The moment the thought entered his mind, he cursed himself. Of course. What an idiot. His brothers were right. Bijou had never been important to her father or her nannies. She’d never been loved by anyone. She probably had no idea what it felt like to have someone caring for her. He’d talked about the sex and little else.

“I think our relationship is about your leopard bein’ crazy about mine, as well as the great sex,” Bijou stated. “I think that because you said it. More than once.”

Remy tightened his fingers around her hand, keeping her palm pressed tightly against his heart. “Then I’m a moron if I made you believe that.” Looking back, he realized he had said just that. He shook his head.

Bijou shrugged. Her lower lip trembled and she bit down with her small teeth. “It’s all right, Remy. I’m not askin’ anythin’ from you. I’m a grown-up. I was there, just like you were. I wanted to have sex with you. It’s not like you forced me. I’m well aware people have casual sex all the time.”

“What we had was not casual sex. Had you ever had sex before, believe me, chere, you would never even consider attaching the word casual to what we have together.”

“Remy, I’m well aware we barely know one another. I’m not one to jump into bed with just anyone . . .”

“I know that. I was there, remember? I should have been much more careful with you that first time,” he admitted.

“I wasn’t sayin’ that. I just mean, you don’ know me any better than I know you.”

“You’d be surprised at how well I know you, Bijou. I didn’t lose track of you over the years. And I’m a cop.”

She turned cool eyes on him, although again, there was that tiny hint of amusement. “You investigated me?”

“Of course. Did you expect anythin’ less?”

“No, I guess not. But that doesn’t mean you know me, Remy. Nor do I know you. I didn’t even know about the leopard business.” She lowered her voice when she used the word leopard, clearly still uncomfortable with the idea of being a shifter.

He pulled her hand up to his mouth, brushing his lips over her knuckles. “I’m not good with words. I know that. Not with anyone I care about, but there’s a hell of a lot more to our relationship than our leopards—or great sex—regardless of what I may have said earlier.”

“See, I don’ know you that well, or I’d know whether you were just sayin’ that to make me feel better, and keep me around for your leopard, or if you mean it.”

“I’ve never once told you a lie. We do have great sex. And my leopard is crazy about yours. Maybe I left out how I feel, but only because I’ve never actually felt this way about a woman before. It’s new to me as well, Blue. Just give us time. We’re interrupted every two minutes and I have to find this killer. But you’re on my mind, every moment, you’re on my mind.”

Bijou smiled at him a little tentatively, but her smile reached her eyes. “I’m apparently not the most lovable person in the world.”

“That’s bullshit.”

“You said yourself half of New Orleans wants me dead.”

“True, I did say that, which is why you’re goin’ to stick close to the Inn when I’m not around. My brothers will keep their eyes on you when I’m workin’. Do you have anything important goin’ on in the next couple of days?”

“Arnaud asked me to go to the openin’ of his gallery showin’. That’s tomorrow night.” Her smile widened. “It gives me a chance to dress up. It’s a black tie affair.”

“Don’ be usin’ the word affair in the same breath when referrin’ to that Frenchman,” Remy groused. “He’s all over you.”

“No, he isn’t. We’re just good friends. I’m worried about him. He doesn’t pay any attention to the news or what’s happenin’ around him. He spends half his time drawin’ and the other half workin’ on his sculptures. It’s rare for him to show up at a gallery and actually talk to anyone who wants to purchase his work. I don’ want him to be an easy target for this killer.”

“You’re worried that if he’s around you, he might be next.”

She pressed her lips together and nodded. “I’m worried about you too, Remy.”

He gave her his leopard grin. Dangerous. Predatory. “Worry about the other guy, chere.”

15

REMY glanced out the window of the Inn and froze. “What idiot let him go out there before he talked to Robert?” He swung around to glare at his brothers.

“You know Drake. He just gets that look on his face and you back off and let him do whatever he wants to do.”

Saria moved up beside her brother to stare out at her husband. She gasped, one hand going defensively to her throat. “Can you stop him if he tries to kill Robert?”

“What do you mean, tries?” Remy demanded. “Robert doesn’t stand a chance against Drake. Not even if Dion was stupid enough to try to help him. Robert challenged him, and you’re pregnant. What do you think his leopard is goin’ to do?”

“No one said anythin’ about Saria bein’ pregnant,” Lojos pointed out with a pious expression.

“Do you have any idea how bad this is?” Remy asked, worry edging his tone. “Two male members of Drake’s lair came into his home uninvited. His pregnant wife asked them to leave repeatedly and they didn’t. One laid out a challenge for leadership of the lair in Drake’s own backyard. He’s always in control of his leopard, but this is too much. Mine would be killin’ both of them by now.”