Bayou Stix Series: Bayou Stix Limited Edition Box Set

by Skye Turner

She shrugs and says, “I think next week. But I don’t really know. They’re scheduled to be back around the same time as Dade.” She leans back and sighs. “Speaking of Dade, have you heard from Mr. Sexy and Serious? Is he enjoying his island vacation?”

  I make a face at her description of my brother. She’s so hilarious and a huge flirt, but she’s so in love with her boyfriend, Micah. They are like the perfect couple. I want that… Dammit, enough of that, Clove! Opening my phone, I show her a photo Dade texted of white sand, lush flowers, and a beautiful blue ocean with the caption, “I’m never coming home.”

  As she looks at the photo, I play with my water glass. “He seems to be having fun. I know having me here has really put a damper on his routine, so I’m glad he took the trip.”

  She looks at me and smiles. “Clove, stop. He adores you. He loves having you home. Besides, that house is big enough for you both. It’s not like you’re infringing on another woman’s turf.”

  I laugh out loud at that. Dade is my big brother and I love him. He’s eleven years older than I am, and it’s just been the two of us for most of our lives, so he’s protective. He’s a bit of a playboy, but I wish he would settle down. He raised me for the most part, so I know he’d make someone an amazing husband and an even better father. But his house is not quite big enough for me, him… and Liam.

  Damn Liam.

  I must have made a sound because Bradi looks at me closely with her piercing green eyes and sets her chin in her hands. “How is that going? You and Liam being alone together? You doing ok over there?”

  I sigh and clench my hands. “It’s going ok. He hates me. He hates that I’m there. I do my very best to stay away from him, but ugh…”

  She cocks her brow. “What’s the deal with you two? Why are you so jumpy around him?” As she’s talking she’s just watching me. She’s so observant. I shrug. “Yes, I know he’s extremely gorgeous. I have eyes, but you jump a mile when he’s near and if you’re not jumping, you’re shrieking at him like a banshee. What did he do to you, Clove?”

  I blush and manage to get out through my mortification, “Nothing.” I shake my head in denial. “He’s done nothing to me… ever. He just irks me. And I annoy him just as much. He looks at me like I have a disease.” I’m playing with my silverware and not looking at her. “He just makes me uncomfortable.”

  She chuckles. “Uh huh. And does he annoy you more or less when he makes you tingly?”

  I choke on the sip of water I just took and spit it out. “Wha-What?” I shake my head rapidly. “No. No. No. He does not make me tingle. Are you crazy?”

  She’s looking at me with her brow arched and a smirk on her beautiful face. “Ok. Keep telling yourself that. People don’t act like that,” she points at me and swirls her finger around the air, “when they are unaffected.” She takes a sip of her mineral water and watches me.

  Ok, so he affects me. I mean look at him. So what?! He’s gorgeous and he knows it.

  I hate that. I hate men like that. But, no. No, he does not affect me. I don’t have time for that anyway. I need to find a job and get myself settled. No time to be tempted and distracted by Liam.

  Right Clove. Keep telling yourself that. I’m sure one day you’ll believe it.

  Bradi has been watching me the whole time I’ve been talking to myself like a crazy person. I’ve never had a poker face, so I’m sure everything was written as plain as day on my face. I take a sip of water and wipe my palms on my pants. “Ok, so he affects me. But he’s gorgeous and I’m not blind. So, what? I don’t like him. He doesn’t like me. End of story.”

  She chuckles, “Right!” And winks. “Ok, then.”

  Our salads come and we dig into them. I’m starving. I’m always starving lately. Once my plate is clean, we finish our drinks, and decide to head to Java and Sweeties so she can help me with my resume for tomorrow.

  I follow her in Dade’s Hummer and as usual, the place is packed when we get there, so we have to park on the side. There is rarely a parking spot here. Erik and Lexi have really made a name for themselves in town.

  Erik sees us walk in and gestures to our large table by the window. We walk over and sit. It’s always empty and is kind of “reserved” for when we come in. Within a few minutes, he’s walking over with my caffeine-free fruit and nut hot tea and Bradi’s grande skinny caramel mocha with extra whip cream. She’s so funny. Fat free with extra whip cream.

  He pulls out a chair and straddles it as he looks at me. Reaching over, he plays with my hair. His brows arch and he smiles. “I like it, Clove. Very different and very sexy. Why the change?”

