Butterfly Bayou (Butterfly Bayou 1)

He shook off that worry. It was years away, and lots of people worked remotely these days.

“Well, that’s still the prevailing theory around town. You’re going to find more and more Mirandas and Annies on your doorstep, and they are not going to be happy about the rumors you started this morning.”

“I told you why I was there.” But no one would believe him. He hadn’t even thought about it. However, he couldn’t see how it would do any real harm. “I am dating Lila. Well, almost dating her. We’re going to have dinner on Friday.”

He thought he might have to avoid her entirely until he showed up on her doorstep. He would do it so she had zero opportunity to back out of the date. She was a polite woman. If he showed up with flowers and dressed nicely, she probably wouldn’t be able to send him away.

He turned the boat, giving it a little more gas. Up ahead he saw the turnoff that would take them to Petrie Island. It was marked by a massive bald cypress whose base lay in the murky waters, the branches extending far above into the sky.

He wondered if Lila would like it out here. He liked the quiet. Even when he’d lived in New Orleans, he’d missed this place, missed the calm he found here.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea? She doesn’t seem like your type.”

“I have a type?”

A thoughtful look crossed Roxie’s face. “I guess I don’t really know. You haven’t dated since I took this job.”

“I haven’t dated since I brought Noelle back here,” he admitted. “At first it was too hard. I had to focus everything I had on her. Even after we settled down I couldn’t find the time. She’d lost her mom. I didn’t love my ex-wife. Not at the end. But I couldn’t bring someone in to replace her. Noelle had to know she came first.”

“And that is why you’re going to have all the Mirandas and Annies chasing after you. You’re a good man. I like the new doc. What are we supposed to call her? Nurse Daley? That seems weird. Everyone will end up calling her Doc so she should get used to it. Anyway, I met her the other day out at Guidry’s and she seems solid. Practical. I guess that’s why I don’t see the two of you together.”

“Maybe we won’t be. I don’t know her all that well, but I’m attracted to her.” He knew her way better after the night before. He knew there was a soft woman under all her armor. A mystery. He’d told her the truth about that. She was a mystery, and it had been far too long since he’d had one to solve. “She’s complex and complicated and makes no apologies for it. I like that she’s forthright.”

“I liked that about her, too. I don’t get all the Southern stuff, to tell you the truth. Like why does every woman in town bless everyone’s hearts? It’s weird. I’ve been here for a while and I still don’t get it.”

He would have to get her a translation guide. “When a Southern woman blesses your heart she means you’re an idiot. Southern women are good with the polite passive aggression.” He bet Lila would simply call him an idiot. No hiding behind social niceties. He kind of liked that. He hadn’t given much thought to how the transition had gone for his deputy. Like him, she’d come from a big city job. Unlike him, she hadn’t grown up here. Not even close. “Do you miss New York?”

“Often.” She stared out at the water. “And then I remember how crappy it could be. I’m happy I’m here, Armie. Even if I don’t always get the people.” She seemed to shake something off. “Speaking of people, I haven’t met this Carrie. I thought I’d pretty much met everyone in town. Why does the doc think she’s being abused?”

He was going to have to figure out the name thing. Nurse Daley did feel weird. “Lila doesn’t know what it’s like out here. She also had a friend who was abused by her husband.” He hesitated to say anything else. It was her story to tell. “I’m worried she’s seeing something that’s not there, but I think we should check it out just in case.”

“Absolutely,” Roxie agreed. “Also, it’s not like I have anything better to do. This is the most exciting thing that’s happened to me all week. Another reason I like it better here. Working SWAT in New York was not relaxing. I like the fact that the most workout my heart gets is when I do cardio.” She sat up. “Is that what we’re looking for?”

There was a dock up ahead, another flat-bottom boat moored to the side. The Petrie family relied heavily on boats.