Sweet Home Louisiana: Boys of the Bayou Book 2

by Erin Nicholas

“Yes?” she asked, glancing back.

  “Did you hear the part about the airboat being stolen?”

  Maddie turned fully, facing him. “What?”

  “Someone took one of the airboats out. Unless it was one of the guys?”

  Maddie frowned. “No, everyone is up at Ellie’s. Even Mitch and Leo.” She looked behind Bennett. Sure enough, one of the boats was gone. What the hell?

  “I found a couple of beer cans and this cap on the dock,” Bennett said, holding it out.

  She looked at it closely. It seemed familiar. It was gray with dark blue Greek letters. She pulled her phone out of her back pocket and dialed Owen.

  “Maddie.” He sounded relieved.

  “Hey, we have a problem. I need you.”

  “On my way.”

  Her heart stuttered at that. He didn’t ask what she needed. It didn’t matter that they’d just had a fight or that she’d basically told him she didn’t want him in California with her and had walked out without any further explanation. It didn’t matter that he thought she was still leaving. He would be there for her anyway.

  “I’m at the dock,” she told him.

  “Oh.”

  “Yeah.” She took a breath. “Bring everyone.”

  Two minutes later, Owen, Josh, Sawyer and, yes, everyone else, was there.

  “Someone stole an airboat.” Maddie held the cap out. “And I think I know who. The drunk guys Sawyer kicked off the tour the other day were wearing these caps.”

  “Shit,” Sawyer muttered, taking the cap. “What the hell?”

  “Revenge?” Maddie suggested. “We wouldn’t give them a ride so they decided to take one on their own?”

  “Dumbasses,” Owen said. “There’s no way they know how to drive an airboat, is there?”

  “And in the dark on the bayou?” Josh asked. “No way.”

  “So we have to go after them,” Owen said.

  “Guess so,” Josh agreed, looking just as irritated.

  Maddie’s hand shot out, grabbing Owen’s arm. “Wait, what? You can’t go out there.”

  “Why not?”

  “You don’t know who they are for sure. And maybe they have guns.”

  “Why would they have guns?”

  “Maybe they’re…hunting. Or think they are.” Maddie thought back to the guys who crowded into the office, pissed off. “They’re a bunch of stupid college guys who think they know more and are way cooler than they actually are.”

  “So chances are that they’re joyriding with an airboat and are more a danger to themselves than to us,” Owen said. “They’ll probably end up stuck in the grass and will be whimpering, sure the gators are going to eat them by the time we get there to rescue them.”

  She was suddenly scared. “We don’t know for sure who took the boat, or what their intention is, or what they have with them, and what they might do if they get spooked or were angry…or both.”

  He nodded, his expression serious. “I know. But we have to go after them. They could hurt themselves. Or someone else. If they get stuck, they’re not getting out unless we go after them.”

  There weren’t many people who lived out on the deeper bayou but there were a few along with a series of rental cabins on one branch. People could rent them for hunting and fishing, or just getting away. They all had docks and sat close enough to the water that an airboat could absolutely go crashing into one of them and hurt someone.

  “I’m coming with you.”

  Owen scowled. “No.”

  “Yes.”

  “No.”

  “It’s my airboat, too.”

  Owen paused at that. “For a few more days anyway, right?”

  She frowned. “No, I—”

  “Let’s go!” Josh shouted. “We can do all of this later. Let’s get our boat back here.”

  Owen looked down at her. He seemed to make a decision. He leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. “We’re not done with this.”

  She nodded. “We’re definitely not done.”

  Emotion flared in his eyes briefly, but then he turned toward the boats. Josh and Sawyer were in one and Owen headed for the other with Maddie on his heels.

  Their boat was actually in front so they’d be the first out. She jumped on board and grabbed a headset as Owen untied the boat and then climbed into the driver’s seat. He started the engine as Sawyer fired the second boat up.

