Chapter 2
Agent Beau Thibodaux watched through the window of his office as a young woman climbed out of the front seat of a beat-up old yellow jeep. The jeep looked like it had actually been used in a few wars it was so dented, but the woman who got out of the jeep was definitely in much better shape. She was a little taller than average height and her legs looked like they went on forever. Of course, it helped that she was wearing a skirt. Her top was a fitted white t-shirt and on her feet were some white flip-flops. Her hair was brown and he was hoping he would get the chance to see the color of her eyes. His heart quickened when he realized she was coming into the field office—his office.
He had just been promoted to head of this region for Wildlife and Fisheries. It was a big accomplishment. He was only twenty-five years-old and the youngest field agent to ever have been given such an honor.
Beau lowered the radio on his desk so he could hear the beautiful woman talking to his secretary.
“I’d like to speak to the Game Warden about this letter my grandmother received.” The woman spoke in a confident tone.
“I’ll see if he has time to talk to you, please have a seat.” Gloria, Beau’s secretary, told the woman.
The phone on his desk rang. He picked it up after the third ring. He did not want to seem too anxious.
“Talk to me,” he said. He was practicing staying calm, cool, and collected. He did not want this woman to know that he thought she was beautiful. It had been awhile since he had been on a date. He just had not had time since he was working so hard for this promotion and to be totally honest, his ex-girlfriend had ripped his heart out and danced on top of it with her fancy four inch heels.
“There is a young lady here to see you about a letter her grandmother received. It looks like a final notice on a fine. The stationary is from the Baton Rouge office.”
“Okay, wait five minutes then send her in.” He wondered what this woman could have possibly done to get fined by Wildlife and Fisheries, but he had seen it all in his four years in the field. People did crazy, stupid, and illegal things in the swamps and bayous all the time. She just did not look like she was stupid or crazy. He hoped she wasn’t anyway.
Jolie sat in an uncomfortable brown chair in the reception area of the Game Warden’s office. She listened as the secretary informed Agent Thibodaux that she was there to speak to him. Her heart was pounding in her throat and ears. Oh no, she thought. She knew what was going to happen. The same thing that happened every time she was about to confront someone, she was going to lose it. She always ended up yelling and crying. She didn’t know why. She was probably just crazy. If things went well, Agent Thibodaux would just give in right away. He would see her point and understand. She could only hope it would work out that way. She hated looking like a lunatic, but sometimes she just could not help it.
“Agent Thibodaux can see you now,” the secretary said, as she pointed to the door with the gold name plate that said Beau Thibodaux, Regional Manager. Jolie nodded and stood to walk through the door.
Jolie turned the knob and pushed the door open. She stood in the doorway for a second and took in the man standing behind the gray government issued desk. He was about six feet tall and had dark hair almost black in color and in bad need of a haircut. He was wearing the standard issue Game Warden uniform, hunter green short-sleeve button down shirt, khaki cargo pants, and a black gun belt with a black gun at his waist. He did not look much older than her and she thought he looked kind of scared. He had a nice build. She could tell by his arms that he was athletic and worked out. His job may have required a pretty high level of cardiovascular fitness. He probably had to chase people down through the swamps. She could see him doing those things, but for some reason he looked scared to death at the prospect of having a conversation with her.
“Please have a seat,” he said, as he motioned for her to sit in the chair in front of her. It was the same exact kind of chair she had occupied in the lobby. She thought about just giving him the $275. Maybe he could buy better office furniture with it. “How can I help you, Miss…? I’m sorry. What’s your name?”
“My name is Jolie Boudreaux and I want to know if you could make this little problem go away for me?” Jolie handed the letter to him across his desk. His fingers brushed against hers for a second, she pulled her hand back and placed it in her lap. His fingers were warm and he let them linger against her skin for a little longer than necessary. She was not interested in any romance at this point in time. She was concentrating on school and her grandmother right now.
Beau looked down at the letter and read through it. A smile spread across his face. He remembered writing this ticket. The old man, George Boudreaux, had caught at least two dozen illegal catfish that morning. Normally he would have let him go with a warning but he could not let him kill that many undersized fish without the fine. The old man had been so angry that he had threatened to call Beau’s own grandfather and give him a few choice words. Beau just took the fish and gave him the ticket. He drove away before the old man would do something he would regret. Beau did not want to have to arrest him. He did not want to involve his own grandfather either because he knew his Papa Thibodaux hated George Boudreaux. He was not sure why. No one ever discussed the details for the falling out between the two men.
Jolie must be the granddaughter of Mr. Boudreaux. If she was anything like her grandfather she was sure to be full of life and even more off-color words. He looked at her over the top of the letter. She was even prettier than he thought when he first saw her getting out of her jeep. From this close he could also see that her eyes were blue—like a robin’s egg. Her hair was wavy and thick and he imagined it would be as soft as a new born bunny’s fur.
“Miss Boudreaux, I am sorry but there is nothing this office can do about this fine. Someone is going to have to pay it.” He handed the paper back to her.
“Agent Thibodaux, why in the world would you expect my little old grandmother to pay for something her dead husband did wrong?” She was fuming. He could tell that she had expected him to just make the fine go away, but the truth was that the estate was responsible for the paying it.
“I’m sorry, but she is the beneficiary to his estate so she is responsible for his debts.”
“That is just the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. So if he would have had prison time to serve out for his crime, would you expect her to fulfill that too?”
Beau just stared at her. She was incredible and he wanted to get to know her better, but she would not want anything to do with him unless he could make this fine go away. Luckily Beau had just the thing in mind that would suit both of them.
“Miss Boudreaux, I think I have a solution to your problem,” Beau smiled at her across the desk.
“What might that be, Agent Thibodaux?” Jolie was suspicious of his smile. It was a sneaky little smile that caused the corners of his eyes to crinkle.
“I'll make this fine go away if you will agree to be my date for my Cousin Regina’s wedding on Friday night.” He leaned back into his chair and waited for her reaction. He knew from the little bit she had already said that she would either accept or she would be outraged.
“You want me to go out with you? That’s got to be illegal … blackmail or something. I’m not a hooker, Agent Thibodaux.”
No, she was not a hooker, he could tell by looking at her that she was a good girl. She was here trying to fix her grandmother’s problems. She was loyal and responsible—and beautiful. He liked her and besides, he needed a date to his cousins wedding. Ever since Sara, his ex-girlfriend and his cousin’s maid of honor, left him Beau had not been the same. He spent time concentrating on his work. His mother had told him he needed to get back in the dating scene, but he just was not ready. Until today, he did not know what it was about this woman, but she made him ready.
“Here’s the thing. I have to go to this wedding … right … and my ex-girlfriend is the maid-of-honor. She will be there with her new husband; the same guy that she left me for. So you would be doing me a favor and then I would pay the fine for you. It’s a win-win situation.”
Jolie thought about the proposition. She did not like it, but it would solve her grandmother’s money issue. She would just need to go on one date with Agent Thibodaux, and it was not really even a date. He just wanted someone to go with him so he would not look pathetic in front of his ex.
“Okay, I’ll go, but it’s just to the wedding and then you’ll bring me straight home. Agreed?”
“Agreed.” Beau smiled. All he needed was a little more time with her and he was sure he could make her see him in the same light that he was seeing her.