I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

Sleeping, unwelcome, on the couch of the woman most likely to cut him up and feed him to a gator probably isn’t the best idea.

Even if he deserves it.

Even if it’s for her own good.

Even if she makes him hotter than a Louisiana summer night.

Sexy, broody, FBI agent Spencer Landry is not leaving that couch until he knows that fiery investigative journalist Max Keller is safe.

Unless she lets him into her bed . . . again.

  Erin Nicholas keeps giving me men to drool over and I really love that about her! With the first book in the Badges of the Bayou series, we get to get up close and personal with the delectable Spencer Landry and still hang out with some of our favs down on the bayou. I really loved Spencer and Max together and can’t wait to see what else the series has in store for us! Spencer is down to earth and approachable, but he’s intent on keeping everyone he loves safe after suffering past loss. Maxine is adorably sassy and I loved her tenacity in righting the wrongs of the world. I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys some intrigue mixed with steamy romance and downright laugh out loud moments as this close knit family continues to grow and delight.        

How do you get over a woman you never should have been, ahem, under in the first place?

Gotta Be Bayou, an all-new grumpy-sunshine, small town romance from New York Times bestselling author Erin Nicholas is now available!

Just when FBI special agent Spencer Landry had decided to forget about investigative journalist Maxine-Max-Keller and their one hot night together, there’s a threat made against her and Spencer’s protective instincts get all riled up. Again.

So now they’re shacking up on the Louisiana bayou and pretending to be in love so he can keep Max safe until the guy is apprehended.

Considering their chemistry and that he can not stop thinking about the gorgeous-and-doesn’t-know-it, smart-mouthed, bold-and-yet-vulnerable redhead, this could be a fun few days, right?

Nope. She’s all wrong for him.

And she hasn’t forgotten he can be kind of a jerk.

Sure, the naked-times are great, but he told her exactly what he wants— a bubbly, sweet school teacher who bakes him brownies and loves to cuddle—and Max ain’t it.

Max not only doesn’t bake, no one has ever called her sweet. And cuddling? Shudder.

Plus his bossiness is super annoying for someone who’s been taking care of herself all her life. But now they’re stuck together and dammit, besides being hot and very good with his mouth, Spencer is pretty irresistible with baby goats, little kids, and attempts at baking. And don’t forget alpha-protective. All of which makes her stomach feel very swoop-y. No wonder her clothes keep falling off.

But this is a temporary situation and they’re only faking it. So falling for the guy is a terrible idea.

She really should have kept that in mind.

Read today!

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Keep reading for a look inside Gotta Be Bayou!

She’d fallen asleep on him.

Literally.

Well, her feet were on him anyway. Actually, her legs from the knees down.

She’d started just propped against the opposite end of the couch, with her crossword puzzle book open on the arm. She’d mostly focused on the puzzle, but he’d noticed her smiling and even laughing a couple of times at the TV.

Eventually, she’d propped her head on her hand and just watched. Then her eyes started drifting shut. Then her head was on the arm of the couch.

But when she wanted to get comfortable, she got comfortable.

She’d scooted down to rest her head on the couch cushion and stretched out. Including putting her feet in Spencer’s lap.

He’d had to catch her heels in his hands to keep her from kicking him in the balls.

And then he’d just held her feet, rubbing his thumbs along the arches of her feet, and absorbing the sound of her contented sigh and loving the way she cuddled deeper into the couch.

He’d wanted her to feel safe and be comfortable and relaxed.

Mission accomplished.

The woman was sound asleep.

At 8:30 p.m.

The episode ended and Spencer realized he didn’t remember a thing from what he’d watched. He’d been paying attention to Max.

Of course he’d started with the way her soft cotton shorts molded to the curve of her hips and ass. The way the matching tank hugged her waist and breasts. There was no way he could have ignored that. He was drawn to this woman and the part that didn’t confuse him was his attraction to her body.

Now, having those sweet curves within touching distance again and barely covered, absolutely drew his attention. But with her asleep, and him unable to really do anything, he also had the chance to simply study her up close.

Her eyelashes were pale and had a reddish hue. Of course they did. She was a redhead. But he’d never thought about the color of a woman’s eyelashes before. Now he was fascinated. Did she wear mascara? He was going to have to pay attention to see the next time she was awake.

She stirred, shifting, moving her feet against his hands and he stroked a hand up one calf. It wasn’t perfectly smooth. There was just a slight prickle, but he didn’t mind at all. In fact, he wanted to feel that against his thighs and hips as she wrapped her legs around him. It was real and he wanted to feel her legs in every stage from freshly shaved to haven’t-had-a-chance-for-days.

