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  Praise for the

  Butterfly Bayou series

  “Lila’s strength and vulnerability are balanced by Armie’s intelligence and humor, making them an easy couple to root for. Blake captures the flavor of her colorful Southern town with a vividly drawn cast. . . . This charming series opener hits all the right notes.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “Blake has created a couple to root for, along with memorable supporting characters and story lines with depth. Readers will be eager to visit Papillon again.”

  —Library Journal

  “Southern delight awaits in Bayou Baby. . . . This charming small-town drama is as smooth and sweet as a Louisiana drawl.”

  —BookPage (starred review)

  Praise for

  Lexi Blake

  “Lexi Blake is a master!”

  —New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst

  “I love Lexi Blake.”

  —New York Times bestselling author Lee Child

  “Smart, savvy, clever, and always entertaining.”

  —New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry

  “Lexi Blake has set up shop on the intersection of suspenseful and sexy, and I never want to leave.”

  —New York Times bestselling author Laurelin Paige

  Titles by Lexi Blake

  THE BUTTERFLY BAYOU NOVELS

  Butterfly Bayou

  Bayou Baby

  Bayou Dreaming

  Bayou Beauty

  THE COURTING JUSTICE NOVELS

  Order of Protection

  Evidence of Desire

  THE LAWLESS NOVELS

  Ruthless

  Satisfaction

  Revenge

  THE PERFECT GENTLEMEN NOVELS

  (with Shayla Black)

  Scandal Never Sleeps

  Seduction in Session

  Big Easy Temptation

  A JOVE BOOK

  Published by Berkley

  An imprint of Penguin Random House LLC

  penguinrandomhouse.com

  Copyright © 2021 by DLZ Entertainment, LLC

  Penguin Random House supports copyright. Copyright fuels creativity, encourages diverse voices, promotes free speech, and creates a vibrant culture. Thank you for buying an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright laws by not reproducing, scanning, or distributing any part of it in any form without permission. You are supporting writers and allowing Penguin Random House to continue to publish books for every reader.

  A JOVE BOOK, BERKLEY, and the BERKLEY & B colophon are registered trademarks of Penguin Random House LLC.

  Ebook ISBN: 9780593335475

  First Edition: July 2021

  Cover images courtesy of Getty Images

  Book design by Alison Cnockaert, adapted for ebook by Kelly Brennan

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  pid_prh_5.7.1_c0_r0

  For Mari and Lila—sisters from another mister. I couldn’t have made it through this year without you.

  contents

  Cover

  Praise for Lexi Blake

  Titles by Lexi Blake

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  prologue

  NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA

  Sylvie Martine stared down at the printed-out report and had to admit to the fact that she’d been completely wrong about Rene Darois. “I’m going to be honest. When we started this project together, I thought I would end up doing most of the work.”

  The truth of the matter was she’d thought about dumping the class when she’d seen her brother’s best friend sitting in what should have been a sophomore-level history course. She’d known he was still taking classes at Tulane when she’d started her freshman year. He’d shown up at her dorm room and offered to give her a tour of the campus. They’d gone to dinner and talked about her brother and reminisced about the old days when they would run around the grounds of Darois House, and then she hadn’t seen him again until he’d been sitting in the big lecture hall four months earlier.

  He frowned her way. “I’m an excellent research partner.”

  They were sitting in the cozy living room of his family’s New Orleans house. Like everything in Rene Darois’s life, it was perfectly kept and built to impress. The small house on the outskirts of the quarter looked less luxurious on the outside. It had a wall around it with gates that led a person from the rowdiness of the quarter to the infinite peace of a sunny courtyard. She’d been told this place was frequently used by his parents when they had business in town or simply wanted to enjoy the city. When Rene had chosen Tulane, he’d moved in here, and his father often stayed with him when he wasn’t back in Papillon, the small town they’d all come from.

  Sylvie had known Rene all her life, and she was fairly certain she’d been born with a crush on him. Like she’d come straight out of the womb and wanted to be around him.

