Page 1 of Romeo

PROLOGUE

Romeo

Rosewood Ski Resort, Rosewood, Virginia. December 2024...

“You’re back early,” I said, turning away from the New Orleans Saints football game I was watching. “Kiddos are asleep, and Jack took LeeAnn to dinner at the Country Club. He said not to expect him anytime soon.”

Josie shrugged out of her coat and draped it over the back of a chair. I was already turning toward the television again when I noticed she wasn’t alone.

The young woman beside her looked around the family suite with the uncertain expression of someone who wasn’t sure she belonged there. Light brown hair framed a delicate face, and when her gaze finally reached mine, silver eyes stopped every thought in my head.

I stood without deciding to.

Beautiful didn’t begin to cover it.

Josie cleared her throat, and when I finally dragged my attention away from the girl, my cousin was glaring at me.

“Rome, this is Ms. Fiona Mitchell-Steiner. George and Frank’s little sister. Fiona is going to be our guest tonight.”

I crossed the room before good sense could suggest I do anything else. Fiona watched me approach with those remarkable eyes, and something strange tightened beneath my ribs.

I took her hand and bowed.

“Jasper Francis Alexander DuBois at your service, m’lady.”

She stared as I lifted her hand and brushed my lips over the back of it. The faintest smile appeared, and there went whatever chance I had of pretending my reaction to her was normal.

Rolling her eyes, Josie said, “Forgive him, Fiona. The men in this family are full of shit. They know no better.”

Fiona giggled.

Mon Dieu.

I’d spent most of my adult life making women laugh. None of them had ever produced a sound that went through me quite like that one.

“Come on,” Josie groaned, removing Fiona’s hand from mine. “Let me show you to your room before Rome really turns on the Southern charm.”

I watched them disappear down the hallway before returning to the couch. The Saints were still on the television, the score hadn’t changed, and five minutes earlier I’d cared enough about the game to yell at the screen.

Now I couldn’t have told you who had the ball.

All I saw was light brown hair and silver eyes.

She was young. That much had been obvious before Josie ever introduced her, and the realization should’ve been enough to shut down whatever strange thing had just happened inside me.

It wasn’t attraction alone. I knew attraction. I’d built half my reputation on it.

This felt different.

Older somehow. Deeper.

The thought that settled into my mind made absolutely no fucking sense.

Mine.

I stared at the television without seeing it.

Apparently, the La Croix family curse had finally decided I’d laughed at it long enough.