her to be constantly close to him. Ultimately, he resigned himself to his usual approach of blurting things out.

“Rocket, last night—”

“Is dat them?” Daisy Mae stood, pointing up the dock at the two men striding their way.

Of fucking course, it be them. Perfect timing and all . “That be dem,” he bit out.

Daisy Mae paused, standing just a few feet away from him. As he watched her, he couldn’t help but wonder if she had moved closer to him. At that moment, his heart yearned for her to see him as the source of her strength.

“Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” Casper called. The couyon . Romeo heard that all the fucking time. It was old.

Romeo placed his coffee on the small table and addressed his teammates, remarking, “That be as funny as the last million times ya said it.” As he extended his hand for a quick handshake, he introduced his woman. “Grits, Casper, I’d like ya to meet Daisy Mae. She be the person we be here to help.”

Grits casually checked the time on his watch, a bemused expression crossing his face. Romeo figured Grits had realized he’d clearly spent the night with her. Romeo dismissed the situation as inconsequential despite his friends’ interest, confident that the truth would inevitably come to light.

Casper extended his hand in a friendly gesture. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, ma’am. My name is Casper.”

“I shiver at da thought of encountering ghosts,” she admitted with a nervous laugh.

Romeo offered a comforting smile in response to her comment.

She inquired, “Are ya Ash or Rob?”

The men looked at Romeo as if to say, “What the fuck?”

They turned back. “I'm Ash, ma'am.”

Daisy Mae nodded. “Then I'll call you Ash. And, ya be Rob?”

Nodding in acknowledgment, Grits extended his hand and firmly clasped hers, holding on longer than Romeo found agreeable. A low, audible growl escaped from Romeo, clearly revealing his displeasure, while the boys around them merely grinned. The smug fuckers.

“Did ya get checked into a hotel?”

Grits replied, “We discovered a B&B in town. We hoped to have breakfast elsewhere but weren’t sure what would be open.”

“Duke’s be the spot,” Daisy Mae declared with a smile. “Just let me fetch my purse.” With that, she headed down below deck.

Grits turned on him. “What the fuck, Romeo? She's our client.”

“No, she's not. I be. I hired ya to help me find out who is screwing with her. So get over it. And, Grits, try that shit again, and I'll punch ya in the face.” He intentionally held Daisy Mae’s hand for an extended period, aiming to provoke a reaction from Romeo. Despite being the leader of Bravo team, Romeo refused to tolerate it.

Grits put his hands up, palms out. “Okay. I was testing the waters between you two. Now I know. She seems nice. Don't break her fucking heart.”

“I don't plan to. She be coming with me?”

“Oh? I be?”

Merde. Romeo spun. “Yeah, ya be riding with me. The boys have transportation.”

Doubt colored Daisy Mae’s expression as she narrowed her eyes at him, her skepticism evident. She was going to see right through him—he could feel it.

Daisy Mae shrugged. “ Oui ,” she ultimately said.

Merde. He knew he had to be careful. While he might mention to the others that she was joining him in Baltimore, Daisy Mae wasn’t quite prepared to hear that yet. He realized that he still needed to persuade her further.

During the journey to Duke’s, Daisy Mae inquired, “Why we no ride together? There be plenty of room wit the backseat of da truck.”

Why? Why? Why? Think faster, brain. “Because dey plan to start their investigation now. Didn't ya say ya brothers wanted to return to the island today?”

Daisy Mae nodded. “ Oui , but I thought ya friends were going too.”

“They be, but you and I must prepare the bateau . I think we ate what was left of the food and drank all the water, trying to rehydrate.” He turned and winked at her.

“ Mais , I see where ya be going with dis.” She turned to him, putting her knee on the seat. He glanced at her from the driver's seat.

“What?”

“Well, ya be enjoying it all again. Being here around the bateau and water, ya be visiting ya parents more often.”

He got an “and me” but let it go. “That sounds bien .”

Even though he watched the road, he felt her eyes boring into his as if trying to mind-meld. “What, Rocket?”

“Do ya think I be in some danger? Or do ya think someone be just fucking wit me?”

Romeo pulled into a spot at Duke's and parked the truck. He turned to her. “Ya be in some coil, that be for sure. The question be whether it be your coil or one ya frères brought ya way.”

“Me frères ?” she asked, stunned. “What do dey have to do wit dis?”

“It either be da map or someone wants ya business?”

“How can ya know that? Ya only been here for a few days.”

He had a gut feeling that he was right about this. “It might not be, but those be my professional guesses. The boys will determine the problem, and we'll resolve it.”

“Do we include me?”

He was determined not to let her put herself in any more danger. However, he knew she might withdraw from the situation or convince others to let her participate. He believed it was in her best interest to stay by his side. “Can ya stay by me side through dis?”

With pleading eyes, she asked, “Only through dis?”

“That be a talk for another time. The boys be waiting. Let's get some breakfast. Some insatiable woman helped me work up an appetite dis morning.” Tension hung heavy in the air as he leaned over to kiss her. She hesitated, and his heart cracked with uncertainty. Then, finally, she leaned in and kissed him. It wasn’t a passionate or romantic kiss but held more profound, unspoken significance.

He could work with that.