“What are you smiling about?”
“You. I’ve never seen you so...” He hesitated as though searching for the right word.
“Awestruck? Impressed?” Then she moved her hand, stroking her fingers down over his soft beard. “Captivated?”
His dark eyes lit up as though her touch awakened a part of him. His gaze dipped to her lips. Her pulse quickened. She had a feeling this night was just getting started.
She couldn’t turn away. My, he was handsome. So handsome and sweet that her reservations about trusting him slipped from her mind. Tonight, they were no longer boss and assistant. Tonight, he was just Trey—a devastatingly handsome escort with a twinkle in his eyes. And she was just Sage, his date. So was there any reason not to let down her guard and treat him as she would any man who caught her eye and dazzled her with the most amazing night?
The lyrics from the next song wrapped around them. Their bodies swayed gently to the tune. As her body brushed against the hard plains of Trey, the breath caught in her throat. Every nerve ending in her body was stimulated.
In that moment, with his hand pressed lightly to the bare skin at the small of her back, she couldn’t think of any reason not to give in to her desire. She stopped dancing. She lifted her chin and their gazes caught.
Questions reflected in his dark eyes. His mouth opened to say something, but nothing came out. The next thing she knew his head was lowering toward hers and she was lifting up on her tiptoes. When their lips met, it was like a powerful jolt of electricity zapped through her body.
She had never felt this way with any other man. Trey was unique in so many ways. And she never wanted this magical night to end.
His lips moved slowly over hers. His touch was soft and teasing. A need grew within her. She wanted more of him. All of him—
The band stopped. A round of applause filled the room, jolting both Sage and Trey back to reality. With great reluctance, Sage pulled back.
Her lips tingled as Trey led her from the now-empty dance floor. She had no idea where they went from here, but she was anxious to find out.
They spent the rest of the evening mingling, dancing and sipping bubbly while eating the most delicious hors d’oeuvres, but sadly there was to be no more kissing.
Sage was surprised at her eagerness to taste him once more and was disappointed that Trey didn’t feel the same. Because as soon as they arrived at the château, Trey mumbled something about needing to send an email and he disappeared, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
She’d messed up. She knew it. Crossing that line between them was a mistake. Going forward, she was going to have to do better.
CHAPTER NINE
THE NEXT MORNING Trey knew he had to say something to Sage about the kiss. He’d seen the confused look in her eyes when he’d backed off and when he’d made a quick exit after they’d arrived home.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to follow that kiss up with more—a lot more. The problem was that Sage didn’t know the “real” man she was about to get involved with. And if they were about to start something, even casually as he didn’t do commitments, then she deserved all the facts.
After watching his parents, he didn’t believe in living happily-ever-after. Love was fleeting at best—at worst it crushed people. Either way, he refused to end up on the losing end like his mother.
And this morning, Sage was acting differently—cooler. They had just finished breakfast and headed for the festival when he decided to lay everything on the line.
“Sage, we need to talk.”
“I know. We were so busy with the festival yesterday that I didn’t get to touch base with you about the audit prep work. Is it all coming together?”
“Yes. But this isn’t about the audit—”
“Good. I’ll check my emails when we head back to the château to dress for this evening’s movie premiere.”
“Sage, wait.” And then realizing how abrupt that sounded, he said, “Please. What I want to talk about isn’t work—”
“Stop.” She quit talking and turned to him. “I know that I crossed a line. It was wrong of me. It won’t happen again.”
“Sage, if you’d let me speak.”
“No. Just let it go. Please. It was just a lapse of judgment. It didn’t mean anything.” When he didn’t say anything, she continued. “I just got caught up in the excitement of the evening.”
So he’d misread the situation? Good. They could get back on track.
“So how about we get to work,” he said, wanting to end this awkward conversation.