Wow, she was truly asleep. He should make her go to bed.

“Max?” he asked softly.

She didn’t even wiggle.

“Max?” he asked a little louder, squeezing her foot gently.

She just breathed in deeply, then out.

He should just carry her into bed. He could just scoop her up and take her into the bedroom.

Spencer shifted her legs so he could stand. Then he leaned over. She was on her side, so he pushed gently against her shoulder, rolling her to her back. She went with a sigh, one hand moving to rest on her chest. Perfect. Spencer slid an arm under her knees and one behind her back.

And everything was great until he started to lift.

She came awake suddenly. She kicked her legs, flailed her arms, and her head lifted instinctively to look around. Her forehead hit Spencer in the chin. Hard.

His head snapped back and his teeth clamped down on his tongue.

“Fuck!” he swore in surprised pain.

“Ahhh!” she yelled.

She was still kicking and waving her arms and he unceremoniously dropped her one foot back onto the couch cushions.

“Max! It’s me!”

She kicked out, her shin connecting with his thigh.

That fucking hurt too.

“Max!” He pinned her arms down against the couch. “Max! It’s Spencer!”

Her eyes were wide and not fully focused.

She just yelled again. “Ahhhhh!”

Dammit. The cottage next door was going to think they needed to call the cops.

Which was Zander.

Spencer did not want Zander showing up here, grinning and smirking and writing up a report about how Spencer had tried to sweetly carry Max to bed and she’d thought he was attacking her.

“Maxine!” he said sharply, putting a leg across hers to keep her from kicking and, against his better judgement, placing a hand over her mouth. “Stop it. It’s me.”

Her eyes flew to his as he put his face directly in front of hers.

“It’s Spencer.”

She suddenly went still. Her gaze focused and she stopped moving and he felt her pull in a long breath.

He waited another few seconds, making sure that she realized who was holding her down.

Slowly he removed his hand. “Okay?” he asked.

She drew in another long breath and blew it out. She nodded. “Yeah.”

“Holy shit, Max.”

“What happened?”

“You were sleeping like the dead, so I decided to carry you into the bedroom. And you turned into the Tasmanian devil.”

“Well, I’m not used to people picking me up in the middle of the night.”

That made him chuckle. “It’s not even 9 p.m.”

“Well… still.”

He liked that she was at a loss for words. That was unusual.

Slowly, he became aware of the fact that he was pinning her to the couch. With almost his entire body.

In spite of the fact that she’d been fighting off an intruder in her imagination and he’d been fearing for his manhood, his eyes, nose, and jaw, it didn’t take long for his body to register that this felt really nice.

The couch was big enough for the two of them to lie together. He wasn’t entirely on top of her, but almost half of him was pinning more than half of her to the cushions.

“I, um… didn’t mean to squash you. Self-preservation instinct.”

She smiled. “You’re not squashing me.” Her voice was soft and a little breathless.

Their gazes locked. “I did this, honestly, to keep you from hurting me or yourself. But mostly me.”

She wet her lips and nodded. “I believe you.”

“So, I could probably get up now. You seem a lot more calm.”

“Funny, I don’t exactly feel calm.”

His heart kicked against his rib cage. A moment ago she’d been ready to claw his eyes out. The moment before that she’d been so deeply asleep that she hadn’t realized he was even there. But now, her gaze was hot and she was breathing fast, and she was definitely not wearing a bra with this pajama set.

Spencer’s entire body responded. “You fell asleep really fast. And very deep,” he said, his voice husky.

“I often fall asleep on the couch. Never that deeply, though. I guess I felt really safe with you.”

Damn, he liked that. He felt the corner of his mouth curl. “Until I tried to pick you up.”

“Sorry. Instinct.”

“Honestly the cop part of me is very glad that your instinct is to fight hard when someone does something unexpected.”

“Good.” She gave a little nod. “I guess that means you just need to be sure I’m expecting anything you do.”

He nodded slowly and his gaze dropped to her mouth. “Good idea. For instance, if I was going to kiss you, I should make sure that you knew that.”

She nodded. “Right.”

“Max.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m going to kiss you.”

“Good.”

About Erin Nicholas

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erin Nicholas has been writing romances almost as long as she’s been reading them. To date, she’s written over thirty sexy, contemporary novels that have been described as “toe-curling,” “enchanting,” “steamy,” and “fun.” She adores reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines, and happily ever afters.

Erin lives in the Midwest, where she enjoys spending time with her husband (who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books), her kids (who will never read the sex scenes in her books), and her family and friends (who claim to be “shocked” by the sex scenes in her books).

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