  Which was a dangerous thing since he didn’t see her as anything more than his best friend’s kid sister.

  “I think you want to pass this class and get out of here,” she said with a smile. She’d avoided him that first semester, but now she realized she would miss him when he graduated in a few weeks. Since they’d figured out they had a class together, she’d had lunch with Rene almost every Monday and Wednesday, and he’d taken to driving her back to Papillon on the weekends, and then to New Orleans every Sunday night.

  He’d made her first year of college comfortable and far less lonely.

  Rene sat back, and she had to stop herself from sighing. He was the most perfect example of masculine beauty she could think of, and it was about more than his red and gold hair, green eyes, and sharp jawline. It was about how she felt when he smiled her way, when he rushed to open a door for her, and made her feel like she was the only woman in the world.

  Of course, that was all Southern manners and charm, and she was sure he behaved that way around every woman of his acquaintance. She’d known she would fall into this trap if she let herself. It had been almost a relief when he’d gone away to college. She’d been able to see past him and date a nice boy in high school. When that had fallen apart, she’d concentrated on her best friends and her work, and it had been good.

  But now Sylvie was right back to not being able to think about any guy but this one. No one else she met was as comfortable as Rene, as kind and fun to be around. As understanding.

  And it turned out he was an excellent project partner. He’d handled most of the research, and now it was her turn. “You are indeed. These notes are practically perfect. I’ll write it up, we’ll turn it in, and then I think you’ll be a graduate of Tulane. Are you excited?”

  “Of course,” he said, and then his voice went low. “It was a surprise to realize I was missing a couple of
classes. I was upset when I had to take a history class in my senior year. Well, year and a half. I should have graduated after fall semester. I was bitter about it, but I’ve enjoyed this time with you. It was good to get to know you again.”

  She could get so emotional about him. A wistful longing flowed through her veins. “I know. I thought it was weird seeing you outside of Papillon, but now I know I’m going to miss you.”

  The mood seemed to shift, the air becoming warmer than before as Rene moved closer to her. “I’m going to miss you, too, Sylvie. I’m going to miss you a lot. This semester has been a revelation for me.”

  Why was she suddenly breathless? He’d only moved a couple of inches closer, but she’d felt his intent change from casual to something more intimate. Had she misread him? All these months she’d thought he was alone because his friends had graduated the semester before. She’d figured he’d told her brother he would watch out for her.

  What if he’d wanted to spend time with her? What if these long months of dancing around each other were supposed to lead to something more?

  “Me, too,” she managed.

  His hand came out and touched hers, easing over her arm and spreading warmth across her skin. “We’ve known each other for a long time, but spending time with you away from home has shown me a different side of you.”

  That made her smile. “A side that isn’t a nuisance?”

  She expected him to laugh but his expression intensified. “You were never a nuisance. I never once resented you coming over with your brother. You were always smart and kind and good to the people around you.”

  She breathed in to stop the tears that threatened. She hadn’t thought he’d noticed her. “Well, you and Andre were different from other boys. You never told me to go away. I appreciated that.”

  Sometimes when her brother would go to Rene’s house or he would come to theirs, she would tag along on whatever adventure they were having, and neither boy made her feel unwelcome. At the time she’d simply thought it was how brothers and sisters worked, but now she knew what a true jewel her older brother and his friend had been.

  “Dre would have had my hide if I’d told him his sister wasn’t welcome. I always loved that about your family. I sometimes think that’s why I was desperate to be Dre’s friend. If he could view me that way, I would always be able to count on him.”

  Poor little rich boy. Rene had tons of cousins, but he didn’t seem to enjoy spending time with them. He’d spent all his time with the Martine family—a hairdresser and a civil servant. Not that he hadn’t had other friends. He’d been the most popular boy at school, but he’d never let it go to his head. “Andre loves you like a brother,” she said.

  “And you? Do you think of me as a brother?”

