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talking about the resort. “You fit in here.”
    Flames danced along my skin at his sensual look. My internal temperature soared, even though it was a balmy seventy degrees outside. He moved next to me and rested a forearm on the railing, casual and yet … so engaging. My eyes followed his graceful movements.
    â€œI’m trying to be cool and not trip on these shoes as I take it all in,” I admitted.
    â€œYou’re doing just fine.”
    â€œI’m used to thicker heels, mostly because they don’t get stuck in the grass like tent spikes during outdoor weddings and garden receptions.”
    And there I went again … rambling.
    â€œDoesn’t matter what you’re wearing. Though that dress is sensational. Interesting color choice.” He gave me a knowing look.
    I flushed. “I happen to like green.”
    â€œHmm,” he said, using my own vague response. Apparently, he’d deduced why I’d chosen this particular garment. He stared awhile longer, an all-consuming gaze that sparked a peculiar yearning deep within me. Then he pushed away from the ledge and moved past me, pausing to lean in—close enough that his very essence surrounded me despite him not being too close—and said, “You’re stunning.” He strolled off.
    I stood where I was, the yearning becoming a dull ache that pulsed erratically in my pussy, a radiant longing for something elusive. It was almost painful—because I liked how my body responded to Dane. Even though I knew I shouldn’t.
    I turned and joined him at one of the pretty glass-top tables set for two. Candles were lit all around us. I heard for the first time the sultry sound of muted trumpets and the soul-stirring wail of a saxophone drifting on the night air. I couldn’t seem to notice anything beyond him when he stood next to me.
    Dane held out a chair for me, then sat at the opposite side of the table. Another tuxedo-clad man appeared and gently placed a linen napkin in my lap and offered me champagne.
    â€œThat would be nice. Thank you.” He disappeared. I asked Dane, “Isn’t this a bit much, a bit unorthodox? I mean, for a job interview…?”
    Though I supposed it wasn’t totally unconventional. I’d had plenty of dinners and lunches with prospective clients. We usually sealed the deal over dessert and espresso.
    With his sigh-worthy grin, he said, “I like it when you’re all breathless and wide-eyed. I thought this place might do that to you.”
    â€œYou think it’s the hotel?”
    His grin turned devilish. Something sexy and evocative flickered in his eyes. A shiver ran down my spine. I was perfectly aware I was playing with fire—and could easily get burned. But I couldn’t seem to help myself.
    The server returned a few minutes later with a freestanding chiller.
    â€œWatch this,” Dane said, a hint of intrigue in his voice. “Miyanaga is an expert at serving champagne.”
    The other man stood back from the table and made a production out of removing the foil and wire cage with precise movements. Then he whipped out a short sword from the sheath I hadn’t even realized was strapped to his waist. He pointed the bottle toward the grounds, away from us, and placed the blade flat against the seam, sliding it slowly up to the flange. Then he swiftly and efficiently sabered the neck.
    The cork went flying, Miyanaga bowed, and I clapped enthusiastically. I was certain someone had been hired specifically to retrieve the corks from the courtyard—and probably had a haughty French title to go with the position.
    To Dane, I said, “How’d I know this wouldn’t be a normal evening?”

 
    chapter 4
    Mischief made Dane’s eyes sparkle. “Life’s too short to settle for normal.”
    I cringed. I was normal. There was absolutely nothing extraordinary about me. Except that I could take ten hodgepodge ideas