Gotta Be Bayou (Badges of the Bayou, #1)

by Erin Nicholas

She had two loving parents who just happened to think that they’d done her a huge favor by raising her to depend on herself and know how to handle any situation life threw at her. Hungry? Get yourself some food. Don’t know how to do that school assignment? Find someone to help you. Your stomach hurts? Find something to settle it. Monsters under the bed? Vanquish those assholes.

“Penguins do it for you, huh?” “Well, I mean… they’re penguins, Spencer.”

And now she was limping. She made it two steps before he muttered a curse and swept her into his arms again. “Spencer, you can't keep carrying me around.” “The fuck I can't.”

“Yeah, I think I'm going to be the Stanley Sunshine of our relationship.” Max snorted. “The who?” “They always call the happy, perky woman Susie Sunshine, right? Why is there no term for a happy and cheerful man?” “Oh, I think there is,” Max said. “I believe it's annoying and friendless.”

"Well, it's true. I still want to make brownies. Let's do it together. That would be cool. Then neither of us is making it for the other one or for ourselves. We’re doing it together." She grabbed his hand and started for the door. "Yes, this is great. Let's make brownies together. They'll be so fun and so… symbolic."