Isabeau set her teacup down, candlelight reflected in her eyes and made her diamond pendant glitter. “Well, you absolutely did surprise me.”
“What did you expect?”
“More local flavor, upscale sure, but somewhere with an Alaskan flair.”
Sipping his water, he shrugged. “My parents liked to travel. My sister Alayna was a huge fan of Russian food—which astounded us all because she was such a picky eater. Anyhow, that reminded me of this place where my family used to go when Dad was sick of her eating nuggets and pizza.”
“Russian food. Go figure.” She arched an eyebrow, her smile making him hunger for a taste of her lips.
“Well, it’s closer than Moscow, plus the routes are crazy and then there’s customs to deal with. Another time, perhaps. For now, this felt more...unexpected. You deserve to be romanced.” He toyed with her fingers across the table, her pale pink nails and small silver rings feminine touches he appreciated.
“Impromptu travel usually makes me anxious, but you pulled this together so smoothly I’m completely relaxed.” Paige snoozed under the table, a testament to the lack of need to keep watch for stress.
“Why would you say that about impromptu travel making you nervous?”
“I’m a planner. Knowing what’s coming next soothes me.” Isabeau drew absent circles on the tablecloth with her finger. “And I guess I thought you were a planner too. You strike me as a person who likes to stay on his ranch, even our trip to Juneau was familiar ground for you. That’s the whole reason I was hired—because you don’t like stepping outside your comfort zone.”
“That’s work. This is a date. Social is different from business.”
“Hmm, interesting perspective. So you are a world traveler after all, like your family.”
“Like them, but on my terms. There are so many places I would enjoy showing you. Denali National Park here in Alaska and viewing Swan Lake in London. Maybe even a trip to Moscow for authentic Russian food.” He reached across the table and clasped her hand.
“Our time working together is coming to a close. The fund-raiser is coming up this weekend.”
“I’m fully aware.” The clock was ticking faster than the violin speeding through Tchaikovsky.
“And the following weekend is your mother’s wedding.”
“I’m very aware of that.” Truth be told, his mother’s marriage to someone who’d been their family’s business nemesis still unsettled him. But, then, who was he to judge convoluted relationships? “It doesn’t have to end there with us.”
He stroked his thumb along the inside of her wrist, just over her speeding pulse.
“Whoa, Trystan,” she said softly, squeezing his hand. “This is a date. Can we simply enjoy the moment and not discuss the future—other than preparing for the events?”
“Can do.” He lifted their clasped hands and kissed her knuckles, savoring her creamy soft skin. Then he raised his cup of spiced tea. “A toast. To your beauty, your charm and your compassion.”
She relaxed back into her chair. Lifting her teacup, she clinked it lightly against his, then sipped. She eyed him over the rim of the fine china, her eyes...seductive. “Do we have a hotel for the night?”
His heart rate kicked up a notch to match hers, desire throbbing through his veins. “We can, if that’s what you want?”
She smiled, slowly, deliberately. “I do, very much.”
* * *
She was going to do this.
No backing down.
Isabeau intended to take every ounce of pleasure from this evening with Trystan that she could. She would store away the sensations and the memories for the future. She’d been through too many difficult times—had battled for her health and her independence—to turn her back on a chance to indulge herself with a man like Trystan. A man so thoughtful of her needs and desires.
Tomorrow would have to take care of itself.
Anticipation tingled through Isabeau every step of the way back to the five-star hotel on the rocky beach, waves crashing with romantic intensity. The golden elevator deposited them onto their floor, Trystan’s arm around her waist, her head tucked against his shoulder. Her dog kept a step behind, seeming to sense this was a moment of privacy, that she wasn’t needed.
His hand on the small of her back, Trystan maneuvered Isabeau deeper into the hotel room drenched in sultry hues. When she’d mentioned spending the night together, he seemed to pull a reservation out of thin air, taking her to a world-class hotel near the restaurant with the same decor. An overstuffed king bed heavy with crimson, yellow and deep blue throw pillows commanded the attention of the room. Bay windows caught the twinkle of the starlight above the water, deepening the romantic atmosphere.
She unclicked Paige’s leash and took off her vest, giving her the command releasing her from work. “Free play.” Paige trotted away, sniffing around the room.
Trystan’s fingers slid from hers as he made his way to the dark wooden side table where an ornately carved incense holder was placed beneath a table lamp. He ignited a match from the nearby pack, the flame crackling as it took to the incense. Sandalwood flooded the room. He turned back around, an inviting look playing on his lips.
She reveled in sensation after resisting temptation for what felt like an eternity. Could it only have been three weeks since that night in the boathouse that had never been far from her mind? It seemed longer. Her body ached with wanting him.
She drew in bracing breaths to regain control, looking around the suite as he adjusted the heavy brocade curtains and placed his suit coat over a chair. He turned back to her, his eyes holding hers with a seriousness that touched her soul. He held out his arms.
And without another thought, she stepped into his embrace.
Her hands rested on his shoulders, her fingers curling into the warm starched cotton of his button-down shirt. “You said you wanted to linger, and that sounds quite...delicious.”
She’d seen the stress on Naomi and Royce’s relationship due to rushing
