Page 72 of Outcast’s Vow

“I’m so over it,” she groans.

Jolie works with Clement Auclair, her brother. And because of that, she’s grown up around Baptiste. The two boys are inseparable. Jolie is so good with numbers and finance that she could’ve worked anywhere she wanted in the world and get paid handsomely for it, but she values her relationship with her brother above the simple acquisition of wealth. Not that she doesn’t earn a fortune now.

“How’s Clement?” I ask her.

“For one thing, he finds it hilarious that you and Baptiste are married.”

“Yeah, it’s so hilarious.”

“Ah, you know Clement,” Jolie says. “You know how intense and obsessive and damn guarded he is. The only thing he’s said about you and Baptiste is how funny it is. I guess he thinks it’s odd for his friend to marry, especially when Baptiste has spent his whole life bragging about how he doesn’t need women.”

“I see.”

Jolie studies me for a beat.

“I know you’re worried about the past repeating itself, Sylvie. I know it’ll be something you’re thinking about now with him.”

“I’m not.”

She frowns.

“Come on, I see you thinking it over. It’s always the same thing with you. You’re fretting that people simply use you because of your father.”

“And you think Baptiste isn’t?”

“That’s not for me to guess.”

“I don’t know,” I mutter. “It’s just that everything’s so complicated. It’s been a while since I’ve opened my heart up. I still don’t know if I can even trust Baptiste.”

“Give it time,” Jolie says.

“What else is new with Clement?” I ask. “How’s he with Elise?”

“Elise is great,” Jolie replies warmly. “She’s a beautiful soul.”

“Something else on your mind?” I question. “I feel like there is...”

“Clement is meeting up with Fabien today.”

Ah. There it is.

“And how do you feel about that?” I ask. “You just pronounced Fabien’s name like a slur.”

Jolie shakes her head and leans over to pat her horse’s neck.

“I don’t think about Fabien,” she mumbles, her crisp eloquence breaking slightly with his name.

“That’s a lie.”

Jolie exhales.

“Let’s not get into that situation.”

I laugh.

“Okay, let’s not. I just needed to ask.”

“Yeah,” she deadpans. “Nothing going on there.”