Around ten, the Expansion Day party wound down. “Ready to head back?” he asked.
“My feet say yes. I don’t think I’ve danced that much in my entire life.”
“Was it too much?”
“No. It was fun. I also really enjoyed meeting your partners and some other people of the town, too, but all of this activity has tired me out.”
“I feel the same way.”
Once they said their final goodbyes and stepped outside into the cold, Tanner faced her. “Since it is the weekend, what do you say we have one drink to celebrate your newfound freedom in Plux?” Please don’t shoot me down.
She pressed her lips together and then smiled. “Okay, but only one drink. A girl needs her sleep.”
He chuckled. She was a shifter. Alcohol wouldn’t affect her much, and from her flawless skin, she didn’t lack any sleep. “You look beautiful and rested to me.”
Ella tilted her head to the side and then shook it. “It’s no wonder all of the women in town are after you.”
“I am serious.”
“Uh-huh.”
It was time for him to shut up. His next hurdle was hoping Ella was okay with having a drink at his house. Before she questioned where they would be imbibing, Tanner shifted and scooped her up. Instead of heading toward town, he went east toward his place. Even if she realized they were going in the wrong direction, she probably figured it was pointless to complain until he landed.
Less than three minutes later, he spotted his home and landed in the front yard. He set her down and shifted. “Before you say anything,” Tanner said, “I’d like to show you my house, which our company built. It has a deck with an enclosed glass room where we can watch the stars. Nothing is more relaxing.”
“You really live here?”
She sounded as if his home was some mansion, which it wasn’t. “I do.”
“Nice.”
That went well. “Let’s get out of the cold then.”
It was a bogus comment, but once she was inside, she might be willing to stay for that drink. They would sit on the patio, study the stars, and enjoy some wine. Afterward, he’d offer to take her back to the hotel. If she said she wanted to stay the night, all the better. If not, he’d ask her to go out to dinner with him next week. Baby steps.
He opened the front door and motioned her inside. She stopped in the foyer and looked around. “It’s modern.”
“Is that a problem?”
She spun to face him. “No. I just didn’t expect that considering how your home is in a rural area. My parents were really old-fashioned. We had brocade fabric on the chairs that were made from hand-carved mahogany. Our lamps are cloth covered instead of metal, and we had these ancient rugs that were made hundreds of years ago.”
“I’m sorry.”
She chuckled. “I know; I had a tough life.” Ella looked up at him. “Enough about me. Didn’t someone promise me a drink?”
She’d barely told him anything, but he wasn’t going to push for more. “I sure did. What is your pleasure?”
“How about a glass of dry white wine?”
“Follow me.” Tanner rarely showed anyone his wine cellar, but he wanted to impress her. “It’s just down these steps.”
“Don’t tell me you have a wine cellar?”
“I do.”
“Wow.”
Gold star for him. Together, they looked through the wines, and he let her pick one that suited her.
She handed him her choice. “You have no idea how much I need this. I have a new boss at work who is a real slave driver.”
“You don’t say.”
“It’s true.”
He enjoyed her sense of humor. Upstairs, in his way-too-large kitchen, he opened the wine and poured each of them a glass. He held up his drink, and she tapped hers against his. “Thank you for a lovely evening.”
“I’m the one who should be thanking you. I meant it when I said I enjoyed meeting your partners and so many of the town’s people.”
The warmth that was exuding from her eyes implied the evening was about to get better. “I know they were thrilled to meet you. Let’s sit on the deck and enjoy the evening.” The deck might be encased in glass, but the area was not heated. He would rectify that in a moment. “Let me set up the chairs.”
She stepped up to the glass wall and looked out. “You have an amazing view of the lake.”
The moon was shimmering off the surface. “The view is breathtaking, though there is nothing more relaxing than taking my canoe out there and sitting in the middle of the still waters. It allows me to disconnect.”
“That sounds divine. I disconnect when I’m skiing.”
“I imagine it’s like flying. I often get lost in my thoughts when I’m soaring high above the hustle and bustle of the world below.” He pulled two lounge chairs together, dragged over the standing heater, and turned it on. “Have a seat next to this.”
He helped her out of her coat and placed it on another chair.
Ella sat down and sipped her wine. “This is glorious. I don’t know how you can drag yourself out of your house in the morning to go to work.”
“Trust me, it’s hard. It might be why I often sleep at the office. That way I’m not tempted to stay here and enjoy the day.” That wasn’t really true, but stating he was a workaholic wouldn’t be conducive to a relationship.
She placed her drink on the table beside her lounge chair. “Tanner, I know I’ve only been working with you for a few days, but it’s pretty clear you work way too many hours. Being focused on your job all the time
