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“Then I want to know immediately—from you. Amano can only tell me what happened. And that it appeared to shake you up. Are you okay?”
I thought back to the bar, after Dane had rescued me from the blond with the diamondback tattoo. He’d wanted to know if I was all right—like it meant something to him. I had a feeling it did. A bit more now that we knew each other better.
“It all happened pretty quick,” I told him. “Yes, it freaked me out a little. But I escaped easily enough. After that, I was mostly concerned about all of those expensive media components.”
“Baby, I have insurance to cover that stuff.”
He caught me off guard again with the term of endearment.
So I hadn’t imagined it the first time. That was surreal.
We were both quiet a few moments. The curiosity of what had him suddenly tongue-tied ate at me. Did he regret the slip?
“You still there?” I finally asked, my stomach now resembling a pretzel.
“I’m not happy about what happened to you.” His tone held that distinct edge that made me wary. I could picture him twisting Snake-Tat guy’s arm around to his back and slamming his shoulder to the table. I’d already learned that Dane didn’t let slights go.
But there was nothing he could do about an accident. Maybe that was what had him so aggravated?
I surmised it was best that he didn’t have anyone to blame. I’d gotten a glimpse of his wrath at the bar. I didn’t want to know how he might take care of this situation if there’d been someone specific at fault.
“Look,” I said, hoping to bring the intensity down a notch or ten. “I’m fine. It was a leak, and like Amano told me, this is all a trial-and-error process as the hotel comes online. I understand.”
He still didn’t say anything.
“Dane.” I tried to coerce him into chilling out, because the broody vibes reached me despite his being a continent away. “Everything’s all right. And I absolutely love all of the work I have at the Lux.”
“Ari—”
“Just do what you have to do in Paris. All’s well here. I promise.”
“I’ll be back tomorrow night,” he reminded me.
“The party.” Even the hustle and bustle at the resort—and today’s scare—couldn’t make me forget the upcoming opportunity to be with Dane.
His voice turned low and sensual as he said, “I’m looking forward to seeing you.”
A little thrill ribboned through me. “I want to see you again, too.”
“Get a good night’s sleep.”
I didn’t miss the hint of mischief in his tone.
“And what are you doing?”
“Heading into a meeting. Otherwise…”
He didn’t need to elaborate. I had a very good idea of what he’d do if he were alone and not wrapped up in business—had a very good idea that I’d be coming again while simply listening to him tell me the things he wanted to do to me.
“Go,” I said. “I still have work.”
chapter 7
Friday arrived in the blink of an eye. I changed into the emerald dress at the hotel and let a driver take me down the hill to the Valley and to Anthony Delfino’s mansion in the exclusive Mirabel Country Club community. These were my mother’s dream residential estates, so I was well versed in its prestige. Thank God she didn’t know I was attending a party here, or she would have invited herself along, now that she was suddenly pinging me. Totally out of the blue, which still made me uneasy.
“Ari!” Meghan greeted me with a bright smile and the flash from three lightning-quick photos she took. “We’re so glad you came!” She was such a perky thing, all blond and beautiful and bouncing on the soles of her designer shoes.
“Thanks for asking me. This is a real treat. How was the honeymoon?”