  They were only a few yards from the dock when they saw a boat come around the trees at the bend. It was getting dark, but the sunset wasn’t completely gone. It was enough to light the area. Kind of. For a little longer.

  Maddie turned to look back at Owen. He’d already seen the other boat. He was scowling ahead. He glanced back at Sawyer and made some hand gesture. Sawyer gave him a thumbs-up and Owen headed for the boat coming at them.

  It had to be their stolen airboat.

  Maddie gripped the bench seat she was on as Owen sped up. She didn’t know what Owen’s plan was here. Maybe to more or less sheep-dog the boat, making sure it was headed back to dock.

  The guys on the other boat were waving their arms and she thought she could see them shouting, “Help!”

  Shit. They were in trouble and they knew it.

  Maddie jumped when she felt Owen’s foot nudge her shoulder. She looked back. He pointed at her, then at his seat. Then he pointed at his chest and then at the other boat.

  She frowned and shook her head, not understanding.

  He pointed at her again and then at his seat.

  He wanted her to drive?

  Then his pointing to the other boat made sense. He was going to get on that boat? How the fuck was he going to do that? He was going to jump from this boat to that one?

  “You’re crazy!” she shouted, assuming he could at least read her lips.

  He nodded and shrugged.

  And it hit her. She loved this man. She’d already known that, but in that moment, it hit her directly in the face. He would do anything he needed to do to make things right. He would put himself at risk to jump from one moving airboat to another to save the jackasses that had stolen the damned thing.

  Oh, she was going to chew some drunk-frat-boy asses when this was over. But for now, yeah, she could help Owen do what he needed to do.

  She stood and climbed over the seat to stand next to the driver’s seat. Owen let up on the accelerator as the other boat went speeding past.

  “Hang on!” Owen shouted.

  She couldn’t hear him, but she clearly saw what he said. Maddie grabbed the back of the seat in front of her as Owen turned the boat to follow the other. She almost lost her footing, but she braced herself and hung on, even offering up a little prayer.

  When they were behind the other boat, Owen climbed down, holding the rudders straight until Maddie was in place. She blew out a breath and wrapped her hand around the controller. It was still warm from Owen’s hand and she had a moment of, “This is a terrible idea.”

  But she gripped it hard and focused.

  I really should have told him I was in love with him before this.

  That thought hit her hard. Fuck. She was not letting more time go before saying it.

  Owen started to move to the side of the boat, but she reached quickly, grabbing his sleeve and tugging. He looked back.

  “I love you!”

  She knew he wouldn’t hear her, but those words were easy to read on lips.

  He gave her a grin. “I know!”

  She laughed, relief going through her as she let go of him. He moved further up the boat, holding on as he got to the side. He motioned for her to catch up with the other boat. Maddie accelerated, her heart pounding. She could do this. She had to do this. Owen was going to jump either way and the closer she got him and the steadier she held it, the safer he’d be.

  Calm settled over her and she focused carefully on the other boat. She moved up next to it. The guys on the boat were watching with wide eyes. The guy in the driver’s seat looked petrified.

/>   Maddie glanced up toward the Boys of the Bayou dock. Damn, they were getting close. Airboats didn’t have brakes. They needed room to coast to a stop. Or thick grass or low water to slow them down. There was no grass or low water here. Even with Owen in the driver’s seat, they needed space more than anything when it came to stopping.

  Owen got right to the edge of the boat, balancing, waiting for her to pull up close enough. Maddie held her breath as she got within about two feet.

  Owen glanced back to her and mouthed, “I love you, too!”

  She grinned. And then he jumped.

  Maddie gasped, then blew out the breath when he landed. She let up on the accelerator so she would have room to stop. But she felt her heart pounding as she watched Owen on the other boat. She frowned. He wasn’t taking the driver’s seat. What was he doing?

  The next thing she saw was Owen throwing three frat boys into the bayou and then jumping in after them.

