He hoped she was familiar with plumbing. And electrical systems. And how to deal with hoarding. But that was a problem for another day. “That’s good to know, but if you have any trouble, you can call me. In fact, I was thinking since you’re new in town, you might need someone to show you around.”

That brow was back up. “I have a sister.”

“Yeah, but sometimes it’s nice to see the town from the view of someone who’s lived here all his life.” Most of his life, but he wasn’t going to point that out. “I know all the nice places.” All two of them. “I was thinking after a long day of travel, you might want to get a bite to eat.”

“You’re asking me on a date?”

He couldn’t be screwing it up too much. “We can definitely call it that.”

“After giving me a ticket.”

She would have to concentrate on that. “I wanted you to understand that there’s no pressure on you. So, pick you up at seven? We can go to Guidry’s.” Maybe she wouldn’t want to hang out at her sister’s family bar. “Or Lucille’s. They’re open for dinner tonight. Best shrimp and grits you’ve ever had. I promise.”

“You should back up now.”

He took a step back and she gunned the engine, taking off down the highway.

“That’s a no, then?” Armie shouted after the car.

She was probably speeding again, but he wasn’t going to press his luck.

chapter two

Lila stood in front of the dilapidated ranch house that seemed to back up to some form of water. That must be the bayou portion of Butterfly Bayou, though she didn’t see any butterflies. She did see the massive potential for mosquitoes. There was a dock she probably would never in a million years risk walking on, and a boat she was shocked was still floating tied to it.

What the hell am I doing?

She’d left her perfectly good apartment for this? Sure, it had been bland and she’d never bothered to decorate, but at least it didn’t look like it was about to fall apart.

“It’s not as bad as it looks,” Lisa said, stepping in beside her. Her sister had been waiting for her when she’d driven up the gravel drive. “Maybe. I went inside and it’s pretty bad in there. I can’t believe Bill’s kids didn’t clean it out.”

She felt her eyes widen because she wasn’t good with dirt. Blood, she could handle. She fully understood the role of germs in the natural world, but in her own home she preferred the suckers nonexistent. “They didn’t clean?”

Lisa turned to her. “Oh, not that. I didn’t mean that. I had a maid service clean it top to bottom. I’m talking about all the things.”