  Her heart threatened to stop in her chest. She hadn’t thought she would ever be in this position, and the enormity of the question stopped her cold. Or hot. Her body had gone electric at the promise in those green eyes.

  He withdrew his hand and his expression had gone blank. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked you that.”

  She could let this chance go, and they would be friendly forever. Or she could make the leap she’d always wanted with him. She reached out and touched his cheek. “I have never thought of you as a brother, Rene. Not even close.”

  He caught her hand and she found herself being pulled to him. “Do you know how long I’ve wanted to do this? I didn’t let myself in high school because you were so young, but those four years between us don’t feel like such a big gap now.”

  He’d wanted to kiss her in high school? He’d never been anything but kind and gentlemanly to her during that time, though she realized that his going away to college had placed a careful but necessary distance between them. They made far more sense at this point. He was twenty-two and she was eighteen. She was more in his world, an equal instead of a kid who hung around but couldn’t truly participate.

  “It’s different now.” She wasn’t merely Andre’s sister. She was her own person, and they’d gotten close on their own terms.

  “I should have done this sooner. Let me kiss you, Sylvie.” His voice had gone low, his accent deeper than normal. “Tu es la plus belle chose que j’ai jamais vue.”

  The French made her heart flip, and her hands were shaking as she closed her eyes and leaned in. She’d been kissed before, but she’d never felt this way about a boy.

  A man. Rene was a man and she was a woman, and somehow this all felt like a first. When his lips met hers, her whole body relaxed and she let him lead. He kissed her, softly at first, a brushing that left her wanting more. And then one hand found the nape of her neck while the other gripped her waist, and she felt him shift the kiss from tender to something carnal, something that made her body go soft and willing.

  He moved in again, bringing them chest to chest as she felt his tongue drag against her mouth, asking for permission to come inside.

  Oh, she wanted that. She let him in, and arousal sparked through her as his tongue slid along hers. She wound her arms around him and somehow she was suddenly sitting on his lap.

  “Ta place est ici,” he whispered against her lips.

  This is where you belong.

  This was where she’d always belonged. In his arms, wrapped around him.

  His hands moved over her, getting dangerously close to her breast. She wanted to offer it to him, to let him know her body was his to explore.

  She wasn’t going to stop him. She was going to take this as far as he wanted to go because she was crazy about him. She let her head drop back when he kissed his way to her neck.

  Then the doorbell chimed, and it was like a bucket of cold water drenched her as Rene pulled away suddenly.

  “I’m sorry. I wasn’t expecting company,” he stuttered. Rene never stuttered. “I’ll . . . I’ll take care of it. Sylvie, we should talk. What just happened . . . we should talk about it.”

  She nodded, but she didn’t like the look in his eyes. Like he couldn’t quite believe what he’d done, what they’d almost done.

  He straightened his clothes and headed for the door, every movement a testament to his discomfort. He disappeared and then she heard the door open and a familiar voice.

  “Rene, I was hoping you were home. I’m on my way to Papillon but I thought I would stop and see if you need some company for the night.”

  Her brother. Andre was here and she felt herself flush. She stood, praying she didn’t look like a woman who’d recently made out with forbidden fruit.

  Maybe Rene would tell him. Maybe he would announce he wanted her and tell Dre to get on board.

  When he stepped back in the living room, she knew she was out of luck. “Your sister’s here. We were working on my final project together.”

  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.

  “All right,” Andre began in his most patient voice. “What was that about? Don’t tell me it was nothing because there were tears in my sister’s eyes. The only reason I’m not running after her is that I know she’ll be stubborn as hell and tell me it’s nothing. You’re the weak link here. You’re the one who won’t shut me out. What happened between the two of you?”

  Damn it. He should have checked his phone but he’d been distracted by Sylvie. He was pretty much always distracted by Sylvie these days. She’d become his first thought in the morning and the last thing he saw in his mind before he managed to get to sleep. “We’ve spent time together this semester. You know my credits got messed up and I had to take a history course I was missing.”