  Holy shit. Her eyes widened as she realized what was going on. There wasn’t room for the boat to stop at the speed they were at. It was going to crash. Right into the Boys of the Bayou’s second dock. She turned her boat slightly, coasting to a stop as she watched with a horrible feeling of helplessness and shock washing over her as the airboat plunged into the dock, collapsing the pilings, throwing wooden slats every direction. She sucked in a breath, holding it as the boat headed toward the main building. But it jammed into the thick mud, coming to an abrupt stop before hitting the main building, and Maddie breathed again.

  Three men climbing aboard her floating boat pulled her attention away from the crumpled metal and shattered wood.

  Owen turned and offered a hand to the last guy to come out of the bayou.

  The driver. The guy who’d bitched at her in the office about Sawyer cutting their tour short. The jackass.

  Maddie slid off the high seat and beelined for the guy. He’d barely straightened by the time she’d pulled her fist back, and his eyes widened slightly just before her fist connected with his jaw.

  His head jerked back and he splashed into the bayou.

  Owen shook his head, bent and kissed her, then leaned over the side of the boat and offered his hand again. He pulled the guy onto the boat. The kid gave Maddie a look that was shocked and scared.

  Good. Scared was good.

  She returned to the driver’s seat and started the engine again, heading for the dock. One of the two that was left.

  She really wanted to hit the guy again. Yeah, that was her go to tonight. It probably beat a can of lighter fluid and a match, though.

  Once they were again at the dock, she jumped off the boat right behind the kids.

  Apparently Owen anticipated the move.

  “Mad!”

  He tried to grab her, but she was prepared, too, and she dodged his hand. “Better get that tied up,” she called, gesturing to the boat. “Hey!” she yelled to the kids. “Stop!”

  The three guys stopped and turned. She marched right up to the them.

  “What the fuck did you think you were doing? Who do you think you are?”

  “We’re just having some fun,” one said. He was the one who had been drunk last time.

  “Bullshit,” she said. “You committed a crime. More than one. You broke in, stole a boat, and then smashed our dock!”

  “Take it easy,” one of the guys said, holding up a hand.

  Maddie’s blood pressure shot into the red zone immediately and she stepped up to the guy. She had to tip her head back slightly to look him in the eye, but she did it. “And you put the love of my life in danger!” Then she pulled her hand back and swung.

  A big hand caught her wrist before she could connect with the guy’s face, though.

  “Whoa.” Owen’s deep voice sounded in her ear. He wrapped his other arm around her waist and picked her up, turning her away from the guy.

  She kicked and squirmed. “Hey, I wasn’t done with him.”

  “I don’t want George to have to take you downtown for smacking that guy,” Owen said. “I’ve got plans for you tonight.”

  “George wouldn’t.”

  Owen inclined his head to where the sheriff and a state trooper were coming down the dock. “Let’s not risk it,” Owen said. “That guy isn’t worth missing out on our celebration.”

  Her anger drained away and she stared up at the man she was madly in love with. And who had, again, almost ended up in the hospital tonight.

  She launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.

  He caught her under her ass with a little chuckle. “What’s this for?”

  “I love you so much. And I’m not leaving. I want to be here. I should have told you that before I left Ellie’s tonight.”

  Emotion flared in his eyes. “What about your painting?”

  “I think I’ll paint again,” she said. “And if not—” She glanced at the Boys of the Bayou sign, then at the people gathered at the end of the dock. “Painting was how I let my feelings out. And it was just a substitution for everything I can have here.” She looked into Owen’s eyes again. “I can laugh and yell and fight and love here. Out loud, in person, up close. I don’t need paintbrushes here. This is all real and it’s…what I want. What I really need.”

  She felt Owen’s hands on her ass squeeze. “God, I love you so fucking much. And I’m going to give you a ton of ways to let your feelings out.”

  Maddie kissed him deeply before pulling back and frowning at him. “But you have to quit doing stuff that could put you in the hospital,” she told him.

  He squeezed her ass again. “Not if it gets me this.”

