“You’re cute.”
“And you’re pretty,” said Kimber. “Don’t waste your pretty.”
Unprepared for the girl’s rather grown-up response, Zoe burst out in laughter. “Get going, child. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
The girls went on down the road, chanting for the driver to lay on the limo’s horn. Zoe headed upstairs, laughing the whole way to her room. She was glad for the peace and quiet.
Not wanting to get out of her gorgeous dress so soon, Zoe kicked off her heels and headed into the bathroom to begin her nightly rituals. A part of her felt guilty for leaving Will at the party without so much as an explanation. As she reached for Ravens Cosmetics’s makeup-remover cream, Zoe realized he deserved to know why she left. But if she’d told him, he would only have tried to convince her she was wrong. What she was, was swept up with the Southern heat. After wiping the last remnants of cream off her face, Zoe heard a knock. Her heart slammed against her rib cage.
“I know you’re in there,” Will said from the other side of the door.
Zoe contemplated tiptoeing back to her room, but she wanted to lay eyes on him before going to bed. If she couldn’t have him in real life, she could always dream about him. “Why did you leave the dinner?” Zoe asked, opening the door.
The black bowtie hung loose around Will’s neck and the top three buttons of his white shirt were undone. The cut of his shirt complemented his hard jawline.
“I left because finding out what’s going on with you is more important than sitting at the table watching everyone else dance.”
Zoe shrugged her shoulders. “There were other people you could have danced with.”
“I only wanted you.” Will reached for her hand, pressing it against his beating heart. “What changed when you took that phone call?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Don’t act like I don’t know you by now, Zoe.”
Zoe took a step backward. “No, what you know is the Zoe who has had her head fogged up in these Southern nights. Not the Zoe you met over a week ago when I applied for the director’s position.”
“Zoe,” Will sighed.
She’d heard what he said about not liking her work. She didn’t care. “Until I get an official word on Ravens Cosmetics stationery thanking me for the time but saying y’all have decided to go in a different direction, I still have a fighting chance.”
“And so I have no say in this?” Will asked, letting her hand go.
“Not really. Save your say for something official, and then let’s go from there. Right now I don’t want to risk what I’ve worked so hard for.”
Will’s mouth dropped open. He stood in the doorway, gawking. “You’re serious.”
“As a heart attack.”
“And what about your personal life, Zoe?” Will asked. “You want to stand here and say your career is worth more than your happiness?”
Zoe wasn’t sure what the answer was. She shrugged her shoulders and stepped backward.
“You want to stand here and tell me what’s been brewing between us is just some Southern spell?”
“Yes,” Zoe said, finding her voice. “We’ll have to wait for everything business between us to be over.”
“And if you start with Ravens Cosmetics?” asked Will. “We’re supposed to act like there’s nothing between us?”
“Looks that way.”
“So, either way I’m being punished?”
Zoe narrowed her eyes on his face. His lips were thin and his jawline twitched. It killed her to deny them what they both wanted. Her body trembled with such craving. “Will, you’re utterly handsome, heir to the throne of Ravens Cosmetics. You’re bothered that you’re not getting your own way. And I dare say you’re pouting.”
“Pouting?” Will snorted out a laugh.
Zoe threw her hands in the air and backed farther away. “Whatever. I’m going to bed.”
“And just like that,” Will called out to her, “you’re done talking?”
“Yep,” Zoe yelled over her shoulder, “looks that way to me.” She attempted to kick the door to the bathroom closed with the heel of her bare foot and out of the corner of her eye saw a lightning-like bolt darting toward her.