Her brother wasn’t as tall as Rene, but he was built on bigger lines. Where Rene was lean, Dre was all big biceps and muscle everywhere. He was also more casual. Where Rene was dressed in slacks and a button-down, her brother looked ready to work out in sweats and a T-shirt. He’d graduated in December and had taken a job with a newspaper in St. Louis. He smiled brightly, dropped his duffel, and held his arms open. “Little sis, it’s good to see you. Come here. I’ve missed you like hell.”

She’d missed him, too. She walked into his bear hug and tried not to cry. “I wasn’t expecting to see you.”

“I got a couple of days off before I’m on a long assignment, so I thought I would go see Momma. I got tired driving and decided to see if Rene was home,” Dre explained. “I was going to talk him into buying us both dinner. I wasn’t going to leave you out. What do you say, Rene? Take a couple of Martines out on the town, why don’t you? I was thinking Arnaud’s. I can’t get good Creole food in St. Louis. Barbecue is great, but they don’t even know what boudin is.”

It was wonderful to see her brother, but her heart had constricted. She wasn’t sure she could sit through dinner with Rene now. Not knowing how close they’d come. Not when she could still feel his hands on her body, the press of his lips to hers.

“I’m sorry. I have to get this report finished or Rene here won’t graduate.” She somehow managed not to shed a tear. “It’s due in the morning. I was over here picking up the research he’s done. Now I’ll take it home, put it all together, and get us that sweet A we deserve. But I’ll take a ride tomorrow if I can get it.”

“I thought . . .” Rene began and then seemed to understand. “Of course. You should go with your brother. I’m actually staying in town this week. I’ve got to get ready to move out. I’m taking over a position in our Chicago office.”

“You’re leaving?” He hadn’t said a word about going to Chicago. She’d known he was graduating and wouldn’t stay in New Orleans all the time anymore, but she’d thought he would be in Papillon.

He was leaving. He’d kissed her and he was leaving.

She grabbed her bag. “I should head out. You two have fun.”

Her brother’s eyes had widened, but he didn’t stop her. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

She didn’t bother to look at Rene. She merely nodded her brother’s way and walked out into the night.

*   *   *

She hadn’t even looked at him.