  “I’m serious, Owen. You almost gave me a heart attack.”

  He looked at her for a moment. Then he shook his head. “If I hadn’t done it, you would have.”

  “Jumped onto the other boat to take over and keep those guys from crashing into the dock?”

  He nodded.

  Her eyes went to the jackasses being led to George’s car. The ones that would have been seriously injured. Or killed. Even though it would have been their own stupid fault. She sighed. “Yeah, maybe. Or something.”

  “It’s the ‘or something’ that is part of why I love you so much,” he said. “And it’s part of why you love me.”

  “You think so? You don’t think it’s your magic tongue?”

  He squeezed her ass. “Oh, it’s also my magic tongue. But you think I’m sexy when I’m taking care of other people.”

  She gave in. “It is. And God knows there are a lot of them to take care of down here.”

  “There are. And I could really use some help.”

  “Taking care of you might be a full-time job.”

  He grinned. “I think you’re up for it.”

  She hugged him tight. “I am. I’m all in.” She let him go and slid down his body. “So now what?”

  “To my house. To celebrate.”

  “Celebrate what?” she teased.

  “Everything.”

  Her heart melted a little at that. But she asked, “By burning your agreement with Bennett, right?”

  “You and burning stuff,” he said, shaking his head. “Can we just tear it up?”

  “Burning seems more final. And dramatic.”

  He rolled his eyes. “It will also take longer. Which means longer until I get you naked. And longer to tell you I love you a few million times.”

  She started to reply, but George interrupted.

  “Maddie, Owen, we’re going to need a statement.”

  Maddie sighed. Owen grabbed her hand and lifted it to his lips for a kiss. “Think of how boring life was without police paperwork.”

  She laughed and they followed George up the wooden slats.

  “Of course we’re pressing charges,” she overheard Bennett saying to the state trooper.

  “And you are?” the trooper asked.

  “Bennett Baxter. Co-owner.”

  He said it with absolute confidenc
e and it gave Maddie a strange sense of security. Bennett was used to dealing with high-powered people in high-powered positions. They could use a little of his experience and poise. Poise was definitely something lacking around here.

  “Baxter’s kind of impressive,” Owen commented.

  Suddenly she stopped, jerking Owen to a stop with her. “Oh my God, I still didn’t tell you.”

  “Tell me what?” he asked with a concerned look.

  “I only sold Bennett part of my portion,” she said.

  Owen stopped and stared down at her. “What?”

  “I’m staying but we need his money. And—” She glanced in Bennett’s direction. “I think maybe we need him, too.”

  Owen gave a single nod. “Maybe. So, he’s got how much?”

  “Seventeen and a half percent. Half of mine.”

  Owen seemed to be thinking about that.

  “And that means that Sawyer, with his thirty-five percent, is the only majority owner. He’ll be the main decision maker. The big boss.”

  Slowly Owen smiled. “I like that.”

  She nodded. “Me, too.”

  “Things are going to be so good.”

  “Yeah.” Maddie again looked up at the sign over the front of the building, then out over the group of people who were here, involved, driving her nuts, making her crazy, but loving her no matter what.

  Owen kissed the top of her head. “I love you.”

  She looked up at him and smiled, her heart full. “I love you, too. This is definitely where I belong.”

  He gave a little groan.

  “What?” she asked.

  “I’ve never wanted to throw you over my shoulder and take you straight to bed as much as I do, hearing you say that.”

  She stepped in and snaked her arms around his waist. “I’m not too crazy for you?”

  “Just crazy enough.”

  He bent to kiss her, George stopped him.

  “Oh, no you don’t. Statements. Now.”

  Owen stared down at her. “Come on, George. I’ve been waiting twelve years to have this woman back.”

  “So, another hour or two won’t hurt you,” George said.

  “Another hour or two?” Owen asked.

  “Quit doing stuff that you have to give statements for and we won’t have to keep doing this,” George said.

  Owen looked down as Maddie looked up at him.