And when he walked through the doors, with Melissa directly beside him, he brought with him an earth-shattering revelation that froze Sage where she stood.
She was indeed too late.
In direct opposition to the hush that settled over the room, her heart was shrieking its new discovery. She was in love with Xandro Christofides. From the crown of his gleaming hair to the polished black shoes he wore with his superb black tuxedo, every atom of him was what her foolish heart wanted.
What her stupid heart couldn’t have.
Her heart and stomach lurched hard, but she was too stunned, too pulverised by what she’d let happen, to look away from where he stood at the top of the stairs.
The champagne glass in her hand wobbled as it struck home that she would never kiss those lips again, never touch that body again. Never feel the power and glory of him inside her.
She watched his gaze sweep the room, piercing silver-grey searching. For her. At the last moment, simply because she couldn’t let him see what she’d just discovered, she dropped her own gaze, desperately struggling to compose her face when she felt him pause, stop and probe her with those incisive eyes.
The rise of conversation told her they’d fully entered the room. Thankfully there were many people in the two-hundred-strong gathering who wanted a piece of Xandro and it was easy to keep the width of the room between them.
When it was time for speeches, Melissa gave a lengthy one, managing to mention Xandro’s name many times, each with a look at the man himself.
When it was his turn, he gave a shorter one, punctuated with purpose and his vision for the company. Applause was followed by endless champagne toasts. Then the middle of the ballroom was cleared for dancing. The last dance she’d shared with Xandro in Napa Valley rose sharp and piercing in her mind, and relief spiralled through her when she saw that he was nowhere near Melissa. In fact, she’d lost sight of him.
When a firm hand grasped her arm she knew immediately who it was. Heart in her throat, her gaze rose to meet storm-chilled grey ones.
‘We can do this here or we can do it over there.’ He jerked his head towards the open French windows.
‘Or we don’t have to do anything at all?’ she suggested shakily.
The flattening of his mouth was her answer. ‘Choose, Sage.’
She did so only because they were drawing the attention she wanted to avoid. Turning on her heel, she walked through the French windows.
Her newly love-shot heart jumped again as she heard him shut the doors behind them and then turn her to face him.
‘Is there a reason you chose to come downstairs without me and have been actively avoiding me?’ he bit out.
Because I feared I was falling in love with you. Now I know.
Clawing every ounce of composure she could find, she affected a careless shrug. ‘I wanted to avoid the attention you’re attracting right now by dragging me out here.’
A trace of bewildered fury pleated his brow. ‘You think keeping the width of the room between us will hide the fact that we’re lovers?’
‘Please keep your voice down,’ she hissed.
He stepped closer, his eyes telling her he had no intention of complying. ‘Every single one of them knows you’re mine, Sage.’
She couldn’t stop her shiver of longing, but she had to train her heart to accept what it couldn’t have. ‘No—’
‘Yes, don’t insult their intelligence.’
‘Okay, maybe they know, but after tonight they’ll also know that it’s over.’
He stiffened, his lips thinning. ‘What are you talking about?’
Her insides shook as she averted her gaze and tried to form the words. ‘You know perfectly well. It’s time to end this.’
Maybe it was the semi-darkness that made her think he paled a little. Because the next instant his face was rigid and harsh. ‘Say that again, and look at me when you do.’
Her throat worked as she forced herself to swallow. To look him in the eyes. ‘It’s over. I think we both know this shouldn’t have started in the first place.’
His eyes darkened. ‘Do we? Why not, Sage? And tell me the truth. Tell me why I left you sated and happy in bed this morning but have returned to find...this?’ he sliced at her.