Did they have to do that? Did everyone’s love story have to play out in exactly the same way? Or could she consider the years before, the years when they’d circled each other and been friends, as their courtship?

It would be good to spend the rest of the afternoon going over reports. She could do with some quiet contemplation.

“Madam Mayor, I was hoping to run into you.”

Sylvie turned and realized quiet contemplation was going to have to wait.

Charles Darois was standing a few feet past security. Security was basically one sleepy guard who sometimes checked through bags but mostly yawned and drank coffee. She would have to have a talk with him because he obviously didn’t recognize a dangerous man when he saw one.

Rene had told her that Charles would show up. She hadn’t imagined it would be this soon.

“My husband would prefer I didn’t talk to you, so unless this is about parish business, I have to decline this meeting. And honestly, even if it is about parish business, you should make an appointment. I’ve had a long day and I would like to finish up and get home.”

“Yes, I heard my cousin got you stuck on the bayou overnight.” He looked her up and down as though taking an inventory. “You’re lucky he didn’t get you killed. He can be reckless.”

She was sure he would bring that up as often as he could. It would be a lie, but that wouldn’t matter. Charles was running a campaign, and he wouldn’t mind slinging some mud. “Rene is the least reckless man I know. I was the one who insisted on going out to see the butterflies. He was the one who managed to find a safe place for us to ride out the storm.”

“Well, he’s been reckless with the business lately, and don’t think I won’t point that out to my great-aunt when she comes to town,” Charles countered. “We’ve lost two big contracts. He might look a lot like his daddy, but he doesn’t have the killer instinct.”

Was Charles poking her to see if she would take the bait and tell him something Rene wouldn’t want him to know? Did he think she would be such an easy opponent? “I don’t know a lot about the business. You’ll have to take that up with Rene. I believe he’s at his office.”

He’d texted that he had a surprise for her.