Sylvie waved at her brother as Rene started up the stairs toward the master bedroom. The house was a bit rickety. If she was going to live here with Rene, they would need to upgrade the place.

“I’ll do whatever I can to help Dre.” Rene made it to the bedroom and walked her over the threshold.

Her feet hit the ground and she looked up to him. “You are not responsible for my brother. I thought we fixed this.”

“We fixed me being responsible for people I don’t truly care about. You can’t make me not worry about the ones I love,” he said.

He would always be this man, the stalwart protector, and the truth was she didn’t want him any other way. This was the man she’d fallen for, the one she would love forever. “He will take you as you are, too. He’ll love you like a brother no matter what you can do for him. But he’ll also tease you mercilessly forever.”

Rene’s lips curved up in a grin. “He would do that anyway.” He pulled her close. “Sylvie, I love you.”

She could never hear those words enough. She’d thought she might have to give up on hearing them. Not because Rene didn’t love her, but because he didn’t understand what the words meant. They’d been warped by his family, but he could reclaim them. Those words meant something between the two of them. “I love you, too. I’m glad I get you more to myself. Are you sure you want to move in here with me? We could find somewhere else.”

“I don’t care where we live as long as we live together. Turn around. I love how you look in this dress, but I want to touch you.”

She turned for him, allowing him access to the zipper. “Be careful. The tag is still on. I thought I could return it if I was careful.”

“Oh, you are keeping this dress.” He slowly dragged the zipper down, his fingertips brushing her spine. He leaned over and kissed the nape of her neck, sending a delicious shiver across her skin. “We might have to send some of the rest of it back, though.”

She could send it all back. “You’ll find I’m a thrifty label lover. I’ll introduce you to some great websites.”

He pushed the sides of the dress over her arms and down to her waist. “Did I properly apologize for yesterday?”

The words were said with a hint of tease, and she picked up on it. He could definitely “apologize” to her. “Oh, no. I’m going to need you to show me how sorry you are.”