  Running my hands through my hair self-consciously, I shrug and answer. “I just wanted to try something different. So, you like it, really?” It’s such a big change.

  Laughing, he winks. “Yeah, I do. It looks great on you. But you could shave your head, doll, and still look beautiful.”

  Bradi wads up a napkin and tosses it at him. We both look at her and she pretend pouts. “What about me? You haven’t told me how beautiful I am, E.”

  We all laugh and he flips her off. “Why do I need to tell you that?! You already know. Doesn’t Micah tell you often enough there, Marilyn?”

  “Oh, Marilyn. I love that. I’ll take it. And of course he does. He loves me oodles and oodles!” She winks and blows a kiss.

  Propping his elbows on the chair back, Erik looks at both of us as he rests his chin on his hands. “So, what are you two lovelies doing here anyway? What have you been up to today?”

  Bradi answers before I can. “We were scheduled to have lunch, but Clove asked me to accompany her to the salon. So, I took off the rest of the afternoon. We’re about to work on her resume. She wants a job and I have her an interview tomorrow as a personal chef for James Black while he’s filming in town.”

  Erik coughs, “James Black? The James Black? I heard he was filming in town for the next few months.”

  I pick at the chain around my neck. It’s a nervous gesture and I hate it. Can I work for James Black?! He’s James Black. The current “It” Man in Hollywood. Women love him. Men want to be him. And his movies sell out box offices. Stop it! Of course I can. I’m good! I mean my brother is Dade Rodrigue! I’m friends with the most famous rock band around right now. Yeah, I can do this. I’ve got this!

  Bradi answers as she watches me. “Chill, girl. He’s just a man and you can cook. Besides, he’s not that bad. He’s a diva, but he’s also a nice guy. Well, sometimes. You can do it. I believe in you, so, you believe in you too. I wouldn’t send an innocent like you into the lion’s den.”

  What the hell does that mean? “An innocent like me?” I’m not an innocent. Not even close.

  Shaking off those thoughts, I smile at her. She’s right, I can do this. “I know. Thank you. I can do this! I will do this.”

  Erik smiles and leans in to tweak my nose with his finger. “You have that, babe. I could eat your food every day! Well, I’ve slacked enough; I need to get back to it before I have a mutiny on my hands.”

  I love how everyone is so protective and accepting of me, but I’m not a child and I feel like they think I am sometimes. I sigh and smile at him as he stands up.

  Bradi throws another napkin at him and says, “Get that nice ass back to work. Slacker!”

  He throws it back and laughs as he walks away. “I’m not the one who took the day off to play… Slacker.”

  She chuckles and calls out as he walks back to the counter, “Yeah, I can do that now that I work for me!”

  He salutes and winks as he re-ties his apron.

  The truth is neither of them are slackers. Erik and Lexi have the most successful coffee shop/bakery in Baton Rouge and Bradi just started freelancing as a marketing agent/event planner. Who knew she’d be so good at both? She stays busy.

  That leaves me… I live in my brother’s house and have no income, just a large bank account. Yes, I need to nail this interview tomorrow.

  We work on my resume for two ho
urs and when we’re done, I’m thoroughly impressed. Bradi is a genius!

  As we’re wrapping up, her boyfriend Micah calls, and they make plans to meet for dinner.

  I look at the time and see it’s almost 5PM.

  I guess I need to head home too. I need to try to get ready for my interview tomorrow and I want to make a little something to showcase my talent to bring along.

  Saying my goodbye’s and promising to let her know how tomorrow goes, I give Bradi a quick hug, we part ways, and I head home.

  Chapter Three

  Liam

  I’ve been driving around Baton Rouge all day. Literally, just driving. I saw a few houses that caught my eye. I need to call Alec, my friend Erik’s boyfriend and a damn good realtor, and let him know I’m serious about moving into my own place.

  I can’t stay at Dade’s with Clove there. She’s walked in on me with women twice now! I mean, yes, the first time was my fault since we were in the media room, but this morning I was in my room. My room. In private. But the look on her face… I don’t get it. I know I hurt her feelings, but shit! She’s so young and innocent. Everything I do pisses her off.

  Yes, as soon as Dade gets home, I am moving into my own place. I don’t need to feel like an asshole when I didn’t do a damn thing wrong. Screw that.

