knew Charles. “Your aunt’s birthday is coming up, right?”
“Yes. We’ll need to go to Houston. She lives there now.”
Sylvie had a better idea. “Or we could bring them all here, and I could throw her a big party out at the B and B. Your aunt enjoys a good family reunion, but the last I heard, she was in a condo now and everyone would have to stay at hotels. If we bring everyone out here, we can get them all in one place. It’s her ninetieth, right?”
“How do you remember all of this?”
Information was all part of her job, and the mayor of a small town needed to know everyone. “It’s a talent of mine, but don’t ask me to remember a phone number. It’s a good thing I was born in the age of smart phones.” She sat across from him. If she kept it up, she would pace a hole in the gorgeous carpet. “This is nothing but a campaign, you know. I’m good at those. I can take care of this for you.”
“I don’t like the idea that you’re not getting anything out of this.”
“Because you’ve been trained to think that your only value is the money you control. That’s simply not true, Rene. I’m going to help my friend, and this town will help you, too. You’re important.”
“To you?”
“To everyone.” She couldn’t give him what he wanted. He was moving too fast on that front, but he wouldn’t push her.
He nodded, though she could see her answer had disappointed him. “So you’re going to ride in and save my whole family. You’re my knight in shining armor.”
He’d ridden in and saved her before. “I’m glad I can help.”
“You’re going to need more armor, though, if you want to survive my family.” Rene stood up. “Do you have time this week? We’ll get married at city hall tomorrow.”
“Do you already have a license?” She wasn’t sure how she felt about his being so certain she would say yes. There was a three-day waiting period between signing the license and being able to legally marry.
“I’m going to call the judge in a few minutes and he’ll waive the waiting period for us,” Rene explained. “It’s important that we do this quickly or my cousin could cause trouble. Sometime soon we’ll need to make a trip into New Orleans. I’ll call and have a personal shopper meet us.”
Sylvie shook her head. “I told you, I don’t need anything from you.”
“And everyone knows I’m particular about my clothes. Why wouldn’t I buy my wife new clothes? Besides, like I said, you’re going to need the armor around my family.”
“I have nice clothes.”
“You have beautiful clothes, and honestly, you would look stunning in a trash bag, but in my world they’ll judge you and they’ll judge me. You have to have the latest of everything. Clothes, shoes, handbags. I know it’s a terrible burden, but I must insist.”
“Rene,” she began.
He held out a hand. “Darling, no one will believe the ruse if you aren’t dressing the part, and tell me we won’t have fun buying out all those stores and drinking champagne and acting like we’re in some rom com. There has to be something good that comes out of all of this.”
She was in so much trouble. She put her hand in his. He had an agenda and she was on it. If she knew how to deal with his family, then he had a damn fine playbook on her. She stood and suddenly was in his space. She had to tilt her chin up to look at him. “All right. It will be fun. And I have to admit there are some Gucci pumps I’ve been saving for.”
“Consider them yours.” He was staring down at her. “Can I kiss you, Sylvie?”
“What?”
“If we’re awkward, no one’s going to believe us. We’re getting married in the morning. We should at least practice kissing.”
“Maybe we’re one of those private couples who don’t ever engage in PDA.”
“No. We’re affectionate. I’m going to model our fake marriage after your parents. Your parents were affectionate. I remember how your daddy used to chase your momma around the house.”
He was right. They would be expected to be comfortable with each other if their plan was going to work. And she would have to stay here for a while.
Danger. So much danger, and yet she couldn’t deny that she wanted to know. Maybe she’d made too much out of that night back in college. Maybe their