Saria frowned, stopping with a forkful of eggs halfway to her mouth. “That’s not why he’s attracted to you. Where would you get an insane notion like that?”

“Straight out of his mouth,” Bijou said, forcing herself to admit the truth and trying not to choke on the words. She picked up her coffee cup and took a sip just to give herself time to control the tears burning behind her eyelids. Damn Remy anyway for turning her into a weepy female.

“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.”

“Okay, that’s not true. You’re leopard, Bijou . . .” Saria trailed off realizing she’d just said the wrong thing.

Bijou nodded. “Sadly, I’m well aware of that. Do you really think my mother was leopard? How would she ever have met Bodrie?”

“Bodrie had a lot of fans from all over the world and he traveled extensively. We aren’t the only lair, Bijou,” Saria pointed out. “Most of them are in the rain forests. Drake came from one in Borneo, but there are other places. Everyone likes music, and Bodrie, no matter what anyone says about him, was a music man. She probably went to his concert and he somehow spotted her.”

“I wouldn’t doubt that, Bodrie could spot a beautiful woman miles out. And she was beautiful,” Bijou conceded. “I saw a picture of her once. He had it in his room, by his bed, and I went in to get some money for lunch and it was there. He never took women into his bedroom, and he was really mad when he found me there.”

“You never went back to his bedroom?”

“Of course I did. The picture wasn’t there anymore. But I know there are things in the main mansion. I just haven’t gone there. I was hopin’ you’d go with me when I finally got up the nerve.”

“Of course I’ll go. Anythin’ you need me to do,” Saria said sincerely.

Bijou took a deep breath. She’d been skirting around the subject, but she was going to have to face the truth. “Tell me about being a leopard.”

“Drake and Remy can answer questions better than I can, but actually, Bijou, it’s really great. I’ve noticed we all prefer to stay near the swamp and bayous rather than the city, which is probably one of the reasons why you were driven to give up touring.” She turned her head toward the door leading to the dining room. Her hand went up indicating the need for silence. “Someone else is here.”

Bijou inhaled in an effort to catch the scent that may have alerted Saria to another’s presence. Her leopard appeared to be fast asleep and was no help whatsoever, at least until the door to the kitchen was shoved inward. Bijou leapt from her chair and instinctively placed herself between the door and Saria.

The man didn’t look familiar; she knew most of the locals—yet everyone had changed so much in the years she’d been gone—but he smelled familiar. He smelled like the golden leopard from the night before—but not quite.