  As the sky is starting to darken, I pull into the driveway in front of the house. I don’t see Dade’s Hummer, so I’m assuming Clove is still out doing whatever she left to do this morning.

  I’m starving and pizza sounds good. I’ll call Cruz. He might want to come hang out… a bonus is he can act as a buffer!

  Whipping out my cell, I push the button and speak, “Call Cruz.”

  Within seconds, the phone is ringing. I love modern technology! He picks up.

  “What’s up, man?”

  Laughing, I say, “What are you up to tonight?”

  “Nothing. Just hanging out at home. Why? What are you doing?”

  Shutting off my truck, I get out and grab the mail from the mailbox as I walk to the door. “I was thinking of ordering a pizza and watching shit on Netflix. I don’t feel like going anywhere. Want to come hang out?”

  He chuckles.

  “You mean do I want to protect you from Clove? Yeah, I need to shower. I just worked out. I can be there in half an hour or so. I want a super supreme. Thin crust. Order me a large.”

  Throwing my keys down onto the foyer table, I head towards the kitchen for a beer. I hear humming. Oh, great! I answer Cruz. “Yeah, I’ll get you a large. See you in a few.” Walking through the door I plan to just grab a beer and head to the media room. Instead, I see Clove standing on the counter on her tip toes, trying to reach something on top of the cabinets. Her shapely legs are on display by her very short cotton shorts. My eyes travel to slim hips, and wait, why is her dark hair to the middle of her back?! What the hell?! I must make a noise, because she turns with a start and shrieks. She loses her balance and starts to fall. Oh, shit! Racing across the kitchen at almost inhuman speed, I catch her before she hits the ground. My pulse is racing.

  That would have been very bad. Holy shit!

  I don’t realize I’m hugging her tightly to my chest. Breathing deeply, I try to get my pulse to slow down and I suddenly grasp just how snuggly she’s cradled in my arms. As I look down, her doe eyes are looking up at me with a shocked expression on her face. She’s breathing just as deeply as I am.

  She just stares up at me as I continue to hold her. I stare back. Her face lost color when she fell, but being in my arms must be embarrassing her. Her cheeks start to darken and her breathing escalates. I see her eyes move to my lips.

  God, she’s beautiful. Wait, what? No, no she is not beautiful. She’s Clove.

  Put her down. Put her down right now!

  Who am I kidding?! I’m not putting her down. She’s beautiful.

  Before I even know what I’m doing, I lower my head to hers, and I brush my lips gently across her mouth. She gasps and looks at me in awe. Without stopping to think it through, I lean in again, and kiss her softly.

  What am I doing? What the hell are you doing, Liam? Stop. Don’t kiss her. She’s Clove.

  What am I doing?

  I’m kissing Clove while she’s cradled in my arms in the middle of the kitchen… and she’s kissing me back. What is happening?!

  Her lips are soft as her tongue tentatively rubs against mine. She gasps again and pulls away. I sigh and set her down on her feet. She takes a step back, reaching for the counter at her back. Her breathing is shaky.

  Her eyes are huge and luminous and her face goes white again as a look of panic crosses it. I open my mouth to say something… but she turns on her heel and races down the hall. I hear her bare feet slapping the stairs as she runs up them.

  What. The. Fuck. Was. That?!

  Standing in the middle of the kitchen while I get my bearings for a few minutes, I start to realize I just kissed Dade’s baby sister. I just kissed Clove. Groaning, I see my phone on the counter, where I apparently tossed it while catching Clove, and grab it. As soon as the pizza is ordered, I head to the media room where the bar calls my name. Screw the beer, I need some Jack.

  Deciding to take the bottle with me to the sofa, I throw myself into it and decide to just swig from the bottle. What the ever living hell was that?! Why did I kiss her?!

  I’m not certain of how much time has passed when I hear Cruz use his key in the front door and call out from the foyer, asking where I am.

  I holler down the hallway, “I’m in the back.” Is my voice slurring a bit?

  He walks in and shakes his head as he sees me sitting on the couch, staring at a black screen on the TV with a death grip on the Jack Daniels bottle. He half smiles and asks, “Clove?”

  I don’t answer. I just flip him off and take another swig.

  He chuckles and mutters, “That good, huh?”

