Flash Burned (Burned 2)

I fought the of course you did bubbling up in my throat. Not only was she way too touchy-feely when with Dane, but she had mad skills in the kitchen as well? And knew his preferred meal—while I did not.

“I’m sure Chef D’Angelo has it perfected for Dane,” I merely commented.

“Without a doubt. They’ve been together forever. Dane only shares tidbits like that with people who’ve been in his life for a long time. In my case, since we were toddlers. Amano drove the both of us to and from the private schools we attended and all the activities, like dances. Even the prom.”

I assured myself it didn’t matter that this woman had shared all the classic adolescent rites of passion with my husband. Because he was mine now.

But her words still stung. Maybe if she weren’t so statuesque, worldly, and sophisticated I might not be so bothered that she remained a permanent fixture in Dane’s life. Yet she was all those things—and more—and that set me on-edge.

“Well, it was nice to see you again,” I told her as I walked toward my door, hoping she’d follow. “Thanks so much for the treats. I look forward to sampling them.”

“And you must stop by the tasting room when we’re open,” she insisted.

I caught on very quickly that she specifically said you, not you and Dane.

Interesting.

Still not wanting to give anything away, I nodded in agreement, refraining from mentioning that my husband and I would certainly do that. Plus, I wasn’t the petty type. Not horribly insecure when it came to Dane’s affection, either. He’d married me, after all.

Perhaps it was just that she seemed to have some sort of claim over him, since they’d grown up together, and she always turned to him when she needed something.

Thankfully, she got the hint and finally whirled around on her ridiculously tall stilettos and strolled out the door, with a chic, “Ciao!” and a waggle of her long fingers.

It did not go unnoticed by me that she headed in the opposite direction of the bank of elevators—toward Dane’s office suite.

I seethed.

So, okay. Maybe I was a tad jealous.…

* * *

Preparations at the Lux progressed nicely. Though Dane’s anticipation and enthusiasm over the launch escalated, I sensed his tension around the periphery. Understandable, but I tried to assure him that everything had fallen beautifully into place, as I did one more time at two in the morning the day of our media gala.

“Look through the windows,” I said as I cuddled against his shoulder while he worked. “It’s even snowing.”

He spared a glance outdoors. The solar lights he’d added around the copse on the other side of the tall glass panes captured the lightly falling, glittery flakes.

“We’ll have a gorgeous dusting on the mesas surrounding the Lux.” As I’d imagined from the onset. “Dane, this is exactly what we’ve both envisioned. And tonight will go off without a hitch, because I have planned this whole thing down to the smallest of details.”

Sure, I was nervous, given the significance of the evening ahead of us. But I knew what I was doing when it came to pulling off a five-star event. And the staff at the Lux had been so well trained, their skills so honed, they wouldn’t miss a beat. I had every confidence in them. In us … as a team.

“This will be a night long talked about,” I told Dane. “And the start of an incredible, memorable grand opening.”

Tingles ran rampant through me. It was no wonder I couldn’t sleep.

He gave me a sexy grin. “You have no idea how grateful I am for all that you’ve done, baby. I knew from the beginning that I could trust you. And you’ve done nothing but exceed my expectations, over and over.”

Shutting the lid of his laptop and setting it on the low ledge of the headboard, he burrowed deep in the thick covers, pulling me closer to him.

“I’ve never seen such a stunning property,” I told him. “Not on film, on TV, in magazines, on the Internet. When people come through those massive gates, they’re going to be absolutely breathless. Astonished. And so thrilled to get a glimpse at another wonder of the world.”

“No more talk of the Lux,” he whispered. “You’re awake. I’m awake. Let’s make love.…”

* * *

Despite multiple orgasms, my nerves were shot to hell several hours later.

Dane had relaxed me with his special brand of magic, helping me to sleep for a spell, yet I sprang from bed at six o’clock and went into full-on planner mode. Breakfast barely registered as Rosa served it.