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PROLOGUE

DAUPHINE

I LAUGHED WHAT else was there to do? This was really happening He was really here And it seemed like the most natural request in the world, for a handso knee-deep in the waret naked for him The rolled-up cuffs of his jeans were darkened by the water lapping at his muscled calves, his lean torso naked in the hot April sun

He extended a tanned forearm to me

“Dauphine, will you accept the Step?”

Instead of giving hi towards hireen sundress, which I had shortened to just aboveit It was sexy, not like so I’d usually wear Do I look terrible in this? What if he isn’t attracted to ood at this? What if I drown? I aood swimmer In fact, I’ve always been afraid of water We ell hidden behind the swamp roses and pink mallow that sloped towards the riverbank, yet fear surroundeddeh school? Started a successful vintage clothing business, even before graduating college? Hadn’t Imy little store behinda wounded cos—and more—but they required discipline and control and a steady hand on the rudder

Accepting this co water e directions Itmyself to enter a neorld, one filled with spontaneity and risk, desire and possibly disappoint to trust Still, for all my bravado that day at the Coach House, I was suddenly unwilling to let things unfold as I had been told they would, as I had sworn to myself I’d finally allow

But goddaain, at five foot three, I was shorter thaneyes, a rakish build, with messy, brown hair that the sun had coated with a copper sheen I couldn’t tell if his eyes were green or blue, but he didn’t take the , heavy veil I slowly slipped off rass felt cool on my feet Maybe I could wade in Start slow

“Will you accept the Step? I can ask only one more time,” he said, without a note of impatience

Now Go to him Youthe lines of the halter on ers paused at the knot behind my neck Then my hands worked of their own accord and the straps suddenly fell limp I peeled down aze I had to ht up to my terror What ifAct I unzipped the back of the dress and let it drop to the grass Then I rollednaked save for the gold chain circling my left wrist

“I’ll take that as a ‘yes,’” he said “Get in, beautiful The water’s warm”

My heart started pounding As calmly as possible, I made ically covered e of the river It armer than I had expected I placed the rest of ated the path of flat,to him And I could see the bottom I’d be fine

As I stepped closer, our height difference becae the mood from sexy to funny; he , before I even reached hi o quiet Do I watch hiI fixedthe plantation beyond

“You don’t need to turn away”

“I’m nervous”

“Dauphine, you’re safe It’s just us”

My back still to hiainst skin Then he tossed his jeans over my head, where they landed on the riverbank next to his orn boots, reen dress

“There Now I’h the water towards ainst my back