  Laying my head back against the couch I sigh and act like I don’t hear him. My head is a little fuzzy. I guess I had quite a few shots?

  In typical Cruz style, he doesn’t push for details and just grabs the remote and turns on the TV. After finding the guide, he asks, “The Avengers, Fear Factor, or UFC fights?”

  Opening my eyes a crack, I peer at him. He’s looking at the TV and not at me. I kick him and he looks at me. “Whatever. Something where shit gets blown up is good with me.”

  Smirking slightly, he says, “The Avengers, it is.”

  The doorbell rings and he asks if he needs to pay for the pizza. I tell him my wallet is in the foyer and ask if he minds getting it since my legs are not really all that steady and the couch is pretty comfortable.

  Five minutes later, he’s back with the pizza and some beers from the kitchen. He sets a box down in front of both of us and pops the top off of two beers. He takes the bottle of Jack Daniels from me and sets it next to the couch before he hands me a beer. “Did Clove eat yet? Should I take her some pizza?”

  I glare at him and grit out, “How the hell should I know?! I’m not her damn caretaker.”

  He raises his hands in the air. “Down, boy. Don’t jump my ass. I just asked if she wanted pizza. Calm down.”

  It must be the alcohol because the next thing I know I’m blurting out, “I can’t calm down. She messed with her hair and now it’s all long and she’s sexy and she fell. I caught her and she was all soft. She’s a girl! I kissed her. She freaked out since I’m apparently disgusting or something and she ran,” I wave towards the hall and the stairs, “up there. I don’t know when that was. Maybe she’s hungry… Dade’s going to kill me.”

  Cruz is staring at me in shock. He finally shakes his head and says, “She fell? Is she ok?”

  Glaring at him, I chug my beer. “I didn’t hurt her! She was on the counter and I startled her or something. She turned and fell, but I caught her. Her hair. It’s long. Her hair is not supposed to be long. She did something.” I’m jabbing my finger at him in the air.

  “What?” He’s s
haking his head back and forth and looking at me strangely. “Her hair is not long. It’s short. What are you taking about?”

  He’s looking at me like I’m crazy. Hell, maybe I am. I kissed Clove. It had to be the adrenaline. I would never kiss Clove. She just looked so different.

  Sitting up, I try to speak slowly. “Her hair was short this morning when she walked in on me and Celia. I swear, she’s a cock block! Then, she insulted me and Celia left and I drove around all day looking at houses. She came home and now her hair is long.”

  Cruz is trying to hide a smile and failing miserably. He chuckles softly and says, “She got extensions? And who the hell is Celia?”

  I slap the couch in frustration. I’m making perfect sense! At least I think I am. “I don’t know. I’m not a hair dresser, asshole. Her hair was short and now it’s long. Celia is a girl that I met running this morning.”

  Why is he not understanding me? I’m speaking English!

  He can’t hold in his laughter any longer. Cruz rarely laughs, but when he does, he really laughs. This is one of those times.

  He manages to speak through his laughter. “Ok, so you brought a girl you just met home and Clove walked in. Again?” He laughs heartily. “And you kissed her tonight?” Shaking his head he mutters, “Dade is going to kill you. You’re lucky she just ran away and she didn’t smack the hell out of you.”

  Remembering her face, I mutter, “She didn’t want to hit me. She kissed me back. But she’s scared of me.” Running my hands over my face again, I smack myself. “I can’t believe I kissed her. She hates me. Something is wrong with her. Women like me!”

  What was that look on her face about? It was almost like she worshipped me. But that doesn’t make sense. She detests me. And I detest her, too. She’s a royal pain in my ass and I’m sick of her acting like I did something to her. She did feel good in my arms though.

  Shut the hell up, Liam! You need a woman. Go get your phone and call one. Or two. You need to stop thinking about Clove.

  While I’ve been debating on calling a willing woman for the night, Cruz has made up a plate of pizza. He sees me looking at his hands and says, “I’m going to take this up to her. We have plenty and I doubt she will come down here. I’ll be back in a bit. Don’t drink anymore while I’m up there.” Shaking his head he walks to the bar and opens the fridge. Grabbing two waters, he turns and tosses me one, “I want to see her long hair. She was already pretty, but if she made you lose your cool… well, she must be a knockout now.” He shrugs and walks out the door.