“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 chemistry had been an illusion, the hopes and dreams of a lonely girl with a crush on a boy she’d known forever. “Yes, you can kiss me, but it’s only for practice.”

Those generous lips of his kicked up in a devilish grin. “I haven’t kissed anyone in a couple of years. I might need a lot of practice.”

Years? That reminder of how hard life had been on Rene made it easier for her to go up on her toes and tilt her head back, offering her lips up to his. “It’s been years for me, too.”

His expression went soft and his hands went to her waist. “Then we’ll figure it all out again together.”