She wouldn’t. It would be at least thirty because the minute Gertie walked into Dixie’s to pick up the grilled chicken salad Sylvie had ordered, she would have to say hello to everyone she knew. And Gertie knew everyone. It was precisely why she was excellent at her job. Gertie was a fount of knowledge about the parish and everyone in it.

Sylvie heard the deep rumble of Rene’s voice and had to force herself not to run. To him? Away from him? Either way, she would walk away like the empowered woman she was and not the college girl with a crush.

She kept her eyes on her phone. She knew city hall like the back of her hand. Her father had worked here when she was a kid. He’d been the city clerk for most of his life, and he’d taken such pride in bringing her and Andre to work with him when he could. When he would catch up on paperwork over the occasional weekend, this place had been a playground for her and Andre.

She missed her father.

She glanced down at her phone and then smacked right into a big body. The impact sent her phone and bag straight to the floor.

Without glancing up, she dropped down, reaching for her Chanel caviar quilted tote. She’d gotten that one secondhand, too. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going.”

“Well, I was the one who didn’t move out of your way, so it’s my fault.”

Rene. She should have known from the ridiculously expensive loafers or the perfectly tailored cuff on the slacks. But no, it was the deep voice and that smooth accent that got to her every time. At least he was speaking English, because when he spoke French, she couldn’t even think straight. Naturally she’d knocked right into the man she’d been trying to avoid.

And her screen had been damaged slightly. There was a tiny crack in the lower corner. “I’m sorry, Rene. I wasn’t paying attention.”

“Be careful with that.” He knelt down and got to her phone before she could. “That glass is incredibly sharp.”

“It’s not the first time. I’ll tape it up.” It wasn’t so bad. It hadn’t completely shattered, and she was locked in a contract for another year. She would have to make do until she could get into Houma and find someone who could repair the screen. Hopefully that spiderweb could be temporarily stopped with some tape.

Rene got to his feet and held his hand out to help her up.

She put her hand in his and tried not to think about how big and warm it was. She needed to get back out in the dating world, because just the touch of the man’s hand sent a thrill through her.

She needed to get laid. That was all. So why was it only this one man who could do this to her?

She got to her feet and gently slid her phone into her bag.