Excerpt of Bayou Born by Linda Joyce

"Oh, Lord! If Momma could see me now." She laughed, not caring who might hear her over the din of voices and piped–in muzak.
With James in the lead, their hands linked, she followed him toward their seats. Someone behind her bumped her hard. She gasped. Fell forward into James, almost sending him forward. She struggled to right herself with the rowdy crowd pushing all around her. Tremors of fear raced through her mind as she started to slip toward the floor. Panicked, she clawed at James' back.
James turned on a dime. Grabbed her, protected her from falling. He sheltered her from the crushing crowd, and held her steady as she caught her breath. The crowd parted around them as though they were a large boulder in the middle of a fast moving river. Shaken, she clung to him, then blinked when he leaned in and kissed her.
His mouth was warm.
Heat and quivers raced all the way to her toes.
Wrapping his arm around her, he said, "Don't worry. I'll protect you." Then he wrapped her in an embrace, rested his hand on her hip, and guided her back to their spot at the bar.
Shocked by the kiss, a touch so light and quick that it appeared and disappeared so fast she could have dreamt it. She touched a finger to her lips. They were still warm where his lips had been.
"Who's going to protect me from you?" she whispered.