prologue
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
Sylvie Martine stared down at the printed-out report and had to admit to the fact that she’d been completely wrong about Rene Darois. “I’m going to be honest. When we started this project together, I thought I would end up doing most of the work.”
The truth of the matter was she’d thought about dumping the class when she’d seen her brother’s best friend sitting in what should have been a sophomore-level history course. She’d known he was still taking classes at Tulane when she’d started her freshman year. He’d shown up at her dorm room and offered to give her a tour of the campus. They’d gone to dinner and talked about her brother and reminisced about the old days when they would run around the grounds of Darois House, and then she hadn’t seen him again until he’d been sitting in the big lecture hall four months earlier.
He frowned her way. “I’m an excellent research partner.”
They were sitting in the cozy living room of his family’s New Orleans house. Like everything in Rene Darois’s life, it was perfectly kept and built to impress. The small house on the outskirts of the quarter looked less luxurious on the outside. It had a wall around it with gates that led a person from the rowdiness of the quarter to the infinite peace of a sunny courtyard. She’d been told this place was frequently used by his parents when they had business in town or simply wanted to enjoy the city. When Rene had chosen Tulane, he’d moved in here, and his father often stayed with him when he wasn’t back in Papillon, the small town they’d all come from.
Sylvie had known Rene all her life, and she was fairly certain she’d been born with a crush on him. Like she’d come straight out of the womb and wanted to be around him.
Which was a dangerous thing since he didn’t see her as anything more than his best friend’s kid sister.
“I think you want to pass this class and get out of here,” she said with a smile. She’d avoided him that first semester, but now she realized she would miss him when he graduated in a few weeks. Since they’d figured out they had a class together, she’d had lunch with Rene almost every Monday and Wednesday, and he’d taken to driving her back to Papillon on the weekends, and then to New Orleans every Sunday night.
He’d made her first year of college comfortable and far less lonely.
Rene sat back, and she had to stop herself from sighing. He was the most perfect example of masculine beauty she could think of, and it was about more than his red and gold hair, green eyes, and sharp jawline. It was about how she felt when he smiled her way, when he rushed to open a door for her, and made her feel like she was the only woman in the world.
Of course, that was all Southern manners and charm, and she was sure he behaved that way around every woman of his acquaintance. She’d known she would fall into this trap if she let herself. It had been almost a relief when he’d gone away to college. She’d been able to see past him and date a nice boy in high school. When that had fallen apart, she’d concentrated on her best friends and her work, and it had been good.
But now Sylvie was right back to not being able to think about any guy but this one. No one else she met was as comfortable as Rene, as kind and fun to be around. As understanding.
And it turned out he was an excellent project partner. He’d handled most of the research, and now it was her turn. “You are indeed. These notes are practically perfect. I’ll write it up, we’ll turn it in, and then I think you’ll be a graduate of Tulane. Are you excited?”
“Of course,” he said, and then his voice went low. “It was a surprise to realize I was missing a couple of classes. I was upset when I had to take a history class in my senior year. Well, year and a half. I should have graduated after fall semester. I was bitter about it, but I’ve enjoyed this time with you. It was good to get to know you again.”
She could get so emotional about him. A wistful longing flowed through her veins. “I know. I thought it was weird seeing you outside of Papillon, but now I know I’m going to miss you.”
The mood seemed to shift, the air becoming warmer than before as Rene moved closer to her. “I’m going to miss you, too, Sylvie. I’m going to miss you a lot. This semester has been a revelation for me.”
Why was she suddenly breathless? He’d only moved a couple of inches closer, but she’d felt his intent change from casual to something more intimate. Had she misread him? All these months she’d thought he was alone because his friends had graduated the semester before. She’d figured he’d told her brother he would watch out for her.
What if he’d wanted to spend time with her? What if these long months of dancing around each other were supposed to lead to something more?
“Me, too,” she managed.
His hand came out and touched hers, easing over her arm and spreading warmth across her skin. “We’ve known each other for a long time, but spending time with you away from home has shown me a different side of you.”
That made her smile. “A side that isn’t a nuisance?”
She expected him to laugh but his expression intensified. “You were never a nuisance. I never once resented you coming over with your brother. You were always smart and kind and good to the people around you.”
She breathed in to stop the tears that threatened. She hadn’t thought he’d noticed her. “Well, you and Andre were different from other boys. You never told me to go away. I appreciated that.”
Sometimes when her brother would go to Rene’s house or he would come to theirs, she would tag along on whatever adventure they were having, and neither boy made her feel unwelcome. At the time she’d simply thought it was how brothers and sisters worked, but now she knew what a true jewel her older brother and his friend had been.
“Dre would have had my hide if I’d told him his sister wasn’t welcome. I always loved that about your family. I sometimes think that’s why I was desperate to be Dre’s friend. If he could view me that way, I would always be able to count on him.”
Poor little rich boy. Rene had tons of cousins, but he didn’t seem to enjoy spending time with them. He’d spent all his time with the Martine family—a hairdresser and a civil servant. Not that he hadn’t had other friends. He’d been the most popular boy at school, but he’d never let it go to his head. “Andre loves you like a brother,” she said.
“And you? Do you think of me as a brother?”
Her heart threatened to stop in her chest. She hadn’t thought she would ever be in this position, and the enormity of the question stopped her cold. Or hot. Her body had gone electric at the promise in those green eyes.
He withdrew his hand and his expression had gone blank. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked you that.”