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Pleased, I take a breath and roll my shoulders. While I’d managed a swift shower, put on a clean dress, redone my hair and minimal make-up, my freshen up was only superficial. I’d kill to put my feet up. Instead I head to the storeroom to find those extra glasses. Hopefully a few moments’ respite from the noise will help. The view from the floor-to-ceiling windows on the way certainly does. The sun is just setting. Wild clouds skitter over the wide sky, threatening to cloak the mountains in a moody shroud. Below, the city lights twinkle obliviously and the lake stretches into the distance. Some time I’ll actually have a day off. I’ll not stand for hours, not wait on others. I’ll curl in front of a cosy fire and a big window, drink something hot and sweet and do nothing but gaze at the view. I’ll just breathe.
But right now breathing is the only thing on that list that I can accomplish. I go into the storeroom, lean back against the door to close it and—
Breathing stops. Jaw drops. Brain...brain...?
Tall. Muscular. Shoulders. Ruffled hair. Rippled abs. Blue eyes. Intense blue eyes. Very intense.
In a succession of still shots, details imprint on my mind one at a time. Matching the frantic beat of my heart.
I know about the abs because he’s half naked. He’s a chiselled, X-rated, total wow of a man. And he’s half naked.
He has a crisp white shirt in his hand and apparently does not give a thought about his state of undress and my observation of it. As I stare he shakes out the shirt and shrugs it up over those broad shoulders. I realise my mouth’s ajar but it’s dry and I don’t shut it. I can’t. I can’t do anything because my brain is completely incompetent. The visuals are more than it can handle. He leisurely begins buttoning the shirt, his abs and pecs and other muscles ripple. He’s honestly like not from this earth. And that’s when it dawns on me.
‘You’re the entertainment...’ I slowly mutter. And yes, I’m marvelling.
Wow. Good for Simone. I really want to be her when I grow up.
His long fingers pause on the third button down. His eyes widen.
‘You’re late,’ I add after an uncomfortable beat. ‘It’s okay though. They’re not even onto dessert yet. They’re too busy talking but you’re going to stun them into silence.’
There’s silence right here, right now. And it only grows.
He’s frozen—the half-buttoned shirt still reveals a wide expanse of muscled body. I feel my face getting hotter.
‘Is there a problem?’ I blink and the smallest portion of brain comes back online. I’m used to sorting problems. ‘Do you need help or something?’
‘I had to sponge a mark off my shirt.’
‘Where?’ I squint. It looks perfect to me.
‘Here.’
I have to step closer to spot the small smudge.
‘Oh, they’re never going to notice that,’ I scoff. ‘You should’ve made it more wet,’ I joke. ‘That would be...’
At his jerky movement I trail off and clear my throat awkwardly.
‘Would be...?’ He prompts me.
I glance up and am ensnared in his gaze. He’s insanely good-looking. But of course he is. Simone is the type to have only the best money can buy. He must command squillions per performance.
‘I thought you guys had like special tear-away shirts and things,’ I mumble inanely, trying to turn away but only half succeeding. His isn’t some cheap satin suit with easy-open Velcro sides or anything. It’s high end. ‘Those shirt buttons are stiff. Is it a deliberate thing? To prolong the tease?’
‘The tease?’ A strange tenor flecks his low echo as he resumes fastening the buttons.
I suppress the shiver skittering down my spine. ‘That’s what it’s all about, right?’ I can’t stop myself babbling. ‘Taking the time, building the anticipation...’
Shut up, Talia.
‘Mmm...’ He nods and reaches for a black jacket I hadn’t even noticed slung on a nearby shelf and pulls a strip of black silk from the pocket. There’s a gleam in his eyes that makes shivers ripple through me. ‘Could you help me with my tie?’
I don’t believe for a second that he can’t tie his own bow tie. He’ll be taking it off and on multiple times a night.
‘I can’t do it without a mirror,’ he adds, apparently having just read my mind.
I summon self-control. Because I fix things. I oblige. It’s what I do. ‘Of course.’
