“No way did he say that!”

Bijou nodded slowly. “He definitely told me last night, that it was all about the leopards and our uninhibited and wild and crazy sex was just an added bonus.” She blinked rapidly and looked down into the coffee cup. Luckily, Saria made it strong. She preferred tea in the afternoons, but when she first woke up, nothing tasted better than Cajun coffee.

“My brother is an idiot. I love him, and in most things, he’s right, but when it comes to women, I’m afraid he needs a good smack in the head.”

Bijou forced another shrug. “He can’ help the way he feels. And I can’ help the way I do. The leopards are just goin’ to have to get over it.”

“Mmm, sweetie, they won’t get over it. They bond lifetime after lifetime. They seek each other out. If you think Remy is goin’ to let you go easily, you’ve got another think comin’.”

“I don’ care,” Bijou said, lifting her chin stubbornly. “I’m not goin’ to be his sex toy. I’m not.”

“Are you sayin’ you don’ have feelings for him?” Saria asked, curiosity in her voice.

“He’s my biggest fantasy. He always has been. Maybe I even came back here to see if he was the man I always thought he was. No one else ever lived up to him, but it doesn’t matter how I feel. Not now. I’m not goin’ to play second fiddle to a leopard.”

“It isn’t like that,” Saria denied.

“Not for you, because Drake actually loves you. I was foolin’ myself that a man like Remy would fall in love with me.”

“And why wouldn’t he?” Saria demanded.

“He knows exactly who he is and what he wants,” Bijou said. “The truth is, I’m just findin’ that out about myself. It’s taken me this long just to realize I don’ want to tour or play huge venues. I don’ want the kind of life where I have no home or family. I didn’t even know until I came here that this was where home is to me.”

“You said yourself that Remy is someone you admire and respect—that he’s everythin’ you want in a man and no one compares to him.”

Bijou wasn’t going to deny it. She didn’t think she would find another man to compare with Remy. She found him the most beautiful man she’d ever come across. He had the heart to go with his looks.

“I’m so much younger than he is and he can’t help but look at me like I’m still a kid. I don’ blame him. I haven’t exactly acted mature. I fell into his bed immediately. Probably every woman he wants does that. I’m nothin’ special to him.” She managed a smile. “He didn’t fall in love with me, how dare him.”